GarthBox

You’ll never be the target you’re after.

No matter how closely you identify with them, you’re not them.

You can be an intermediary for them, though.

You can listen to the words they use and share them back.

You can listen to the narratives each one is telling themselves about your product or service and adjust it accordingly.

You can listen to the emotion behind the words they use when they talk about your brand.

You can listen and, with empathy, direct them on the path that leads to a win-win for you both.

Doing any marketing without listening, though? Ha.

Stay Positive & Meet Them Where They Are

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Champions win awards. They wear the belt. The spotlight is on them.

But none of that is what makes them a champion.

What makes them a champion is that they’re looked up to; people are inspired by them.

We don’t need champions because we want things done for us. We want champions because we want help believing we could do it ourselves if we put our mind to it.

Stay Positive & Will You Be A Champion Today?

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I despised math class. I failed trigonometry the first time I took it. I couldn’t stand investing time and energy into something I knew I wouldn’t use.

Alas, there’s one thing about math that does apply to life and work: the power of showing your work.

It enables you to discover your weak points. It lets you feel more fulfilled when you’re done working through a problem. It makes pivoting in the moment feel easier because you’re not set on a specific path.

And that’s all internal.

Then there’s the validation and respect you earn from others by showing the work.

Can you imagine a tattoo artist with no sketch book?

Or a contractor without any bids from various plumbers?

Not showing your work is only holding you back.

Stay Positive & Show Your Work, Show Your Worth

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A table is a great prop, but it’s terrible at enabling vulnerability.

And as status quo has it, chances are pretttttty slim that someone is going to come behind the table to talk to you.

So that leaves one option: you adventure out from behind the table.

To shake hands and listen; to be the vulnerable one first.

A table might as well be a wall.

Stay Positive & No More Hiding

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Spectrums are there for you to place yourself, not slide yourself.

Sliding destroys loyalty; it breaks expectations and eliminates any familiarity people have built about you or your brand.

Stay focused on being the best version of yourself; not seeking a different spot on the spectrum.

Stay Positive & Own Your Spot

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I haven’t run any particular studies, but I think it’s safe to assume that the brands that have more people saying out loud “That’s cool that you X” are the ones that are thriving.

The thing about cool is that once it’s cool, it doesn’t stay there for too long.

Which means that you need to cycle through what you do, say or give to keep getting the response.

When was the last time you heard someone say “That’s cool that…” about something of yours?

Stay Positive & Cool

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The bad gets a bad rap.

The bad gives someone an opportunity to turn it good. It gives someone the chance to learn and grow. Even more important, the bad gives someone something to connect with others around (because we’ve all experienced something bad).

When all you do is focus on the good, put out a facade of perfection, you’re missing out on a whole level of deeper connection.

This applies to family and friends, guests and customers, teams and colleagues – everyone, really.

Stay Positive & Go Ahead, Break The Yoke

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