GarthBox

What if, if nothing more than for the sake of this post, you think about every interaction you’ll have today.

Can you imagine what would happen if you went bearing a gift with each interaction?

Some of those you’ll interact with you might know obviously what to bring them. Others, it’s the mere thought exercise that matters. The intention will empower you to find a solution.

In fact, I’ve never once experienced a situation that I couldn’t figure something out to give.

A six-pack of beer. A compliment. A hug.

You might not tip you grocery store bagger but wouldn’t you think that saying “I appreciate that you’re here and helping me” might be received as if it were a gift?

Stay Positive & No Need To Carry A Santa Bag Around…

Work as if you’re wrapping up before you take vacation.

Enjoy the day as if you’re starting work back again tomorrow.

Immerse yourself in the activity as if it’s the last.

And here’s the hard part: no matter the activity.

Stay Positive & It’s Always Worth The Squeeze

There’s skimming because it’s lame. The writer put more words there than necessary. Parts are greater than the whole.

Then there’s skimming because you are absolutely sucked in. You’re craving to know what happens next. You’re skimming to test out the hypothesis that it can’t get better than it already has been.

Let’s assume, for the sake of a point here, that everyone skims.

Which skimmer is your writing triggering?

Stay Positive & Skimming Isn’t Always A Negative

When they assume you’re not busy, then they also assume you can be extra attentive.

Which means you have two options.

In the event you actually are busy but they can’t perceive it; communicate it to them. This is expectation setting basics that lead to both parties having a greater chance of success.

The second is to actually be extra attentive; to surprise and delight; to figure out a way to go above and beyond. No one expects (or wants to expect) you to be on your phone, take a seat, and wait until you’re needed.

People’s experiences die when you stand still.

Stay Positive & Above & Beyond

One of my friends who became well-known in the restaurant space started a YouTube channel for opening Pokemon cards.

One of my marketing idols posted something I’d never expect him to: Recipes.

Are they right to? Wrong to?

It breaks their consistencies. People come to expect certain things from them. Doing that level of unexpected creates distance with those who have been loyal to the original content.

And yet, it appears that those who extend themselves out of the norm continue to succeed.

They connect with new people. They create new meaning. They develop new capabilities.

All to say, it’s easy and quick to assume something outside of the norm won’t work.

When it reality, it’s because it’s outside of the norm that it works.

Stay Positive & Go Ahead And Launch It

Marketing is jazz, not classical music. It’s a tightrope walk, not a script. It’s improv.

And the best marketers? They know how to think on their feet.

Now is a great time to start practicing improv.

Adaptability = Survival

No campaign goes exactly as planned. Algorithms shift. Budgets get slashed. Trends change overnight. Improv teaches you to roll with it, adjust on the fly, and make quick pivots without losing momentum.

Audience-Centric Thinking

Improv is about listening. Great marketing is about listening. You don’t control the audience—you respond to them in real-time. Reading the room (or the data) is the difference between relevance and irrelevance.

Creativity Under Pressure

Deadlines don’t care if you have writer’s block. Improv forces you to always come up with something, even when your brain is empty. That creative muscle? Strengthened every time you say “Yes, and…” instead of freezing.

Better Storytelling

Every brand has a story, but the best ones unfold dynamically. Improv helps you craft narratives that feel organic, human, and engaging. You learn to ditch the robotic script and make messaging feel alive.

Stronger Team Collaboration

Improv is a team sport—just like marketing. It’s about trust, passing the mic, and making others look good. The best ideas aren’t solo acts; they’re built in the moment with a team that knows how to yes, and instead of no, but.

Handling Objections Like a Pro

Sales and marketing are full of pushback. Improv teaches you not to shut down but to engage, redirect, and turn objections into opportunities. When the customer throws a curveball, you won’t fumble—you’ll flow.

More Engaging Content

People crave authenticity. Improv-trained marketers know how to make messaging feel real, not forced. Whether it’s social media, email, or video, improv instincts make content feel human, not corporate.

Risk-Taking Without Fear

If you’re afraid to fail, you’ll never innovate. Improv kills perfectionism. It rewards boldness. Marketing isn’t about getting it right the first time—it’s about experimenting until something sticks.

Real-Time Event Marketing Superpowers

Webinars, live Q&As, speaking gigs—improv makes you magnetic in the moment. No more boring, over-rehearsed delivery. You’ll react, engage, and make it feel like an experience, not a monologue.

Confidence in the Unscripted Moments

Marketing isn’t just about planning—it’s about how you react when things go sideways. Improv builds confidence in uncertainty. When the unexpected happens (and it will), you won’t freeze—you’ll thrive.

Bottom Line: Marketing IS Improv

The best marketers don’t just follow playbooks. They improvise

Stay Positive & Try That On For Size

Game-changing is a bit of an oxymoron.

You don’t want the game to change. You want to win it.

Most of the efforts you can do to be game-changing aren’t actually game-changing.

It’s like the owner of a coffee shop being present throughout the week; showing face and interacting with guests.

It’s not game-changing when you evaluate it on its own. It almost seems like an obviously necessary effort.

But all the owners of all the coffee shops around them don’t show up.

And so, it’s game-changing.

—

One of my favorite fitness influencers posted a video the other day of him walking up stairs while everyone else took the escalator.

His point was to succeed, you just need to do what only 1% of people do.

But walking up stairs? That’s not game-changing is it? Except…it is.

—

If you really want change the game, do all the things that on the surface are not game-changing, but collectively and consistently, they can be.

Stay Positive & Your Move