Back to our coaching conversation…
Along with asking what our 2018 goals were, our coach challenged us as to whether we’d been ‘coasting’ in our business because it’s been 3.5 years since our book was published and since most of our marketing templates were released. He asked whether we had contributed any more IP to the marketplace in that time…?
It certainly got us thinking, and it was both confronting and uncomfortable.
We’ve always believed that discomfort is the compass for growth, so rather than shy away, we should embrace it. So if it’s ok with you, let me share where we’re at because Toby and I have some new projects in the wings that may be of interest to you.
One project Toby is very passionate about is the Art Of Partnership. Many people we speak to — even trained psychologists and professional business coaches — are amazed that two friends have been able to navigate the ups and downs of 12+ years in business both amicably and without the business imploding. There are a lot of things that we’ve deliberately implemented in our business relationship and friendship to handle tension, address conflict and to do meaningful work. Toby has been documenting these along with the personal stories behind them. If you’re in a business partnership, especially with a friend, this material might appeal to you. If you’d like to be kept in the loop as we talk more about this, please click here to express your interest in Art Of Partnership material.
One project I have been talking about privately for years is a Marketing Consultant Toolkit helping marketing consultants (and agency owners) with the ‘boring’ business side of things — like proposals, systems, documents, agendas, check lists, questionnaires, deliverables documents and more. I want to release all the tools from our years running Bluewire as a marketing implementation firm. We invested heavily in developing these systems and it was critical in us running our business through the ups and downs. Many marketing consultants love helping their clients but would love someone else to take care of the back-end systems and processes side of things. I’m thinking of releasing these as a toolkit, so please click here to let me know if you’re interested in the Marketing Consultant Toolkit.
As you know from today’s story and previous emails I’ve sent you, Toby and I benefit from books and courses, but also from the accountability, uncomfortable questions and tough love that comes with mentors, coaches and consultants.
If you’re working on your own 2018 marketing goals and need someone to help as a mentor, coach or consultant, Toby and I each work with a small number of private clients. It can be on an ongoing, in-depth basis, or on an as-needed basis for a strategy session or training workshop. If this appeals to you, please reply and I can let you know how we can help and if we’d be a good fit.
Back to our own coach again…
It was most uncomfortable when he point-blank asked us if we’d been ‘coasting’ for the 3.5 years since our book was published. We didn’t see it coming.
But it uncovered a truth.
We have been coasting…. Whilst we’ve refined our IP and whilst our body of work has reached many more people in these recent years, we certainly haven’t knocked it out of the park with new material nor ‘played to win’ by setting goals that scared us.
That all changed in the course of a 2 hour call and a day of reflection.
I’ve shared two of the projects Toby and I have been thinking about and working on for years. You could say we’ve been ‘sitting’ on them. Our coach would say we’ve been procrastinating, waiting for the right time. (And you know where I am going with this, of course…. It never feels like the “right time”).
Ironically the “right time” is always before you feel ready and “right now” is usually your best bet.
Without the gentle nudge (aka kick in the proverbial backside), we may well have continued to coast. Our projects may have continued to gather dust or make mediocre progress for another 12 months. But not now. We’ve been kicked into gear and it’s going to happen.
So now I’d like to hand it back over to you.
I’m normally quite softly-softly in my approach to guiding readers (you!) to the benefits of social media and digital marketing. My philosophy has been that I’ll show you the path and when you’re ‘ready’ you can on the journey.
aka “When the student is ready, the teacher is here.”
This has attracted some great students and clients who we’ve loved working with. But I fear there are many more people sitting on the fence who need a nudge because there is never the ‘right time’ when you feel ‘fully ready’.
After my own experience with our coach, and the impact his ‘probing questions’ had, I’m taking a leaf out of his book and asking you a few more pointed questions (if that’s ok?)
Will you make 2018 the year to translate your existing business assets onto social media?
By this I mean take your:
- Subject matter expertise and IP
- Professional network
- Industry reputation
…and use them to stay “top-of-mind” and strengthen relationships to attract leads, referrals and clients? This is your golden opportunity to leverage the value you’ve spent your career building.
- If not, are you coasting?
- If not, what are you “leaving on the table” by putting this off till you “feel ready”?
- Does setting social media as a 2018 goal scare you enough to finally get it done properly?
That’s enough ‘pointed questions’ for now ~Contact.FirstName~.