You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘We’re all marketers/salespeople’.
Generally, I think that's true, though it looks different for everyone.
If you’re in any leadership role, it probably looks like networking with your community and potential partners. If you're in marketing, it looks like creating content.
But, assuming it’s true, it’s surprising how little of your time is spent actually ‘doing marketing’. Even if your job is marketing.
A lot of time is spent creating strategies, building systems, meeting with team members… None of which is actually doing the stuff. Doing the stuff is actually going to meet someone, sending an email, making a call or posting on social media.
I find I have to create an environment in which I absolutely positively have to do some marketing and put it out there.
Generally, I think that's true, though it looks different for everyone.
If you’re in any leadership role, it probably looks like networking with your community and potential partners. If you're in marketing, it looks like creating content.
But, assuming it’s true, it’s surprising how little of your time is spent actually ‘doing marketing’. Even if your job is marketing.
A lot of time is spent creating strategies, building systems, meeting with team members… None of which is actually doing the stuff. Doing the stuff is actually going to meet someone, sending an email, making a call or posting on social media.
I find I have to create an environment in which I absolutely positively have to do some marketing and put it out there.
When you absolutely positively have to do something
I call it the poorly relatives rule.
The first time I was really disciplined in writing and sending something daily, I wrote to my poorly sister in law. These were pretty much just streams of consciousness about my day, trying to bring a smile to her face. But, banal as it seemed, I knew she'd feel better for hearing from me. I told her I'd write and I couldn’t let her down.
I wrote even when I didn’t feel like it.
When I thought I had nothing to say.
When I really didn’t have the time.
And something strange happened. Once I started writing, something always came. And I always found the time. And I always felt great as a result of putting something out there.
The first time I was really disciplined in writing and sending something daily, I wrote to my poorly sister in law. These were pretty much just streams of consciousness about my day, trying to bring a smile to her face. But, banal as it seemed, I knew she'd feel better for hearing from me. I told her I'd write and I couldn’t let her down.
I wrote even when I didn’t feel like it.
When I thought I had nothing to say.
When I really didn’t have the time.
And something strange happened. Once I started writing, something always came. And I always found the time. And I always felt great as a result of putting something out there.
Find an outside motivation
Having some kind of outside motivation stops you putting off the task and justifying it inside your own head.
For you, this could be promising you’ll call someone next week. Or telling your audience to expect weekly emails.
In a recent example, my friend vowed that if he didn't send me his completed website by Monday, he'd shave his head. Now that's pretty extreme but, you know what? He made sure he sent it to me.
We’re all marketers. And not marketing your care business has an impact long term. What’s more, actually doing the stuff energises us and steadily strengthens your business.
If you’re tired of that self-loathing cycle of setting a goal, missing it and then feeling bad – on repeat – then perhaps you should give it a go.
For you, this could be promising you’ll call someone next week. Or telling your audience to expect weekly emails.
In a recent example, my friend vowed that if he didn't send me his completed website by Monday, he'd shave his head. Now that's pretty extreme but, you know what? He made sure he sent it to me.
We’re all marketers. And not marketing your care business has an impact long term. What’s more, actually doing the stuff energises us and steadily strengthens your business.
If you’re tired of that self-loathing cycle of setting a goal, missing it and then feeling bad – on repeat – then perhaps you should give it a go.