I have a coffee stained, tattered Post-It sitting on my desk right now that reads “Do Stuff That Matters.” Not only is it a helpful reminder but it is like my own personal boss demanding that I keep focused on our big mission. I need the constant reminder!
Because:
- It is so easy to get off track.
- It’s so easy to focus on the stuff that is not important even though other people say are essential.
- It’s easy to spend all your time monitoring your social media channels and fielding email questions.
- It’s so easy to look at what everyone is doing and wondering if you should do ‘that’ too.
But is this REALLY the work that matters?
This week has been a week where this reminder note took center stage as I had wonderful conversations with fellow women entrepreneurs. Because each conversation held a gem of wisdom I want to share a few here with you in the hopes that it will keep you focused on doing great stuff … the stuff that truly matters to you and your business.
1. Social media is only one marketing channel.
Social media is not the ONLY way to reach your audience. Even with the multitude of platforms out there, one person (or a small team) should not try to be on every single one (or for that matter more than 4-5). And it should not be the sole way you reach your audience.
Lesson: Social media is not the “end all, be all”. Don’t forget the good ol’ fashion way of attracting your audience like meeting people in-person, picking up the phone and finding ways to collaborate, asking for referrals or introductions, networking, writing quality pieces for other people’s sites, and so on.
2. Define your own success. Your own emphatic, gut-knowing “Yes!”.
You need to embrace your own idea of what success in business looks and feels like for you. We are inundated with people yelling at us to do this or that. You have to do webinars and telesummits, you have to have a 3-video glossy launch series, you have to do joint ventures with people with massive lists, you have to do ______. Blah!
No, you really don’t! You have to figure out what YOU want to do. What in your gut you want to leap towards. The opportunities that your heart recognizes and your whole body wants to hug. Your big fat “Yes.” When you get the feeling that something isn’t a fit or just doesn’t feel like you – listen to it.
Lesson: There are plenty of ways to do business. Do what feels right for you.
3. Confidence comes with action.
We often allow our own uncertainty and self-doubt to hold us back from focusing on what matters most. We procrastinate getting out there by doing the work that does not matter. It doesn’t need to be big action – just simply taking steps forward towards your big audacious passionate goal. When we get overwhelmed by all our options and advice thrown out us, we get paralyzed to make the next step.
Lesson A: Take a small step daily in the direction of your dreams.
Lesson B: Don’t get hung up listening to how others have done it. Focus on your path.
4. Niches are the way to go.
Not just from a marketing perspective but also when you feel in line with the people you’re serving you will WANT to do the work that matters to you and to them!
Don’t be afraid to niche it down! You can’t be everything to everyone – if you try, you end up being nothing to no one. Ouch. I know. Sorry to be so harsh.
Niches are wildly important for your business and for developing your brand. When you are clear on exactly the small corner of the world that you want to work with you can speak to them like your best friends or close confidants. The language you use and the way in which you communicate is like your secret language that only you and your selected audience understands. We all like to be part of a smaller community – one that truly knows and sees us for who we are and who feel comfortably at home with.
Lesson: Narrow your audience to exactly the type of people you want to work with – talk to them and them alone – and connect like you never have before.
You know exactly the stuff that truly matters. So get working on it!
Share how YOU focus on what matters below. We’d love to have you share your ideas.
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