The pickleball lesson…
It was a Saturday afternoon in the middle of August 2022. I was relaxing on the couch, and my family informed me they were headed up the street in our neighborhood to play Pickleball. It's a fun game...and...since I played tennis in college...it's my responsibility to dominate!
My daughter Ellie and I were playing my son Fletcher and his wife Selena in doubles. My wife Stacy was playing the role of the cheerleader...or heckler. The game was tied, and things were heating up. I ran to cover a shot and fell backward. Then, to ensure I upheld my responsibility of domination, I got up and ran to the other side of the court since the point was still in play.
That's when it happened.
I tripped and fell forward. I stretched out my arms to catch my fall, and the next thing I knew, my right hand was either broken or dislocated. After a trip to the walk-in ortho clinic, it was determined that it was just dislocated...but...so severely that it would require surgery.
Click here for a few pics... but beware if you have a weak stomach.
Over the next several weeks, I learned a valuable lesson.
As I was lying on the ground surveying the situation, I uttered these words; "I have so much work to do...I need my right hand!" We were launching a ton of content the first week of September, and I was responsible for helping create a chunk of it. I needed my right hand to type and move a mouse on my computer.
When I looked at the launch as a whole, it was overwhelming. So I then decided to break the large rock down into little pieces. I wasn't sure how I would move the giant boulder, but I decided to take it one small piece at a time.
For example, can I just organize all the files in folders today? Can I try to make edits on just one piece of content tomorrow? Can I at least type the remaining content with my left hand... one paragraph at a time? I didn't know all the answers up front, but slowly it all came together. And to be honest, I was probably more focused and productive than I expected. The launch went off as planned.
As I reflect over the past few weeks, I find that the idea of implementing a marketing plan can feel like a giant boulder at times. Sometimes it seems overwhelming. Sometimes you have so many ideas you don't know where to start. Sometimes you try to copy someone else because...well...if they are doing it, it must be the right thing to do...ie...FOMO.
My advice:
Break the giant boulder of a marketing plan down into little rocks.
Pick a rhythm that works.
Pick the content you want to create.
Launch and stick to the plan for six months at least.
Evaluate and adjust.
Then slowly add additional strategy pieces along the way.
Stop tweaking; remember, version 1 is always better than version 0.
And don't forget, marketing is a marathon, not a sprint, when you are in a relationship business.
By following these simple tips, you may find that you are more focused and productive as well...and your marketing plan is not as giant a boulder as you thought.