Today I’m thinking about all the formulas that are out there being taught. And I want to help you change your approach and your perspective on them. These teachers tried a lot of things, and then something worked for them, and they became successful. Their success attracted attention and questions, and then they realized people would pay to learn how to be successful the same way they did.
It is a powerful and valid principle to study those who have accomplished what you want to accomplish, but I see too much of success being boiled down to specific formulas and then sold, and then people paying for the formula and then following it (or not) and perhaps having some initial success (or not).
What you need to know is that business success is about so much more than a specific marketing formula.
First, the formula itself may be valid but it needs to match you. What are your goals, your business model, your personality, your lifestyle requirements? Not every formula will work for you, or necessarily produce the kind of success that is right for you.
Second, you need to build your character if you want to have success. Focus, persistence, hard work, creativity, discipline – these are the kinds of traits you will need to cultivate, and you will need them in varying degrees depending on who you are and what you are trying to do.
The point I want to make here is that none of these marketing courses talk about the underlying character disciplines that are necessary to truly implement these formulas over time in a way that they will work if they are in fact the right process for you.
Third, the best way forward is to learn from others but focus on creating your own customized strategy or formula, that you use and tweak until you find what works for you.
I see two good options in discovering the right marketing strategy for you. The first is to follow the online teachers and buy their courses and follow their podcasts and read their blog posts – and think critically about them. Compare them to each other, ask yourself what they are telling you that is about the technical tools or the nature of the online world, and what is from their experience. Consider what character qualities they exhibit. And then once you’ve done your research and learned a lot of good information, take a season of time to shut it all out and focus on yourself and your business.
If you want to keep learning, focus on personal development stuff that will help you be the person you need to be, to run the business you want to have.
And get creative. And start building your own custom marketing strategy. Find what you love, find what they need. Make it match your lifestyle needs, and make sure it puts you working with the kind of people you want to do life with. Sketch out a basic plan, and as soon as the core idea is formed, start doing it. Then learn from that, look at how it is or is not authentic to you.
As your business model takes shape, and you do marketing activity, does it feel good to you? Do you like how you are spending your days? Are you getting any engagement? Don’t worry about getting a lot of response online at first, because you want. But if you see hints of the right kinds, and your daily and weekly activities resonate with you, at your core, then just keep working your plan, and adjusting as you go.
This is what I’ve done. This will be one of the posts I’ll point to when people ask later how I became successful, which course did I follow, which formula worked. And I can tell them how often I posted and where, but I’ll tell them that won’t matter to them.
What truly matters in making a marketing strategy that will bring you the success you’re seeking is to learn the basics of what is available and possible online, and then to search your heart and your mind to discover what you want to do with the possibilities. The other thing I’d tell them that matters immensely is to embark on a serious personal development journey, and to go wide and deep with it. But that’s a post for another day.
I mentioned that there are two options for discovering the right marketing strategy for you and your business. The first is the process I just outlined of doing the research and then applying it to yourself. The second is basically the same but with a strategic shortcut: hire a coach.
You could hire a marketing coach to help you do this process more effectively, and authentically. As a coach they help you identify important details about what you really want for yourself and your business. And as a marketer they have a ton of knowledge about what is possible and the big ideas and formulas that have been put out there, which means working with them saves you a ton of time and money in doing the research to get the bigger picture than just one teacher or one course. They bring their knowledge of marketing and passion to help people, and develop a relationship with you and become a partner with you in your journey toward personal success. They help you identify and pursue your goals, keeping you on the right track as you try things to see both what works for you, and what you want for yourself and your business.
This is what I do, and this is why I do what I do. If you are looking for a marketing coach, I’d love to get on a free call with you to explore what you truly need, and see if we are a good fit to work together. You’ll find a link below this post to schedule a discovery call.
But the most important thing that I want you to know, is that there is an amazing world of opportunity online, and that the most powerful thing you can do is creatively design a unique approach and angle that fits you and that will stand out in the marketplace.
You do this not by following cookie cutter instructions, but by doing a) further research online, and b) a lot of soul searching, and then when you begin to find something that speaks to you, you work hard at it, and when you love it and you’re motivated, you really begin to build the character disciplines that will enable you to go the distance and make tangible progress toward your big goals and dreams.
When you do this right, you won’t have time for netflix and magazines and surfing the web anymore. But you know what? You won’t miss it.
You can have a focused, purposeful, authentic life around building a profitable business that you love. But the road to get you there is so much more complex than buying a single expensive course and following all of the steps.
I told myself that this year I would tell you the honest truth from my heart, to help you know the true path to success.
And this is what was on my heart today, so my challenge to you is to dream big, and to find the courage to write your own story. Learn from others, but embrace the journey of finding your own path. Once you find it, you’ll know, and you’ll never look back.
To your future,
Alicia
Alicia Eichmann