Guest post by Deidre Rienzo:

First, let me say it’s hard to focus on work with everything that’s happening in the world. If you’re struggling to focus, or sleep or shower, you’re not alone. I want to send you a big hug and a cup of tea. Alas, we still have businesses to run, so here goes...

A few weeks ago, I recapped my 2020 and at the end, I mentioned I wasn’t sure yet what my goals were. Thankfully I was planning to attend Ilise’s virtual retreat, which happened last week — and as with everything Marketing Mentor related — I knew clarity would come from it. And clarity did come.

The theme was The Art of Replacing — which I loved, because we can have a tendency to max ourselves out, adding more and more to our plates. Instead, this conference was about what we would replace (with new and better). It was a nod to the past year, in which many of us had to be super-flexible and learn to pivot and replace. The idea, Ilise said, is to keep us ready for anything. 

It’s like marketing. When you have a blueprint to follow, you can take the steps you need to keep your pipeline full. When you know how to replace (and how to think about replacing), you will be able to move, shift and reinvent as needed.

Ilise suggested 3 things that might have room for replacing — and gave us a roadmap for how to define, think about and achieve these replacements:

1. Clients
2. Processes
3. Behaviors 

Personally, I don’t need to replace any clients — I have a great mix and try to only work with people who are going to be a mutual fit. Overall, my business processes work well. What did stand out as opportunities for replacement were some of my behaviors around money, focus and mindset.

Things to replace 

I determined these are the things I want to replace. For each, I have steps as to how:  

• I want to replace playing money catch-up with directing money. 
• I want to replace mind-clutter with presence. 
• I want to replace self-doubt with self-acceptance.
• I want to replace unfocused scurrying with things that fill me up. 

Tangible goals

Here’s what I’m aiming for: 

• Best year yet financially
• Work 5-6 hours a day, ideally 10-3:30
• At least 6 un-newsletters
• Use timer / Pomodoro Technique as habit
• Contribute to ROTH IRA every month
• Use Profit First model for every payment

The retreat was illuminating. Aside from everything we discussed and learned, I was also reminded to keep things simple, because that’s what works for me. That’s how I have more to give. Creativity is a gift. And sharing that gift — while so immensely rewarding — can also be draining for some of us. I feel like it’s more important than ever to prioritize refilling the well and keeping ourselves whole, so we can continue to bring beauty to the world. 

I’m honored to be part of this incredible creative community. 

I wish you a prosperous, peaceful and fulfilling 2021! 

—

Hi, I’m Deidre. In my posts, I talk about my voyage down the road of self-employment as a copywriting partner to web designers , my achievements and roadblocks along the way, and what I’m learning as I go (with Marketing Mentor as my guide). To keep in touch, sign up for my un-newsletter here and get my freebie download, 12 Sparks to Write Sizzling, Audience-Attracting Website Words.

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