by Kirby Hasseman
This past week signaled the end of a season. It was my youngest daughter’s Senior Soccer season, to be exact. Though this sort of thing is bittersweet, there is plenty to be happy about. And while we think of high school sports as a chance for our young people to learn life lessons (and they have), I am impressed by the amount of things this team has taught me. So here are just a few lessons I learned from this year’s Coshocton Girls Soccer Team. Keep Showing Up: The fact is, this team did not have a great record. It’s not a knock. The record is what the record is. But what impressed me was how they showed up, every game, and competed hard. Whether they were winning or losing, they kept showing up. This bodes well for them in life. Because whether we like to admit it or not, life is not filled with undefeated seasons. There are losses. The true measure of an individual, or a team, is whether you keep going. Stay Classy: After every game, win or lose, our team (coaches and all) gathered around the center of the field with the other team for a prayer. This is not a faith issue for me. This is a grace issue. As a person who is way too competitive, this is a lesson I need to learn. After the game, win or lose, be classy. Real Leadership Shows When Things are Tough: Everyone looks good when things are going well. That’s why you hear coaches say “winning cures everything.” Maybe. But the real leaders show up when times are tough. This team did not yell and scream and blame. They lifted each other up. They cheered each other on. That, my friends, is leadership. Just Keep Getting Better: I usually judge a team and it’s coaches by how much they progress during a season. If they are well-coached and they have heart, they get better. They play their best at end of the season. For two years in a row, that has been true of this team. Caring > Winning: This is for the coaches. Most adults know (intellectually) that this is high school sports. It matters. But it doesn’t really matter in wins and losses. Most of the kids will not go on to play in college. Even fewer will go pro…in sports. But they will go pro in other things. That’s what the lessons are for. So when it comes to my daughter, and these other young ladies, I appreciate how much you care about them…not the record. Thanks for that. As I said, this was a great season Thanks ladies, for the memories, the inspiration and the lessons! Make sure you never miss a lesson! Sign up for our VIP newsletter below!
by Kirby Hasseman
Yesterday morning, we got a call that there was a leak at a building we have been working on in Coshocton. Technically, my lovely bride, Amy has been working on it. You can see some of the progress on this video. When we bought the building, it needed a lot of work. It’s hard, expensive and slow work. It’s important, but the progress can seem frustratingly slow. And on mornings like this, when we get a call about a problem, it’s really hard not to be annoyed. You look around and all you see is challenges. All you see is how far you have to go. If you have ever chased a big and challenging goal, my hunch is, this moment feels familiar to you. Whether your goal is get in shape, grow your sales, train for event, build a business, we all get to that point in the road where all we can see is potholes. In that moment, it might be time to look back. You heard me right. Yes, it’s important to “keep your eyes on the prize” or “gaze at the end goal,” or any other cliche’. But sometimes it’s important to remind yourself how far you have come. In our case, we can look back at the first video we shot when getting the building. It was a mess. It was unsafe. It was scary. Yes, we do have a long way to go. But wow! We have come a long way. As we look around at the painting that has been done, the renovations, and the improvement in culture and safety, it’s enough inspiration to get us back on track. So if you are at that moment in your journey, take heart. Though you still have a long way to go, you have probably made quite a few strides in the right direction. Take a few moments to celebrate those. Then you might have the motivation to get back to work. Make sure you never miss an update! There are plenty of places to connect. You can find us on Facebook here, subscribe to Youtube here, or you can sign up for our VIP newsletter below!
by Kirby Hasseman
Since I started writing this blog every day, I have many times when I wondered whether or not to keep going. The obvious goal (or at least it seems obvious to me) is to provide a ton of value to the people reading. If I can do that over time, the audience will grow. If I continue to do that over time, this will ultimately affect them in a positive way (and help grow our business). I feel like that is growing a business the right way. But make no mistake. There are have been times when I question whether it is worth it. I wonder if anyone cares. I wonder if it IS providing value. I wonder if it’s worth it. This is not a cry for help or a plea for attention. It’s just an honest assessment of time. Coming up with ideas each day, and clackety clacking the keys in order to create this, is a real investment. If I am doing this, I am not doing something else. Then, though, I am reminded of a few things. First, I really do think this is the right thing to do. Whether or not I create any short term sales with this strategy is really not the point. It would be nice, sure. But I really believe we are in a “Give First Economy.” As I mention here, if I believe that, then I want to provide value up front. Reconnecting with that helps. Next, I am reminded that I never know what will provide value! Sometimes I will write an article that I think everyone NEEDS to read. I am convinced that this article will really help people (like this one)...and no one really cares. Then I crank out a piece quickly, and I assume the world will ignore it, and it catches fire (like this one). I point this out because, if I believe my goal is to provide value (and I do) and I am not sure what will resonate (and I am not), then I just need to keep showing up. I need to have a cup of coffee, wipe the sleep from my eyes, and get back to work. My guess is…you do too. Here’s to making a difference. Make sure you sign up for our VIP newsletter below. Become a VIP…and get all of the content we create once a week!
by Kirby Hasseman
My friend Bill Petrie and I talk a lot about authenticity. We talk about it on our weekly podcast unScripted (it drops every Friday here), and in talks we give about Content Marketing. The concept is simple. Be you. Create your own voice. But as is the case with many things in life, simple is not the same as easy. When it comes to authenticity (in content and in life) I have good news and bad news. The Good NewsThe good news about creating content around your authentic voice, opinions and personality is…it will be easier. You won’t have to create an opinion about your work or your life. You have them. In many ways, when you can truly embrace this, you shed a weight. Many of us go through life wearing a mask. When you make the realization that you are not for everyone, and accept that, it can be freeing. The Bad NewsOn the other hand, it can be scary. If you are like most of us, you have some concern that if you are really you, people won’t like it. I totally get it. And here’s the rub. If you are authentic, there are going to be people that don’t like it (or you). There will be people that bristle if you share a true opinion or point of view. They will avoid you or not do business with you. And that’s okay. The fact is, when you share your authentic voice, you will turn some people off. But you will attract people as well. And for the most part, the people you attract are much more likely to “get” you and what you are all about. The people you attract are going to be the organizations that identify with what Simon Sinek calls “your why.” They will even (most likely) be people or organizations you enjoy serving more. You will have real relationship that is authentic. As I said to Bill recently, this does not just mean being authentic about opinions. For us, it’s being authentic about joy. Our mission is to “Deliver Marketing Joy.” Recently we did t-shirts (they are so sweet and you can check them out here) that say “Be Kind. Spread Joy. Embrace the hustle.” Though I absolutely love them, there are going to be some that are turned off by the message. That, my friends, is totally cool with me. If our message does not resonate with them, there are plenty of other options out there. But if that message gets you fired up and brings you joy…welcome to the tribe. Make sure you never miss an update! Sign up for our VIP newsletter below!
by Kirby Hasseman
I admire people who have accomplished big things. I think most of us do. Whether with jealousy or admiration, we look at them and are impressed with what they have done (or are doing). And when we see people that have accomplished things like we want, it’s natural that we want to “get their roadmap.” We want to borrow what they have done, so it can naturally lead to what we want too. That makes sense. The problem with this is, we tend to look at the destination on the map…not so much the journey. We look at the apex of the mountain…not the trails. We want to catapult to the gourmet dinner by using the microwave. The more I study people I admire (and we have more and more access to them now), the more I understand that it’s not about the end goal. As Jeff Haden writes today about teen driver Hallie Deegan, the most driven people focus on obsessively on the process. Hallie wants to become a professional driver, so she is not focused on things that don’t move her toward that goal every day.
*When I ask her if she worries about someday looking back on on things she didn’t get to experience, she’s quick to answer.
“If I wanted to do the ‘typical’ things other people my age do,” she says, “I would. I want to train. I want to get better. In my mind, if there is something I want to do well… I don’t want to waste time doing things that won’t help me.”
I love this. The reality is, most people put in average (or below average) effort toward their goals, and then wonder why they are getting average results. If you want to achieve something special, you have to act special. You have to do what most people are unwilling to do. In his most recent vlog, Casey Neistat explains his daily routine. What is he doing at 5am? He is working. Oh…and then he talks to Navy Seal Jocko Willink about why this works. So regardless of what you are trying to accomplish, it’s about the work. Set the big goal. That’s very important. But the step that most people skip is the daily work you need to do to get there. What is that? What do you need to do (that most people are unwilling to do) to move you toward it? Now. Go do that. Every day. We are posting new content every day. Make sure you never miss an update! Sign up for our VIP newsletter. We want to provide you motivation and inspiration to get you moving toward your goals. Sign up below.
