by Kirby Hasseman
One of the most impactful books I have read over the past few years is Mark Manson’s “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*&%.” If you can get over the language, you will find that it’s a surprisingly zen look at life’s trials and how to overcome challenges. (On a side note, if you are offended by language like this, you should OBVIOUSLY not read this book).
Like many books in the personal development space, there are plenty of great takeaways in The Subtle Art. But there was one that really resonated with me. It started with a simple question. “What are you willing to suffer through?”
The idea that holds many of us back is that people who are successful just don’t struggle the way most of us do. Life just comes easy to them. They are “natural” runners, or chefs, or writers, or entrepreneurs, etc. Nothing is hard to them. That is, of course, a load of crap.
Manson points out that, in any journey, there are going to be tough times, low points and times you want to scream. Things will absolutely NOT go as planned. The difference between people that succeed in life is often simple. They are willing to keep going anyway. They are not loving every minute of it. It’s not joyful (at least not in that moment). But (and this is huge) they are willing to deal with that short term pain and frustration to reach the goal at hand.
They are willing to suffer through it.
It reminds me of when I was training for a marathon. Though I “enjoy” running, it’s not joyful at every moment. There were plenty of times I did not enjoy every moment. And let’s face it, almost no one enjoys going out for an 18 mile training run. But I was willing to suffer through it so that I could run a marathon.
The same is true for most of the big goals in your life. They will not be easy. You just have to decide what you are willing to “suffer through” to get there.
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by Kirby Hasseman
For over 3 years, Bill Petrie and I have been sharing our opinions on the marketing, branding and promotional products world on the unScripted podcast. Every Friday, Bill and I connect through the magic of technology, and discuss trending topics in our world. We call it unScripted, quite simply, because neither of us knows what the other is going to bring up so you get an honest, unedited view of our opinions and takes on industry topics.
I am proud of the podcast for several reasons. We have been recognized with awards (humble brag). We have received kind words from our peers. And hey, it’s been fun! But the journey has taught me quite a bit as well. So, if you are interested in starting a podcast or any other kind of content, here are some lessons I have learned from doing the unScripted podcast with Bill Petrie.
Consistency is King
One of the things I am probably most proud of is that we push play each week. As I write this, it will be week 162 of the unScripted podcast. That means we have put out a podcast for 162 weeks in a row. It’s a commitment. But it’s that consistency that has not only built an audience but has helped Bill and I grow. We got better at podcasting. We got better at choosing topics. It’s just like exercise. It’s about stretching and working those muscles that make you stronger.
Have Someone Who Pushes You
I am a believer in consistency. But we would have never made it through this many episodes without Bill driving me. It’s so powerful to have someone who helps to keep you on track. Bill has been an incredible teacher, coach and friend through this and I appreciate it. If you want to try something big, and crazy and hard (and you should), it’s great to have someone who pushes you and lifts you up. Thanks Bill.
Be Authentic and Transparent
I almost did not add this one because it’s almost cliche at this point. But if you want to create something long term, it’s nearly impossible to be someone you are not. Sooner or later, your real opinions will come through anyway! So be willing to put yourself out there.
Have the Courage of your Convictions
Some of the most interesting discussions we have had on the podcast (and then after) have been when Bill or I said something that upset people. While that is certainly NOT our goal, we do want to create discussion and thought. Whenever this happens, Bill and I both take the time to be introspective about our statements. Do we really think that way? If not, I think both of us are willing to say “Nah…I was wrong.” On the other hand, if we still feel strongly about something, I think that’s important too. Despite the reactive culture we have right now, I think we need to stand up for what we think as well. Trust me when I say, sometimes that is easier said than done.
Lift The Other Person Up
Partnerships of any kind can be hard. With that in mind, remember if you start something like this that “you are in the service industry.” It is really important that neither Bill nor I worry too much about credit. That is easier said than done! We all have healthy egos…and we all want recognition. But if you want a partnership to last remember that it should not matter who gets the credit.
Continue to Try New Things
If you create something that requires consistency, there is the chance you can get in a rut. That’s why it’s so important to be willing to try new things. Be willing to experiment with your format. Be willing to try new things and fail in order to find new things that work. If you don’t…it’s easy to get stale.
Keep Going
And that leads nicely to my final lesson…keep going. If it gets stale, or you get tired, it’s super tempting to think “maybe now is the time to quit.” And while it’s important to keep evaluating (in all things) I would recommend to keep pushing on. Most of the time that is the voice of comfort in your head. It’s easier to quit than to persevere. Most of the time, however, you are glad when you keep moving forward…even if it’s just for one more day.
Those are my lessons from the unScripted podcast. Again, thanks to Bill for helping me keep this train rolling! If you have questions about content marketing, please feel free to reach out to me. And if you want make sure you never miss a piece of content head to our blog page.
by Kirby Hasseman
If you have followed Hasseman Marketing, or this website, you might know that I have written a blog for quite some time. Then last year, I created challenged myself to write a blog post every day. I did that for over 6 months. It was a rewarding, powerful and tiring experience! After taking a break from the daily blogging, as you might expect, I fell out of a rhythm. I certainly still write a blog…occasionally. But (as of late last week) I decided to get back to writing on a more consistent basis.
I have several goals with this exercise.
First, I want to get the voices out of my head! I am kidding (for the most part) but I do find the writing process cathartic. It makes me feel good to push something good out in the world in the morning. It’s a bit of therapy for me.
Second, I do truly want to provide you some value. Generally, I write about a few different topics. I focus my time on personal development, sales & marketing and entrepreneurship. These are things that I am super passionate about. I find that I have inspiration everywhere for these topics and I hope they resonate with many of you.
Oh…and to set the table, I have decided I will not write every single day. The weekend will be “my days off” from posting. The goal is to go for August…and see how I am keeping up!
With the goal of providing value in those areas in mind, let me start with a few posts that have most resonated in the past in each of those areas.
I Am Not For Everyone (Personal Development)
Ever create something quickly without a lot of thought? Sometimes inspiration just roles out and you get out of the way. This was the case for this blog. I needed to get a post done quickly, and this is what I wrote. I talked about the fact that “I am not for everyone.” This can be a very hard thing for many of us to accept. But it can also be very freeing. This post was one of the most read of 2018…check it out here.
20 Great Questions To Ask (Sales & Marketing)
This was another post that I had no idea would have the impact it did. The fact is, in sales and marketing, we need to ask better questions. We hear all of the time about “story telling” and that is really important. But in order to know what story to tell, you need to first ask the right questions. Here is a list to get you started.
10 Must Read Books for Entrepreneurs
I have had the opportunity to read quite a few books over the past few years. And though this list is certainly not exhaustive, it’s a great list to start with if you are thinking of starting a business. The best of the best continue to learn every day. So if you know of a book that I should read, please let me know too!
So I am getting Back To The Blog. Here we go. If you want to make sure you never miss, you can check out out blog page. We have all kinds of content there. And as always, you can sign up to be a VIP here.
by Kirby Hasseman
Recently, my lovely bride Amy, hurt her back. And this was not your normal, “Hey my back hurts,” kind of thing. She threw her back out and it locked up. For about a day, she was completely unable to be herself. Not only was this frustrating for her, but it was disconcerting for me as well. You see, Amy is a bit of a “Tonka Truck.” She is always moving, tough to hurt and hard to slow down.
It was tough to see her like that.
Though we did not tell a lot of people, we live in a small town, and word slowly got out. People heard that Amy had hurt her back (or some variation of that) and started to reach out. Some people called. Some people texted well wishes. One of our friends even insisted on bringing over dinner that night (it was delicious). And each time I got a message, my spirit was lifted. Someone out there not only cared, but wanted to see if they could help in some small way.
These small gestures of kindness matter. And THAT is the point of the story.
When you are going through a tough time, it is easy to feel frustrated and alone. And those simple gestures of care really matter. Sometimes people will take you up on your offer to help. Often they won’t. But that is not really the point. The point of the exercise is that those simple gestures are noticed and remembered.
I tell you this because I often struggle with it. When something happens I feel awkward and I don’t know what I will say. I think “Will they even notice” or if I am really trying to talk myself out of it I might tell myself “They have plenty of other stuff to deal with now.” Either way, I try to let myself off the hook for doing the right thing. I try to convince myself it doesn’t matter.
It matters.
So the next time you have the chance to reach out (even in a small way) to try and lift someone up…take the chance.
P.S. Amy is doing better, slowly but surely! She hopes to be back to her “Tonka Truck” status in no time.
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by Kirby Hasseman
“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain. And most fools do.” Dale Carnegie
There is a disease that is rampant in our culture right now. It decreases our happiness and our productivity and it affects nearly all of the population (at times). We don’t know how or when it started, but we think it started with a decrease in gratitude. You can see the symptoms everywhere you look. It’s rampant.
It’s the disease of complaining.
Complaining is a destroyer of productivity…and a thief of joy. And here’s the thing, even the most joyful person struggles with this sometimes. We might even think it can be helpful! I hear all of the time, “I just need to vent!” The idea, of course being, if I just get this off my chest I will feel better.
But here’s a secret. It doesn’t help. Let’s dig into the reasons you should (try to) cut complaining out of your life immediately.
Complaining begets Complaining
I think one of the challenges with complaining is we think that it’s harmless. We think that we just get something off our chest and move on. But we don’t actually just move on. You see, complaining is just like anything else we do over and over in our brain. It creates a neural pathway. The more we do it, the more that pathway becomes stronger. So the more we complain, the more it becomes easier for our brain to create that as a habit. And just like any other habit, once we create that behavior, it is really hard to stop! So when you are think you are harmlessly venting, you are actually creating habit to make you a lifelong complainer.
It Actually Does NOT Help
So often, we complain or vent because we feel like if we “get it off our chests” we will feel better and help us move on. Studies are actually starting to show that is not the case. It seems that those that were allowed to complain or scream or punch a punching bag (all things designed to release frustration) actually made study participants MORE aggressive later. So the very thing you think is making you feel better, is likely making you more angry.
You Are Part of the 90%
Studies tell us that approximately 89% of the world around us is negative. We are surrounded by it. It’s the reason we have to be so intentional about being positive. So when you complain you just contribute to the muck.
It Doesn’t Fix the Problem
The problem I have with most complaining is that it is completely devoid of solution. Most people want to bitch and moan about the problems that they see in their company, family or community. But they really don’t want to do anything to make them better. They have no (real) suggestions, and if they do, they don’t want to actually work on them. That, my friends, is the definition of a waste of time.
Takes Us Away From the Present
In the book “Solve For Happy” Mo Gawdat talks about the importance of being in the present moment if you want to experience more joy. Gawdat points out that nearly all negative emotions in our lives are rooted in either the past or the future. We are angry about something that happened yesterday or worried about something that could happen tomorrow (go ahead, think about it). What this does is take us away from our present moment. The most positive and productive people do one thing really well. They live in the “now.”
Look, in the interest of transparency, this is really hard for me too. In many ways, complaining comes very natural to us all. You should not beat yourself up if you catch yourself doing this from time to time. But the important thing here is the phrase “from time to time.” It is really easy to take it from occasionally to always.
We all know that person that is mad if they cannot find something to be pissed off about!
It’s time to shine a light on complaining. It steals your happiness. If you want a simple trick to break the cycle, consider taking a gratitude challenge. When you find yourself “needing to vent,” take a breath and consider something that makes your grateful. It can replace that negative emotion with one that can give you joy.
Regardless of how you do it, it’s time to take action.
Stop. Complaining.
As always, if you want to stay on top of all of our content, head to our blog page here! And you can always join our VIP list. We send out an email each week with all of our content in one place. You can sign up for that here.
by Kirby Hasseman
It’s time for the 16th episode of the He Said/She Said Podcast with Hasseman Marketing! This podcast is designed to give an inside look at being married and being entrepreneurs and the projects we are working on and the challenges we are facing! We talk about business, family, community and more. So listen in and let us know what you think!
On this episode we talk about…
Trending Topic
This week Kirby and Amy talk about Nike’s decision to pull a new shoe from the market after criticism from Colin Kapernick. Kapernick reportedly felt the shoe, which had the Betsy Ross flag on it, was tied to slavery. Get Amy and Kirby’s take on this here.
Weekly Whirlwind
This week in the Weekly Whirlwind, Amy talks about getting Jade moved in, and some updates on the building. Kirby discusses what to do on a short week. Do you cram more in…or coast?
Lesson In Life
This week Kirby and Amy talk about what you do when you are “in a funk.” Everyone gets down sometimes. So what are some things to do when you find yourself in a rut. Kirby and Amy talk about what they do!
Shout Outs
Each week we want to give a shout out to an organization or an individual doing good work. This week Kirby talks about Volunteer Fire Fighters (and all first responders really). With the recent fire and flooding, so many people have been asked to step up. This was a big shout out to them. Amy talks about the upcoming Community Impact Day! Learn more about that here.
So that’s a wrap! We will be back…and we will continue to improve. Any feedback will be welcome as we try to provide you value! If you want to subscribe you can do that where you normally get podcasts…or you can head here to follow on Soundcloud.
Thanks so much for listening! If you have any topics you want Kirby and Amy to cover, please comment and let us know! Oh…and if you like this content, check out this page where you can find all of the content we create!
