Tweak Your Biz » Marketing » Why you are not wrong

Why you are not wrong

by Barney Austen on May 13th, 2010
20 Comments



Chris Brogan wrote a nice post the other day. It was all about not getting discouraged doing what you do provided it’s proving effective.

Rejection, despair, giving up

For those of you who don’t know, Chris is one of the top marketing bloggers and has his finger on the pulse of all things social media. He writes about things that are, by in large, common sense. He rarely writes anything that you could consider “new”, but what he does do is make the world of marketing accessible and understandable for us mere mortals.

Why does he write then?

He’s been doing it for a while now. He writes to share his expertise and insights and in return hopes to sell copies of his book, be invited to speak, be asked to engage for consultancy… This is his pay-back or, to put it another way, his marketing and sales technique.

We are all in a similar position. Our businesses are not unique for the most part. I know that I, for one, have been told that what I am doing “has been done before”. I suspect I’m not the only one. However most of us realise that if it has been done before and we believe there is room in the market for a newer version with a different twist, then it’s worth pursuing and making into reality.

Chris is right. It’s very easy to become discouraged. The nay-sayers will always be there.  Take social media as a classic example – the arguments for whether it works or doesn’t come thick and fast. Those who can see the opportunity and have the time, energy and focus will make it work for them. Has it been done before? Absolutely. Does this mean it can’t work for your business? Absolutely not – just make sure you’re doing it right!

Sure, we all get discouraged, the trick is having the necessary belief in what you are doing and working the smartest way you can to build a successful business – whatever that means for you.

What do you do when you get discouraged?

Photo :dbking



Category: Blogging, Marketing Strategy

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The Author:

Budding entrepeneur working on software product solutions for business. My background is mainly operational and senior management roles in mobile telecoms and software houses. Areas of expertise include professional services, out-sourcing, team management and general operations management. I've made the conscious decision to create my own company having spent the last 20 years learning in the corporate world. In my contributions to this forum, I will share some insights and learnings that I've picked up along the way and hopefully they will be useful to some or all! http://www.myprojecttracker.com

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  • http://www.btbtraining.com/blog Niall Devitt

    Wise words my friend. For me, short-term goals are one great way to keep my motivation up. Once I see that I am achieving day to day & week to week, I know longer term takes care of itself.

  • http://www.channelship.ie facundo

    Good one on a Friday Barney. I think that this “if” we are all familiar with and you mention in your post as”and we believe there is room in the market” will not be that important. It’ll all have to do with pure belief and passion, which is what probably allows people to reinvent the wheel every now and then and make room in the market for it.

  • Anonymous

    just because it’s been done before doesn’t mean it can’t be done better. I think the example the Chris gives of Michael Jordan is an excellent example.

  • Anonymous

    The same is true for gathering publicity. You may feel there’s nothing new about your business, but you may have a different way of approaching the same product or service. The trick is to deliver your message in a way that enables people to process it in their gut, not just their logical brain.

  • http://www.cgonlinemarketing.com/ Christina Giliberti

    Hi Barney,

    Its easy to become discouraged, but we go through cycles and while we are ‘down’ we have time to reflect and consider the whys and hows. So we become equipped with knowledge and insights which give us a boost of confidence to make it work this time. Doing the same thing with a twist as you say that be that all-important distinction. Innovation doesn’t have to be a completely new thing….you don’t see car manufacturers reinventing the wheel. They see an improvement in performance or styling and the end result is somthing new.

    Nice blog – thanks for sharing ; 0 )

    Tina

  • http://twitter.com/virtualvip Jeff Yablon

    Barney, the irony is delicious.

    You have the right idea, but like Chris went all rah-rah instead of actually SAYONG anything!

    I’ve told Chris about this phenomenon and my disappointment in how bright people like he and you areall falling into this trap.

    Move forward. .. with something real.

    Jeff Yablon
    http://answerguy.com
    [sent from my mobile device. apologies for typos, informal writing tone, etc.]

  • Anonymous

    I think that this could be one of the downsides of social media – listening too much to an ever wider audience. Believe in yourself and work from your heart. The idle chatter and negative comments are irrelevant and not worth bothering with. Be the attractive force rather than the reactive uncertain. Focus on the positive in yourself, and the momentum for your unique value will grow.
    :0)

  • http://www.TheFranchiseKingBlog.com The Franchise King

    Barney,Thanks for the post. I am going through a period of discouragement as we speak. My new product launch is going average at best, my pipeline of would-be-franchise owners is also in the same genre, and the proposals I have in to a few companies to help them with their social media efforts are obviously sitting in another dimension.@ChrisBrogan happens to be someone that I watch and learn from. He cheers me on, he writes as a human, and his ideas are very useful.When I’m feeling sorry for myself, because my products don’t sell (yet) like Brian Clark’s do, I have to remember that I am different. I’m unique. It will be ok. I always trust my intuition.I know that you are curious about my product, Barney.Here-http://www.FranchiseOnlineUniversity.com

  • http://lichtman.ca Anonymous

    Being original is not a factor in being successful in business. I’ve met many very, very successful plumbers and electricians for instance. They’re doing commodity work in a not-particularly-innovative industry, and yet they’re making good money. The way to the top is to get a little hustle in your footsteps. Sell a little more, close a little harder, and make sure that what you deliver is of quality.

  • http://www.seefincoaching.com/blog Elaine Rogers

    The temptation to go underground when discouraged is overwhelming for some. I see it in my clients often, but the fact that they have taken positive action (hiring a business coach) is a way of making sure they are taking care of themselves long term, especially as they have many “bad” days.
    I agree 100% with Niall below, short term achievable goals will help move us forward, even if feeling discouraged.
    I heard a great story recently about mowing the lawn (procrastination and overwhelm):
    I don’t wanna cut the grass (imagine a child-like tantrum). So take the mower out of the shed.
    Still don’t wanna cut the grass? – check it’s full of fuel.
    Still don’t wanna cut the grass? Cut one strip, and counteract that with an opposite strip.
    Still don’t wanna….. – that’s how it goes. I am sharing this analogy as I realise that’s what I do – am fearful of the “big” task, so in the background break it into little tasks, and do them one by one. Before I know it, the whole thing falls into place :) .

    But the best bit is, that by the time the big task is done, I will have forgotten the misery and pain I felt initially.

    [BTW - it takes 3 hours to cut my lawn, so this story is close to my heart, and my weak lower back, but the reward of a cold beer does help to lessen the sting] And thanks for linking to my post re original ideas :)

  • http://blog.myprojecttracker.com Barney Austen

    Hi Elaine. Thanks for the comments – and the analogy. Baby goals/steps are the perfect solution for trying to get the big task done! 3 hours to cut your lawn – create some more flowerbeds!

  • http://blog.myprojecttracker.com Barney Austen

    Hi there Lewis. Thanks for the comment – succinctly put as always :)

  • http://blog.myprojecttracker.com Barney Austen

    Thanks for the comment Christina

  • http://blog.myprojecttracker.com Barney Austen

    Good point Derbhile. Like the point about “making it real in their gut” is so true. Thanks for sharing.

  • http://www.seefincoaching.com/blog Elaine Rogers

    I have tonnes of flowerbeds, they require work also :(
    But rather a large garden to maintain than a large house. Amazing how we choose what we like and what we don’t like – like the various tasks within our businesses. I enjoy organising and meeting but dislike accounts.
    Maybe I need to outsource my grass mowing :)

  • http://blog.myprojecttracker.com Barney Austen

    Hi Jeff. Thanks for the comment. This post was not trying to tell people how to achieve their aims – more to help them understand that it is normal to get down, feel like giving up etc because we all do at some point.

    How we combat the naysayers and build our businesses is unique to each person based on their challenges. For some, as people have commented, it’s about putting in place small, achievable goals.. for others, it’s getting support from outside the business… there is no text book answer (or someone would have written it at this point :) ).

    Thanks again for reading.

  • http://blog.myprojecttracker.com Barney Austen

    Cheers for the comment. Keep the faith and best of luck with the product.

  • http://blog.myprojecttracker.com Barney Austen

    Good pointer Niall. Works for me too :)

  • http://blog.myprojecttracker.com Barney Austen

    Hi Jeremy. Agree 100% – a succinct comment that makes the point well. Thanks for sharing.

  • http://www.TheFranchiseKingBlog.com The Franchise King

    Thank you, Barney!

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