Comments on: Sometimes We Just Need a Little Kick in the Butt http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/ Building Intimate Business Relationships Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:50:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/comment-page-1/#comment-2001 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:12:07 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/#comment-2001 @Robin – Excellent points. Thanks for adding to this discussion. I know the feeling (of being overwhelmed by those smarter than us.) There are days in the office where those damn dots just won’t connect. (And that’s okay.) Just recently I opened my free consulting offer and was astounded by the feedback and the people reaching out. I had a couple of people that I considered ‘online role models’ more or less request a session. Were they just testing me? Did they REALLY care about my insights? I’m not sure, but it took a bit to get past the overwhelmed feeling that I couldn’t tell them something they didn’t already know. @Robin – Excellent points. Thanks for adding to this discussion. I know the feeling (of being overwhelmed by those smarter than us.) There are days in the office where those damn dots just won’t connect. (And that’s okay.)

Just recently I opened my free consulting offer and was astounded by the feedback and the people reaching out. I had a couple of people that I considered ‘online role models’ more or less request a session.

Were they just testing me? Did they REALLY care about my insights? I’m not sure, but it took a bit to get past the overwhelmed feeling that I couldn’t tell them something they didn’t already know.

]]> By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/comment-page-1/#comment-2000 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:11:53 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/#comment-2000 @Stuart – So that’s where my inefficiency is coming from. I drink regular coke, which keeps me running/working out for a couple of hours daily and so I have less time for myself. It seems I might have to make the transition to Diet Dr. Pepper. @Stuart – So that’s where my inefficiency is coming from. I drink regular coke, which keeps me running/working out for a couple of hours daily and so I have less time for myself. It seems I might have to make the transition to Diet Dr. Pepper.

]]> By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/comment-page-1/#comment-1999 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:11:31 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/#comment-1999 @Tim – You bring up such a good point. A good percentage of the time it’s about kicking ourselves in the butt, but sometimes it’s important to find those we believe in and care about and ensure that care enough to kick them in the butt. I had a coach once that I wasn’t too terribly fond of (primarily because I didn’t think he was a very good coach), but I always had a lot of respect for his character as a man. He never asked us to go on 3 mile jogs during baseball athletics without putting on his running shoes and joining in with the front pack. That speaks volumes about someone in my opinion. Kudos to you for setting good examples for your students. @Tim – You bring up such a good point. A good percentage of the time it’s about kicking ourselves in the butt, but sometimes it’s important to find those we believe in and care about and ensure that care enough to kick them in the butt.

I had a coach once that I wasn’t too terribly fond of (primarily because I didn’t think he was a very good coach), but I always had a lot of respect for his character as a man. He never asked us to go on 3 mile jogs during baseball athletics without putting on his running shoes and joining in with the front pack. That speaks volumes about someone in my opinion. Kudos to you for setting good examples for your students.

]]> By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/comment-page-1/#comment-1998 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:11:13 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/#comment-1998 @David – Alas, gut and intuition are two things I think we learn to trust as marketers. Sometimes I suspect it’s these two internal feelings that “kick us in the butt.” I think it’s admirable what you’re doing, and I hope that I have the courage when that time comes in my career to do the same. @David – Alas, gut and intuition are two things I think we learn to trust as marketers. Sometimes I suspect it’s these two internal feelings that “kick us in the butt.” I think it’s admirable what you’re doing, and I hope that I have the courage when that time comes in my career to do the same.

]]> By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/comment-page-1/#comment-1997 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:10:43 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/#comment-1997 @David – Marketing is a trivial task, especially when we come to the conclusion that the best products can essentially market themselves. In spite of that though, I think Marketing is so much more than that. It’s a business and statistics and psychology and sociology and all of these disciplines rolled into one. So that’s the key is getting behind something you believe in and the learning about what it is that makes your target audience tick and then providing them with value. And your point about the Museum is both stoic in nature (and maybe that’s just because I’m reading Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations) and very true. Thanks for the comment! @David – Marketing is a trivial task, especially when we come to the conclusion that the best products can essentially market themselves. In spite of that though, I think Marketing is so much more than that. It’s a business and statistics and psychology and sociology and all of these disciplines rolled into one.

So that’s the key is getting behind something you believe in and the learning about what it is that makes your target audience tick and then providing them with value.

And your point about the Museum is both stoic in nature (and maybe that’s just because I’m reading Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations) and very true. Thanks for the comment!

]]> By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/comment-page-1/#comment-1996 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:09:58 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/#comment-1996 @Rebecca – Thanks. I know you’re working like crazy right now with Alice and it has to be hard to find time for your own blog(s). I think I learn the most from people who disagree with me, and make me re-evaluate or at least think deeper about my own opinions. It either A.) gets me to see the other side or B.) forces me to bolster my own arguments and opinions. I succeeded in school in part because I was so competitive. I haven’t brought that to the blogosphere yet, but maybe it’s something I should consider as I don’t doubt it would push me to deliver better content more consistently. @Rebecca – Thanks. I know you’re working like crazy right now with Alice and it has to be hard to find time for your own blog(s).

I think I learn the most from people who disagree with me, and make me re-evaluate or at least think deeper about my own opinions. It either A.) gets me to see the other side or B.) forces me to bolster my own arguments and opinions.

I succeeded in school in part because I was so competitive. I haven’t brought that to the blogosphere yet, but maybe it’s something I should consider as I don’t doubt it would push me to deliver better content more consistently.

]]> By: admin http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/comment-page-1/#comment-1995 admin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:09:39 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/#comment-1995 @Stuart – Thanks for the kind words about the post Stuart, and thanks for providing some of the people that you turn to when you need that kick-start. I read/watch most of Gary’s and Penelope’s content, but haven’t read Sarah in a long time. I’ll definitely check that out. I know sometimes my ‘burnout’ comes from working long hours during the week, taking work home with me, etc. Do you still work from home? I imagine it must be really hard to stay focused and disciplined without co-workers and a boss to keep you engaged. What are some of the techniques you employ? @Stuart – Thanks for the kind words about the post Stuart, and thanks for providing some of the people that you turn to when you need that kick-start. I read/watch most of Gary’s and Penelope’s content, but haven’t read Sarah in a long time. I’ll definitely check that out.

I know sometimes my ‘burnout’ comes from working long hours during the week, taking work home with me, etc. Do you still work from home? I imagine it must be really hard to stay focused and disciplined without co-workers and a boss to keep you engaged. What are some of the techniques you employ?

]]> By: Monica O'Brien http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/comment-page-1/#comment-1486 Monica O'Brien Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:49:51 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/#comment-1486 Really great post Ryan. I wish I had more to add but I'm spent after a day of trying to figure out how I can use multi-variate regression to determine pricing strategy for an online t-shirt company (don't ask). But, yeah, this post is awesome and I thought it deserved some kudos. Really great post Ryan. I wish I had more to add but I’m spent after a day of trying to figure out how I can use multi-variate regression to determine pricing strategy for an online t-shirt company (don’t ask). But, yeah, this post is awesome and I thought it deserved some kudos.

]]> By: Brian Manning http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/comment-page-1/#comment-1484 Brian Manning Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:29:09 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/#comment-1484 Nice article. I saw it a couple of days ago but didn't get to read it until right now. After a while it gets really hard not to burn out. Then when you get that "kick in the butt" or second wind, it can really propel you to new heights, and that's when your biggest gains are made. It's kung fu (not the martial art), but "achievement through great effort," and you only get that when you manage to "kick yourself in the butt" and get going again. Nice article. I saw it a couple of days ago but didn’t get to read it until right now.

After a while it gets really hard not to burn out. Then when you get that “kick in the butt” or second wind, it can really propel you to new heights, and that’s when your biggest gains are made.

It’s kung fu (not the martial art), but “achievement through great effort,” and you only get that when you manage to “kick yourself in the butt” and get going again.

]]> By: Matt Cheuvront http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/comment-page-1/#comment-1481 Matt Cheuvront Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:09:38 +0000 http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/sometimes-we-just-need-a-little-kick-in-the-butt/#comment-1481 Great thoughts here Ryan - you and I are on the same wavelengths here. In many regards, we settle on being 'content' and forget that 'content' is not synonymous with happiness (at least not always) - it is up to you and me to strive to do more with our lives, raise the bar, increase our expectations and continue to dream bigger. I wrote about this in a blog about 'changing the world with your blog' - I talked about how we build online communities within to confines of our blog, but we can't forget the importance of continuing to reach out, reach new people, and grow our community influence. Keep raising your own bar. Great thoughts here Ryan – you and I are on the same wavelengths here. In many regards, we settle on being ‘content’ and forget that ‘content’ is not synonymous with happiness (at least not always) – it is up to you and me to strive to do more with our lives, raise the bar, increase our expectations and continue to dream bigger. I wrote about this in a blog about ‘changing the world with your blog’ – I talked about how we build online communities within to confines of our blog, but we can’t forget the importance of continuing to reach out, reach new people, and grow our community influence.

Keep raising your own bar.

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