{4:50 minutes to read} When I was younger, with a rather extreme physical regimen of fitness including football, wrestling, tennis, weightlifting, etc., I often repeated the same cycle — I’d push myself too hard, get injured, and then I’d have to stop. And when I stopped, I stopped completely. I’d go from one extreme of activity level to the other. As I got older, I struggled to keep my weight under control.
A couple of years ago, I had become considerably overweight, and my past injuries made even mild activity — like walking the dogs for 15 minutes — excruciating. Finally, I decided to try a different approach.
At first, I could only use a recumbent bike for all of 20 minutes a day. Over time, I worked myself up to walking & even using a treadmill for 45 minutes or more. I now mix up yoga, walking, and weight training. I learned the truth of the wisdom that you have to start somewhere. Wherever you’re at, don’t worry about it not being enough initially. “Enough” will come in time as you get in the habit.
The body does repair itself & get stronger — if you use it. The old adage “if you don’t use it, you lose it” is very true when it comes to taking care of your body. Lack of physical activity will drain your strength & weaken your immune system.
Just like you’ve got to exercise to be physically fit, you’ve got to market yourself if you want to be “fit” in the business world.
Many practicing professionals make the mistake of thinking that the level of competency they’ve achieved should speak for itself and bring clients to their doorstep. In 2016, with all the competition out there, that’s just not going to happen. You have to work at it; you have to practice — marketing!
Don’t take an all-or-nothing tack.
I exercised to the point of injury, and the same can happen with marketing. Take it slow & steady at first. When was the last time you invited a potential referral source for a cup of coffee? You don’t have to do it 10 times a week, but take the first step. Make the first phone call, write the first blog post, send the first newsletter. Do whatever you need to do to help set yourself up as a “branded expert in your industry” so you can build relationships that will bring you referrals. Once you get going, you can assimilate it into your schedule. Proceed with consistency and create new habits for yourself.
Pat yourself on the back at every turn.
Just like when you don’t feel like working out, but you do anyway — if you take action around marketing yourself, even if it isn’t as much as you’d prefer, reward yourself. You took action instead of living with the status quo.
Be in it for the long haul.
Don’t expect immediate results. If you go all out with physical training, you’ll hurt yourself and/or burn out and want to stop. But if you invest in it a little bit every day, and steadily ramp it up, you will gain long-term rewards.
The same is true with your marketing efforts. Taking regular steps over time is what will produce results for you — over time. With word-of-mouth marketing or relationship-building with centers of influence, you build long-term relationships with long-term ROI.
As for my fitness & weight loss goals? I’ve now met or exceeded all of them, and I feel sooooo much better! I just had to let go of my all-or-nothing mindset and commit myself to being in it for the long term.
What is preventing you from taking the first step? Join me next time for more practical insights on marketing fitness.
Mark Bullock
Telephone: (631) 754-0800
Email: Mark@phoneBlogger.net
Website:phoneBlogger.net
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