Crawling out of the flaming river of death

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Note: Today’s post is a bit out of the ordinary for me, but it’s what came out of a terrible, head-pounding day. We’ll get back to our regularly scheduled strategy-talk on Thursday.

Today was awful. I can actually say it was the worst day in the history of my entrepreneurial career. One of those days where the clouds are not only falling from the sky, but they are on fire.

It wasn’t any one conversation or thing-that-went-awry. It was everything. And it made me realize how dangerous it is to associate your sense of self so closely with your business. Because when those flaming arrows come falling from the sky, you have no helmet. Not even knee pads.

I’m not proud to admit it, but today I cried. Torrentially. (I think I just made that word up.) Despite the fact that Chris Brogan and my buddy Sparky Firepants think I’m doing it right, despite the fact that everyone is being so darned supportive and awesome, there are a few people who think I’m doing it wrong. And I don’t know why that sucks so bad, but it does.

Maybe you’ve had a day like that?

This is for you if anyone’s ever thrown flaming darts at your head (and yeah…this is for me)

  • You are doing it right.

  • If someone throws darts at you, don’t throw darts back. Even if it’s practically necessary, or if it’s just a subtle bit of sarcasm or eye-rolling. Darts are like boomerangs and eventually come back to poke the thrower in the eye.

  • It’s good to look for the truth in criticism, but if there is any, and after you’ve extracted it, don’t dwell on it. Ask yourself what’s the best thing you can do now, and do it.

  • “I don’t want to disappoint people” is not a good reason to say yes. YOU are worth saving from disappointment.

  • You can’t run your business for everyone else. Even though you thrive on letting other people benefit from your super-powers and keeping things humming with integrity and style, you’ve got to ultimately meet your own needs first.

  • Don’t give up on people. If you spend your life mis-trusting and second-guessing those around you, you’ll soon be throwing flaming arrows of your own.

  • Leaps are always worth the jump. Especially if you’re leaping from a burning building, and even if there is no (visible) net.

  • The pain that you’re feeling now is real, but subjective. Go watch Cinderella Man or read The Diary of Anne Frank one more time. Perspective is good.

  • Struggle is necessary for the growth of your character. So rejoice in the struggle — character is priceless.

  • All is well, and all will be well. (My favorite phrase on the planet.)

I can’t say I feel a ton better after writing that, but tomorrow is a new day. And I’ve still got our gold-digging excursion to look forward to, so I’m beyond excited about that. Thanks guys, for all of your shout-outs and encouragement this past week. I’m excited that you’re excited; we’re going to have a grand old time.

And now back to the steak and shrimp stir fry that John made for me…maybe “eat a good meal with people who adore you” should have been on the top of that list.

By admin | Posted in Business | Comments (15 so far)

My highly sought-after *cough* top five suggested tweets

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Man, this has been a crazy week! Crazy-good, but crazy. I just did a behind-the-curtain interview with Dave Navarro that will shed more light on that subject, but let’s just say…I’m running on nothing but love over here.

And it’s a good thing there’s lots of that to go around. A couple of things that are keeping me going:

So…thank you guys for helping me spread the word. And thank you to everyone who’s been sending me pat-on-the-back tweets and emails. Thank you for lifting my spirits and helping me through this month of 14-hour days. It’s going to be totally worth it. (And don’t worry guys, I’m taking weekends off, so I’m not completely destroying my health to make this happen.)

So…Heather Allard and I were joking around that I should have a list of recommended tweets for people who want to help me spread the word. Which I thought — people do this?! What the heck kind of malarkey is that?

So in true Sarah-fashion, I thought I’d make a list of tweets to top ALL recommended tweets lists (which I’m still in amazement that these actually exist). And if you tweet any of these, I might have to hunt you down and feed you the fish-mush that my husband and I accidentally made (but didn’t eat) last night. Turns out that frozen cod sucks for a fish fry.

Sarah’s top 5 (un)recommended tweets:

The gold-digging excursion with @sarahjbray is totally not about picking your nose! (Only Kelly Parkinson and I would find the correlation here.)

Sign up for Sarah’s gold-digging excursion that starts on April 1st! (APRIL FOOLS! *evil cackling*) Note: Not an April Fools joke

You would be a tool not to register for the gold-digging excursion! (A mining tool, that is.) Har har.


Sign up now, and Sarah will pick up all the magnolia leaves in your yard…and will not make fun of you for meticulously mowing your lawn in horizontal stripes!! (You have to read the fourth paragraph to get this. And also check out my under cover photo of my neighbor’s perfectly-striped lawn, magnolia leaf included).

And lastly…

Act now, and Sarah will give you miner’s lung for FREE!

Seriously, if you use any of these, it’s codfish fry mush for you.

By admin | Posted in Studio Updates, Twitter | Comments (8 so far)

Five principles of web strategy I’ll still be harping about when I’m 92

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

I love old people. There’s a lot of freedom that comes with the experience of living for a long, long time. It’s fascinating how time changes us.

Web design is notorious for changing every 5 minutes. But there are some principles of effective web strategy that I’m still going to be rallying around when I’m 92 (unless we’re using pure telepathy by then; in that case I would hand my mic over to the dude with the shiny purple turban).

  1. Effective web design is not nearly as much about aesthetics as it is about achieving a desired result. Design for design’s sake does not work on the web. If your goal is to impress the ten people who end up somehow finding your award-winning site, bravo. You did it.

    But I’m betting you had different reasons for wanting a fabulous-looking site. Things like building up a list of people who adore you. Getting email inquiries by the bucketful. Selling your incredible creations to people who appreciate them deeply. Remember: A pretty site does not a successful online venture make. (Although ugly is definitely worse.)

  2. The most effective web strategies are the result of a first creation. Back in the day when Stephen Covey was the only productivity guru I’d ever heard of, I used to mull over his idea of the first creation — this idea that everything involves not one, but two creations. The first being the intentional in-your-brain/on-paper creation that determines the second actual/in-real-life creation. Remember: A lack of the first always leads to a lack in the second.

  3. Today’s never-fail attention-grabbing strategy is tomorrow’s invisible dog. My childhood best friend (whose name was/is also Sarah, resulting in me being called “Sarah Joy” for the second six years of my life) used to have one of those leashes that had an invisible dog on the end of it. I thought that was the coolest thing. And that’s what your web strategy looks like if you’re doing the same things you were doing a year or two ago. Except not as cool. Remember: Keeping people’s attention requires constant innovation. No laurel-resting allowed.

  4. If you’re noticing that everybody’s using a particular strategy, it’s probably on the down-swing. Web strategy needs to be constantly applied in new ways that run against-the-current. They must be tailored to you and your particular brand of awesome. Most busy online entrepreneurs simply adapt what others are doing and call that their strategy. And while that may work for a while, the results will be a watered-down version of what you could be achieving. Remember: While there are tricks and principles to tattoo in your brain, there are no cookie-cutter solutions.

  5. The most successful and enterprising people online make themselves their own best client and customer. Hat tip to Men With Pens for talking about this yesterday. When your business explodes, it’s really hard to keep this in the forefront of your business practice. If anyone knows this, it’s me. But it’s got to be said…hiring strong people to help you is better than crippling your growth. Remember: If you put your business’ oxygen mask on first, you will be better able to serve the world. And oh yeah, define life on your own terms.

These are the reasons I’m launching the Gold-Digging Excursion today. Because there’s something missing in our web presence — it’s the first creation, the strategy. It’s the know-how to actually make our dreams come true. I want you to be equipped throughout your online adventure to make stuff happen in a big way. (And also…gold mining! How fun is that?!)

By admin | Posted in Becoming a Rockstar, Business, Growing Your Reach, Making Your Site Sticky | Comments (6 so far)

How to change people’s minds about you (Final step: Turn on the launch sprinklers!)

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Holy crap, this has been a long series! This is part seven (and final!) in a series on changing your online image. If you haven’t read the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth posts in the series, you might want to check them out for full effect. Also, everyone who joins in on the discussion will be added to our marvelous Twitter list so we can keep up with each other. Onward!

As promised, my wackiest (whackest?) launch ideas ever, brought to you by a can of Dr. Pepper and one Cadbury egg. Clearly, an overdose of sugar is required for this. (By the way, the launch sprinkler system is for showering your wonderfulness throughout the planet. These sprinklers are really big and require light to moderate stretching before exerting the effort to turn them on.)

  1. Create something really cool for every online publisher that you adore. Preferably revolving around your craft or trade. And exhibiting your One Thing (because everything does now, right?).

  2. Send a Cadbury egg to every one of your readers. Preferably when it’s cold outside so that they don’t melt. In my experience, there are only a few valient people left on this earth who can resist Cadbury eggs.

  3. Create a video of you attempting to break a Guinness record related to your One Thing. (Not the beer. Though there might also be a record for that.)

  4. Go on a reality TV show for the sole purpose of waving hi to your readers. Anything except Wife Swap.

  5. Create a dinosaur puppet alter-ego. (Dang it. That’s already been done.)

  6. Write love notes to random clients and customers. With real paper and ink. (A stamp would also help. And maybe perfume.)

  7. Do something that only your re-launched self would do. For example, if your One Thing has something to do with outdoor adventure-seeking, make a video documentary of you going on a white water rafting trip. Have bonfire epiphanies and experiment with original S’mores recipes.

  8. Find a mascot. (Dibs on Penelope the Empathetic Monster. You can have Monty the Fox.). Take pictures of it doing fun touristy things.

  9. Publish a comic book series starring yourself doing the death-defying things that you do on a typical day.

  10. Do a farewell phone interview with your one of your old branding assets.

  11. Instead of giving away a free e-book when people sign up for your newsletter, give away something way more interesting. Like a coloring book.

  12. Give away awesome t-shirts to random readers.

  13. Do a traveling blog series that’s kind of like a traveling circus. Bonus points if you can somehow incorporate seals or lions.

  14. Make a totally amazing, irreverent FAQ page.

  15. Take someone hostage. For example, if your business is to photoshop people’s photographs, take all of their blog pictures hostage and completely re-do them. Require a ransom for them to get them back.

I am a HUGE fan of doing things differently. And the cool thing about being online is that everything that has been done offline for years and years is fodder for doing online and being completely new and awesome. Everything old is new again, so turn on those launch sprinklers and shower us with your brilliance!

P.S. Have you heard about the upcoming Gold-Digging Excursion? I’m taking a group of people on a month-long mining trip to make their websites more profit-friendly. Join the pre-launch daisychain to find out when it launches before anyone else. (If you’re even half-thinking of going on the excursion, you want to be on this list. Promise.)

By admin | Posted in Building Your Brand, Business | Comments (6 so far)

How to change people’s minds about you (Step 5: Interrogate your branding assets)

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

This is part six in a series on changing your online image. If you haven’t read the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth posts in the series, you might want to check them out for full effect. Also, everyone who joins in on the discussion will be added to our marvelous Twitter list so we can keep up with each other. Onward!

I would make an excellent prosecuting attorney. One of my most…umm…endearing qualities is being able to spot inconsistencies in logic or behavior.

My more benign probings get my friends irritated with me (like when I ask for sources when someone says “it was on the news”). My deeper questionings can get me in a bit more trouble (like my need to grapple with inconsistencies in my faith. Which wouldn’t make people uncomfortable if I would do it in private.)

As a web designer, my interrogation skills serve me well. Brands require routine investigation to make sure they’re in alignment with the good of your business. Brand consistency is the only way to have any control over how you’re coming across on the web.

Today, your branding assets are in the hot seat. (For this exercise, a branding asset is anything that contributes to public awareness of who you are. That includes logos, buttons, headers, and even your sales copy and the types of content you put out there.) We need to figure out if your branding assets are committing a crime against your business, robbing you of customers and cash.

Questions to ask your branding assets when they’re in the hot seat

  • Do you solemnly swear to tell the whole truth? The truth is your One Thing. Is the asset speaking your truth?
  • What’s your alibi? Why is the asset here? If it doesn’t have a definable function, it’s time to toss it or change it.
  • Are you paying your rent? Every branding piece needs to be a workhorse. If it’s not contributing to your business financially, it’s freeloading. Freeloaders get the axe.
  • Do you talk bad about me behind my back? Does your asset give off the right vibe, or is it mucking up your credibility?

Once you’ve handcuffed some of your assets and exonerated others, it’s time to see if you need to pack some new ones into your suitcase. If you’re experiencing pain in one particular aspect of your business, a great way to conquer it is to create a branding tool to address the issue.

For example, if you’re having trouble getting readers to stick around (and your content’s already top notch), focus on improving your blog subscription assets. If you’re having trouble getting people to sign up for your coaching sessions, create a new branding piece for the one you’d particularly like people to see.

Once all of your branding items are consistent, it’s time to make it official. Thursday, I’m going to share my list of the wackiest launch ideas I’ve ever had. (I have a feeling I might regret this later.)

P.S. Have you heard about the upcoming Gold-Digging Excursion? I’m taking a group of people on a month-long mining trip to dig up their website’s cash potential. Join the pre-launch daisychain to find out when it launches before anyone else. (If you’re even half-thinking of going on the excursion, you want to be on this list. Promise.)

By admin | Posted in Building Your Brand | Comments (3 so far)