Better Human Business Podcast

The Power of an Email Marketing Calendar

Several years ago, I took a leap by subscribing to a high-end email marketing service. While it was a significant monthly investment, the automation and detailed tracking it offered seemed promising. However, just having the tool wasn’t enough—I needed to ensure it delivered a solid return on investment (ROI). That’s where the email marketing calendar came into play.

I committed to a structured email marketing plan that revolved around a simple, yet powerful, three-part email series for each promotion. This approach wasn’t just about sending emails; it was about sending the right emails at the right time. By the six-month mark, the results were undeniable. My monthly recurring revenue (MRR) had skyrocketed by 400%!

Simple Steps to Set Up Marketing Calendar

Step One: Find an Excuse to Email

The first step in creating your email marketing calendar is finding legitimate reasons to reach out to your audience. These can be as simple as recognizing holidays, special events, or even personal milestones like the anniversary of your business. The key is to create touchpoints that feel natural and engaging.

Step Two: Plan Your Campaigns Around These Excuses

Once you have your list of excuses, plot them on your calendar. This will give you a visual representation of when you should be communicating with your audience. Aim for at least one reason per month, which should be more than manageable.

Step Three: Craft Your Emails Using the GLF (Gain, Logic, Fear) Sequence

Each campaign should include three strategically crafted emails:

1. Gain Email: Highlight what your clients will gain from your offer (e.g., a discount, added value).
2. Logic Email: Use logical reasoning to explain why taking advantage of the offer makes sense.
3. Fear Email: Introduce scarcity or a time limit to create urgency.

Why Consistency is Key

The real challenge—and the secret to success—in email marketing is consistency. Sticking to your calendar and executing your planned campaigns without fail is what separates thriving businesses from those that struggle. It’s not just about having great ideas; it’s about consistently implementing them.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Time-Stamped Show Notes

• [00:00:30] Introduction to the importance of an email marketing calendar.
• [00:01:30] My personal journey with email marketing and the initial challenges.
• [00:02:30] How the email marketing calendar transformed my business.
• [00:03:30] Detailed explanation of setting up an email marketing calendar.
• [00:05:00] Breakdown of the GLF email sequence and its effectiveness.
• [00:06:30] Tips for crafting impactful Gain, Logic, and Fear emails.
• [00:08:00] The importance of consistency in email marketing.
• [00:09:30] Recap and the power of strategic email planning.

The Story of the Strings

In the attic of a loved one, a man finds a box labeled “strings too short to be saved.” This peculiar collection sparked a realization about our tendencies to hold onto things, or in this case, ideas, that no longer serve a purpose. It made me ponder how often we save ideas that are too “short” or insignificant, yet we hold onto them tightly.

Social Media: A Battlefield of Emotions

One area where I’ve personally struggled is the use of social media in my life as a digital entrepreneur. The platform’s evolution from a social space to a commercial battleground has often left me disillusioned. Witnessing influencers share intensely personal moments for commercial gain prompted me to reevaluate my stance on social media. These experiences showed me the psychological shift in our society—where sharing becomes a reflex rather than a meaningful choice.

Reevaluating Old Beliefs

Throughout my career, I’ve encountered several “strings” that needed reevaluation. Early in my business journey, influenced by the book “The $100 Startup,” I believed that paid advertising was a sign of failure. This belief held me back for years until I realized that advertising is a crucial tool for growth, not a marker of defeat.

The Process of Idea Reevaluation

Here’s a method you can use to reevaluate your own ideas:

1. Identify your strong stances and ask, “Where did this come from?”
2. Determine whether these beliefs serve or limit you. If they limit you, consider letting them go to embrace strategies that align better with your goals.

The Power of Change

Changing deep-rooted beliefs isn’t easy, but it’s necessary for growth. As I’ve learned to let go of outdated ideas, I’ve found new ways to engage with tools like social media, transforming them into platforms for authentic expression rather than mindless sharing.

By understanding where our ideas come from and whether they serve our current needs, we can make informed decisions that align more closely with our goals and values, both in business and in personal life.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Time-Stamped Show Notes

• [00:00:30] Introduction to the podcast and the concept of “strings too short to be saved.”
• [00:01:30] Exploration of personal experiences with social media and its impact on perception.
• [00:02:30] Discussion on influencers and the psychological shift in social media interaction.
• [00:04:00] Insights on old business beliefs and their impact on growth.
• [00:06:30] Methodology for reevaluating and letting go of limiting ideas.
• [00:07:30] Conclusion and encouragement for listeners to apply these insights.

Today, I’m diving into what it means to truly be a professional in your field, reflecting on my own experiences and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. This is a topic I’ve pondered deeply, from my days in pilot training to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. Let’s explore the essence of professionalism and how you can elevate your work to the next level.

Defining Professionalism: Beyond the Basics

Professionalism isn’t just about the skills you acquire; it’s about your approach to work and life. It starts with a decision to pursue excellence, whether you’re an athlete, a coach, or an entrepreneur. I remember driving to Sheppard Air Force Base, filled with anticipation about starting my pilot training, eager to embrace professionalism in a field I was passionate about.

Learning from the Best

The story of Kobe Bryant waking up early for practice before the Beijing Olympics is a profound example of professional dedication. He wasn’t just talented; his commitment to improvement was relentless. This level of dedication is what separates true professionals from amateurs.

Professionalism in Entrepreneurship

As I transitioned from aspiring to be a top coach to focusing on entrepreneurship, I realized that being a professional means mastering the business side of things as well. It’s about making strategic decisions that align with your goals and continuously improving in those areas.

Practical Steps to Professional Mastery

Here are some actionable steps to help you embody professionalism in your daily work:

1. Identify Your Focus

Decide whether your primary role is as a practitioner in your field or as an entrepreneur. This clarity will help you prioritize your efforts and excel.

2. Daily and Weekly Progress Reviews

Keep track of your progress regularly. This not only helps you stay on course but also motivates you to keep pushing forward.

3. Plan Your Time

Organize your week every Sunday and plan each day the night before. This proactive approach ensures that you are always prepared and effective.

4. Embrace Continuous Learning

Whether it’s taking notes, reviewing meetings, or conducting after-action reports, make learning an integral part of your routine.

5. Take Care of Your Health

Professionalism extends to your personal life too. Ensure you’re getting enough sleep, hydration, and nutrition to perform at your best.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

• [00:00:30] Introduction to professionalism
• [00:01:30] Personal story about pilot training and professional aspirations
• [00:02:30] Learning from Kobe Bryant’s dedication to practice
• [00:03:30] The challenge of balancing coaching and entrepreneurship
• [00:04:30] Focus on becoming a professional entrepreneur
• [00:05:30] The importance of identifying your professional focus
• [00:06:30] Tips for daily and weekly progress reviews
• [00:07:30] The significance of planning and organizing your time
• [00:08:30] Continuous learning and improvement strategies
• [00:09:30] The role of personal health in professional success
• [00:10:30] Closing thoughts on professionalism and continuous improvement

In today’s session, we’re diving into the philosophy that “chronic minimal effort negates acute maximal effort.” This mindset has significantly shaped my approach to both business and personal life, emphasizing the transformative power of consistency. Let’s unpack this concept and explore how you can apply it to enhance your productivity and achieve your goals.

Embracing Consistency Over Procrastination

We all face moments of procrastination, where tasks are pushed aside until they pile up, creating daunting mountains of work that could have been handled with less stress. This isn’t just about getting things done but about prioritizing effectively. The truth is, you can’t tackle everything at once, so focusing your effort where it’s most needed is key.

The Power of Incremental Action

A principle I often remind myself of is that small, consistent actions can prevent overwhelming situations. For example, consider the mundane task of bookkeeping. In my early entrepreneurial days, I would delay this task, not reviewing profits or losses regularly. This led to stressful, lengthy sessions of catching up, which could have been avoided with minimal, regular reviews.

Weekly Routines: My Financial Meetings

To combat the buildup of financial tasks, I instituted weekly finance meetings with myself. This routine involves a simple checklist that I run through to manage finances, taking just 10-15 minutes each week. This approach has turned what was once a quarterly ordeal into a manageable, regular task, demonstrating that the secret to overcoming massive projects is consistent, minimal effort.

Fitness: The Grid System

Consistency isn’t just crucial in business; it applies equally to personal health. I’ve long advocated a method I call the “pushup grid,” which involves doing a set number of pushups at regular intervals throughout the day. Despite skepticism about its effectiveness, recent studies have shown that similar routines, like doing squats every hour, can significantly improve health metrics like blood glucose levels more effectively than longer, less frequent activities.

Setting Up Systems for Success

Whether it’s your business or personal life, setting up systems that ensure regular, small efforts can lead to substantial long-term benefits. For entrepreneurs, this might mean delegating consistent tasks to employees rather than overwhelming them with sporadic, intensive workloads. This approach not only eases your burden but also creates a more structured and less stressful environment for your team.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Time-Stamped Show Notes

• [00:00:30] Introduction to procrastination and prioritization
• [00:01:30] Discussion on chronic minimal effort vs. acute maximal effort
• [00:02:30] Real-life implications of delaying essential tasks like bookkeeping
• [00:03:30] How regular finance meetings simplified financial management
• [00:04:30] The pushup grid and its application in daily fitness
• [00:05:30] The scientific backing for regular, minimal exercise routines
• [00:06:30] Setting up business systems to foster consistent effort
• [00:07:30] Strategic delegation and its benefits to business operations
• [00:08:30] Closing thoughts on the importance of striving for consistent, minimal effort