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Reader,
Just a couple of weeks ago, I was in Cleveland, OH, at CEX (Content Entrepreneur Expo), and it was exactly what my creative soul needed.
CEX with friends:)
Smart entrepreneurs everywhere.
Small-group conversations that went deep.
Even an '80s party (with mini Philly cheesesteak egg rolls I may have eaten too many of, lol).
But amid all the fun, one big theme kept coming up that I think you'll relate to...
Time.
Never feeling like there's enough of it, or not using it as well as you could when it comes to content and your business.
Here's what a few creators had to say about that...
Joe Pulizzi: The 60/60/1 Method
Think you don't have enough time in the day?
What about dedicating the first 60 minutes of your day for the next 60 days to one goal you want to achieve?
Joe committed to this practice and wrote a book ...talk about removing excuses!
He made me feel like even with my kids...and the dogs...and the house...and life, the first 60 minutes of my day is something I can own...but I've got to be intentional and stick with it.
For LinkedIn, I couldn't help but think of my clients and how this could mean committing that time to writing posts, engaging, and building relationships...all with an end goal to grow.
Jay Clouse: A Schedule Drives the Work
Jay Clouse, Creator of Creator Science
James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, once told Jay...
βLet the schedule drive the work.β
Struggling to get certain tasks done?
What if you scheduled it, treating it like any other meeting or important task you would need to do for a client?
Something written down with time allocated makes it much more likely to get completed.
I know with myself...60 minutes Monday-Friday is baked in every morning between 8:15-9:15 a.m. for LinkedIn. It's non-negotiable.
Does it sometimes go over?
Sure, but at minimum...that hour is reserved for LinkedIn where I comment and engage in the DMs.
So ask yourself...what if you manually blocked off time on your calendar for certain tasks? Would that help with accountability?
Lou Mongello: Do Less, Better
Lou Mongello, "The Disney Guy"
And then, I couldn't help but appreciate part of Lou's session where he flat out said, "You've got to do less, better!"
Yes, Lou! Yes! My overwhelmed brain thanks you:)
Many of the founders I work with think they need to post five days a week to find clients on LinkedIn.
The truth?
Posting less but with higher quality is what actually can help drive results.
Start with 1β2 thoughtful posts a week and engage deeply.
(Don't leave out the engagement part.)
The fallacy is thinking you need to do A LOT on LinkedIn to move the needle. But what it really requires is intentional, higher-quality posting with even better engagement to follow it up.
Amanda Honeycutt: Why Not Me?
Then there was Amanda's keynote session on Tuesday morning.
I especially resonated with Amanda as a mom and an entrepreneur. I loved what she had to say.
She talked through her journey...a 20-year path to get to where she is now, reminding me of the long-game mindset required.
Reflecting after the conference, I can tell I was fully immersed in what she was saying because in my notes app on my phone, I only had this...
During her session, she talked about the trap of saying a lot of "yes's" to what pays the bills (guilty!), and allowing self-doubt and imposter syndrome to get loud in your head.
βImposter syndrome was just what I was talking about last week in my newsletter. Who hasn't struggled with this?
But then, there was this moment sitting in the audience, and seeing this slide from Amanda pop up on screen...
These magic three words made me smile.
And only because it has been one of those questions that has driven me personally for a long time.
Why...not....me?
If I could have done a standing ovation when I saw this without feeling like a complete fool in the room, I would have. That's how deeply I believe in these words.
I can't help but see proof all around me of others making a career out of creating and carving out their own path.
So, in case you needed this boost of motivation this Thursday, whatever your dream may be, I thought this would be a good point to leave you with.
Why...
Not...
You?
I hope it inspires you as much as it inspires me!
P.S. This week, I want to challenge you to carve out just 60 minutes...block it on your calendar...and dedicate it to your LinkedIn strategy.
P.S.S. And if you need help, hit reply now, or come back and hit reply later when too many other things start to take over your to-dos:)