Stuff's Gettin' Better!
Editor’s Note: This newsletter was originally published on December 20th, 2021.
Shout out to President Starkey for this campaign slogan!
No, this isn’t “Build Back Better” or “Make America Great Again”, but the campaign slogan for a fictional character in a movie.
(250 point to the 1st reader who can name the movie! Feel free to ask Stephanie as it is one of her favorites! LOL)
In the movie, the situations were not really “getting better”, but the main character was, in small ways, making things better by his actions.
That is something which we can do. We might not be able to solve global problems and issues, but we can influence the situations that we & those about whom we care live. Even more important are our perspectives and reactions to them.
Transparently, it’s been a challenging week. While it is ostensibly my year-end “time off”, there has been a lot of stuff going on that didn’t feel like “vacation”. I often didn’t respond the way I would like & that’s an opportunity where I can do better!
However, even among the frustration, the reality is that each of those situations could have been much worse! I could have been in a much worse position to handle them! In the grand scheme of things, they were things that I could deal with even if I didn’t want to!
Self-Absorbed Sports Mention
The Atlanta Falcons lost 31-13 to the San Francisco 49ers. While this does not eliminate them from playoff contention, it greatly limits their chances of making the post-season.
Kudos to San Fran as they were the better team today.
I’m really not interested in any of the bowl games yet as Georgia doesn’t play until New Year’s Eve in the Orange Bowl against Michigan.
Basketball season isn’t a big deal for me so this will probably free up some time to create some new content! #Yay
I have used this quote before, but thinking about Time (and how much of it we have) is always a consideration as we close one year preparing to start another.
I find GaryVee’s perspective on Time to be very appropriate. When he talks about it, he usually starts with the reality that “You’re going to die” (Yes, all of us who have been born are, by definition, dying). However, his follow-up is also the more optimistic outlook that, so long as you are still playing, you are not dead yet (and possibly have more time to play than you might think).
For me, I see Time from three vantage points. It is possibly our biggest asset…one of the riskiest reasons for making a choice…and almost your worst possible excuse.
As an asset, it is constantly degrading. At birth, we are closest to Death than we have ever been in our lives. Unless you are a character in a Marvel movie or Star Trek episode, it is something that you want to be most intentional about spending – because you never get it back!
As a basis for a choice, we usually make rushed decisions based on a shortage of Time. You need only to look at sports to see teams, having fallen behind nearing the end of a game, taking riskier and risker actions to score. The proverbial “Hail Mary” is usually reserved for situations where there is no time remaining for normal offensive game plans. There can be greater rewards, but they usually fail (and often end in turnovers). Work to make decisions when you have plenty of options and the needed time to execute them.
As an excuse, you are really making Time your enemy. It becomes an excuse because we misused and wasted it previously and lacked the needed amount to successfully achieve our goals. If the expectations are unreasonable, it is best to negotiate that early (to properly reset them) than using it as an excuse after the fact.
How have you been using your Time? Are you treating it as an asset or making it your enemy? Regardless, its passage is guaranteed & it is our use of it that is within our control!
Quick Reminder From Last Week
Here’s a link if you missed it.
I posted a more detailed review of the book as well as some additional thoughts on the emotional characteristics. If you haven’t read the book, I would definitely recommend that you include it on your shelf – and judge for yourself.
You can get a copy at this Amazon link (affiliate), but it is currently very easy to get a cheaper (or even free) copy from others within his community. You can find them on Twitter under the hashtag (#BookGames) or just pose the question of “Where can I get a copy?” under the book’s Twitter handle (@twelveandahalf).
No matter how you acquire it, get one, read it, and put it to work for you and your organization!
For those checking out the book reviews, I reviewed Twelve And A Half (Amazon affiliate link) by Gary Vaynerchuk. You can check out my notes at this link.
Keep a lookout as I have finished reading the following books and will be posting my notes for those very soon!
- E-Myth Revisited (Amazon affiliate link) by Michael Gerber [review notes link]
- One Million Followers (Amazon affiliate link) by Brendan Kane
- Content Inc. (Amazon affiliate link) by Joe Pulizzi
- Twelve And A Half (Amazon affiliate link) by Gary Vaynerchuk
It’s time to revisit our ad testing best practices. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to A/B test responsive search ads (RSAs). via @siliconvallaeys: https://t.co/MaDL9CDL2v
— SearchEngineJournal® (@sejournal) December 17, 2021
#PPC #PaidSearch #SEM
I’m planning to be starting the reads for Seth’s 2003 blog posts in a week or so. The next editions will start getting posted soon so be on the lookout.
However, for this week, check out how Attorneys can use Social Media to attract clients. Be sure to forward this to your friends in the Legal Profession.
Blaming the weather is a trap https://t.co/UbJlkOIGgs
— Seth Godin (@ThisIsSethsBlog) December 15, 2021
Other Links
Google Update to Local Search Results ()
Updates to Google’s Search Algorithms are a consistent reality in the SEO space. Whether they be related to technical aspects of websites or the content that we publish, the singular consistency is change. It is no different for Local Search (those within your areas of service) versus content targeted to wider audiences.
Remember the key: Google seeks to provide the best & most relevant content that quickly satisfies user requests. Be the best solution to a user’s problem; you will get traffic!
Additionally, your Google Business Profile (formerly called “Google My Business” listing) now enables video verification. For users who have set up their accounts previously, this is a welcome upgrade! You can check out details and how-to steps at this link (Google Business Profile – Video Verification).
Technical SEO w/ Python & Machine Learning
As someone who works in the software side of the technology world, I am interested in areas where automation & coding techniques enable our computers to perform “the work” on our behalf. Python & Machine Learning (ML) are one such area – especially within the realm of content development. Don’t mistake human decision-making & strategy as unneeded, but where we can use machines for the bulk of the repetitive work, they fill a much-needed role.
Strategy Uncertainty Map vs “Plan” ()
This was an interesting article to me. A key aspect of planning that gets overlooked is addressing the uncertainty & lack of information that we, as leaders, have to navigate. Maps guiding direction & highlighting options are the norm in navigation, but in our lives and businesses, we doggedly try to “plan”.
How might this adapt/adjust your upcoming planning exercises for 2022?
dYou may have heard or read that the number of images on your webpage can impact your Google search rankings. But is it true? via @MattGSouthern: https://t.co/THA8kjjSyK #Google @Google #SEO
— SearchEngineJournal® (@sejournal) December 12, 2021
