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How I screwed up the $10k plan
A few months ago I caught Lyme and it messed me up pretty good.
Sick, crazy, and exhausted, my brain and body were under attack from one of the most sinister blood born bacterial concoctions known to man.
Crazy as it felt, apparently it was mild compared what I’ve read some people experience.
One lady said she came home to find her husband laying facedown in the driveway like a giant lizard claiming it was the only way he could keep his body feeling warm through the intense neurological sheetstorm brought on by the swarm of spiral shaped bacteria, parasitic infections, and even blood borne viruses that are bestowed upon hundreds of thousands of unlucky acute tick bite victims on a yearly basis.
Anyway, feeling much better now.
But the point is, during that time I got really fed up with the content hamster wheel culture.
I make a big fuss about it too. Rightfully so I might add. But in my Lyme induced frenzy, I announced that I’d be adding $10k/month in revenue to my existing business without having to do all that crap. And while, to some degree, it worked. I didn’t hit the actual my goal. And the results I did get probably happened in spite of what I was rambling on about at the time instead of as a direct result.
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s good to have specific measurable outcomes that you’re working towards in life and in business.
And next to profit, revenue is about as solid a metric of success in terms of whether people want what you’ve got to offer or not.
But in my experience, when money becomes the primary goal instead of just the measuring stick, you start to drift away from what actually creates it.
One of my business partners, Justin David Carl, from Fit Rich Life and I have had some discussions about this recently as well. And one of his magical powers is helping people heal their unhealthy relationships with money (which admittedly has held me back from reaching my own potential in some ways for longer than I care to admit).
But he’d still be the first to tell you that money is a byproduct of enthusiasm. And while mastering your money is one of the most important things you will do in your life, it should never be the ultimate goal.
Anyway, long story longer, the $10k plan was a partial success.
The first month I added about a quarter of it. The second added month, the rest. But not all recurring, not all neat and tidy, but enough to prove that giving yourself some fire to focus on what moves the needle works. But at the same time, waking up every day feeling like I had to hit a number in public did not.
Especially during my Lyme induced haze.
Don’t feel good? Work harder!
Haha, classic Kevin…
Anyway, it all reminds me of something I learned from Seth Godin:
“Good goals are habits, not outcomes.”
I’ll modify that slightly to say, don’t never set metrics for success. Because if you don’t have a measure for “is this working or not?”, you’re likely to coast beneath what you’re capable of for much longer than you need to. I mistake I’ve made often over the past 10 years or so in business.
All to say, I’ve since realized that the “content hamster wheel” problem is often self imposed.
Early on, I had a goal to automate my content systems so I could spend as little time on social media as possible, but that also meant once they were “good enough” I gave up on advancing them. Which means not only was I not keeping up with the market, but I wasn’t keep up with my own growth as an entrepreneur either.
Reminds me how important it is to schedule time each week to optimize your system.
Simplify, clear away the clutter.
Then amplify the signal (whatever's left).
All to say that I’ve started focusing on those content systems again, making ‘em better, “watering the house plants” so to speak when it comes to bringing new people into my business through organic social media content, and as a result, I’m feeling much better about the whole thing.
If you ask me, I think the hamsters might actually be having fun on those things.
In studies where researchers placed free-spinning wheels outdoors where rodents could access them, wild mice, rats, and even shrews ran voluntarily on them for hours with no cage, food, or captivity anywhere in sight. Turns out running is just that intrinsically rewarding.
Just like creating content should be.
Anyway, before I go, there’s one more thing I want to say.
During that whole season… between the Lyme haze, the revenue goal, and the content chaos.. I had a lot more people reach out to work with me than usual. Some were great fits. Most weren’t.
But honestly, there was just as much value in the “not quite right” conversations as there was in the perfect matches.
Mainly because, I never force offers on to people I can’t help. If we ever talk, I’ll tell you the truth, even if that truth is that you’d be better off doing something else. Which is why I work hard to build my network of practitioners, coaches, and specialists who I’ll happily refer people when they’d be a better fit. It’s one of the reasons I occasionally share affiliate offers on here too.
I want to make sure you’re exposed to the solutions that are right for you.
So if you’ve ever been hesitant to reach out because you’ve been burned by high-pressure hooligans or slick-talking mercenaries in the past, that’s not how I roll. And if you want an opportunity to figure out what’s next for you, whether that’s optimizing your email list, tightening your content system, or finding a different direction entirely.
Then here’s your chance.
If we decide it’s a fit, great.
If not, you’ll walk away with something useful.
Happens all the time. In fact, this one just came in.
“Wow… this gives me more clarity on what’s been blocking me than anything I’ve done in months.”
So if you’re ready to find that next bit of clarity for yourself, without pressure or gimmicks, apply here:
Talk soon,
Kevin Hood