Getting Out of A Rut

By Robert Middleton, Action Plan Marketing

There I am this past Sunday, sitting in the lobby of the Marriott Hotel near the SF Airport, surrounded by ridiculously enthusiastic coaches, consultants and online marketers.

I'm arguing with them why I can't do a video for my web site.

They tell me to get past my limitations and just do it. It will make a huge difference to my business, etc., etc.

I'm not buying.

Then over walks Lisa Nirell who will be one of the presenters on the Extreme Business Builders Cruise in August and says, "Why don't we do that video for the Cruise web site?"

Well, what could I say?

Bill Baren, grabs his Flip HD video camera and we find a quiet corner of the lobby and record a fun 2-minute clip about the cruise. I've just posted it here. Take a look.

 

Learn more about the Cruise at this link.

Wow, that was a quick turnaround. And what's the lesson in all of this? Several things.

1. Get together with your peers and make it fun

This was a weekend program I put together for all the people I interviewed for the marketing Club this past year. We got together to build business relationships and collaborations. And it was insanely fun and productive. I came away with a year's worth of good ideas.

2. Put yourself in situations where you'll be supported

This crowd was so supportive and fun to be with it was hard not to accept the support. Me on video? No way! OK, so I'm not as photogenic as Lisa, but this really worked and it was done in a spirit of fun and camaraderie.

3. Don't take yourself too seriously

I see this all the time and I'm guilty of it as well. We worry about writing an article or giving a talk or even networking, because we don't have it all together. Well, tell yourself: "Get over yourself!" 

The idea is not to be perfect, but to be authentic.

Another thing — Daphne Gray-Grant (the writing coach) came up to me during the weekend and told me: "I know how you can build your eZine list faster. Tell more stories." Well, she nailed me on that one. I tell everyone else to do this but don't have enough in this eZine.

How did I do today Daphne?

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The More Clients Bottom Line: If you want to make things happen in your business, you need to get into harm's way - that is in the way of support, ideas, collaboration, participation, and unlimited thinking. Or you could sit around all day and argue with everyone why you can't make that video.

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What are you doing to get out of your rut and move your ideas forward? Please share on the More Clients Blog by clicking on the Comments link below:

Comments

[lacoste polo]

Very nice,I like.lacoste polo

[Joseph Geraghty]

Hi Robert,
The thing I most like about you is your raw authenticity! Its refreshing. I liked you metaphor about not being patient. I would agree we are mostly happy when active as in creating something and yep we get pissed off when the results don't come in. However, I think that whenever we feel a sense of lack, it is a sign that the head and the heart are not synchronised! As someone who has witnessed a great deal of lack I can vouch with certaianty its not a great feeling. So what am I doing to move on? learn to listen with a more open heart, judge results as niether good nor bad but learn from every expereince and enjoy the process.

[Patrick Dominguez]

Hi Robert,

Thanks again for the excellent InfoGuru Summit - and really enjoyed seeing you and Lisa talk about your upcoming cruise in video. Way to just go for it.

Here's to more videos & stories!

All the best,
Patrick

[Samantha Hartley]

Hi Robert,

The video testimonial I did for you in the Marriott lobby at the end of our Infoguru Summit weekend was my first video too! I didn't even have time to get nervous, because Bill just grabbed the camera and pointed it at me.

Bravo to you, Robert, for being such a generous, inspiring leader, modeling how to push beyond limiting beliefs; to the awesome Bill Baren for his Just Do It attitude; and much love to all the Infogurus for the supportive environment.

Hugs,

Samantha

[Joel Deceuster]

Best most believeable video ever! Loved it. Joel

[Bruce Elkin]

Hey, Robert,
Great newsletter and blog posting. The video is wild. It's engaging, personable, and just plain fun. It pulls me in, makes me feel that you too have something valuable to offer, that you take seriously. But you don't take your selves too seriously. I like that. I'm gonna do a video for my blog. Thanks for the inspiration and great modelling!
Bruce

[Lisa Nirell]

Hello Action Plan friends,

The Extreme Business Builders cruise takes us to some great destinations, and promises to be a first class event. Will you join us?

Remember, Robert is counting on you to be there to network; otherwise,he hates traveling...

http://www.extremebusinessbuilders.net/

Lisa
www.energizegrowth.com
blog.energizegrowth.com

[Beth]

Hi Robert,

I've been listening to your audio (as an owner of the InfoGuru Manual and sometimes as a member of the Fast Track Marketing Club) for years. Seeing the video was fabulously entertaining. It's great to put a face to the voice and to see something a little less scripted and a little more playful. Congratulations on getting out of a rut! (and I don't think you should assume that you are less photogenic than Lisa. You each have your own charm,and authenticity lends a great glow.)

[Daphne Gray-Grant]

Hi Robert,

Great job -- and very entertaining video! Telling stories is sooooooooo important! In fact, my newletter today (which was written well BEFORE our meeting last weekend) is about the subject of stories. Have a look at:http://bit.ly/aTdlIa

Yours from the land of stories --daphne

[Aamer Iqbal]

Hello Robert,

I have been a member of the Fast Track Marketing Club for three months, and was the proud owner of the Infoguru manual before that. The club has far more value and I have made significant headway in promoting my work since joining. Thank you for the value you provide.

Concerning videos, I think authenticity shows up in them. I have seen promotional videos and frankly there are some I won't look at a second time. On a plus side they show real human beings and all senses are involved in that communication.

Will there be a teleclass on what to do in a video and what to do with it?

Best wishes,
Aamer

[Charo Pinilla]

Hi Robert
I'm a student of your Fast Track Marketing club and after listening to you for so many hours (that I really enjoy) putting a face to your voice is great :-)

You are such an inspiration to me. OK, I'll have to stop resisting video myself,now.
Lots of love
Charo

[Nancy Juetten]

Hi Robert,

Thanks so much for a fabulous Info Guru Summit and way to go about getting into action with Lisa Nirell about your upcoming cruise. Nice work! I'd anticipate a sell out crowd on that cruise.