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Time. A great Motivator and a Stressor…

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Hello!

As the holidays are approaching faster than the blink of an eye- here are some things I say and hear all the time- ‘I don’t have Time.’ or ‘Where has the time gone?’ The ever-present holiday lament- ‘I can’t believe Christmas is almost here.’ Of course, I Hope that means you’re selling a lot or that your business has taken off. Still. Time is a precious commodity and how in the world will we ‘get it all done?’ Before you can Tick – it’s already become Tock, right?

In early spring of last year, I wrote an Instagram post about Clocks. Clocks as props, Clocks as inspiration. Clocks as a design principle and writing prompts. Clocks are some of my favorite images- especially vintage clocks. Yet, the subject was also about Time as a great Motivator and a Stressor too. Here’s what I wrote about that

‘Time. A great Motivator and a Stressor. Time. Save it. Waste it. Use it. Yet, remember down time isn’t a waste of time- it helps develop Strategic Stamina… Pause. Think. Strike a balance as you can. That’s where your Best Self and State of Mind thrives.’

Since I know your Time is limited,

here’s a few tips I’ve learned and continue to learn and relearn…

Here are a few I’ve learned recently- from a Huge Influencer whose summit I attended several weeks ago.

  • Write one piece of Long Form content- such as a blog post or newsletter each week. Post that.
  • Then, using the long form content, 4 times per week post somewhere, using portions of your long form content. It doesn’t have to be Instagram or Facebook. The postings can be done anywhere.
  • That gives you 2 days off, as I said- ‘to develop Strategic Stamina.
round brown wall clock
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And here are a few more thoughts on Time. We are consuming too much information and imagery. Overwhelm sets in. Filter out of an overwhelmed mind what is ‘urgent’ and what is

And here are a few more thoughts on Time. Thoreau said: ‘It’s not enough to be busy, so are the Ants. The question is- What are we busy about?’ Some days we feel productive, others not so much. Here’s why I think: We are consuming too much information and imagery. Overwhelm sets in.

Filter out of an overwhelmed mind what is ‘urgent’ and what is ‘important’. Sellers tend to create a ‘Sense of Urgency’ – yet the most effective ones create a ‘Sense of the Important’. Which brings me to the obvious-

Are you doing too much of the hard sell? Is it working for you? Shoppers are overwhelmed- just as you need to aware of overwhelm for yourself- recognize that overwhelming your potential customers may actually be putting them in a state of overwhelm and worse? Indecision! Far more effective are Gift Guides. Post those once a week. Highlight individual items and Post Less!

How do we do that?

  • First, I believe that history will be curious about what folks were doing. So, post what you love, what you’re doing at work or having fun.
  • There’s an 80/20 rule at play- 80% is supposed to be about your customer, 20% is to be about You. It drives that all important- Know. Like. Trust. Factor. (An exception is when you’re first getting started and growing your account- you may need to add in more about yourself! Participate in challenges. Join free workshops.)
  • I tend to follow folks who are just being themselves. They’re not perfect any more than I am. It’s great to have all the beauty you can muster, yet there’s a case to be made for being authentic. The Big Guys will affirm this! And really, who wants to be ‘sold’ all the time? Not me. Let me get to know you! (a Big PS to the students in my course, soon the Content Bucket Training will be posted! It addresses this dilemma.)
  • Don’t just post and forget it. I allow 15 minutes after I post to ‘like and comment’ on other sites, it’s not called Social Media for nothing! Then I may check back in later in the day. On off days, I do the same. I love to see what you’re up to!
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And remember this, Life rarely works out Exactly like we plan, it usually turns out like it’s Supposed to- despite setbacks- just give it Time.

Pause. Think. Strike a Balance as best you can. That’s what developing Strategic Stamina is all about!

Love y’all, Brenda

When I created my course- one of my objectives was to help busy business folks Save Time. One student even told me that she had been looking at YouTubes, Articles and more trying to piece together a plan. With this course, it was all in one place which would help her save So Much Time.

If this course is something you think you can use, remember January is the month to grow and learn. It is currently at launch price and being updated with new trainings now, so the price will increase slightly after the first of the year.

Also in the works is a Masterclass that will have lots of Pro Tips. Just send an email to: brenda@brenda-wyatt.com to get on the waiting list for that!

Okay- here’s the link to ‘Be Unforgettable’ online marketing course:

https://camellia-s-cottage-blog.mykajabi.com/about-course:

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Learn. Dream. Grow…

Hello!

I’m back at my favorite place- this Blog! If you’re new here? So glad to have you! Recently in my marketing newsletter- I shared a few tips on discovering your Hidden Talents. I realized I might not have shared one of mine. It’s continuing to help me now!

Teaching has been a side benefit of spending 30+ years in Retail. I love teaching. Public Relations is a big part of Retail and Marketing. I loved being sent out to teach what I know.

I worked with a Community College Program which prepared women to re-enter the workplace after being homemakers for many years. The reason? Most had faced Divorce, Disability or Death of a spouse. They needed to be inspired, to find their best skills, and convert the organizational and social skills they had used as homemakers into Income. I was the inspirational speaker for a good many years. I loved it!

Another grant-based program I worked with helped disadvantaged women develop confidence and be dressed appropriately for job interviews. Develop Capsule Wardrobes, as we would say now. Taught how to find these on a strict budget, using thrift stores or consignment shops. Once they were hired, we helped them learn how to work with the public and gain confidence in the workplace.

Other teaching opportunities came my way to encourage, train, motivate and inspire women. These were groups who were already in Professions, Careers or Leadership positions. Highly educated successful women- who as successful people Do– continue to learn, continue to improve- often just by going back to basics, then taking their careers to a new level. These ladies inspired me to pass along what I had been trained to do, to Teach what I had learned through my own work. To this day, teaching is still one of the most satisfying aspects of my life.

Real Progress comes when we Learn. Dream. Grow. For me? I have taken several online courses in the last few years, each one has helped me update my skills, often going back to basics and being part of a community that continues to Learn. Dream. Grow. 

Truth? Those teaching opportunities combined with my retail experience still helps me Learn. Dream and Grow. Believe me, learning how to write an online course, do training videos and actually figure out how to load it onto a new platform? A steep learning curve for me! And, it didn’t happen overnight, it took over a year to write and get it out there and don’t even get me started on All of Those Years in Retail! So? What’s in this post for you? Don’t pass up opportunities. If you’re asked to do something outside of your comfort zone? Realize it may come in handy sooner or later. Don’t ever stop learning or growing. And Don’t Forget to Dream! Dreams are the fuel of Ambition.. ah but that’s for another time! See you soon!

Love y’all, Brenda

Creator – Be Unforgettable Beginner’s Guide to Visual Marketing

If you’re interested in finding out more about my online course- click the link! Thank you- we’re having a great time and believe me these folks going thru it now are Unforgettable!

https://camellia-s-cottage-blog.mykajabi.com/about-course-copy-1-ed7ee1ac-4438-4133-968b-ffee43106f2b

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This is not Urgent…

Hello!  I hope you’re enjoying a new season! In my newsletter this week- the subject line was actually – ‘This is not- Urgent, a Reminder or the Final Hours’ I hope you know by now that I love to keep up with marketing trends. I recently read a reputable business site and the title was something like- ‘How to Get your Emails Opened.’ Those techniques in my newsletter subject line- Urgent, a Reminder and Final Hours– were just a few of their suggestions! No! I’m sorry, that’s not my style. Maybe if it’s from a retailer who I trust- though still doubtful. I don’t believe those tactics work- they’re stressful, seem icky and spammy to me. 

In fact, another highly reputable site and whom I trust further stated that words in the Subject Lines like Free, Reminder or Percentage Off are overused and have negative open rates. Whoa! Who wants that? Okay, so what will work? Here’s a few in my personal inbox that I plan to open-

  • ‘Countdown to Summer’ This is a new collection from a retailer I love. 
  • ‘Classes Start Today’ – I signed up for those. 
  • ‘Today Only’ I’m still deciding, though it’s not as much of a put off as others
  • ‘ 10 Ideas to Refresh.‘  It’s Spring here. Who doesn’t want a Refresh?
  • ‘The One Thing You Should Know’ Folks love Lists or that One Thing. 
  • ‘Let’s Talk About…’  Ok, women tend to like these subject lines. Men usually don’t. 
  • ‘Cleopatra’s Favorite Perfume.’ Now, really who doesn’t want to know that? Ok. Maybe just me. It’s thought to contain myrrh, cinnamon, fruit oil- probably from dates and pine or cedar resin. Apparently, the recipes for the fragrance have been found in ancient writings. I’m not making this up! This is from a reputable History site. So, yes! I trusted the information.

So! How do we actually get folks to open, read or even just scan our written content? It’s like anything else- Develop a relationship with the reader, stir in that Know, Like, Trust factor and you’re on your way. Some of our titles or subject lines should be Specific and Straightforward- like ‘Classes Begin Today’. And there are those which use a play on words- which I tend to like. Still others create interest, are quirky and fun- obviously Cleopatra’s Perfume checked all of those boxes for me! 

I want folks to feel happy, intrigued and curious- not stressed out with another Urgent Demand- unless it’s really Urgent– let’s avoid that! 

We want whatever we write to be a pleasure to read. Something they will enjoy. It’s always about Information and Inspiration. Speaking of that! If you’d like to subscribe to my newsletter- it’s free but not in the subject line! Just send me a message and I’ll tell you how to get on the list!

I’ve been posting about Color lately on Instagram. Here’s a download from my course about Color Mapping-

Click Here:  “C:\Users\sunni\OneDrive\Color Mapping for You.pdf” It’s a fun way to find out your Color Values- I have more training available in my course!

opening-slide-for-courseSpeaking of which- We are having so much fun with ‘Be Unforgettable- Beginner’s Guide to Visual Marketing.’ If you think this is something you’d be interested in- I’d love to have you! Here’s the link to find out more! https://camellia-s-cottage-blog.mykajabi.com/about-course-copy-1-ed7ee1ac-4438-4133-968b-ffee43106f2b

Love y’all, Brenda 

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Blooming in Harsh Light…

Times are harsh. They have been for quite a while. Over 2 years now, we’ve all witnessed Disease, Death, and Destruction and have had our share of exhaustion, even depression. The truth is life has been and still has been harsh. Unsure of the future, we are trying to find out way and yes, some have stared so long for so long and hard- that there’s overwhelm and some have told me that they are just burned out or ‘not feeling it’ right now.’ Backing away from social media, taking a break. I understand. Still.

We do need to know how to continue posting- even if not as often and with a certain sensitivity. We need to know how to continue creating or doing business while understanding folks are bombarded with information almost constantly. The question is then, how do we bloom in harsh light? How to celebrate holidays or perhaps get away from it all for a few days.

First we must believe that we are gifted. And not only gifted, but gifted for such a time as this. Right now, it’s easy to think what we write or make, create or sell isn’t vital- in fact we may think- ‘What I’m doing is trivial compared to all of the horribleness right now.’ Am I right? When what we are really thinking is – ‘What I do doesn’t matter.’ Oh yes, it Matters! Why? Well, let’s say we are thirsty- yet in your own special talented way- you go the extra mile and make a simple glass of water special- you add sprigs of fresh mint and limes. You’ve found a way to beautifully quench thirst.

It might be easy to say what we do or create or sell won’t bring World Peace or whatever it is that you’re thinking. Yet. Who are we to Decide what Folks Want or Need? Yes, be sensitive in your posting yet remember this- Folks need Beauty. Folks need Gifts for Celebrations. Folks may want to uplevel their Skills or Businesses. Folks who are burned out may need inspiration or even coaches and services- trying find ways to bloom in Harsh Times. You could be that person. You could inspire someone today. Do you recall how many of us found our gardens immensely helpful in the first lockdowns?

We never know what will happen, what I do know is that what you create, sell or offer could make all the difference in the world to someone. You may think you’re just one beam of light when really you can light up the night just be being the best sparkling effervescent unforgettable You.

That Quote? It’s true. I wrote it during the pandemic- I had to refer to it in harsh light. I read it often as I began writing and creating my course. On days when I wondered if it would ever see the light of day! Well, now it’s Live. It’s done with love going out into the harsh light of this world with hope that it might help someone… We never know, still we must go on.

Love y’all, Brenda

Here’s the link to my Online Course. Be Unforgettable- Beginner’s Guide to Visual Marketing. In this fast paced marketing world we live in- we are All Beginner’s at something- the Marketing Portion is of special interest. Though, I do take you through the Steps of Visual Marketing. If it’s something you think you could use it for your business or dream of one, the link also tells you how to join. Thank you.

https://app.kajabi.com/admin/sites/2147488395/landing_pages#

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Waiting in the Wings…

Have you ever felt like you’re ‘Waiting in the Wings’ ? At every age and stage, even when starting something new…there’s that Waiting in the Wings state of mind. Cambridge Dictionary describes it like this:’ If someone is waiting in the wings, they are not yet active or important, but are ready or likely to be soon..’

You may have practiced and prepared. You may have the perfect costume or background for your performance and yet there’s that waiting time.

You may have the prettiest or the most photogenic scene set up and yet, you mind tells you that there’s always someone better than you are. Did you know there’s a physical reaction to waiting in the wings? There is. When you’re in that area where activity on the stage can be observed yet the audience cannot see you- a place where performers stand just before it’s time to enter the stage to perform… we might call this physical reaction- Butterflies. A sensation which is a blend of anxiety, anticipation and excitement all bundled together.

You may be standing ready to undertake a new role. make an entrance or be brought to public attention. Yet, those butterflies are creating fear, they might make you want to give up…

Hang up Your Dancing Shoes altogether.

How do I know this? Because I’ve had those feelings before, okay- many times before. You have butterflies because you are afraid. You have butterflies because you’ve got a bad case of comparisonitis. You have butterflies because you Care.

When you start something new, even if you don’t have all the answers, you aren’t ‘perfect’ or you think someone is better than you are. Am I right? Well, here’s the key- lean on your preparation and your experience. Then trust your Instincts and Believe that you will Rise to the Occasion.

What you have to give is You, and that’s a very special Gift. There’s no one else exactly like You. When the Director of Life give you the cue… Come on out onto the Stage. You’ll be Unforgettable.

I’m thankful for so many who generously Take to the Stage. Ready to be available. Waiting to help. Prepared to do Something. Willing to share their Gifts. We need you.

Love y’all, Brenda