Be Yourself Marketing

What does 1 year of showing up as yourself actually look like?Not the highlight reel.The real numbers, the real stumbles,& the 2 things that actually made the difference.Inside this special anniversary episode:→ Why the most-opened issue this year wasn't the most polished or what I expected→ What $0 in ad spend says about how this can actually still work→ The month with the most unsubscribes... & what came after→ What 1 year of my proof means for whatever you're sitting on right nowYou'll finish this 1 feeling like you've got the permission you didn't know you were waiting for.Past issues referenced:-> My uncle died ...-> I got scammed ...-> the email that made people leaveLinks & resources mentioned-> Ilise Benun-> Lisa Christoffel | LinkedIn-> They Ask, You Answer by Marcus SheridanRead along with the newsletter.Let's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics & guests you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

Ever have 1 of those mornings where everything hurts, nothing makes sense& the last thing you want to do is show up?But you do anyway.Because some things don't care how you feel.Inside this episode: → The sciatica, the ice & the 80-pound dog who'd already made some decisions → Why "I'm my own boss" is both the best & worst excuse at the same time → What showing up actually looks like... warts & all ... for your business to surviveYou'll finish this 1 knowing exactly which role you've been skipping in your business & what to do about it.Read along with the newsletter.Let's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics & guests you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

The storm showed up right on schedule. So did the excuses. Neither one was the real problem.Inside this episode: -> Why a foot of snow, a buried solar panel & cats with a power cord fetish aren't actually why my taxes aren't done -> What a LinkedIn banner, a free sponsorship & a gym with 140 sign-ups & 12 show-ups all have in common -> The difference between a reason & an excuse ... & why 1 of them you're doing to yourself -> What real accountability looks like... & why we're surrounding ourselves with the opposite You'll finish this one knowing exactly what your yeah-but is.The one dressed up as a reason.links & resources mentionedAlberta snowstorm article in the New York TimesBe sure to read the newsletter & check the extra resources linked in it.Connect on LinkedInEmail me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

Months of snow dumps & frigid temperatures.Then the heat hits. All at once.No slow thaw. Just... too much, too fast.& suddenly there's water where water isn't supposed to be.When everything comes at you faster than expected... the question isn't how to stop it.It's how to control the flow.Inside this episode:-> The aiming problem most freelancers mistake for a positioning problem -> The gut check that matters more than any checklist before you say yes to a project -> How to sort the full-stop red flags from the yellows -> The 3-part look back that tells you exactly why a past project went sideways & what to do differently next timeYou'll finish this episode knowing which boxes need to be checked vs the nice-to-haveslinks to previous issues found in the newsletterSo, what do you do?biz lessons learned from a Meatloaf playlistBe sure to read the newsletter & check the extra resources linked in it.Connect on LinkedInEmail me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

Some weeks out here throw everything at you.& just when you think you've seen it all... something happens that stops you completely cold.Didn't move. Didn't breathe. Had absolutely no framework for what just happened.& the business parallel hit me harder than I expected.Inside this episode:The moment that caught me completely off guard... & why it matters for your business The 3 ways people respond when the ground shifts under them A real client story about trust, AI & what happens when nobody knows who's in charge A comedy routine from the 1940s that explains a very expensive modern problem & a quick check you can do today to find your biggest blind spotIf something in your business has been feeling off lately... but you can't quite name why...This one might do it for you.links & resources mentionedthe comedy sketch on YouTubeBe sure to read the newsletter & check the extra resources linked in it.Connect on LinkedInEmail me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

Ever feel like your marketing should be working… but it’s just not landing?Let's look at a subtle gap that most businesses miss ... especially when everything looks like it’s being done “right.”Using real examples from two very different businesses, you’ll see why similar efforts can lead to completely different results.Inside this episode:Why some posts attract attention… but not actionThe small shift that separates “looks good” from “actually works”A simple framework used by top advertisers (that most marketers don't even know about)How to quickly spot what’s missing in your own marketing& a practical way to fix it without starting from scratchIf your content is getting seen—but not converting… this will help you understand what’s really going on beneath the surface.Be sure to read the newsletter & check the extra resources linked in it.Connect on LinkedInEmail me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

Everything feels like it’s moving…until the moment it actually matters.That’s where things change.Let's walk through a pattern that looks like progress on the surfacebut quietly stalls people out right before anything real happens.It’s subtle.Easy to justify.& incredibly common.Inside this episode:2 real conversations that took an unexpected turnThe exact moment where momentum starts to slipA pattern most people don’t recognize until they’re stuck in it& what shifted once things were finally put to the testYou'll also hear how this showed up in my own business... starting something I wasn’t sure would work& almost didn’t start at all.If something you’ve been working on still hasn’t seen the light of day… this might explain why.links to resources & people mentionedThey Ask, You Answer by Marcus SheridanTiny Habits by B.J. Foggbeehiiv& this newsletter the audio is based onTrueFans.fm podcast platformConnect with Ilise Benun & Lisa Christoffel ... & ME on LinkedInEmail me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

It’s April…& I’m still dealing with snowstorms, frozen doors, & a property that refuses to cooperate.Strangely enough… it mirrors what I’m seeing in business right now.Things that look fine on the surface… but don’t hold up when it actually matters.Inside this episode:A real situation that didn’t add up at firstWhy more effort isn’t fixing what feels “off”Where things are quietly breaking (that most people miss)And the shift that clicked once I stopped looking at the obviousIf your work feels heavier than it should…or like you’re doing everything “right” but not seeing it pay off…This might connect a few dots...Just not the ones you’re expecting.You can read the newsletter here.Let's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

You can read this issue of the newsletter here ...“AI is replacing copywriters.”That’s the story going around right now…& it’s #FakeNews.Let's look at what’s actually happening as AI floods the market& why the real divide isn’t AI vs humans…In this episode:Why AI-generated content often “sounds good” but fails to convertThe difference between using AI & actually knowing what "good" looks likeHow businesses are accidentally flooding their own marketing with fluff& why skilled copywriters are actually becoming more valuable, NOT lessYou'll also learn a simple analogy that makes this crystal clear.If you’ve been questioning your relevance in an AI-driven world… this is your reality check.The future isn’t AI vs you. It’s whether you become the expert who knows how to use it.Let's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

“I think I’m doing too many things…”It sounds true.It feels true.But most of the time? It’s not the real problem.Let's break down why the chaos in your business isn’t coming from doing too much...it’s from saying yes to things that don't take you where you actually want to go.Because when your work doesn’t connect to a clear outcome, everything starts to feel scattered… even if each piece technically makes sense.Inside this episode:Why “focus” isn’t about doing just one thingHow consistency can actually lock you into the wrong directionThe difference between work that’s related vs. work that’s aligned& how to filter opportunities so they actually move your business forwardYou'll also learn a simple way to think about your business so your goals & work is aligned.Because clarity doesn’t come from cutting everything else.It's from deciding where everything is supposed to lead.If your business feels messy right now… you might not need to do less.You might just need to stop building roads that go nowhere.You can read the newsletter hereLet's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

We’ve all experienced it: someone asks, “So, what do you do?”Somehow, the words that come out of your mouth don’t match what’s in your head.The result?Confusion, polite nods, and a conversation that dies before it even starts.Let's dig into why this matters ... not just in face-to-face conversations,but in your marketing, like website copy, or social posts.Because unlike live interactions, you can't see their reactions & clarify.They either get it, or they move on.You’ll learn:The simple 3-word shift that bridges features into real outcomesHow to turn a plain description of what you do into a clear, compelling message that helps your audience see themselves in the resultsWhy this is a thinking problem, not a writing problem, & how fixing it makes all your copy easierThe takeaway: it’s not about sounding smarter or more professional...It’s about helping your audience understand why it matters to them.Even just applying this to one sentence transforms the impact of your message immediately.You can read the newsletter while you listen.Let's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

Marketing that fits who you are ... not who the gurus say you should be.Read the newsletter that shapes the bonus audio.Let's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

This issue of the newsletter explores a tension that many business owners quietly wrestle with:Does trying something outside your comfort zone make you inauthentic…or is that actually part of being yourself?After years of resisting formats like podcasting, I’m finally launching onebut not in the way I thought I “should.”In this episode, I unpack:Why my first attempt at podcasting failed before it even startedThe difference between stretching (growth) and forcing (self-betrayal)How following “proven” strategies can kill your businessWhy authenticity isn’t about avoiding discomfortHow to rethink strategies so they actually fit your personality, energy, & stage of businessThis is a reminder that:A strategy isn’t wrong just because it doesn’t work for you in its current form.& more importantly:Authenticity isn’t refusing to do the thing… It’s refusing to do it in a way that betrays who you are.If you’ve been resisting something because it feels performative, forced, or “not you”…This episode helps you rethink how to approach it in a way that actually fits YOU.You can read the newsletter while you listen or jump into the LinkedIn "half-baked" announcement conversationCurious about your Wealth Dynamics by Roger Hamilton score?Let's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

What do gutters, getting scammed, & Meatloaf have to do with your business?More than you think.Somewhere between getting burned (again), trying to save money, & standing in the middle of an extra-frozen property (without reliable power or heat) … something clicked.It’s one of those business lessons that sounds obvious once you hear itbut most people don’t realize they’re breaking it until things start going sideways.This episode isn’t theory.It’s real-time, slightly painful, & unexpectedly tied to a Meatloaf playlist that’s now stuck in my head.If your work has ever felt heavier than it should… or like you’re doing “everything right” but something’s still off…You’ll want to hear this.Just don’t be surprised if it changes how you look at your business overnight.Apologies in advance if the songs get stuck on repeat for you too!links & resources from the episode:-> The scammy solar company you want to avoid in Southern Alberta-> The artist behind the Meatloaf drawing ... Tom RichmondLet's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

“Just use this proven strategy.”Sounds safe.Logical.Smart.… & it quietly kills a LOT of businesses.Let's break down why “proven” strategies fail more often than people admit& the 2 reasons why no one talks about: they don’t match your stage or your personality.Because the same strategy that works for an established creator with an audience… can completely stall someone who’s just getting started.Inside this episode:Why low-ticket offers are often the hardest way to grow early onThe math problem most people ignore when pricing their first offersHow using the wrong strategy at the wrong stage creates business-breaking pressureHow working 1:1 first actually accelerates results & incomeYou'll also hear a real-life example of what happens when you skip alignmentStrategies don’t fail because they’re bad.They fail because they don’t fit.The right move isn’t copying what works.It’s choosing what works for you ... right now in your business.Read along with the newsletter.Let's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

“Proven strategies” aren’t always wrong…They’re just often wrong for you.Let's unpack why so many popular growth strategies (like podcasts, webinars, constant content) can feel heavy, forced, or even impossible to follow through on.It’s not a discipline problem.It’s a misalignment problem.Inside this episode:Why “proven” strategies fail when they don’t match your personalityThe difference between resistance & real internal misalignmentHow ignoring how you naturally think & work creates unnecessary frictionWhy doing what works for someone else can quietly stall your growthYou'll also learn about my own experience trying to force strategies that never fit& what changed once I started designing around how I actually operate.Because before funnels, content, or tactics… your business (& its marketing) needs to fit you.If it doesn’t, everything feels harder than it should.Alignment isn’t fluff.It’s leverage.You can read the newsletter while you listenLet's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

What if your business isn’t exhausting because you’re doing it "wrong"…But because it's designed to depend on you?Let's break down the uncomfortable realization that I didn’t build a business ...I built a job.One that relies on constant calls, constant availability, & constant energy.If every dollar you make requires you to show up, perform, & manage people…You don’t control your momentum ... your clients do.This episode dives into:The hidden energy cost of client work (it’s not just the hours)Why introverted entrepreneurs burn out faster in “standard” business modelsThe volatility that comes from relying on clients for income& the shift toward quieter, more durable, asset-based business modelsYou'll also hear about where I’m headed next ...moving away from high-touch, schedule-heavy work & toward building income streams that don’t rely on me being “on” all the time.If you’ve ever felt drained trying to keep up with the demands of a client-based business… this is your permission to design something different.Quiet doesn’t mean small. It might just mean sustainable.You can read this issue while you listenLet's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

You can also read this issue of the newsletterSome conversations are opening doors.Others are just noise in a blazer & bootsWe'll dive into a pattern that shows up everywhere once you start paying attention…& why it quietly wastes time, energy, & a whole lot of opportunity.You'll hear about:A frustrating trend that keeps showing up in DMsWhy “more conversations” is not the same as better onesThe difference between motion and actual momentum& the shift that saves your time, energy, & sanityIf you've ever been on the receiving end of a pitch that came in way too fast…or wasted time on the wrong call…This one will feel uncomfortably familiar.Just not in the way you think.Links to resources & people mentioned...add what's landing in your DMs in this LinkedIn thread.Connect with Keith Gilmore on LinkedIn ... & me too (if we're not already)Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected] Marcus Sheridan's book that started it all ... They Ask, You Answer

We're breaking down a deceptively simple question that trips up a lot of entrepreneurs:“So… what do you do?”Early on, I answered this question the way most people do...by explaining, over-talking, & trying to sound impressive.It didn’t work.Conversations died.People disengaged.& ultimately, it played a big role in my first business failing.Not because I lacked skill…But because I lacked positioning.This episode unpacks:Why most people answer this question wrong (and don’t realize it)The difference between explaining what you do vs. making it relevant to the listenerHow “feature-mode” & jargon kill conversations instantlyWhy people don’t actually care what you do—they care what changes for themThe subtle shift that turns polite smiles into genuine curiosity (& clients)You’ll also hear the exact reframing that changed everything for me ... turning awkward intros into real conversations, referrals, & paying clients.The big takeaway:Relevance beats resume.Every. Single. Time.& sometimes the best way to answer the question… is not to answer it right away.If you’ve ever struggled to explain what you do without rambling, overthinking, or losing people mid-sentence ... this episode helps you simplify, connect, & actually be understood.You can read the newsletter while you listen& watch the TEDx Talks on YouTube ...Rebecca Okamoto — TEDx Talk: How to introduce yourself & get hiredMichelle Golden — Your elevator speech is out of orderClay Hebert — The best way to answer “so what do you do?”Let's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

This episode challenges one of the most common myths from the movies:“If you build it, they will come.”It sounds great… but in business, it’s completely backwards in marketing your small business.Because the truth is , as entrepreneurs, most of us don’t fail because their website, offer, or idea is bad. We fail because we focus on the wrong things first.This episode breaks down:Why launching a website is often one of the loneliest moments in businessHow “perfecting” design, SEO, & tech becomes a form of productive procrastinationWhy your website can turn into a “brochure on a desert island”The real reason people don’t engage, click, or reach out& most importantly… what actually works instead.You’ll learn a simpler, more effective order of marketing operations.This episode also introduces Alex Hormozi's concept of the “Core Four” ways to reach people:The big takeaway:Your message matters more than your marketing tools.& a website doesn’t create demand ...it captures it.If you’ve been stuck tweaking, building, or “getting ready” instead of actually connecting with people…This episode helps you refocus on what truly drives traction, conversations, & clients.You can read the newsletter while you listen.Other links & references mentioned:$100M Leads — Alex Hormozibeehiiv (AI-powered newsletter + website platform)“They Ask, You Answer” by Marcus SheridanLet's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

You can read along in the newsletter as you listen ... or instead of ... your choice.There’s one simple word that can dramatically increase your chances of getting a “yes”…Let's break down why people don’t just want information ... they want reasons& how one small shift in your messaging can change how your audience responds.Backed by a classic psychology study, you’ll see why even a bad reason works better than no reason at all…& what that means for your marketing, offers, and everyday communication.Inside this bonus audio:Why this one of the most powerful (& overlooked) words in businessHow to make your messaging more persuasive without being pushyThe difference between real vs. fake reasons & why relevance mattersHow AI fits into the marketing equation (& why it still depends on your skill)You'll also hear how I use AI to pressure-test (not replace) my own writing ... so every message is clearer, stronger, & more effective.Because at the end of the day…People don’t buy, click, or say yes without a reason.So give them one.You can read about the study& check out the free ChatGPT - HumanizeGPT Pro (By Marcus Sheridan) by Marcus Sheridan (author of They Ask, You Answer)Let's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

This episode challenges one of the most common (& misleading) phrases in business:“I’m too busy.”Because most of the time… you’re not too busy.You’re just busy doing things that don’t actually move your business forward.Let's break down why time management isn’t really about time...it’s about what you choose to focus on & whether that time is being spent or invested.You’ll learn:Why “being busy” can actually be a form of self-sabotageThe difference between motion vs. momentumHow common excuses (“I didn’t get to it,” “I need more research”) keep you stuckWhy most people focus on the wrong things first (& how that slows everything down)& most importantly… the 4-part framework to fix it:This isn’t about doing more.It’s about doing what actually counts.Your core takeaway:If your “busyness” isn’t producing clients, revenue, or real progress…it’s costing you more than time.This is a reset...helping you refocus on what actually grows your business, while cutting through the noise, distractions, and self-sabotage.You can read the newsletter while you listen& be sure to read Dan Kennedy's No B.S. Time Management for EntrepreneursLet's connect on LinkedIn.Email me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

You ever catch yourself doing something that makes absolutely no sense……but you keep doing it anyway?Yeah. That.I'm sharing a moment that was equal parts uncomfortable, ironic, & way more revealing than it should’ve been.At the time, it felt harmless.Even logical.Looking back? Not so much.We'll look at:A pattern that looks productive on the surfaceWhy effort doesn’t always equal progressThe hidden cost of staying in “learning mode”& the moment things finally clickedIf you’ve been "busy" marketing your small business but not seeing the results you expected…This one might hit a little closer than you’d like.In a good way.You can read along with the newsletterLet's connect on LinkedInEmail me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]

Some numbers feel really good to look at.They go up.They look impressive.They make it seem like things are working.…until you take a closer look.Let's walk through a situation that looked like progress on the surfaceBut underneath something's not adding up.Inside this episode:A real example of effort, investment, & “results” that didn’t connectWhy more data doesn’t always mean better decisionsThe subtle difference between what feels like progress vs what actually moves things forward& when everything started to unravelIf you’ve ever looked at your numbers and thought, “this should be working…”This might explain why it isn’t.You can read the newsletter & questions to ask "experts" here...& be sure to connect with me on LinkedInEmail me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected] for more value & less vanity in your numbers?Download this guide for a breakdown of Vanity Metrics, Why They’re Misleading, Better KPIs, and Why They Matter.It also includes questions to ask yourself to decide whether your numbers are Vanity (for you) or Key (for your business).(I’m not a graphic designer. It’s not pretty. It IS effective.)

Ever feel like you’re trying to move forward… & something keeps pulling you back?Not in an obvious way. Not in a “you can’t do that” kind of way.Something quieter.Let's break down a pattern most people don’t notice at firstbut once you see it, you can’t unsee it.We'll look at:Why the people around you don’t always react the way you expectHow “support” can sometimes feel like resistanceThe subtle ways your environment shapes your decisions& what shifts when you start paying attention to itIf you’ve ever felt tension between where you are & where you’re trying to go…this one's gonna land.You might just start seeing things differently after this.You can also read along with the newsletter (& be sure to connect on LinkedIn)links & resources mentioned in the newsletter's PS ...A few of the shorter YouTube videos I recommend watching (& bookmarking).The Crab Mentality and Why Humans Do This- Remove the Crabs from Your Life (by Bedros Keuilian)- 4 Ways to STOP Letting People Hold You Back …& a TEDx Talk with 42.9 million views so he must be onto something!Lessons We Can Learn from Ants to Change Ourselves, and Our WorldEmail me about topics (& guests) you'd like to hear ... [email protected]