In her recent newsletter, behavioural economist Myriam Hadnes wrote:

… just working hard doesn’t bring results. It’s about the ecosystem in which you work and how the hard work fits into the broader picture.

👉 If your work days are filled with ‘learning’ and ‘marketing’ you’ll land new gigs.
👉 If you develop new products and services nobody knows about, you will not sell them.
👉 If your target audience does not know about your services and products, they cannot buy them.
👉 If your communication and pricing targets the wrong audience, you will not sell.
👉 If you don’t charge for your work, you will not earn a business.

It’s so clear, isn’t it?

I’m sure you know all this.

But it sometimes helps us to pause and think about what we’re doing and feeling. And even what we can change.

I know you’re not.

But a lot of others are.

I’m contacted nearly every day. On LinkedIn or Instagram or via email. By experts wanting to help me. Mostly with marketing.

Perhaps you receive these messages, too?

I know the market is tough and competition is fierce.

But is there not a better way to approach people?

My advice to these experts

Start having conversations around your topic. Start getting people interested in your products or services.

Through these conversations, you’ll see if someone is interested. And you can then move them into deeper conversations about what you do.

We all hate being put under pressure and being sold to.

I’m sure you do, too.

Remove unwanted things from an image with Magic Eraser. 

All you need to do is to upload an image and eraser the things you want to delete.

It’s magic!

Use this checklist before you post anything online.

1. Be clear in what you say. Simplicity is good.
2. Use simple words—never use a long word when a shorter one will do.
3. Ask yourself if an average 12-year-old would understand it.
4. Add images and graphics if they make your point clearer.
5. Use short sentences, and keep paragraphs to four sentences or fewer.
6. Read it out loud to yourself and see how it sounds.
7. Ask a colleague if it makes sense before you post it.

(via Alan Stevens)

Today is Boxing Day (and not the 2nd day of Christmas as we call it here in Germany!). But it doesn’t mean that families are fighting! 

In the past, employees gave their servants the day off and presents—known as “Christmas boxes”. These were gifts of money or goods as a thank-you for good service throughout the year. And tradesmen even went from door to door to collect their “Christmas boxes”.

For many, it’s a day for sporting events. They’ve taken place on Boxing Day for centuries. For others, it’s a day for shopping, because the winter sales start. And for others, it’s a day to eat the leftovers, binge-watch Christmas films and continue the festivities.

For us, it’s another day for being with the whole family. We’ll cook. We’ll play games. We’ll go for a walk. And generally enjoy being together.

I wonder what you will be doing?

 

Today is the big day. It’s Christmas Day—and not the 1st day of Christmas as we call it in Germany!

Were Father Christmas and Rudolf there in the night?

I know, I know … the Christkind (the Christ child) is probably the gift bringer in your family.

But in the UK, children and even grown-ups wake up on Christmas Day to find small gifts in the stockings they hung on the mantlepiece—and the larger ones under the Christmas tree.

And that’s the tradition in the Burgmer family.

We’ll be opening our presents after breakfast today.

Yes, giving and receiving gifts at Christmas is one of the joys of the festive season. And a fascinating time for children. And we have two infants in the family!

So all that is left for me to say today is to hope your Christmas is filled with joy, laughter, and love—and that you have an enchanting holiday break.