Kick Monday’s Ass: when (ridiculous) dreams come true… (Feb 14, 2022)

It’s time to Kick Monday’s Ass…

I did it. I FUCKING DID IT.

This weekend, I put my butt on the Four Corners, as promised.

The first image is of me sitting cross-legged in a circle of cement. The second is of a kind stranger who offered to take a picture of me with all four states visible.

If you’re not already familiar (or aren’t a Breaking Bad fan, apparently), the Four Corners is a national monument here in the United States, where you can be in four states at the same time because of how neatly square they are.

Essentially the above pics are of my ass (and whole self) in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah simultaneously. Not bad for one ass in less than 5 minutes. I’m an over-achiever, I know.

Nothing particularly magical happened once I sat down, other than everyone else in line for their photos laughing.

Also I got the joy of seeing another woman do it right before I did, so knowing I wasn’t the only weirdo out there was awesome. Game recognize game.

Moving on…

Last week on the podcast…

My guest is Abbie Nwaocha, and V1 of her business is a great example of what NOT to do. After her overly ambitious “I-can-do-it-all” attitude put her health in danger, Abbie made the smartest move possible. She stripped her business back to bare bones and recreated it to be exactly what she wanted. If the stress of entrepreneurship is taking the joy out of your business, this one’s for you.

Abbie’s ambition and energy took her far in business, but it also got her in trouble. What I love about her story though is how she never let imposter syndrome stop her — in fact she used it to her advantage. When it came time to switch up her business, Abbie had the right mindset to reinvent herself and let go of what was holding her back. Listen now to get the perspective you need to make your business enjoyable.

 

Section 42: Life, The Universe, and Everything…

I learned two important things in my travels last week:

• I need a way to distinguish what’s mine from what belongs to my host
• Washing a comforter in your home dryer is not a good idea

My solution to problem number one is rather ingenious if I say so myself. I use it to mark my stuff AND let me know at a glance which cabinets I’ve already checked when packing, so that I don’t check the same place 20 times and miss another entirely. I wrote a quick snippet about it here.

For thing #2 I had to find a local laundromat with a commercial washer and dryer that could tackle that beast of a comforter. Interestingly enough… it turned out to be a great place to get some work done.

I also took a metric fuck ton of pictures from my sunrise trip to Mesa Verde National Park… but I haven’t had time to write about it yet, so stay tuned.

Marketing Minute…

You don’t always have to have a sale.

Doing so could have a negative impact on your business… as JC Penney found out in 2012 when they pivoted from constant discounts to their “fair and square” non-sale pricing. Unsurprisingly, they experienced a huge customer backlash.

Granted it’s a lot harder for your average retailer to step out of the “forever on sale” cycle… but take it as a cautionary tale for your own business.

If sales and deals are how you convince your customers to buy… then you’re training them to NOT buy unless there’s a sale.

Meaning you’re either going to have to toe the ethical line and try out some psychological tricks to get the price you want…

Or you’ll be in for an uphill battle in getting customers to see the full value of your product or service, especially if you never offer it without a discount.

If you’re having trouble moving units or selling a service without a discount, then there are two things to try:

• make the benefits even more clear. Spell out not just what they get, but also what it means, and how it will impact their life for the better. Don’t be afraid to state the obvious, especially if you can do it in a way that grabs their attention.
• try another promotional strategy. Discounts aren’t the only incentive out there – there’s also:
  • featured or seasonal item
  • free gift with purchase
  • loyalty or VIP rewards
  • limited edition/limited stock with new product or design
  • free shipping
  • private shopping experiences (especially when launching a new product – early access is hugely appealing)
  • reserving discounts for spendier purchases (think subscription, bulk buys, cross-sells, bundles, etc)
  • and so much more

In other words, there are plenty of other incentive strategies to try… so resist the temptation to fall back on the easy play of constant sales. It’s a good short-term strategy, but not so ideal for long-term.

On repeat this week…

I heard this one coming down the mountain out of Mesa Verde National Park this weekend. It seemed like an apt description of all the awesomeness I’d just seen. Today, I bring you Carnival by Natalie Merchant.

Rock on,
Angie
___________

Well, I’ve walked these streets
A virtual stage, it seemed to me
Makeup on their faces
Actors took their places next to me

Well, I’ve walked these streets
In a carnival, of sights to see
All the cheap thrill seekers vendors and the dealers
They crowded around me

Have I been blind have I been lost
Inside myself and my own mind
Hypnotized, mesmerized by what my eyes have seen?