What I Really Think About Marketing

by | Marketing

Gwen sits on her couch scrolling what appears to be Facebook on her phone. The camera is looking over her left shoulder, so you can see her french manicured nails and the phone resting on her grey ombre knitted skirt.

While you’re reading this, I’m likely in limbo. 

I’m checking out of a Denver hotel this morning and catching a flight to Phoenix.

“Wait, Gwen…don’t you live in CALIFORNIA?!”

Why, yes. Yes, I do.

I left home on Friday for NSA Influence, and I won’t see Arlis or Electra again until I get home from the Golden Swan Alliance this weekend.

If I’m being honest, I love traveling — and this kind of travel is my favorite. From connecting with my favorite speakers across the nation in Denver to exploring the finer points of business development with a client in Phoenix, I’m in my comfort zone.

And after a summer of stretching beyond my comfort zone, the familiar feels good.

If you’re connected to me on LinkedIn or YouTube, you know it’s been a busy summer here at Everyday Effectiveness:

  • We hosted our first-ever Savvy Syndicate, an in-person mastermind for current and former clients.
  • We brought back the Small Biz Book Club.
  • We started a waitlist for the Quarterly Tune-Up, our high-touch weekly accountability program.
  • And we have a podcast launching next week on YouTube and audio players. 

That’s the easy stuff…

The not-so-easy stuff involved initiating a rebrand of our business, working with a copywriter to further clarify our services and values-based delivery, and spending an entire day awkwardly posing for photos that somehow ended up looking way more natural than they felt at the time.

Operations, networking, working with clients, talking shop with Tonya…these are things I could do all day.

Gwen stands between Andrea (left) and Tonya (right) while all three pretend to laugh at an unspoken joke for the purpose of "acting naturally" in a recent photo shoot. Andrea's long dark hair has caramel highlights. Gwen's blonde hair - as always - is pulled back into a ponytail. Tonya has short salt-and-pepper curly hair. While Andrea and Tonya are wearing jeans and casual shirts, Gwen has her standard uniform of mid-length skirt and twin set.

Marketing? Not so much.

I’d prefer to take a trip with 5 connecting flights than work on marketing — my business, or anyone else’s. And yet, it’s hard to have a successful business if no one knows you exist.

So here we are. 

Marketing, to me, feels like an uncomfortable but necessary stretch beyond my comfort zone. But just like those awkward photo shoots that somehow produced natural-looking results, I’m learning that pushing through the discomfort can lead to unexpected growth and opportunities.

As I get ready to head to the airport, I’m reflecting on how these past few months of stretching myself have already started paying off. As our new branding slowly replaces the old, I’m finding how much more aligned the business is starting to feel.

I’m curious — what areas of your business push you beyond your comfort zone? How do you navigate the tension between sticking with what’s familiar and stretching yourself to grow?

Drop me a line and let me know. I’d love to hear your perspective and maybe even feature some responses in an upcoming newsletter or podcast episode.

About Gwen

Gwen Bortner has spent four decades advising executives and entrepreneurs in 45+ industries. She helps women succeed in business without sacrificing happiness by identifying their true desires and aligning their business functions. She spots overlooked bottlenecks and crafts efficient plans toward sustainable success that center your values and priorities.