Do you ever play mind games on yourself?

Like setting your alarm an hour early so you can “sleep in”?

Or writing down distracting thoughts so you can focus on what you’re doing?

Sometimes we have to trick ourselves to do what needs to be done.

I find this to be especially true when it comes to Targeted Outreach (one of the three tools in the Simplest Marketing Plan).

But most creatives have unrealistic expectations about what will happen. They are so focused on what they want, without even knowing it.

“I want this client…”

“I want this project…”

“I want this person to respond…”

The realistic expectation is this: about 10% of people usually respond, accounting for both the yes’s and the no’s.

If you do your outreach well, and often, it does work – but it takes persistence, good timing and a little bit of luck.

And if you expect everyone to respond, or that ONE person to get back to you immediately with a resounding “where have you been all my life?”

It’s easy to give in to discouragement and then stop trying altogether.

So, here’s my advice: from here on, every time you do your outreach, reset your mind to think:

“Even if no one responds, I will keep going.”

Remember: marketing works when you do it.

That means doing your outreach every week - and keeping at it when you don’t hear back - is what will get you the work you want.

I just love the way Diana Brauhn adapted this way of thinking to work for her. You can, too!

And if you follow up and they still don’t get back to you...

Just use my favorite phrase:

Who cares?

(It's catching on - people are even sending me gifts, like this quilted “mug rug” (in my brand colors!) from B2B Content Writer Donna Batchelor, a member of the SMP+.)

Our very own visual storyteller (and SMP member), Antonio Meza summed all of this up nicely in his “Ink Insights” sketch from our April Office Hours:

 
Do you have “mind games” that you play on yourself?

Share them here on LinkedIn!