the hard stuff

As many of you know, I have started a new adventure; Hello Social, LLC is my new baby, and that means it's time for the first steps:

1. make "Hello Social, LLC" official (the forms, the fees, the structure...);
2. build a website; 
3. finish my logo; 
4. get business cards; 
5. more to-dos, must-dos, and might-dos.

And today was day one of the journey.

[crickets]

That's how I feel in the light of a new year. But truth be told, I heard more than crickets. I also heard Seth Godin.

In case you are unaware, Seth has a really great podcast called "Seth Godin's Startup School". I have listened to most of the released episodes (and most of those more than once), and a few bullet points have nested in my brain.

Today's direct hit: "Focus on the hard stuff."

The bottom line: your logo, website, pens, desk, designs, business cards, checking account, tax structure, embroidered golf shirt, mascot, theme song, bobble-head, etc., etc., etc...none of these things matter if you don't focus on the hard stuff: getting business.

All day I have wrestled with designing my website (primarily because I am not a website designer). I figured it would take me at least another week to get the site fleshed out. Then, I'd spend the following week making it better (evolving it from boring to somewhat interesting). These steps (designing the website, making it better) are hard for me. 

Note the emphasis; it might be hard for me...but it's not hard. I could hire someone who finds it easy, even interesting, work. Designing a website, creating a logo, setting up the business...these things are not hard. And they aren't even necessary.

What's hard is creating a successful business, a business that other businesses will trust and partner with. Creating a business that matters, that has worth, that is valuable in its mission...now that's the hard stuff.

All of that being said, here is my (current) website: www.hellosocialmarketing.com. It's not very interesting, there are no calls for engagement, there is really nothing "social" about it, ironically enough. But it's there. And I'm two weeks early on my deadline (which proves that it was a horrible deadline). 

As hard as today seemed, I know that it was easy. Tomorrow...the hard stuff.

Will you join me? Spend some time tonight figuring out your hard stuff, the necessary stuff, the stuff you have been avoiding. And let's pledge to focus on that. 

Sure, the bobble-heads would be fun, but in reality...those are easy.

shanti,
mjh