Get shit done

After a very short trip to Amman, with a hyper-intensive layover in Belgium, I'm now in Spain with the family. Did we drive 400 km out of our way because we forgot the apartment key at home? Maybe. Haha. Time for some recharging and mind peace.

It's like tranquility has returned to my mind now that all those thousands of professional WhatsApp and Slack channels have quieted down. I love the peace in my head. I can hear my own thoughts again, and that’s only good for my creativity!

➡️ Procrastination Hack: How to get shit done…

… on Days You Don’t Feel Like It

Even though my creativity is coming back, I’m feeling very lazy. But I have a book to write. Did I mention I will ghostwrite a book? Well, I’m ghostwriting a book. Not because it will make me rich, but because - I don’t know why - I just feel like it. After teamwork and politics, it’s nice to do some quiet work alone. And the person I’m working with has an interesting story I can relate to.

On the other hand, I told myself to never ever again write a book, because it demands a lot of your self-discipline. Et voila, here I am in Spain overcoming my procrastination.

The good thing is: the hardest part of a task is getting started. I didn’t feel like writing this newsletter today. But I just did.
Here's a hack that I use:

1. Set the timer for 5 minutes.

2. Work on the task you've been putting off.

3. After 5 minutes, you can stop if you want (but you'll likely find you don't want to stop).

90% of the time, the momentum of starting is enough to keep you going.

➡️ Brandlove: “Egg-ceptional” Easter Marketing Creatives

A newsletter about branding on April 1st is perfectly fine, I’d say. But it would be a missed opportunity to skip Easter references, i’d say. Here are some examples of Easter marketing creativity.

(I love a pun, but the egg-cellent has got to go, right?)
Did you see some nice campaigns passing by recently? Please reply to this mail with all your findings!

➡️ Entrepreneurship: 30-for-30 Exchange

Recently, I completed an assignment for a client that required me to explore a new offer and pitch it to potential clients. This experience made the following concept catch my eye: I discovered a simple yet impactful process for increasing conversations with prospective customers, known as the "30-for-30 Exchange: a straightforward yet effective strategy for initiating meaningful conversations without needing a massive social media following.

Here's how it works: A 30-for-30 Exchange is where you offer 30 minutes of free consulting work to someone who needs it. And in exchange, you get 30 minutes of time to ask questions about their challenge, so you can build a better product or service.

Consider you're developing a productivity app. Direct conversations with potential users might reveal a strong demand for features like time tracking or project management. Missing these features could significantly impact your product's market fit and user retention. Essentially, without this dialogue, you're just guessing, and guesswork is not the foundation of a successful business.

Why are these customer conversations so critical? I'm always taken aback by the number of entrepreneurs who overlook the importance of directly engaging with their target audience. Without these interactions, you're essentially flying blind, making assumptions about what your customers want or need. 🤷‍♀️

➡️ To Listen: Achter de Schermen- Podcast

What do you do when you have to drive 1600 km (+ an extra 400 because you have to go back home for a forgotten key)? You listen to podcasts. I binge-listened to “Achter de Schermen”, a podcast from the Play Media family about life and work in the media. I admit that now that I've worked on a production again - okay, it was an event, not TV. But still - it's got me itching again. One day I'll do something with those itches! But really, “Achter de Schermen” comes highly recommended! It feels like coming home to me, the people are funny, and it's just good content. Anyone who ever needs to drive 1600 2000 km, you know what to do.

➡️ Be more Victor

I don’t know who raised Victor, but we should all be more like Victor. Watch this video every time you're feeling less confident, because Victor knows how to handle it! 🔥

@themuseoasis

when I wake up in the morning I look mysef in the mirror I say Im blessed I am handsome 🤩 victor is blessed 😝 #mood #inspiration #funny

See you next week!
x Ingrid