2x2: When stuck in business, don’t do this

Hello! Shawn here. And welcome to this week’s edition of the 2x2 Newsletter. Your premier Friday email for business owners and creative professionals like you, doing the important work that matters while creating and protecting your free time to enjoy life. As always, I’m so glad you’re here. As I write this, I’ve just gotten back from a few weeks in Colorado. And now, my team and I are turning our attention to the fall and winter months. There is so much we have in store for you in terms of community events, business workshops, an in-person business retreat, and the final group cohorts for both [Focus Course Live]( and [Focus Like a Boss](. Anyway. More details on all of that coming soon. For now, let’s dive in to this week’s 2x2… Check this out 1: [Purist Coffee Mugs]( Pretty sure I’ve shared about these coffee mugs before, but they’re such a hidden gem it’s worth brining up again. Two things I love about my purist mug: (a) they come in 10oz sizes (which is just right); and (b) they have a ceramic coating on the interior so you don’t get that “metal / steel” taste with your coffee or tea. 2: [The New Ugmonk Pen]( week I was in Colorado for a business retreat and Jeff Sheldon, founder of Ugmonk, was there with us. He brought along a few of [these new pens]( as gifts and I was immediately blown away. It’s gorgeous, and I’ve been using it non-stop ever since. Something to think about 1: When you’re stuck, perhaps don’t go backwards ([IG version]()As mentioned, I just got back from my annual business retreat in Colorado, where I invite [10 business owners]( to the mountains for 4 days of problem solving, brainstorming, eating delicious food, and going on hikes. There were a few themes I noticed from this year’s retreat, and one of them was this: A few of the business owners were trying to solve a marketing problem by fiddling with their product. For one, if you have a marketing problem and you’re struggling with sales, you won’t solve it by “making a new product” or “updating a feature”. That’s not going to solve the root issue. But secondly, and far more costly reason this is a mistake, is because... For those who were trying to solve their marketing problem by fiddling with the product, it meant they were reverting back to what they knew and what they felt comfortable doing. If you’ve been in business for longer than a few weeks, you already know that you’re going to get stuck. When you do get stuck, don’t try to get unstuck by going backwards to the familiar. You’ve got to solve the new problem by seeking out help, taking uncomfortable action, and getting in the room with folks smarter than you who can help. 2: Three Steps to Being More Productive Identify what you want to do. Plan a time you will do it. Celebrate that you followed through. (And then, repeat.) * * * — Shawn P.S. There’s just one more chance if you want to work with me on turning the corner in your business this year… If you’re an agency owner or consultant, and you’d like to run your full-time business on a part-time schedule in order to grow your profits and ultimately get back some margin and calm into your schedule… please do let me know. There is one more group coaching program happening later this fall just for small business owners. There are still some spots left. So if you’re interested, hit reply here and I’d be super happy to share the details with you.  👋 Whenever you’re ready, here are 4 ways I can help you: 1: [Start with the]([free Focus Assessment]( to get your personalized roadmap to eliminate busywork, procrastination, and burnout. 2: Join 3,500 creative professionals who have declared their goals and reset their schedule to do more of the important work that matters. Get instant access to the [Focus Course](. 3: [Join our growing Membership community]( and get your all-access pass to our entire course library along with weekly accountability and ongoing workshops. (Recommended.) 4: Agency Owners and Consultants: Hit reply if you’re interested in running your full-time business on part-time hours.  [In-Depth App Training for Power Users]( To unsubscribe, click [here](. Blanc Media, 714 Main St., Grandview, MO 64030, United States