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“The reason most goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing second things first.”
My 20 years of business ownership has taught me that when someone says “I can’t afford it,” they really mean one of two things:
This isn’t mission-critical right now.
I don’t believe this will actually work.
That second one is key — especially when it comes to branding and marketing decisions.
Because if something is painfully urgent (re: #1), people find the money.
No one says “I can’t afford a roofer” with water dripping from their ceiling. [ speaking from experience 🫤 ] Necessity forces clarity.
In every other scenario, the real fear isn’t cost.
It’s being wrong.
“If we hire someone to do this, will it even look / sound like our business?”
“What if this ends up a total disaster like last time?”
“How can we justify another expense to management?”
Those aren’t budget objections.
They’re trust objections.
But here’s the thing: investing in your business doesn’t have to be a gamble where you recklessly let go of the wheel.
Working with a true expert means allowing them to pave the road so you can drive farther. And faster.
***
Friends, we’ve officially reached that time of year when people start coasting and wait “until after the holidays” to make business decisions.
Between PTO, travel, and other seasonal distractions — there are only a handful of working days left. 40, if we’re being exact. 😳
Which actually makes this the perfect time to gain an advantage … because everyone else is on autopilot.
So, maybe the real question isn’t, “Can I afford to do this?”
It’s: “What happens if I don’t?”
Pros that delegate now will hit 2026 in stride.
Everyone else will spend Q1 rushing to start what they could have finished by December. Turning January into hate-my-life-panic-mode.
So, if you know (deep down) your brand, marketing and/or website is holding your business back … your bank account isn’t the enemy.
Indecision is.
Lock in your progress now, while the rest of the world is coasting.
***
♟️YOUR MOVE:
Taking action starts with clarity. If you’re ready to work smarter — not just harder — you need tactical insight. Take our free Website Audit and spot the credibility gaps preventing your business from taking off.
Turn Conversations into $10K Clients
Three things most business owners waste WAY too much time on: chasing leads, forcing content, and waiting for algorithms to notice them.
[ Guilty as charged. ]
I had a great chat recently with my friend Dave Dubeau about how to land premium clients without social media purgatory. His ridiculously smart system uses podcasts as a direct lead generator — quickly turning simple interviews into high-value relationships.
And now he’s sharing his getting-started guide for free: 3 Steps to Landing $10K Clients.
If you’d rather attract clients through trust and real conversations in 2026 (not algorithms), this one’s definitely worth your time.
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Victory Points
By: Mike Shary
My board-game-loving, copywriter extraordinaire and mentor, Dad ❤️
Let’s Go To Japan (#affiliate) is a cozy trip planning puzzle told in postcards of Japan.
You can play solo or with up to three other travelers. Your goal is to build a weeklong itinerary that actually works.
Each turn you draw an activity and slot it onto a specific day. Scheduling means placing a card on a day where its icons will score. Some cards like quiet mornings. Others pay more on weekends or next to matching themes. Late in the game you trace your weekend route across the city to visit highlights you planned earlier, turning preparation into points.
The tension is simple: Do you take a small win now, or hold that temple or sushi stop for the perfect day later? Overbook, and a great plan turns clumsy. Leave gaps, and you waste chances. The best trips come from calm choices made a little early.
That is how effective marketing gets built. You sketch the week, then you work the plan. One headline. One offer. One path for the eye to follow. When your logo, homepage, and sales pieces point to the same promise, people know what to do. A brand advisor can make all the difference in helping you set that itinerary so the steps add up instead of fighting each other.
Let’s Go To Japan rewards designing tomorrow today. Choose what you want the week to feel like, place the moments that make it real, then enjoy the tour you created.
Make it a great week! 🙌
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The links in our “Victory Points” section are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase.
