A work in progress

Today is Memorial Day in the U.S.; a time to pause, remember, and honor those who gave their lives in service. I’m especially grateful for the freedom to do this work, to share these stories, and to connect with you each week as we keep building — messily, meaningfully, together. 🇺🇸

A few weeks ago, I tried to film a 5-minute masterclass as part of the coaching program I’m doing.

Key word: TRIED.

I had the script. The tech. The lighting.

And ended up re-recording the video ... 17 miserable times. 👀

Every take sounded horrendous. One version ended with me whispering, “Well, that was frickin terrible.” I had no clue what to do with my hands.

Me. 👇

 
But here’s the kicker: a week later, someone booked a call and said, “I watched your masterclass. You came across as someone I could actually talk to.”

A wake-up call? You betcha.

My most imperfect effort turned out to be amazingly effective.

***

And that’s the difference between big ideas and bold action.

Ideas are clean. Hypotheticals. Nice little sketches in a notebook.

Execution? That’s a completely different ballgame.

It’s easy to get trapped in the idea of a “viral post”. Or a genius tweet. One incredible video that changes everything.

But most of the time, your biggest wins will come from showing up when it’s boring, messy, and/or mildly humiliating. [ Re: see “Me” above. 🤣 ]

***

So this week’s mantra is simple: Make it happen.

Not perfectly. Not once. But over and over.

Let people see your awkward hand gestures. Your “work in progress”.

Heck, that’s what Monday Mantra is all about. A work in progress.

You don’t need to go viral. You just need to go AGAIN.

Asana vs. Trello

The Battle of Project Management

Contestant #1 — Asana

Asana is the go-to work management tool for teams that juggle multiple projects, deadlines, and people. With timelines, dashboards, automation rules and integrations, it’s built for those who like structure with a heaping side of sanity.

Free forever plan: Yes, for individuals and small teams with basic features.

Upgraded plans: Start at $10.99/user/month for premium features like timeline, custom fields, and automation.

Best for: Marketing teams, agencies, and busy solopreneurs who thrive with structure, deadlines, and collaboration features.

Why it works: It’s powerful but surprisingly intuitive. You can assign tasks, view big-picture goals, and never wonder “who’s doing what by when?” again.

Contestant #2 — Trello

Trello is the kanban-style darling of visual thinkers. It’s deceptively simple — just boards, lists, and cards. But still super flexible for planning, organizing, and tracking tasks your own way.

Free forever plan: Yes, with unlimited cards and up to 10 boards per workspace.

Upgraded plans: Start at $5/user/month for calendar views, automation, and more power-ups.

Best for: Creative freelancers, content creators, and small teams who want drag-and-drop simplicity with visual satisfaction.

Why it works: It’s minimal without being boring. And its visual, card-based system makes managing workflows feel like shifting puzzle pieces.

AND THE WINNER IS …

🎉 ASANA 🎉

Love kanban? Asana’s got it. Prefer classic task lists? Yep, that too. It combines the best of both worlds — structure for planners and flexibility for visionaries.

Expansion Pack

Extra Fuel for Curious Brains

These hand-picked gems dig deeper, spark ideas, and help you stay in motion — minus the overwhelm.

Ship 30 for 30 Challenge
A writing challenge that gets you out of your head and into publishing mode. I actually DID the challenge last year and am a more confident writer because of it!

Creator Flywheels
Learn how to build momentum in your business by understanding the flywheel effect. (nathanbarry .com)

5 Keys to a Stronger Brand Voice
Ann Handley shares insights on creating a distinctive brand voice that resonates with your audience. (annhandley .com)

Why Brands are Playing It Too Safe
A recent study reveals that brands are shying away from bold ideas — despite data showing that creative risks lead to higher profits. (marketingdive .com)

Victory Points

By: Mike Shary
( my board-game-loving, copywriter extraordinaire and mentor, Dad ❤️ )

We all know someone with a million-dollar idea … and zero dollars in the bank.

Ideas are easy. It’s the execution that separates dreamers from doers. And if you want a fun way to experience that lesson, play The Quest for El Dorado.

In this race-to-the-finish deck-building game, you and up to 3 rivals are explorers hacking through jungles, crossing rivers, and pushing through villages in pursuit of the mythical city of gold.
 

 
Everyone starts with the same basic tools — but how you improve your deck determines whether you fall behind or surge ahead.

You’ll constantly be tempted to buy flashy new cards with powerful abilities. But flashy doesn’t always mean useful. A machete card does nothing in a lake. A sailor is no help in the mountains.

And the best plan in the world won’t help if it never makes it into your hand.

That’s where El Dorado shines: you win not by planning perfect path, but by actively taking the actions and making the moves that will make your plan become reality.

You trim fat. You buy with intent. You act decisively. And you move.

In business, it’s the same. Everyone’s got a strategy meeting, a whiteboard full of goals, a “game-changing” roadmap.

But the ones who actually get somewhere? They take the next step. Then the next. They build momentum.

Playing El Dorado is a fun way to remember that progress isn’t about having the best idea.

It’s about making small, smart decisions — over and over — until you reach the gold.

If you’re ready, here’s a few ways we can work together:

1. Free Brainstorming Session: Stop overthinking and start executing. In this bite-sized strategy session, we'll identify your biggest growth opportunities and ways to implement them immediately.

2. One-on-One Deep Dive: Ready for real transformation? Let's spend 60 minutes mapping out your business evolution. We'll tackle your biggest marketing challenges and create a customized, actionable roadmap for growth. Ideal for entrepreneurs who are done waiting on "perfect."

3. 60-Day Web Accelerator: Join other business coaches, speakers and consultants who've learned to launch fast — and iterate later. This intensive program will build, transform and optimize your entire online system in just 60 days. No more endless tweaking. Just real results.