Some of the greatest lessons are from the things you don’t do, and that was certainly the case last month when I decided to not launch a new product.
You see, lessons are everywhere, if you look for them.
Including in places where you least expect them – such as when you come up with a great idea, put out some feelers, and then decide to table it all.
In this week’s marketing strategy, I will talk more about the product that didn’t happen, why it didn’t happen, and what I learned from it.
My intention is singular: To remind you that failures are only lessons. I hope this information inspires you when you have a failed launch, or back out of a new product, or experience whatever setback comes your way.
Let’s dig in!
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Last month, I had a brilliant idea: I wanted to create an online book club for female entrepreneurs. It would be low-cost and bring together female entrepreneurs from around the world who share a love of reading and personal development.
Sounds pretty awesome, right?
Well, it is an awesome idea (I still think so), but here’s the thing: I decided to table it. As in not launch it. Put it on the back burner.
Why? Because I knew it wasn’t the right time for this product. It wasn’t the right time for me, and it wasn’t the right time for my ideal clients.
It was a bitter pill to swallow, that’s for sure. I was disappointed. I lost sleep over the whole thing. But once I decided to table the book club idea, I experienced an immense flood of relief. Aaahh. That’s when I knew it was the right thing to do.
I always try to find the lessons in my marketing journey, and I discovered quite a few from this experience.
#1: Sometimes it isn’t your Ego. It’s your Intuition.
When I started to think that launching a book club was a bad idea, I thought it was my Ego, trying to keep me from playing a bigger game.
Hey, that’s a legitimate concern because my Ego loves to do that!
So, I asked myself: On a scale of 1-10, how much do you want to launch this book club?
I felt a resounding 10 (without hesitation). That’s when I knew it wasn’t my Ego telling me no. Instead, it was my Intuition.
In fact, my Intuition was firing on all cylinders, and The Universe was leaving me clues, too. Once I figured this out, it made the decision to say “no” so much easier.
#2: A good idea doesn’t need to be implemented right away.
As entrepreneurs, we get a flood of great ideas! That’s part of the joy of entrepreneurship.
But, as I learned from this experience, a great idea doesn’t need immediate implementation.
I have my whole marketing plan mapped out for six months (and it’s packed!), and nowhere in there does it mention a book club.
Ahem. Lesson learned. I have permission to table my great ideas. I can implement them – just not right away.
#3: Does this great idea align with my overall goals?
As I already mentioned, I had a marketing plan written out, and the main objective was pretty clear: Attract more wonderful female entrepreneurs to The Celestial Circle.
The online book club would not help me reach this goal. In fact, it would be a distraction because some of my ideal clients would opt for the book club instead of The Celestial Circle just because of the price difference (even though they’re different offerings).
When I realized this, I made a commitment to refocus my marketing efforts on The Celestial Circle. Admittedly, my marketing was on auto-pilot, and I need to ramp it up. I am grateful I went down the “book club rabbit hole” because it reminded me of my bigger goals.
As you can see, I learned many valuable lessons from the online book club that I didn’t launch. As a Law of Attraction practitioner, I recognize the goodness of this whole lesson – and I am eternally grateful for it all.
But, what about the book club?
Now, you may be thinking: But Jill, that online book club is a good idea. Will you launch it?
The answer is yes. I will be working on my marketing plan for the last half of 2019, and I will add the online book club in. That way, I can give it a proper launch (nothing rushed) and attract the right female entrepreneurs to it.
Just to recap: My online book club will be for female entrepreneurs who love to read non-fiction books about marketing, business growth, spirituality, and personal development.
If the online book club sounds intriguing to you, please add your name to my Interest List.
By going on my Interest List, I will keep you posted on the launch of the online book club. Plus, I will make sure you get special Interest List Pricing (of course, there’s no obligation – it’s just an interest list).
Need more marketing inspiration?
If you need more ideas on how to get clients, check out my Magnetic Marketing Checklist (it’s a free download!). It’s packed with ideas on how to authentically attract more customers to your business.
ABOUT JILL
Hi, I’m Jill Celeste. I teach purpose-driven entrepreneurs (just like you) everything you need to know about marketing so you can become the Director of Marketing for your business.
Because when you put your Director of Marketing hat squarely on your head, marketing is your number one priority (which will result in more clients!).
When I am not teaching about marketing, you’ll find me hanging out with my husband or my teenage boys, or taking a nap with my basset hound, Emma. I also like to play with my two kittens and feed the backyard ducks (much to my neighbor’s chagrin).
If you’re feeling alone in your entrepreneurial journey, I invite you to check out my monthly membership group, The Celestial Circle. Affordable, loving, supportive, informative, and fun – that’s how we roll in The Celestial Circle. We would love to welcome you!