🎯 Work Smart Wednesday - November 20, 2024
Controversial new tool I have been testing, using the opposite to problem solve, and a quote from The Man Who Was Thursday
Work Smart Wednesday
👋 Hey there!
Here is your fortnightly dose of Work Smart Wednesday.
In these emails I will share with you 3 things to help you work smarter.
Side note: I recently spoke with another coach, Scott Ballard, who specialises in building confidence in entrepreneurs. He knew his stuff, and recommended that people who are experiencing avoidance behaviours take this quiz to identify what the fear is that is blocking them from success. You can find the quiz here.
1. 🧪 Controversial new tool I have been testing
RB2B identifies individuals who visit your website. Without them filling in any kind of form or anything, RB2B will identify the person and send you their full name, their email address, and their LinkedIn profile.
It is certainly ethically questionable, but it is legal in the USA. Companies in other countries can use the tool, but RB2B only identifies US-based individuals.
I recently tested it.
Before testing it, I listened to the founder describe exactly how it works in an interesting podcast episode. You can find that podcast here: https://www.podbean.com/ea/dir-5ie9e-141b5d39
Put simply, it uses heaps of data to cross-reference individuals details and de-anonymises you.
RB2B is primarily for service businesses, but the same company runs an ecommerce-focused version called Retention.com.
Long story short, I can absolutely see how these tools would be useful. This can add a huge number of leads and ridiculous amounts of revenue to a business. I did get some leads from RB2B, and the quality was good, but it turned out that the RB2B tool only worked when a leads refreshed the website. The tool didn’t work properly. Allegedly this was an unknown bug on their side that only affects Wix websites, but I cannot say for sure.
Is the tool worth using? I would say that if you’re comfortable with the questionable ethical position then it is absolutely worth testing if most of your traffic is US-based. I can see how this can be used more ethically, not spamming people for a start, but it isn’t for me. However, I cannot say for sure that the tool will work consistently as the code didn’t work properly with my website. It is a free trial and only took me 8 minutes to set up, so I would recommend giving it a shot.
Bit of an anti-climax to this one, but please do let me know if you test the tool and it works for you.
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2. 🙃 Using the opposite to problem solve
I was recently reminded of a maths hack to work out tricky percentages, and it subsequently reminded me of a broader truth. It is often easier to flip the problem.
The maths hack: rather than trying to figure out 18% of 50, you can just do 50% of 18 (9 is the answer in both cases). Due to the commutative property of multiplication, you can flip percentages to make them easier to solve mentally.
Equally, you can use this trick in your life and business when you feel overwhelmed or confused.
You don't need to know what you want to do, you only need to know what you don't want to do.
Trying to figure out what you want to do is like trying to find a single needle in a haystack. There is often only one correct answer, and it can be difficult to find.
Figuring out what you don’t want to do is like knowing that you should avoid all haystacks. There are many correct answers. It is much easier to see what you should do.
Flipping the problem to focus on the inverse, what you don’t want, will help you get unstuck. You will start to see many options to move forward, and can then use that newfound momentum to work towards what you do want.
If you know what you're avoiding, it is often easier to find the path towards what you want.
3. 💡 Quote I'm pondering
"It isn't that they cannot find the solution. It is that they cannot see the problem” – The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K Chesterton
You cannot fix a problem you don’t know you have. I believe that proper problem identification is one of the most valuable skills a person can have.
My role mostly revolves around asking people the right question. Yes, I sometimes give direct advice and action points. But, normally, business owners know their own business. They know how to fix a problem. They just don’t know which problems exist, or they don’t know which problems to fix first.
My job is to help business owners to see their problem and to focus on fixing one problem at a time. The right problem at the right time.
Using the inverse - re-framing a question to ask the opposite - is one tool that helps entrepreneurs figure out what their problem actually is and what options exist to solve it.
If you’re feeling stuck, fighting fires or drowning in problems without knowing which thing to focus on, then reach out to me. I will help you.
Together, we will discuss your situation and identify which problem is most important to solve right now and how to solve it. We will create an action plan together and I will help you get the right things done. More importantly, you will be able to breathe easy again knowing you have clarity and have things back under control again.
Book a call with me here now: https://calendly.com/johnjdmunn/clarity-call
👋 Want to work together?
When you’re ready, here are 2 ways I can help you:
🔍 Clarity Call - We will discuss your situation and create a step-by-step action plan together so you know exactly what you need to do next for maximum impact
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That's it! I can't wait to hear what you think. What did you find most useful? What do you want more or less of? Reply to this email now and let me know
Also, if you have anything interesting to share, I want to know about it😊
Have a great week,
John
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