What If It’s Time to Do Things Differently?
Something might have been a great idea at the time, maybe even brilliant, but that doesn’t mean it stays relevant forever. The real trick is knowing when to hold on and when to let go… or at least make a few tweaks.
Take marketing, for example. What once felt cutting-edge can now feel quaint. Does anyone still hand out actual business cards? The kind printed on cardstock? How about those old-school refrigerator magnets? Or stickers with your business name, address, and phone number?
In theory, now you’d just add that vendor’s info to your phone. Great idea- if you’re the type who actually inputs all the details, adds a helpful note about what they do, and files it under a keyword you’ll magically remember six months from now. Spoiler: you won’t.
We don’t need the Yellow Pages anymore (remember that huge book?), but some good old-fashioned strategies still hold up.
Back when we owned a carpet cleaning business, pre-cell phones, pre-websites, we gave every customer a branded sticker with our name and contact info. We’d tell them, “Stick this on your vacuum.” That way, every time they vacuumed or spotted a stain, guess who they thought of? Yup.
The guy who repaired my garage door did the same thing. His sticker? Right there on the door where I see it every day. So when a friend asked if I knew someone, I just snapped a pic and texted it to her. Low-tech, high-impact.
Sometimes the traditional way still works… until it doesn’t. (Hard to put a sticker on your Roomba, after all.)
When Traditions Don’t Fit Like They Used To
As the holidays creep closer, most of us can rattle off traditions we’ve followed for years — maybe even generations. There’s comfort in that. We know what to expect. We look forward to repeating those memories.
But what happens when life shifts, and those rituals don’t quite fit anymore?
Maybe someone can’t travel. Maybe the kids have grown, married, and now juggle multiple family calendars. Suddenly, your tried-and-true traditions need a rethink. Everyone has their own expectations… and somehow assumes everyone else is on the same page.
Spoiler again: they’re not.
Now’s the time to start the conversations. What should stay? What needs to change? What actually makes sense now?
Routines, Ruts, and Room for Growth
We can get stuck in routines in any part of life, whether it’s family dynamics, marketing strategy, or even our own sense of purpose. When we’re deep in it, tunnel vision takes over. Change becomes harder to see, let alone make.
That’s why retreats are often so powerful. When you step away from your everyday environment, it clears space for new thinking. Possibilities emerge. Creative solutions bubble up. You might discover a better way… or confirm that your current path still works just fine.
You Don’t Have to Reinvent Everything. But You Can.
Change is inevitable, but not always necessary.
Give yourself the flexibility to re-evaluate, the space to imagine new approaches, and the confidence to move forward. Whether that means shifting gears or simply doubling down on what already works.
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