Newsletter #12: What do you need to set and forget?

/ Red Sail Writers/
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A while back, my Visa card expired and as I’m sure you know, it creates a bunch of personal administration. The next thing I know, I’m calling Topeka, Kansas to make sure my longstanding Mother Earth News subscription isn’t interrupted.

While that conversation was pleasant, it didn’t stick with me.

But the conversation I had with the donations guy at the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society did.

While we were waiting for his system to accept my updated expiry date, he thanked me for supporting the cause for so long through monthly donations. I said, “How long has it been anyway?”

I thought I was asking one of those questions I knew the answer to because it had been a couple of years.

Wrong.

He said, “Eight years now.”

Eight! Holy moly.

I’m no great philanthropist. My monthly donations to the Sea Shepherd are modest. But I gotta tell you that hearing “eight years” really made my day.

And that never would’ve happened without the set-and-forget system of automatic monthly donations.

As much as we’d like to think we’ll do something consistently over time on our own, this is unlikely.

How many times in those eight years do you think I would’ve donated if it were up to me to call them? A lot fewer, that’s for sure.

Sure, you could argue that if it were truly important to me, I’d do it.

But it is important to me, so I used the system that takes away the hassle and personal administration—and leaves me with good vibes, eight years running.

Never underestimate the power of having and using good systems.

Four things I recommend you set-and-forget:

  • Saving money (bye-bye chequing account, hello savings).

  • Dividend reinvestments, also known as a dividend reinvestment program (DRIP).

  • Employer-sponsored RRSP matching. There’s no good reason not to get this free money that adds up quietly while you give your heart and soul to The Firm.

  • Charitable donations to the organizations that move you.

Of course, there are countless ways automation can make it easier to reach your personal and professional goals.

But do these four first, as a set-and-forget foundation.

Then you can build on them. You probably already have, as I know you’re a continuous-improvement type.

And that’s what I’d love to hear about from you.

What’s the best set-and-forget you’ve done at work?

What about at home?

And what’s on the future set-and-forget list?

Reply back and let me know about your greatest set-and-forget glories and disasters, please and thank you.

Until next time, keep on truckin’,

Andrea


PS: If you need help setting-and-forgetting your thought leadership content writing, drop me a line and let’s see how we can help each other.


**********The quote of the month**********

Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.

— Warren Buffett

**********Marketing tip of the month**********

What not to do as a PR professional

PR professional, Jane Tabachnick, says there are five sure-fire ways to wreck professional relationships with the media people you work with.

They are:

  • Lying (which includes withholding essential information or downsides).

  • Bribing with gifts and bartering offers.

  • Pitching the same story to different journalists.

  • Being demanding.

  • Missing your deadline and causing your journalist to miss his/her deadline.

She suggests avoiding these behaviours if you want to keep the professional in PR professional.

Source: PR Daily - 5 behaviors that ruin media relationships


**********Good vibes**********

Greysteel geezer lifts an epic 450 pounds off the floor

Frank Psujek, a regular guy who trains at Greysteel Strength and Conditioning in Farmington, Michigan, achieved a personal best on his 57th birthday: he completed a 450-pound deadlift.

You can watch Frank’s deadlift here (YouTube video, 31 seconds). Also featured in this video is Dr. Jonathon Sullivan, Frank’s strength training coach (who you may remember from the case studies I did for him).

Source: Francis Psujek’s YouTube channel/Greysteel newsletter

**********My 60-second commercial**********
I'm an executive ghostwriter, specializing in benefits, leadership coaching, corporate wellness and employee assistance programs (EAPs).

I work with executives and executive coaches who have big hearts, are driven to help others and never open a conversation they're not willing to close.

My clients are straightforward, ambitious, humble, hilarious and I never have to wonder what they're thinking because they say what they mean and mean what they say.

If you're a tough-love executive or executive coach who would benefit from the kind of work I do, please get in touch:

andrea@redsailwriters.com | 647-502-3187 | ca.linkedin.com/in/andreabassett

Let's talk about these thought leadership projects in 2021:

  • Newsletters | White papers + e-books | Ghostwritten articles

  • Workbooks to supplement corporate training

  • Business book ghostwriting (fall 2021, early 2022)