I started the year with junk. On purpose. [🐝U]

In partnership with

Chocolate chip cookies for breakfast
Sour cream & onion chips for dinner
& a hot toddy before bed.

My New Year’s Day meal would send health enthusiasts running for the hills.
It’s definitely not something I do regularly.

In fact, it’s been 6 years since I’ve eaten potato chips

That 1 solid day of “junk” food wasn’t about indulgence
It’s about contrast … on purpose
Because contrast is a fast way to wake yourself up when things slip into auto-pilot

If you’ve ever felt like your days are blending together, this’ll probably sound familiar.

When pattern interrupts help

The shock isn’t the solution.
It’s a signal

The real work comes after you notice you’re falling asleep at the wheel
That moment of awareness makes resets possible.

Because when you do something completely out of pattern, your brain “wakes up”

& my belly definitely protested what was happening, even though my taste buds were screaming for more.

Part of me loved it … another part knew better.

I found myself stuck in a rut.
1 day started being just like the other

That’s why the sugar-shock to the system was exactly what my body (& mind) needed

… like the movie Groundhog Day except for me
time was passing but how I was spending it was trapped in a loop.

Once you see how powerful contrast is, you can’t unsee it.
but a shock to the system isn’t always a good thing.
Especially in ads

ad breakdown → where marketing hits speedbumps

Here’s where most ads miss the mark …
Not in getting attention, but what comes next

Remember that not all features & benefits are created equal 

What gets 1 person’s attention can be completely irrelevant to someone else.
No one wants to get hammered with a million irrelevant ads

I mean if you think about it, we have to put up with the onslaught on recipe sites.
& if the site does a good job with quantity & SEO & everything else, it’s going to get people there.

I’ve never clicked on any of those ads … not on purpose anyway
Have you?

That’s not because ads don’t work.
It’s because relevance matters more than volume.

2 ads made this pattern interrupt obvious this week …

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when pattern interrupts hurt

Both of these do a good job of pinpointing issues we’d have in looking to monetize websites & blogs.
→ the tech challenges
→ the ad relevance

What I’m not wild about is the landing page when you click on each of the ads.
It doesn’t flow as well as it could from the ad to the landing page

The better the flow, the higher the conversion
Because it feels consistent …

Every break in flow gives people a reason to hesitate
This is when you don’t want any shock to the system

Do you see the same confusion or is there consistency for you?

Every time I land on a page like this, I hesitate.
& hesitation is usually where conversions go to die.

Monetization is a multiplier

Timing matters on when you start it.

It magnifies whatever you’ve already built …
→ clarity or confusion
→ trust or friction

Before you focus on “how to monetize” your newsletter or blog or website, there are a few critical things to consider first …
→ who’s your audience?
→ what kind of content do they care about?

You need to give them a reason to show up (& stay) first
think about What’s in it for them? 

If you’re not sure, ask them …
→ online
→ during conversations
→ in surveys & polls

here’s where good intentions fall apart

I get that it’s a new year & you have plans …
“this year is going to be different”

& that’s all great, especially at the beginning of the year when you’re optimistic & motivated

But that won’t last.
Life’s going to get in the way
You’re going to struggle because it feels like it’s not happening fast enough
& you’ll start beating yourself up because you see others succeed “better” or “faster”

That’s inevitable with anything
It’s never going to be “perfect”
You’re going to have bumps in the road

Books like Atomic Habits by James Clear or Tiny Habits but BJ Fogg are great starting points.

& you’re like me & insight alone isn’t enough
I need accountability … someone slowing me down & calling me out just enough to go from awareness into action

1 of my favorite mentors, Lisa Christoffel, is a certified Tiny Habits coach.
If you’re curious about what support can look like for you, schedule a call with her.

Ready to interrupt the pattern without whiplash?

Real change rarely comes from a massive overhaul.
A shock to your system creates awareness.
(that’s great for your business & your body)

Contrast wakes you up.
Consistency carries you forward.
Whether it’s your body, your business, or your marketing …
Don’t confuse the jolt for the journey.

1 - where do you need an interrupt to wake yourself up?
2 - what tiny (or atomic) habits do you need to start with?

let me know!

Make it a great “ system-shocking “ week!
EG

PS: the newsletter’s changing up a bit…

After 8 months of newsletters & data (my marketing mind loves looking at numbers) & - most importantly - your feedback, I’m looking at changing things up a bit with the newsletter.

you’re going to get
→ content from other experts
→ ad breakdowns & reviews

& based on your feedback, I’m also looking at changing up the frequency & length of the emails.

This all started with the They Ask, You Answer framework …
that’s not changing …
things are evolving based on what you’re telling me

so keep letting me know what you want to see … & how often
because this is here to help you