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CAREER
I want to answer another one of the questions that came in when I recently asked subscribers what they'd like help with in my newsletters - and it’s a big (and very real) one: “I could benefit from a VO roadmap of daily to-do’s to keep me motivated. Procrastination, specifically how depression makes us put off tasks or have trouble getting started on doing tasks that are important. And specifics as they pertain to direct marketing, be it email subject lines, body copy outlines, time frames for follow-ups, or creative ways to reach potential buyers.” I feel like we can all relate to at least one of these challenges. Let’s break it down. 1. YOUR DAILY ROADMAP There are many ways to approach this, but if it helps, here’s a simple example structure to keep the wheels turning, even on low-motivation days:
You’re not a robot. Some days you’ll crush it. Some days brushing your teeth is the win. That’s okay. 2. PROCRASTINATION & MENTAL HEALTH On this topic, I have to say, sometimes it’s not just procrastination - it’s protection. Depression, anxiety, burnout can be sneaky and without realizing it until it's too late, suddenly tasks feel like boulders. So here’s your permission: Break everything into one-inch steps. For example, to be completely transparent, I've been procrastinating on writing another newsletter! So today what I did was, instead of putting "Write newsletter" on the to-do list - which keeps getting pushed down the list - I made it simpler and wrote "Decide on newsletter topic." It was such an easier task to tackle, and wouldn't you know... it inspired me to keep going! Although I like to try to tackle what I've been avoiding first, on occasion that's just not happening. On those days, another strategy is to lower the bar. Do the tiniest thing first and focus on the little wins. If you can't tackle the big things, at least getting small wins in helps. And if you’re in the middle of a mental health spiral, the only "to-do" might be rest. That counts. If you’ve felt shame around not doing “enough,” know this: it’s not a lack of discipline, it’s often a sign you need support, not structure. Now, let’s get into the specifics. Email Subject Lines: Avoid sounding spammy or salesy. Write in your own voice. Just be your awesome self! Try curiosity-driven lines like:
Body Copy:
Follow-up Timing: I typically suggest about 5 business days after the first email. Then a final check-in 7 to 8 days later. Keep follow-ups kind and conversational - not “just circling back,” but maybe: “Totally understand things get busy - just wanted to see if you had a chance to check out my last email.” Some Creative Ways To Reach New Buyers ...
YOU'RE NOT ALONE! You’re not alone in feeling stuck. You don’t need to overhaul your life. Start small. Stay kind to yourself. And keep showing up in whatever way you can, because those tiny, consistent steps? They stack up. You've got this. Now go out there, be kind to yourself, and do the best you can today. Web: www.vokickstartprogram.com |
By Dervla Trainor
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