Dear Writer, I hope you had a good week and had a chance to take one small step toward your marketing goals. This week, we’re going to explore the marketing mindset of commitment.
You see, our learning, exploration, and small steps will simply fall flat if they aren’t backed by a commitment to persevere. After all, it can be hard to determine whether we’re on the right track unless we follow it long enough to get a clear picture of the results. But sometimes we fear commitment. Especially if things go awry, and it seems our efforts are failing. But here’s the thing.
Nearly every worthwhile venture has a “messy” beginning. But when we commitment to persevere we can begin to learn from the process to see what grows. And here’s the other thing. Even if one path ends in failure, it’s never a waste, because of the lessons we learn from it along the way.
Commitment in History
Abraham Lincoln ran faced many political failures before he made it to the presidency. He even struggled with bouts of depression. Yet in spite of every setback, Lincoln held fast to his political aspirations until he made it into the presidency in 1860. And here’s the thing. The same tenacity that won Lincoln the presidency also helped him win one of America’s worst wars and establish us as the unified and free nation we are today.
Commitment in the Bible
Ruth is another beautiful example of commitment. Though it held no promise for her future, Ruth committed to Naomi and to Naomi’s God. Not only that, Ruth specifically committed to providing for her mother in law in a culture where elderly widows were often left destitute. Ruth’s diligent work gleaning in the fields for their food led her right to Boaz, their kinsman redeemer. Through her commitment, Ruth was not only instrumental in restoring Naomi’s fortunes, but she became part of the royal line of Christ.
You see, writer, when as we begin our marketing journey the results may look far from promising. But our very commitment and diligence in spite of these odds positions us to step into all that God has promised and to become instrumental in His Kingdom purposes for others.
Commitment in Life
I practiced commitment when I agreed to co-lead a new ministry. But here’s the thing. I didn’t properly seek God before I made that promise. The choice turned out to be one that I deeply regretted. My co-leader was simply not in a place of life to minister to others. Looking back, I can see she deeply needed ministry herself. But, at that point, I was no place to minister to her myself and found myself desperately begging God for the love, patience, and wisdom I needed to walk with her in a ministry that simply wasn’t a fit. I didn’t even have the experience or skill to counsel her about the situation.
Now, here’s the thing. Though I could quickly tell I’d made an error, I stayed committed to the cause and to the relationship. When our ways parted naturally, it was on much better terms than I had hoped. And here’s the real deal…
Commitment in Your Life
Though it could be tempting to call those years a waste, God taught me lessons about ministry, leadership, and people. And though the process was painful, God did indeed answer my prayers as He used the journey to soften and broaden my heart and to equip me to counsel leaders of many kinds. And when you commit to a process or path, God will not fail to use it all to teach and prepare you, too. In fact, He promises to do so. Let me show you…
- Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. – Proverbs 16:3
- Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. – Colossians 3:23-24
- But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. Be strong and do it, for your work will be rewarded – 2 Chronicles 15:7
- Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. – Romans 12:11
- And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
You see, writer, wholeheartedness is one of the keys to the Kingdom. Why? Because it demonstrates faith. What does this have to do with writing and marketing, you ask? Here’s the thing…
Sometimes we don’t progress much in work or life because we are too busy hopping from thing to thing trying to find instant results. But when we prayerfully commit to a certain plan of action, it gives God space to teach us and direct our steps. When we actually commit, God not only teaches us but begins to shape us into the people who are ready to step into His calling.
Where to Start with Commitment
So are you ready to consider making a commitment to your marketing journey? Here are some ideas to get you started…
- Prayerfully Choose. Prayerfully review and choose one to three marketing opportunities to pursue based on your unique story and audience. (To learn more about that, review our other marketing posts here!) Be sure to choose an opportunity that you can follow through with. It’s better to start small and grow than to bite off more than you can chew. If you’d like to tackle more than one option, consider selecting complementary marketing opportunities.
- Create a Goal. Once you get a clear idea of the marketing channels God is highlighting, it’s time to write down a clear goal. Be a specific as you can! For instance, instead of saying “I want to promote my book on social media” make your goal concrete with a specific action and time frame, such as “I want to post once a week on Facebook.” The clearer your goal is, the easier it will be to see whether you are achieving it or not.
- Create an Action Plan. After you set a goal, plan how you will reach that goal is key. For instance, if you want post weekly in your social media marketing, plan when you will write that content. (Saturday afternoon each week? Monday’s once a month?) Plan when and how you will share that content as well. (Will you use spreadsheets to record each post and its performance? Will you use a social media scheduler? Etc.?) Creating a specific plan will keep you from feeling overwhelmed and will help you see how to adjust that plan as you go.
- Commit to a Timeline. Commit to a period of time in which you will consistently pursue this marketing goal. If it’s a recurring activity, consider working at it for at least a month. If it’s a one-time event, commit to a certain number of hours or specific activities to invest in preparing for it. Whatever commitment you make, write it down and keep it somewhere you can review it daily.
- Evaluate. Finally, take notes as you go along and make small adjustments as needed. There is nothing wrong with adjusting along the way—as long as you keep going! Once you’ve met your commitment or reached your goal, pause and evaluate what’s gone well and what didn’t. Because here’s the real deal…
Commitment is really about recognizing God as part of the writing and marketing journey and trusting that, as we pray and do wholeheartedly, He will teach us what we need to know and reveal the wisdom we asks for. And here’s the interesting thing…
God only grants wisdom to the wholehearted. Why? Because sometimes it takes a little bit to recognize wisdom. If we are too busy jumping around, trying to “get it right,” we may miss the counter intuitive ways God has planned to bless us. Because here’s the real deal. On the other hand, when we commit wholeheartedly, keeping that commitment works something deep in our heart and character that strengthens us to step with boldness into the destiny God has prepared. A destiny so much bigger than anything we imagined. And he’s the amazing thing…
When we let God work through our commitments, it not only strengthens and prepares us, but it also opens the door for others to step into their destiny, too. Just like Lincoln’s commitment won not only the Whitehouse but the nation. Just like Ruth’s resolve restored a family legacy. Just like my perseverance prepared me to touch the lives countless others.
So I urge you today, writer, to prayerfully choose a point of commitment in you marketing journey trusting that, as you move forward wholeheartedly, God is the one who will order your steps. As you do, He will use the good and the bad to shape you and your work in ways you never expected and, through them, to shape the callings of others, too.
#commitment #growth #extraordinary #EveryWriterWriting
