A reminder about peer pressure

Peer pressure isn’t just a teenager problem.

Business leaders are susceptible too.

If you need proof, spend 30 minutes on LinkedIn.

See if you don’t develop a mild case of Marcia Brady Syndrome. 

(If you’re not a boomer—and don’t get the reference—the YouTube link is here. The video is 3.5 minutes long...and vintage Brady. No time for that? Here's the gist: Marcia joins every club and tries to do ALL the things.)

Peer pressure. Or, it's first cousin, FOMO. 

Some business owners feel this all the time (and all of us feel it some of the time).

I know I can't be the only one who goes through my feed and thinks...

  • I should read ALL these posts. (And comment on as many as possible. And write more posts!)

  • Everybody keeps talking about that book. I should order it.

  • I ought to sign up for her webinar.

  • Hey, maybe I should do what he's doing.

  • I need to make my profile look more like that one.

It's the same with conferences and networking events. Sure, you can find inspiration. You can also come away feeling overwhelmed.

Years ago, I heard a sit-com character say, “Today, I’m giving out lollipops and ass-whoopings--and I’m ALL OUT of lollipops!”

You’ll be relieved to know I’m NOT giving out either of those things today.

I’m giving out permissions.

If you don’t want to…if you don’t have time…if you’ve got too much on your plate already…good news. You don't have do that "business thing"!

Here’s permission to NOT:

  • Download (and learn) that new app

  • Read the latest post from Alex Hormozi or Seth Godin or Tim Ferris. (Blasphemy, I know. But I promise: You won’t go to business hell.)

  • Start a podcast (or listen the 17 that are stacked up in your queue)

  • Scale your business (unless you really want that)

  • Buy that hot, new book. (Bet you've have several you bought last year that you STILL haven’t cracked open.)

  • Send out a newsletter. (Just the other day, my friend Kelley put her brilliant newsletter on ice)

  • Keep subscribing to a newsletter you never read (including this one)

  • Attend an event that feels more like a “should” thing than a "good" thing. Skip it. The world won’t implode. (Any more than it already is.)

You’re off the hook. You're absolved. Be free. 

Let everyone else scurry around like Marcia Brady trying to do all the things. 

YOU don’t have to.

Here’s permission to focus on one or two things you really want to do...and do them well.

Len Woods