Things You Need to Remember About 2024

Episode 909: Show Notes

As we get ready to close out the year, it’s natural to find ourselves at an inflection point. It’s the time of the year when we think about all the things we've done, all the things we would do differently, and maybe even some things we regretted along the way.

When I sat down to reflect on the past year, I felt a deep need to remember. To revisit lessons I’d learned before but was reminded of in new, impactful ways this year. These are lessons that aren’t just for me – they’re for all of us.

Today, I’m sharing these reminders with you because I believe they can help guide your own journey. They offer a little more ease, a little more grace, and a little more peace of mind. So, as we move forward together in this crazy world, know that you’re not alone. We’re all in it together, figuring it out, one step at a time!

Things You Need to Remember About 2024
Abagail Pumphrey of The Strategy Hour Podcast

Listen on your favorite podcast player

Listen to the Strategy Hour Podcast on Spotify
Listen to the Strategy Hour Podcast on Apple Podcasts

Less is More

Looking back on the past year, one lesson stands out: less is more. I tend to go all-in on something, do it well, and then move on to the next thing. It’s not that I abandon ideas, but I often move forward prematurely.

This year, I was reminded of the importance of paying attention to what resonates. The things that work – and work well – when we market our offers are valuable clues. They show us what we should be doing more of.

Even though I was committed to developing new offers and sticking to my launch calendar, I didn’t stop to consider what the business could look like if I focused on just a few things that were really gaining traction. It’s a powerful reminder to lean into what’s working instead of constantly chasing the next new thing.

The Power of Pre-Selling

This year reinforced a lesson I’ve long been committed to: the incredible power of pre-selling. It had been a few years since I created something entirely new, from scratch, but I was reminded again and again just how effective this strategy is, no matter the size of your business.Pre-selling isn’t just something I practice, it’s a core strategy I teach, especially to the entrepreneurs in my Digital Product Jumpstart course. It’s all about helping people take an idea, validate it, and generate real revenue before they even develop the offer.

The benefits are twofold. First, you earn income upfront, which is always a win. But even more importantly, pre-selling allows you to adjust your offer based on your audience’s response, ensuring it’s something they truly want and need.

Building an Offer Ecosystem and Customer Journey

I’ve been a strong believer in building an offer ecosystem for a while, but I think this can get messy quickly. That’s why it’s crucial to revisit and audit your offers regularly. Identifying gaps, spotting opportunities, and creating a seamless customer journey ensures that everything works together in a more meaningful way.

While I previously emphasized doing a few things well, those few offers – whether digital products, courses, or one-on-one services – should be connected. Each offer should solve a problem that naturally sets your customer up for the next step in their journey with you.

You don’t need a sprawling suite of offers. Three to five well-aligned products can be enough, though there’s room for experimentation and adjustment as your audience evolves. What matters most is ensuring these offers work together to build stronger relationships with your customers.

I don’t want to be the business that gets a single sale and moves on to chasing the next lead or conversion. Instead, I’m committed to fostering deeper connections. I want my customers to see real results so they feel excited to work with me again and again!

You can learn more about what building an offer ecosystem looks like inside the Accelerator. It’s the first step I send everyone through as they join the Co-op

Why Focusing on One Platform Can Transform Your Visibility

When it comes to visibility, there’s so much pressure to be everywhere. Reels on Instagram, reposted to YouTube Shorts, shared on Facebook, and you end up needing all these things to work together. But spreading yourself thin across multiple platforms can be exhausting, especially if your content doesn’t resonate with each platform’s unique audience.

I’ve seen this firsthand. Someone I care about put out content consistently for an entire year, but they simply reposted the same material across platforms without tailoring it to each community. The result? Minimal views, stagnant follower growth, and a lot of wasted effort.

If we try to be everywhere, we risk creating content just for the sake of it instead of truly connecting with our audience. Focusing on one engaged platform allows you to learn the ins and outs, build a community, and enjoy showing up. It’s not about shouting into a megaphone, it’s about starting meaningful conversations and attracting people who genuinely care about what you’re doing.

Long term, you might expand to multiple platforms, but for now, ask yourself: where are you putting your time, energy, and love? Choose a space where you want to show up, and double down. That’s where real growth happens.

Remember that Selling is Serving

This lesson feels a little vulnerable for me to admit because, while I’ve said it out loud, I’m not sure I’ve always truly believed it. This year, I needed the reminder that selling isn’t just about making money, it’s about serving.

I’ve fallen into the trap of not wanting to come across as “too salesy.” I wanted to provide value, to show people I’m here to support them. But the truth is, when you sell something that truly meets someone’s needs and provides real transformation, it’s a service. Their gratitude is proof that you’re showing up in the right way.

We don’t need to hold back or shy away from selling. There’s no need to avoid adding calls to action in emails or posts out of fear of overdoing it. Think about it: Target and Madewell sell in every single email they send. Why do we feel pressure to give endlessly without focusing on how our business will survive?

This year, I want you to set a small, simple goal: pitch your product or service every single day. It doesn’t have to be on the same platform each time, it could be an email, a social media post, or a conversation. What matters is showing up daily to remind people of what you do and keep your business moving forward.

Why AI is Critical for Long-Term Growth

When ChatGPT first came out, I was intimidated. Like many others, I wasn’t sure where to start. But as I began experimenting with AI, it quickly became a regular part of my day-to-day work. Now, nearly two years later, I can’t imagine running my business without it.

If you’re not already using AI to save time, brainstorm, streamline repetitive tasks, amplify your work, or refine your messaging, you’re missing out. AI isn’t about replacing your efforts, it’s about enhancing them. As this technology continues to evolve, understanding how to use it will be as fundamental as learning to type was for previous generations.

The key is to start small and experiment. Is there a task in your business that feels like it’s taking forever? Ask AI how it can help. You don’t need to have all the answers; AI is designed to help you brainstorm solutions. For instance, you can say, “I’m working on this task, and it’s taking too long. How can I streamline it?” You’ll be amazed at the ideas it generates. Don’t let terms like “prompt engineering” intimidate you. Think of it as a conversation. Provide feedback, ask follow-up questions, and refine as you go. The possibilities are truly wild.

What Giving 100% Really Means

With AI streamlining our tasks and social media constantly updating, it can be tempting to push ourselves to work faster and harder. The thing is, we're not machines. We have bodies, lives, and real human limitations.

We're constantly putting pressure on ourselves to get somewhere by a certain timeline. But all too often, that timeline is completely self-induced! And most of the time, those timelines aren’t even realistic. What I learned is that it’s not about how quickly we’re moving; it’s about where we’re headed.

I want you to focus less on the speed of your journey and more on your direction. Are you headed toward your goals in a way that aligns with your values and priorities? Your pace should reflect your capacity, not just your willingness to push further. We all know it’s easy to say “yes” to more, even when we’re stretched too thin.

I heard something recently that really stuck with me: “Your 100% is what you can do without depleting yourself.” That was a game-changer for me. For so long, I thought my 100% meant pushing myself to the brink of exhaustion. But the real 100%? That’s what you can do without burning out. What you can accomplish without negatively affecting your body, mind, family, or personal well-being.

So, as you plan for the future, remember: it’s not about doing everything at full speed. It’s about moving in the right direction at a pace that respects your capacity.

It’s Time To Change Your Mindset

I tend to approach problems with logic, trying to solve everything with an action or strategy. But sometimes, the solution isn’t more strategy; it’s mindset work.

Altering your mindset can really move the needle if you give it the proper attention. And I want to encourage you to spend more time working on it because I know many of you are at a point in your business where you don’t need another strategy or new tactic. What you need is to believe that you already have everything necessary to succeed.

It’s about reframing the way you see your challenges. The things you might consider your flaws? They could very well be your superpowers. I’ve seen this play out in my own journey this year. In fact, for the first time in years, I dedicated significant time to building foundational mindset training. I make every single client go through them, and I’ve made sure it’s as accessible as possible.

If you’re ready to start shifting your mindset and unlock what’s been holding you back, I highly encourage you to check out my Mindset Reboot: Workshop Trio. Focusing on mindset is one of the most powerful things you can do to get unstuck and propel yourself forward into next year!

 

Quote This

Your pace should match your capacity, not your like willingness, because often you're willing to do more than you possibly can.

 

Highlights

  • Less is More [0:01:26]

  • The Power of Pre-Selling [0:05:06]

  • Building an Offer Ecosystem and Customer Journey [0:07:32]

  • Why Focusing on One Platform Can Transform Your Visibility [0:11:09]

  • Remember that Selling is Serving [0:13:49]

  • Why AI is Critical for Long-Term Growth [0:19:19]

  • What Giving 100% Really Means [0:22:21]

  • It’s Time To Change Your Mindset [0:25:18]


OUR HOST:

Abagail Pumphrey

Abagail on Instagram

Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook

Abagail hosts the twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, which is recognized by INC and Forbes as one of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs.

Key Topics:

Pre-selling, Offer Ecosystem, Increasing visibility, Selling to serve, AI for growth, Mindset


We Mentioned:

Mindset Reboot Workshop Trio

Digital Product Jumpstart

Join the Co-op

Talitha Coffee helps support survivors of human trafficking

Indeed.com/STRATEGYHOUR for a $75 sponsored job credit

Previous
Previous

My Plans and Predictions for 2025

Next
Next

The Make-or-Break Question to Know if You’ll Succeed with Digital Products