Issue 8: Patience, Gary Vee, Cool Office Addition, and My Town’s Johnny Marzetti

Welcome to THE EDGE!

Happy Fall! It’s hard to believe that we’re now headed toward Q4. This year has warp-speeded across my calendar.

In The Leading Edge, I talk about why increasing your authority is a long game. I wish it wasn’t that way. But if you press on, you might find that your competition has quit and you’re still standing.

In The Sharper Edge, I feature a funny but very informative vide by Gary Vaynerchuk at his own conference, VeeCon. It’s a great “kick-in-the-butt” moment for a couple of entrepreneurs.

I feature one of my favorite office additions for a way to improve your environment. It’s only been in my office for three days and I’ve already wondered where it has been all my life.

And finally… I feature a recipe that amazingly, started right here in Columbus, Ohio and became a national hit. If you’ve not tried this delicious casserole and you enjoy Italian food, you’ll love it. Perfect for a cool fall day’s dinner.

My mission is to not over-complicate things. You have enough on your plate without a dense newsletter that will give you heavy marketing lessons that will take a long time to comprehend let alone implement.

This newsletter is divided into four parts:

The Leading Edge: Focusing on YOU, leadership & authority building

The Sharper Edge: Focusing on your business, sharpening the axe to get things done

The Cutting Edge: Focusing on your environment, productivity tools/hacks, and decluttering your space

The Italian Edge: I’m a foodie. I’ll be sharing some of my favorite recipes and food-related items in this section.

Congratulations on filling your tank. You’re going to receive a lot of good ideas for free!

The Journey to Authority: Why Small Business Owners Need Time and Patience

Building authority in your niche as a small business owner is like planting a tree. It doesn't happen overnight; it takes time, nurturing, and patience.

Today, instant success stories often dominate headlines. It's crucial to remember that building authority is a marathon, not a sprint. You’re in it for the long haul. We’re going to dive into why it takes time and patience for a small business owner to build authority and identify some steps to accelerate this essential process.

Why Does Building Authority Take Time and Patience?

Authority is built on trust, and trust takes time to develop. Consumers are cautious and want to see consistency in your business's offerings, values, and ethics. It's through this consistency that trust grows, and with trust comes authority.

To become an authority in your niche, you need to provide valuable, high-quality content consistently. This isn't something you can rush. It takes time to research, create, and refine content that truly resonates with your audience and sets you apart from competitors.

Building authority often involves forming relationships with influencers, experts, and your audience. These relationships are nurtured over time and can’t be rushed. Authentic connections are the foundation of authority.

Authority means being recognized as an expert in your field. This recognition comes from years of experience and a track record of solving problems, answering questions, and providing valuable insights.

Once I heard a wise young woman admit that a 23-year-old life coach likely wasn’t going to have many takers. She switched gears and decided to wait while accumulating more life experience before giving out advice as a coach. Smart.

Steps to Accelerate the Authority-Building Process

• Create a content strategy that includes blog posts, social media updates, videos, and podcasts. Consistency is key, so stick to a schedule that works for your business. Share valuable information, insights, and tips to establish yourself as a knowledgeable resource.
• Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and testimonials on your website and other platforms. Positive feedback from real customers can significantly boost your authority.
• Connect with influencers and experts in your niche. Collaborate on projects, guest post on each other's blogs, or participate in industry events. Networking can help you gain exposure and credibility.
• Stay updated with the latest trends and developments in your industry. Attend webinars, workshops, and conferences, and read industry publications. Share your newfound knowledge with your audience.
• Engage with your audience on social media, in comments sections, and through emails. Respond to questions, comments, and feedback promptly and thoughtfully. Building a community around your brand can strengthen your authority.
• Search engine optimization is essential for online authority. Optimize your website and content for relevant keywords, improve page load times, and focus on providing a seamless user experience.
• Share case studies, whitepapers, and success stories that highlight your expertise. Demonstrating real-world results can be a powerful way to establish authority.

Building authority is a long-term commitment. There will be challenges and setbacks along the way, but it's crucial to stay persistent. Keep refining your strategies, learning from your experiences, and adapting to changes in your industry.

It takes time and patience. Trust, content quality, relationships, and expertise are all elements that require nurturing over time. However, by following a consistent strategy and taking steps to accelerate the process, you can establish yourself as a trusted authority in your niche. Remember, the journey may be long, but the rewards of authority are worth the effort.

Be like Rocky. Go the distance.

Gary Vee Absolutely Nails It

I just saw this video and admit I laughed when Gary reacted.

He is so, so right. He built a social media empire, so he knows what he’s talking about.

Creating content on a daily basis does take effort. But it’s necessary. If you don’t create any content—or too little of it, your prospective buyer simply won’t notice you.

Gone are the days of putting a few ads in a daily newspaper and hoping to get noticed. Newspaper ads, radio ads, TV ads—these were called “interruption marketing” because you were interrupting someone’s focus on other content to deliver your message.

Now it’s all about engaging your audience. Having a conversation. Answering questions.

Just watch the video. May it motivate you to get crackin’…

https://twitter.com/jspector/status/1697115607697936732

My New Rotating Bookcase

I didn’t know this was a thing until I saw it featured on Instagram. I follow book accounts.

When I saw this unique bookshelf, I instantly knew I wanted it in my office. As you might imagine, I’m surrounded by books. I have a large bookshelf that currently has 157 books and around a dozen new journals and notebooks.

I have a smaller bookshelf behind my desk that has 40 books. But I needed more surface space on my desk (which always seems to attract books) and was tired of juggling books from one bookshelf to my desk to another bookshelf.

A round, rotating bookshelf would be perfect for the corner behind my desk. It can hold up to 100 books and I liked how it rotated easily. I also could use it to store other items like binders, CDs, and stationery.

Plus, it looks great. I love the visual when I walk into the room. I have a recliner in my office where I read and it’s wonderful to look up and easily see my collection from that angle.

Sometimes it’s the small things that can make a big difference.

Oh, and if you get this particular rotating bookshelf, be forewarned. It had 64 screws that had to be attached with a Phillips screwdriver. I got a blister early on because I over-did a few screws. But the final product IMHO was well worth it.

Johnny Marzetti

Have you ever had a Johnny Marzetti casserole? It’s delicious.

I only recently discovered that this beloved dish originated in my town. How about that?!

According to the website The Kitchn:

The Johnny Marzetti casserole originated in Columbus, Ohio, in 1896 when Teresa Marzetti, Johnny’s sister-in-law, created the dish. It quickly became a huge hit with customers at their family’s namesake restaurant, as well as with students from the nearby Ohio State University.

By the 1920s, the casserole had become very popular across Ohio and the Midwest then spread across the country.?The original restaurant closed in 1942, but a second location remained in operation until Teresa’s death in 1972.?The Marzettis later became known for salad dressings, which are still produced today and can be found in the refrigerated sections in the produce areas of grocery stores under the label T. Marzetti.

Believe me, in Columbus, Ohio… Marzetti Salad Dressings are a big deal.

I use regular spaghetti sauce instead of tomato sauce and Rotini pasta instead of egg noodles. Whatever pasta you prefer, it’s a great comfort-food dish that will taste especially good on those chilly Autumn nights.

Here you go:

Johnny Marzetti

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 1 (12 oz) bag of dried egg noodles
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1/2 medium yellow onion
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound mild Italian sausage, removed from casings
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 8 ounces cheddar cheese
• 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup water

Instructions

1. Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces dried egg noodles and cook according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, chop 1 green bell pepper. Chop 1/2 medium yellow onion.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 pound Italian sausage and cook, breaking the meat up into pieces, until the pink starts to disappear, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chopped bell pepper, the onion, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 8 minutes. While the sausage mixture cooks, shred the cheese.
4. Shred 8 ounces cheddar cheese (about 2 cups) on the large holes of a box grater.
5. Add 1 can tomato sauce and 1/4 cup water to the sausage mixture and stir to combine. Cook until bubbly and heated through, about 2 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and stir in the cooked noodles and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir to coat the noodles. Taste and season with more salt if needed.
7. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Bake, uncovered, until hot and bubbly on the edges, about 25 minutes.

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So good!

Buon Appetito!

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The Content Edge

Blog Posts:

10 Ways to Build Authority With This Forgotten Childhood Tactic

Establishing Authority as a Financial Advisor With Effective Strategies

How Independent Financial Advisors Can Get Testimonials: 10 Great Ideas

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If you're ready to write and publish your own book, check out my "BOOK It!" Home Study Program. Summertime is a great time to slow down and focus on writing down your expertise. Reach out to me if you have questions.

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