I've had this website for at least 10 years. It's gone through some changes in direction, organization, and with some changes on purpose. The one thing that has always stayed the same was coffee.
2022
The Problem
The original main navigation was too much and the content started to go in many directions. I wasn't looking for a job so the specialties were important anymore. This is when I shifted and added the Adventure and Life categories.
Before
After
Tagline changed from "Adventure - Professional - Life" to "Adventure - Career - Life". It flows much better and aligns with what the site is about now. There was no reason to have Portfolio listed the way it was.
Where It Started
I'm also betting that it'll help with SERP rankings as well, with the way that I am planning on organizing it. I'm hoping to have the website structure planned and implemented by August 19.
Here's the global performance report from Google as of today, August 13, 2022. Not that great but it is progressing since I first started working on this site and adding to the site since end of May.
Global Stats
It doesn't take much time to start ranking in Google, it starts with topic and competitive research and what you can do with a new site.
To become more goal-oriented, it takes time but it can be done easily. Goal setting is a continuous process and people who are goal-oriented tend to achieve more in life.
It's important to understand the difference between a goal and a goal-oriented person because a goal is something that you want to accomplish, while a goal-oriented person sets goals and works to accomplish them. A goal-oriented person is someone who is always thinking about what they want and what they need to do to get it. They are always thinking about the future.
How do you stay goal oriented?
If you want to stay goal oriented, you need to be clear about what your goals are. I find that having a vision helps me to get started. You need to know what you want to achieve, and then put a plan in place to make it happen. Having specific and measurable goals is the best way to stay on track. Make sure you break your goals down into smaller steps so you can track your progress along the way. And finally, don't forget to celebrate your accomplishments as you reach each milestone!
How to you become more goal-oriented?
One way to become more goal-oriented is to set specific, achievable goals. Write down your goals and break them down into small, manageable steps. Make sure your goals are realistic and relevant to your current situation. Create a timeline for each goal and track your progress. Celebrate each accomplishment along the way and adjust your goals as needed. Surround yourself with positive people who support your goals and hold yourself accountable. Finally, don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Benefits of Becoming a Goal-Oriented oriented person
There are several benefits to becoming a goal-oriented oriented person.
More likely to succeed in their career and life because they will be able to focus on the bigger picture
get distracted by the little things
helps you to stay focused on what needs to be done
Helps you to avoid procrastinating
more organized and efficient by setting goals and tracking your progress
Helps manage your time and schedule effectively
Drawbacks of being Goal Driven
Do you have a tendency to focus too much on your goals and rush or start fast only to fall fast? You want to get that promotion, get that toned body - yesterday, or start that new job on Monday instead of Wednesday. But just don't focus enough on your process.
One of the main drawbacks of becoming a goal-oriented person is:
that it can be overwhelming at first and that's where people fail to get started
May not be able to complete all of them and it can be easy to get discouraged and give up.
People tend to feel bad or guilty when they do not reach a goal and it discourages them.
you can easily get caught up in the "goals versus action" dilemma. If you become too focused on achieving a goal, you may neglect to take the necessary actions to reach that goal.
If you have ever had a goal, you know how important it is to set one. When you set a goal, you are motivated to achieve it. However, if you become too focused on the goal, you may not be able to see the obstacles in your way. This can cause you to lose sight of the end result. In order to be productive, you need to be organized. This means that you need to be able to plan ahead, and that you need to be able to focus on the task at hand.
Sometimes people become fixated on having to have a todo list and feel the need to be busy. Being "busy" is not productive at all. Remember the "busy work" that you were given in school or that your manager gave you at your entry-level job. Yeah you didn't it like it then so why would you like to do it now.
Remember than even if you don't complete the tasks that you wanted to, remember the progress that you have made so for.
Remember to take the time out for yourself and to enjoy life. It's way to short to be overly concerned about the small things. Progress is progress after all.
Tips for being goal-oriented in the workplace
Achieving goals at work can be a daunting task. It takes time, effort and perseverance to be successful. However, there are some tips that can help make the process a little bit easier. First, it is important to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Take the time to sit down and map out your goals, both short-term and long-term. Once you have a plan in place, it is important to stay focused and disciplined in order to reach your targets. Break your goals down into smaller tasks that can be easily accomplished and make a schedule outlining when each task should be completed. Finally, don't be afraid to ask for help when needed. There is no shame in admitting that you need assistance in order to reach your goals; in fact, it can often show strength and determination.
Set Goals, Celebrate Progress, Be Happier
Setting goals can help you stay motivated and happy. When you have something to strive for, you are more likely to stay goal-oriented and celebrate your progress along the way. When you set goals, you are also more likely to be motivated to make progress towards those goals. For example, if you have decided to spend less money each month on groceries, you will be more likely to stay focused and continue making that change in your budget.
This will lead to a happier lifestyle overall.
These are some tips to be more goal-oriented and achieve achieve excellence in your role.
Plan Your Day
If you want to make progress on your goals, it's important to plan your day in a goal-oriented way. Write down what you need to do to make progress on your goals, and then make sure you do those things. You'll be surprised at how much progress you can make if you're focused and intentional about it.
One way to set goals is to list 3 things that you will get done. These can be small daily tasks to larger milestones.
A student may list three subjects to study when they get home.
A salesperson may have a goal of following up with three leads in the morning.
A manager might want to check in on some employees throughout the day that were having difficulties the week before.
Separate larger goals into smaller actions
Achieving a large goal, such as creating a marketing plan, can seem daunting. But breaking the goal down into smaller, more manageable tasks can make it easier to achieve.
For example, with a marketing plan, you may use a basic marketing plan template to tailor and use at first, then add to it as needed. From there you may delve into deeper and complex scenarios.
This way you are gradually building the marketing plan without feeling overwhelmed by doing it all at once. By breaking larger goals into smaller actions, you can make progress towards your goal while still staying motivated.
Organize tasks by priority for your goal
There are many different ways to organize tasks, but one of the most effective methods is to prioritize them by goal. This way, you can focus on the task that will have the biggest impact for you.
To get started, decide what your goal is and write it down. Then, list all of the tasks you need to do to achieve that goal. Next, rank each task from most important to least important. Finally, start with the first task on your list and work your way down until you've completed them all.
Write Down Your Goals
In order to achieve success, it's important to have a plan, to be organized, and write things down. This includes your short-term and long-term goals, as well as the steps you need to take in order to achieve them.
Writing down your goals helps you stay focused and motivated. It also allows you to track your progress and celebrate your accomplishments.
Develop productive habits
It's no secret that productive habits result in a more successful and satisfying life. But what are productive habits, exactly? And how can you develop them? Productive habits vary from person to person, but they all have one thing in common: They make you more efficient and effective.
If you're looking to cultivate more productive habits, start by identifying the areas of work where you want to see change. Maybe you want to be more productive at work, or maybe you'd like to be more organized at home. Once you've identified the areas of your life that need improvement, it's time to get to work on developing productive habits.
One of the best ways to develop productive habits is to start small. Choose one or two habits to work on at a time, and make sure they're realistic and achievable.
Regularly Track and Review Your Progress
When people set goals, they often don't take the time to track their progress. This can be a big mistake, because it can make it difficult to determine whether you are on track to achieve your goals.
By tracking your progress, you can identify any areas where you need to make changes in order to reach your goal. Additionally, regularly tracking your progress can help keep you motivated and focused on achieving your goal.
Keep track of your progress so you can easily review them if you ever get side tracked. It happens to all us, but
Try Some time-saving strategies
There are a number of time-saving strategies you can try in order to make the most of your time. One such strategy is to prioritize your tasks and to focus on the most important ones first. This will help you to get the most important things done first and to avoid wasting time on less important tasks.
Another time-saving strategy is to try and batch similar tasks together. For example, if you need to make a number of phone calls, try and do them all at once instead of spreading them out over the course of the day. This will help you to use your time more efficiently and to avoid wasting time on unnecessary tasks.
Finally, another useful strategy is to delegate tasks to others whenever possible. If there are people who can help you with certain tasks, then delegate them and focus on other areas where you can be more productive. This will help you to save time and to get more done overall.
Negativity and toxicity can come in many forms: situations, others, and yourself, but they are all counterproductive. They are both blocks to getting things accomplished and moving forward.
Whether the negativity is you or someone else, the quicker that it is dealt with the sooner you will be back on track.
How You Are Negative and Toxic
Most things address others and situations being negative and toxic in the workplace, but I'll talk how you can be negative and toxic to yourself first.
But first, it's okay to vent about things. That's a completely normal thing to do. But are you always venting about the same things, then you are straight complaining. Once you are constantly doing this, you will start believing it and living it.
If that is you, then you are the negative and toxic one.
Your negativity in the form of complaining
Whether you are complaining about your job or about something else in your life, this kind of negativity can affect your work. It wears you down and ruins your ability to focus and be productive.
When you resist the urge to complain every time you feel like it, you keep negativity out of your work life. Instead of becoming tired and grouchy from complaining, your energy level will be at its best.
Your Worrying is Another Form of Toxicity
Worry is another form of negativity. It can slow you down and cause less productivity and lower your work quality.
You may need to tell yourself that worrying will not solve the problem. If it's something that you can resolve, do so quickly to reduce your worrying. If it cannot be dealt with immediately, realize anc accept that you cannot do anything at this moment in time.
Toxic People at Work
A toxic person at work are people that bring you down. They will try to make you feel bad about yourself or your job capabilities.
It’s easy to fall into a cycle of thinking when you’re around a toxic person. You may find yourself thinking “this person makes my job so much harder” or “this person isn’t helping the situation”. Unfortunately, this attitude can spread, and if left unchecked, it can create an environment where negativity and toxicity flourish.
A toxic person can be anyone, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a coworker, supervisor, or even upper management.
While they might seem harmless at first, they can quickly become an emotional drain on people around them or those they choose to direct their demoralizing energy to.
Recognizing a Toxic Person
The key is to recognize the signs of a toxic person, and avoid falling into the trap.
It could be the way someone responds when you ask them to follow up on something or a certain phrase or word that drives you up the wall.
Negativity can come in the form of belittlement. You may be unsure of your ability to do the job, or to do it well. If you believe that failure is on the horizon, this is the surest way of making it happen. You can resist the negativity of belittlement by reminding yourself of your competence. You may need to practice doing this on a regular basis. When you do not allow a negative light to overshadow your abilities, it will prevent you from coming to a standstill.
Here are some ways to spot a toxic person, and how to deal with them:
1. Toxicity can be subtle.
Toxic people tend to have a negative impact on others without realizing it.
It may be as simple as being overly critical or judgmental, or it may be much more obvious, such as bullying, spreading rumors, or creating an unhealthy environment.
2. The first clue may be in the way they treat you.
If they are treating you poorly, they may be projecting a poor self-image onto you.
It could be that they see you as someone they want to please, or they may believe they are superior to you.
3. Be wary of their words and actions.
You might hear things like:
• "With all due respect" - Yeah, there is no respect in these words.
• "I don't try to be "
4. Watch for changes in their behavior.
If they are suddenly avoiding you or avoiding certain tasks, it could be a sign of toxicity.
6. Be careful about how you react.
It's natural to respond in a defensive manner. If you do, it makes you look bad. Instead respond with boundaries and don't allow it.
If you find that negativity is extreme, ask for some outside help can be useful. This can put you in a better state of mind and relieve the immediate tension. This is better for your health in general, and also better for your productivity.
The more able you are to resist negativity on a regular basis, the more you will accomplish.
Do’s and Don’ts for Dealing with Toxic Behavior
Identify the behavior you are experiencing.
Do recognize it
Recognize that you are not in control of their actions.
Do accept responsibility for yourself only
Accept that you are responsible for your own behavior and that you can’t change someone else’s behavior.
Do respond appropriately
Don’t engage in a power struggle with the person.
I have found that asking questions like this, puts the ball in your court. You are recognizing their behavior and you are letting them know you are not going to take it. It puts them in check without returning the same bad energy that they are.
Don’t escalate the situation.
If the person continues, don’t retaliate. If you do retaliate, you end up being the one in the wrong. I don't know why it is like this, but I've seen it happen many times.
If it does get to the point where something needs to be done, talk with someone that you can trust and will support you. They may not be able to do take action for you, but they can:
Give you advice on the situation
Allow you to talk about your frustrations
Release your inner tension about the situation
Getting things out will help you move past the negative and progress past it.
Don’t take it personally. It’s not about you.
It’s about them and what they need. It's about their struggles that are getting to them. It's not about you at all. I'm not saying this as an excuse for them. As soon as you come to terms that it's a them problem, the less it will get to you.
Remember, it's about them and their problems.
Have you ever been told that someone is that way because that's who they are? If you have, then it's not just you. It's definitely the other person at that point. I have been told this about someone and it made so much sense.
Simply put they want a seat on the bus and want to get on it, but they can't. If it is directed towards you, these people are typically:
Jealous
Don't understand and this is how they react
All of these that are listed sound like an adult child.
Avoid playing into their reality
You can't play into someone's reality. If you do, you are giving them what they want. If you don't, then you are just being yourself and being true to who you are.
When people are consistently like this, it can be hard to be around them. When you are around them, be confident, hell be extra confident
Make yourself unavailable or Limit Your Time
Making yourself unavailable doesn't mean avoiding them. You still have to work with them.
What it means, is to not let it show that it is getting under your skin. Don't let the person or situation control you.
You should limit your time with them. For example, if they keep complaining to the point where they are repeating themselves, set boundaries by saying:
We can have a separate time for discussing this.
Let's be respectful of everyone's time and continue with solving or accepting the situation.
Acknowledge what they are saying, but you don't have to agree with them to make them stop.
Stay grounded and stay calm
Toxic or negative people and situations can be a black hole and suck you in, but don't let it pull you in.
It's so easy to fall into the trap. You start to feel bad about yourself and wonder if you're the only one who feels this way. And this is the most dangerous kind of negativity as this behavior has been proven to affect you all around and your career.
But the good news is you can avoid negativity by staying grounded, focusing on the right things, and being a source of positive energy.
For me personally, when someone is trying to drag me down, I laugh at it. My laughing at it isn't from it being and it gets to me, I find that telling the thought and laughing helps me to
The bottom line
It’s important to remember that you are responsible for your own emotions and reactions. So if you’re feeling negative, recognize that it’s your choice and it will help you change it.
Dealing With People That Doubt Your Work Abilities
This one hits home, because the people who doubt you at work are usually the ones who have no business doing it in the first place. It's not really about you. It never was. Doubt directed at someone else is almost always a reflection of the person throwing it.
The doubters can be a coworker, someone in a different department, upper management, or even your own boss. They show up in different forms but they all have one thing in common: they second-guess your abilities without actually knowing what you're capable of. These are the bullies who made it to the corporate world and decided that making others feel smaller was somehow a power move. They get on my list fast, and it takes a lot to come off it.
Why People Doubt Others
Let's be real about what's actually happening. When someone questions your professional abilities without evidence or cause, it's not constructive feedback. It's a them problem wearing a you costume.
People doubt others for all kinds of reasons: they've been burned before, they're not naturally trusting, they don't have the full picture, or they want to feel like they're in control. The ones who doubt your professional abilities specifically, especially when you've proven yourself, are usually dealing with their own insecurities. They're projecting. It's easier to question you than to take a hard look at themselves.
Shade is just doubt with an attitude. Instead of quietly not believing in you, someone throwing shade is making sure you know it: the eye roll in the meeting, the backhanded compliment, the "oh I didn't realize you handled that" when you clearly did. Same root, louder delivery. Whether it's subtle doubt or full-on shade, it's coming from the same insecure place. And it deserves the same response: don't let it move you.
Knowing that doesn't make it less frustrating. But it does change how you respond to it.
You can't always remove the doubter from the equation. What you can control is how you handle it. Here's what actually works:
Acknowledge how you feel. Frustrated. Annoyed. Angry. All of it is valid. Don't skip past it. Recognize it and then decide it's not running the show.
Watch what you tell yourself. Your internal dialogue matters more than their opinion. When someone throws doubt at you, don't start agreeing with them in your own head. Flip it. Their doubt is not a fact.
Don't take it personally. Their opinion of your work is not a verdict on you as a person. It has no power unless you hand it some.
Stay confident and keep showing up. If you let them throw you off your game, they win. Stay focused, keep delivering, and let the work speak. That's not a motivational poster line: that's what actually happens.
Focus on the job. The moment you lose focus, you're doing their job for them. Stay locked in.
Use their doubt as fuel. Proving someone wrong is not the most noble motivation, but it works. Use it.
Build your support system. Surround yourself with people who are honest and actually in your corner. There's a difference between someone who calls you out when you're wrong and someone who just tears you down. Keep the first kind close.
Have a plan and keep moving toward it. When you have clear goals, a doubter is just noise in the background. Keep something to work toward so you always know where you're headed.
Be persistent. Setbacks happen. Keep going anyway. The doubters are counting on you to stop.
Have a backup plan. Things don't always go the way you mapped them out. Know your options so you're never stuck with only one path forward.
Decompress and rest. You cannot fight for your professional reputation running on empty. Get outside. Clear your head. Sleep. Whatever resets you: do that.
Don't let them get in your head. The moment you start self-doubting because of them, they win. Don't give them that.
The Bottom Line
Nobody gets to decide what you're capable of except you. The doubters in your workplace are going to keep doing what they do because that's who they are. That's on them.
Your job is to keep showing up, keep doing the work, and not let someone else's insecurity become your ceiling. They showed you who they are. Now show them who you are.
If you are navigating something like this in a job search, know that the work is the answer. Here is mine.
A marketing plan sounds like something only big companies with dedicated teams and a conference room whiteboard need. It's not. Whether you're running a small business, managing marketing solo, or trying to get everyone on the same page, having a plan keeps you from throwing money at tactics that don't connect to anything.
I built an eCommerce site from the ground up with no prior industry knowledge and had it live and selling within six months. That didn't happen by winging it: it happened because there was a plan behind every decision.
This post walks through what a marketing plan actually is, why it matters, and how to build one. The outline at the end gives you a framework you can use right now.
What Is a Marketing Strategy?
A marketing strategy is the "why" behind everything you do. It's the decisions you make about who you're targeting, what you're saying, and where you're showing up. Tactics come after. If you skip the strategy and go straight to tactics, you end up busy without a direction.
A marketing plan is the document that connects your strategy to your execution. It outlines your goals, your budget, your tactics, and your timeline: everything in one place so nothing gets missed and nothing gets spent without a reason.
It should be specific to your business, not a generic template you fill in once and shelve. Plan to revisit it regularly. Markets change, budgets shift, and what worked last year might not be the right move this year.
Why Your Business Needs a Marketing Plan
Without one, you're guessing. You might be doing a lot of things, but if they're not connected to a goal, it's hard to know what's working or where to spend next.
A marketing plan gives you a clear picture of where you are, where you're going, and what it's going to take to get there. It keeps your budget accountable, your efforts focused, and your team (even if that team is just you) on the same page.
It also helps after the initial push. A lot of businesses put effort into launching a campaign and then drop it. A plan builds in the follow-up so the work doesn't stop when the excitement does.
What Is a Top-Down Marketing Strategy?
Top-down starts with leadership. The company sets the goals, the messaging, and the overall direction: then the marketing team builds campaigns around it. Common in larger organizations where brand consistency matters across multiple teams or locations.
What Is a Bottom-Up Marketing Strategy?
Bottom-up flips it. The marketing or sales team drives the ideas based on what they're seeing in the field: customer conversations, support tickets, search trends. It tends to be more responsive and works well for smaller teams that are close to the customer.
What Is an Integrated Marketing Strategy?
Integrated marketing means your channels are working together instead of in silos. The same message, adapted for each platform: email, social, paid, and your website are all saying the same thing at the same time. A product launch is a good example: you're not running four disconnected campaigns, you're running one campaign across four channels.
Marketing Plan Outline
Here's a framework you can use as a starting point. Adjust it to fit your business size, goals, and budget. Not every section will apply the same way, but all of them are worth thinking through.
Executive Summary
Write this last, even though it lives first.
It's a snapshot of your entire plan and if someone only reads this section, they should walk away understanding what your business is trying to do and why.
A marketing executive summary includes
a description of the company,
its products or services,
its target market,
how it plans to reach that market.
Mission statement
Include a brief look at your competition and what sets you apart. One paragraph is enough.
Situation Analysis: Where Does The Company Stand Right Now
Before you set goals, you need an honest look at where things are. That means your strengths, your weaknesses, what's working in the market, and what's working against you. A SWOT analysis is a good starting point.
Some questions worth answering here:
Who is your target customer?
Who are your main competitors?
How do you compare on price, product, and visibility?
What does your current marketing look like and is it working?
What is your marketing philosophy?
Create a buyer persona
This section is the foundation. Skipping it means your goals are guesses.
Goals and Objectives: What Do You Want To Achieve?
This is where you get specific. Goals without numbers are just wishes. A short-term goal might be increasing web traffic by 20% in the next three months. A long-term goal might be growing market share over the next two years. Objectives are the specific steps that get you there.
Keep them realistic. A goal to grow sales by 50% when you're starting from zero isn't a goal, it's a hope.
Some questions to work through:
What specific marketing activities do you want to accomplish?
What results are you expecting from this plan?
How will you measure success?
Strategies and Tactics: How Will the Business Get There?
Strategy is the direction. Tactics are how you execute it. Once you know your goals, you can figure out which channels and activities make the most sense to reach them. Not every business needs every channel: pick the ones that match your audience and your capacity.
I've run SEO, PPC, content, email, Google Merchant Center, and print campaigns at the same time for the same business. The lesson wasn't to do everything, it was knowing which combination was worth the time and budget for that specific business.
Some common tactics to consider:
Social media marketing
Email marketing
Search engine marketing (SEO and PPC)
Content marketing
Paid advertising
Print and digital marketing materials
Referral and loyalty programs
Product launches
Advertising and promotion calendars
Start with what you can actually manage and build from there.
Budget: How Much Money Will The Business Need to Implement The Marketing Plan?
You don't need a big budget to have a good marketing plan, but you do need to know what you're working with. Being realistic here saves you from committing to tactics you can't actually fund.
Tools are a good example. There are expensive options for everything in marketing. But cost-effective alternatives exist if you look for them. SpyFu covers a lot of the same competitive research ground as pricier tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs at a fraction of the cost. Budget decisions like that add up.
Factor in the expected costs but also leave room for the unexpected: a freelancer you need to bring in, an ad campaign that comes up last minute but makes sense to run.
Some questions to work through:
How much are you allocating to each marketing channel?
What does a digital campaign cost versus a direct mail campaign?
What are you willing to spend on advertising?
What are you willing to spend on research and tools?
Marketing Plan Timeline
A timeline keeps everything from living in a document that no one looks at after the first meeting. It assigns ownership, sets deadlines, and tells you when to expect results.
Some questions to work through:
Who is responsible for each step?
When does the campaign start and end?
How long will each step take?
When should you expect to see results?
Consider building out an editorial calendar alongside this
Review, Test, and Optimize
A marketing plan is only useful if you actually revisit it. Once you launch, check in on what's working and what isn't. If a goal wasn't met, figure out why before you just do more of the same thing.
I used Google Analytics, Search Console, and heatmap and recording tools like HotJar and Microsoft Clarity to make real decisions: not just to pull reports, but to actually change what we were doing based on what the data showed. Optimization isn't a concept, it's a habit.
Make changes, then review again. Marketing is a cycle, not a checklist.
Conclusion
A/B testing is where marketing and conversion rate optimization overlap—once you’re measuring traffic, the natural next step is improving what you do with it.
A marketing plan doesn't have to be a 40-page document. It just needs to be specific enough to keep you focused and flexible enough to adjust when things change.
Everything in this post comes from actually building and running marketing plans, not from a textbook. The outline above is the same framework I've worked from. What you put in it is what makes it work for your business.
Start with where you are, get clear on where you want to go, and build from there.
Cathy Gray is an eCommerce and digital marketing specialist based in Atlanta, GA, with nearly a decade of experience helping B2B businesses sell more online. Outside of work she's chasing waterfalls, kayaking rivers, and finding dark skies to camp under. Her dog Sam is officially retired from adventures but still supervises from the couch. None of it happens without coffee.
