I’m sure you’re asking yourself what does stretching have to do with content marketing. My friend Kelly hosts the Stretch Yourself Challenge every year, and it revolves around upping your content marketing game. This is the 11th year of the challenge and my 5th year participating. Every year I learn something new no matter my level of participation, and it’s motivating. Last year, I used it to stretch outside of my comfort zone and shake things up in my graphic design business.
This year I’m using it to give Monthly Content Helpers a vision and a focus.
What I Love
One thing I love about the Stretch Yourself Challenge is the community. I get to work with a group of amazing business owners in all stages of business and expertise to stretch beyond where we’re currently at. During the live challenge, the support and friendly competition are great for gaining motivation and momentum, and she makes it easy for everybody to win something. I love how people use the challenge to get a great start in their new business.
Another great thing about the challenge is the guide. Kelly lays out each challenge step-by-step and makes it easy. She has a saying, “What if it were easy?” With her guide, it is easy. Super easy. And if you get stuck, the forum and community are there to help you figure it out.
Last Year’s Big Stretch
Last year, Kelly introduced the idea of coaching triads. In short, it’s a group of three people meeting in a Zoom call and coaching each other 10-15 minutes at a time. When she first brought it up, I thought no way am I doing that! This introvert was a heck no to that!
Then I had a talk with myself and reminded myself that I was supposed to be stretching. I forced myself to do one… for the stretch and the experience. I shocked myself by really enjoying it. Three people was manageable. Ten to fifteen minutes was manageable. I ended up doing four or five of them last year, and I’ve done six so far this year, and we’re only halfway through the month.
(You can learn more about coaching triads by grabbing Kelly’s free guide here. If you do, let me know. I’d be happy to help you with your first triad.)
It is Never Too Late to Sign Up
The guide is also offered as a self-study option once the window for the live challenge is over. It’s an amazing blueprint of helpful steps to up your content marketing game no matter where you are in your entrepreneur journey.
Same great guide. Same great community. Worth it.
I recommend the Stretch Yourself Challenge because no matter what type of business you have you need content marketing. Kelly is one of the best to learn from. You should check it out.
Oooh, thank you for sharing about the Stretch Yourself Challenge and for linking to the free Coaching in Triads resources. I want this for EVERYONE! LOL!
I sure enjoy watching you stretch Shannon ❤
My pleasure! I think it’s a great thing for any business owner. Look how well it brought me out of my shell? <3
I have loved watching you stretch the last couple years, Shannon. I’ve known you for what feels like forever now and it’s exciting to see you get bolder and put yourself out there more 🙂 Looking forward to seeing you continue to stretch!
Same, my friend! We’ve both done a lot of stretching and growing the last few years. <3
I love the triads and the Stretch Yourself Community too. Keep up the Great work and I look forward to talking with you again next year too.
The triads really are such an easy way to get quick feedback.
It was good to meet you, Amanda!
How exciting! I LOVE that SYC. I am also participating. It made all of the difference last year and helped me jump back into my business and ministry. This year I am doing it again and I cannot tell you how much I have already done. This is such a kick in the tail while also giving practical and easy steps for each thing that we need for our business or ministry. I cannot wait to see what you accomplish this month!
Yes! It’s easy to make it what you need it to be and/or have time for as well as go back later! Great ideas and great steps to finishing.
Shannon, I hear you on the introvert doing triads, lol! I wasn’t sure about them either when I first heard about them. I’ve done a few, but definitely not as many as you have. Kudos on stretching yourself so much and so well!
Some have been easier than others, for sure, but one triad at a time, I’m putting myself out there!
Aren’t the coaching triads the best?! I agree with you that they are a big highlight of the Stretch Yourself Challenge. It is so great to see you embracing and leaning into the stretch! Great job at creating amazing momentum in your business!
I really did not expect to enjoy them as much as I do! That is for sure!
Love how you have embraced the bold attitude and truly stretched even when a content challenge didn’t seem like it was your thing. You’re so right that business owners can find new ways to push themselves every year, with new challenges, or new approaches to a content challenge.
It’s a pretty handy “blueprint” for getting content marketing going strong!
So true that only ten to fifteen minutes at a time is a manageable way to make a great change.
The SYChallenge is a great way to stretch beyond our comfort zone. Wishing you continued success in your stretching.
Definitely! I think almost anybody can find ten to fifteen minutes!
Hey Shannon, I’m so happy to see you’re back in the Stretch Yourself Challenge again this year 2020! You’ve just reminded me that we haven’t yet connected in a Triad. Hopefully we can connect again this year. I’m so happy to see how much you’ve moved forward in a year. Keep stretching and #FinishStrong!
Yes! I would love that!
Hi Shannon, The Coaching in Triads is a trial by fire for me and something that, despite having had four sessions already, I have yet to get used to. I’m glad that you’re over the resistance stage, if I may call it that, and seem to be comfortable doing it. I notice you actively posting and interacting in the forum, which makes the community alive with your part in it.
All the best to your stretch!
It was a process for sure, and some are easier than others. Keep stretching, Maria! You’ll get there. <3
Shannon, you do a great job of laying out the value of the self-study version. That guide alone is so powerful, with all of the steps to each business challenge just laid out for anyone to follow. Add to that the benefits of having a forum filled with people ready to help, encourage, and hold you accountable, and it all adds up to one very valuable experience.
It really is a great blueprint, isn’t it? And the value of that community is worth the price alone. I was resistenant to the move from Facebook just because it’s so convenient for me, but I’ve found I need to be intentional about visiting at least daily because the encouragement is so great!
Shannon, I have to agree with you. One of the reasons I love the Stretch Yourself Challegne so much is the community! I love how everyone comes together to cheer each other on. It’s so worth joining just for that.
It is so true that the Coaching in Triads is “doable” for us introverts. This is my first year joining Triads and the insights that come in that hour are always enlightening.
That is so funny how you shocked yourself to learn you like coaching in triads even though you are an introvert :-D. I hear you on how that is a stretch. That’s awesome that you’ve used the challenge for 11 years to stretch yourself. This is my first year and I’m enjoying the community too. It’s helpful to have support and friendly competition.
I’m dubbing you the Triad Queen … You’ve done 7 Triads, Wow! Wow! I applaud you for not allowing the definition of being an Introvert to get in the way of your success. We are never 100% of anything. The Universe gave you enough of an Extrovert’s traits for you to tap into when you need it. Keep stretching. You’re doing it well.
Shannon I am addicted to the triads! After doing a bunch last year in the stretch, I continued to reach out to people and invite them to traid throughout the year. I love that your introverted self got brave enough to participate and to benefit from them!
However, what I liked most about this post is that you used Kelly’s phrase “What if it was easy?” that makes ALL the different – well, that and the amazing community we get to be a part of. So glad you are there!
Thank you for sharing your positive experience with the triads. I’m not an introvert and I was super anxious for my first one, but like just like you, I loved it!
It’s so easy to grab some of the challenges and use PLR to make them happen. Use them for a webinar, facebook lives, in a new group, endless possibilities 🙂
Love your cover graphic for this post. I also like your freebie. I signed up. I also grabbed the info about Kelly’s coaching triads since I’ve never participated. Have my first one tomorrow. Thanks
Oh man, I can completely relate to the “Heck no!” knee-jerk reaction to triads. That’s how I felt last year, and then I wound up really enjoying them. I think they’re actually great for introverts — small group and a time limit. 🙂 Keep on being you!
The community, the support and friendly competition, the triad, and the step-by-step guide are also my favourite parts. I didn’t think I would enjoy the triads but they are so helpful and encouraging.
I was nervous for my first triad, not knowing what to expect. After do it and playing the parts of Coach, Coachee, and then Note-Taker/Scribe/Timekeeper, I loved it!
Youa re right – everyone should try some Coaching Triads! And, in the SYC we get to do a lot of them!
I didn’t realize that the Coaching in Triads was new last year. (This is my first year.) I was not sure about those when I first heard about them but have enjoyed meeting new people, listening and advising others. The Stretch Yourself Challenge has been very motivating to me and I would recommend anyone on the fence to hop on in!