As the owner of an automation agency that spends a lot of time working on digital mktg automations, I’m fortunate to have a team of experts who handle our ActiveCampaign (AC) automations daily. So why did I decide to attend an AC study hall? The answer lies in the concept of shoshin – the beginner’s mind.
The Power of a Beginner’s Mind
Shoshin, a Zen Buddhist concept, encourages us to approach subjects with openness and eagerness, regardless of our expertise level. This mindset has been crucial in my journey as a business leader, pushing me to continually learn and grow. As the saying goes, “Work smarter, not harder” – and sometimes, that means going back to basics.
Stepping into the Study Hall
Walking into the AC study hall, I felt a mix of excitement and humility. Here I was, surrounded by users at various skill levels, all united by our desire to learn. The energy was palpable, and I knew I had made the right decision. It reminded me of why I love marketing automation – it’s an ever-evolving field that rewards continuous learning.
Unexpected Revelations
Despite my team’s proficiency with AC, I found myself scribbling notes furiously. Here are some ‘drop the mic’ learnings that surprised even a seasoned marketeer like me:
- The AC tracking code in the footer of a website isn’t needed if you use the AC WordPress plugin – in fact, having both can cancel each other out!
- There are simple ways to create bot traps to avoid false triggering of automations, and AC has more plans in the works to combat this issue.
- Goals in AC are actually magnets, not finishing posts. This subtle distinction can significantly impact how we design our automation flows.
These insights weren’t just valuable for my team – they gave me a deeper understanding of our processes and potential areas for improvement in our and our clients’ mktg automation strategies.
The WordPress Plugin Conundrum
My revelation about the AC tracking code and WordPress plugin led me to reflect on the broader issue of plugin conflicts. In WordPress, it’s common for multiple plugins to interfere with each other’s performance or even cancel each other out. This can happen with caching plugins, security plugins, SEO tools, and more. For example, using multiple security plugins like Wordfence, Sucuri Security, and iThemes Security can cause conflicts and slow down your site. As digital marketing professionals, we need to be vigilant about these potential conflicts to ensure our clients’ websites are running optimally.
The Leadership Perspective
As leaders, it’s easy to distance ourselves from the tools our teams use daily. However, this experience reminded me of the immense value in staying connected to these systems. It allows us to:
– Make more informed strategic decisions
– Better appreciate our team’s challenges and successes– Foster a culture of continuous learning throughout the organization
Earning my Level 2 AC training certificate brought back fond memories of collecting badges as a Brownie. It’s a tangible reminder that learning never stops, no matter your position or experience level.
Beyond ActiveCampaign: The Bigger Picture
This experience got me thinking about wider tech stacks. Just as AC integrates with various platforms, so do other tools. And just like human teams, sometimes these integrations don’t play well together.
It also made me reflect on why high start-up costs serve as a barrier to market entry. In the world of digital marketing automation, the initial investment in tools, training, and expertise can be substantial. But experiences like this study hall remind me that the real value lies in continuous learning and optimization, not just in the tools themselves.
How You Can Help Yourself: Run a Health Check
Inspired by my study hall experience, I’m challenging fellow business owners to adopt a shoshin mindset and take a closer look at their tech integrations. Here’s what you can do:
- Identify all the platforms your business uses
- Check for potential conflicts between plugins or integrations
- Run a health check on each platform
- Optimize your integrations based on the results
Remember, even small improvements in your tech stack can lead to significant gains in efficiency and effectiveness.
Reflections
My ActiveCampaign study hall experience was a powerful reminder of the value of shoshin in business leadership. It’s not just about what we learned, but about maintaining an open, curious mindset that drives continuous improvement in our email marketing automation efforts.
So, fellow entrepreneurs, when was the last time you stepped into a “beginner’s” class for a tool your team uses? You might be surprised at what you discover – about the tool, your business, and yourself.
