The Schedule…
Over the last month or two, I have been meeting with a local doctor (also very good business man and coming on the X-Country run) and his business partner. They have been working with me and helping me piece together the lead up to the run and helping boost my exposure and ‘eyes watching’ in the lead up. In the last couple weeks, part of this has involved a social media schedule. Insert initial cringe here. BUT, let me explain…..
The reason for their request/schedule is the way social media works. If you are not consistent and constantly on peoples front of mind, regardless of what you are doing, you will float into the background. We want as many eyes on the X-Country run BEFORE I start as possible, not picking up people in the back end. This will help launch things going forward and hopefully attract a number of sponsors to help me be doing the things I want to do, day to day going forward. As tough as it is….it is a necessary evil.
Now, my relationship with social media has been mixed over the years to say the least. I really like the connections it creates and the tangible difference you can actually make in individuals lives if you interact and be REAL on the various platforms. I do not like the fact that there is a lot of ‘fakeness’, addictiveness, popularity contest vibes and general cess-pit nonsense that occurs on the socials on the regular. I don’t resonate with this and its what makes it all a bit hard to swallow at times. However, as stated, if I want to blow this thing up and help change peoples perspective on what is possible in their own lives and help change people on a grass roots level, I gotta do it!
Here enters some rad stuff that has been happening over the last two weeks. I have been 100% sticking to the schedule. One Linked In, Facebook and Instagram post a day as well as two TikTok’s and Instagram Reels a day. A lot. As a result of the posts and my interactions, I have been getting some amazing comments and DM’s from people far and wide. They have varied from ‘Im following from afar and stoked to see this all unfold’ to full emails about how I have played a part in people changing their diets, lifestyles and bad habits. To say it is humbling and an honour is a MASSIVE understatement.
I do not take this lightly. I know to some it might seem like ‘just social media’ but these are real people! People who have taken up running, walking, gone vegan, stopped drinking alcohol and just generally trying to do better in their day to day lives. It is hard for me to move into this mindset of becoming, as Tegan calls it, a ‘social media person’, but I tell you what, when you get heart felt messages like the few I have mentioned, it is hard to deny that the socials have an incredible impact on a very person level on folk both near and far. Far greater result than I could hope to achieve if I would if I was just doing my thing and not posting regularly.
So, this is now a thing. I have made a commitment to Josiah and Scotty (the two boys mentioned above) and with a YouTube channel forthcoming, we are rolling nicely. In the end, all I want to do is be real and authentic. If at any point I stop doing that, call me out, tell me to stop being a goon and get back to my roots. After all, that’s all I got. Anything outside me being me is a facade, and I am not interested in that in the slightest. So all I can do is be me and hope that is enough to draw people in, show interest in my adventures and support where they can in whatever way they can.
It is an exciting time and social media certainly plays a big roll in it all. Thanks to Jos and Scotty for pushing me to do better and get out of my comfort zone. In a couple short weeks, although it hasn’t been easy, it has been well worth it. Much love boys.
On a complete side note, this Saturday is Noosa Ultra Trail 100k. I am very excited to hit the trails and see what I got! The training has been quite different with my new coach to what I normally would have done so well see what the result of all that is! I'll have a full play by play account next week!
In the mean time, I hope this finds you well, chasing your own dreams and ripping in on the daily. Much love friends.
Consistency + Commitment
P.S - I should have my full sponsor pack done up by next week. If any of you know any businesses or individuals that might be interested in sponsoring the event/partnering with me long term financially, please let me know. PEACE and THANKS!