“The Godfather’s” Goal-Setting Practice That Could Change Your Life with Joe Pulizzi
On this episode of the Up2 Podcast, host Adam Kaufman sits down with Joe Pullizi, also known as the “Godfather of Content Marketing.” Joe’s career has been nothing short of remarkable -- he’s a three-peat entrepreneur, a five-time author, and a marketing industry expert. He’s a household name to executives of large companies and his concepts are heard in classrooms all over the world. Adam and Joe talk about entrepreneurship, shifting focus to the things that matter most to you, and Joe’s simple process for achieving goals.
Adam and Joe discuss the leap of faith Joe took in 2007 when he founded the Content Marketing Institute, an organization providing marketing education and training that’s helping to shape the next generation of marketing professionals. The institute is also responsible for hosting Content Marketing World, a major conference that brings together 3,500 attendees from more than 60 countries each year.
“I've been thinking about it my whole life. I was waiting for the right moment, but there is no right moment. There's always something that gets in the way. But I made the decision to jump.”
Joe shared that goal setting has helped him get to where he is today. Setting short-term and long-term goals and actively keeping track of them helps dictate your behavior and likelihood for success. He also suggests sharing your goals with loved ones so they can help you stay accountable and on track. Joe summarized his simple goal-setting practice into 3 R’s:
1. Record: Write down your goals
2. Review: Review them on a regular basis
3. Remove: Remove barriers that stand in the way of accomplishing your goals
Among Joe’s hard work, dedication, and goal-setting, he doesn’t forget the value of setting work aside from time to time. In 2016, Joe sold the Content Marketing Institute and temporarily shifted his priorities to “unplug,” and spend more time with his family. During Joe’s sabbatical, he spent 30 days completely unplugged, a practice he now continues a few days a week.
“Anybody can take a weekend. Anybody can take a day. So put the phone down, put work away and really think about what's really important to you.”
Joe and his wife also work with their foundation, The Orange Effect, a nonprofit they were inspired to found when their son Joshua was diagnosed with autism at age two. The Orange Effect provides grants to children with speech disorders from families that can't afford speech therapy. While a large portion of Joe’s attention has shifted to helping people in need and investing time in those most important to him, he continues to record, review, and remove goals for the future. We can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next!
“I think the most important thing is who do you want to be? Who do you want to affect? All I want to do is affect people in a positive way.”
To learn more about Joe, click here and listen to his full episode on the Up2 podcast or tune in wherever you listen to podcasts.
Click here to read the full episode transcript.