And who knows, maybe even a better person.

I’m a big believer in atomic habits. Small changes, done consistently over time can lead to big results. Why? One big reason is that small changes are easier to stick to than the "big" ones. And that is because they’re oftentimes much simpler. I’ve even gone so far as to create a saying (maybe more of a mantra?) to remind myself: Don’t blow it up. Just make it better.

Don't Blow It Up

We often get caught up in the idea that in order to achieve better results, we need to make radical changes. What I've learned over time is that my short-term fixes or band-aids are often more effective, and can at least serve as progress while I work on bigger changes.

With that in mind, here are three super small habits you can start today to become a better marketer.

Habit 1: Listen First

The more experienced we become, we tend to think we already know how to get results or have the answers, so we start by talking about that.

And as less experienced marketers, we often talk more out of nerves or the feeling of needing to prove ourselves.

You might think you already listen well. But start taking note of how often you start by listening. Today, observe yourself in conversations with your clients (and your team). Next, challenge yourself in every single interaction, even if you are there to explain your capabilities, results, etc to start every conversation by listening. If you must speak first, start by asking a question so you can listen.

Habit 2: Zoom Out

Seek to understand how the work you are doing fits into the bigger picture of your client’s business. Always.

Too often, we are focused solely on the specific project or area within the marketing plan that we impact, and we overlook really simple and meaningful opportunities to create a better user experience and better results.

Habit 3: Progress > Perfection

Habit three is committing to the idea that better is better. Don't wait until things are perfect before moving forward. Use those band-aids. They're there for a reason. An easy way to do this is to list the things you want to do in order of their impact. Then go back and identify the level of effort to implement. Start with high-impact/low-effort ideas and get to shipping!