When my monthly newsletter went out last month, I was excited about it. The Lord had really spoken to my heart, and I carefully labored to put those thoughts into words. I transparently shared one of my failures, tried to communicate what I learned from it and encouraged coaches to persevere as they lived out God’s calling on their life.
Within hours, 7 emails came back in response. Four emails contained words of encouragement as coaches shared how my article had ministered to them in their marketing journey. Thank you for those.
Three of the emails were unsubscribes.
Yuck!
Intellectually, I know that unsubscribes are good. They help my mailing list stay targeted so that my newsletter only goes out to people who really want it. They help me hone my niche. They keep me on track. Unsubscribes show me what people want and what they don’t. Technically, unsubscribes are good.
Emotionally, unsubscribes are hard. In less than a nano second, my mind went into overdrive wondering what I did wrong. Was my newsletter too short? Too long? Overly spiritual? Not helpful? Did my professional photo show spinach in-between my teeth?
Crazy, isn’t it? I had positive feedback and negative feedback and look where my mind went. Right to the negative, assuming the worst. What underlying mindset caused that?
What if that coach who unsubscribed was simply overwhelmed and had too many emails to keep up with? That has certainly happened to me. What if they decided to take a break from their coaching and no longer needed the information? Of course, they should unsubscribe.
No matter why these coaches unsubscribed from my mailing list one thing is certain.
These unsubscribes are a gift from the Lord showing me an unhelpful mindset that I didn’t know that I had.
The Apostle Paul, who was willing to become all things to all men in order to win some said this, “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”
Paul sought to serve people not so that he would be popular and everyone would think he was a great guy. He wanted to serve others so that He could please God.
Why am I writing a newsletter? To be helpful? Yes. Because I feel as if God is calling me to do so? Yes. So that everyone will like Kim Avery? No – or at least the answer is supposed to be no.
This is the mindset I want to change. I want to serve you well so that I can please my Father. If God calls you to be served better elsewhere, that’s what I want for you as well.
Unsubscribes are a gift I need to embrace.
Please pray for me as I seek to have the mind of Christ.
And if God is calling you to unsubscribe, please do so with my gratitude. I want to want you to be where God wants you to be. Or as least I think I want to :-).
Very good! Thank you for sharing this. Great thoughts that I need to be reminded of!
You are so welcome, Connie. We are all on this journey together.
This was a good read…I hate unsubscribes; sometimes I am shocked when I see who it is… but I too, like you, have to find a perspective that allows for differences and if Im going to make something up, it can be positive…i.e., their cleaning out their inbox because every so often, I need to do it too. Thank you for continuing to be transparent. Asking God to prosper you abundantly..
Hi Heather – I love the way you reframe your ‘unsubscribes’ in a more positive light. That’s probably more accurate and certainly is more helpful. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
Wow, Kim. So timely. I’m just gearing up to do a newsletter. I’m sorry you had to go through this “unsubscribe” lesson just so you could teach it to MEEEEE! LOL. Seriously, thank you for walking the coaching road ahead of us and helping to light the path. You ARE a God-send, and don’t ever let an Unsubcribe tell you differently!
Hi Kathryn,
Awwww… thanks for the encouragement. I’m determined not to let the unsubscribes bother me, unless it is my mother :). And good for you for putting out a newsletter. It’s a great way to reach those God has called you to serve.
Kim, I love this post. I feel the same way when I see an UNsubscribe. It FEELS like I’ve offended a friend or something. 🙁 Thank you for sharing your true self with us. You are amazing!
I too want my motivation to always be to please God and not man/woman. And yet I know I am not “there”, yet. If only I could sit down and have a face-to-face chat with Paul. Maybe that would help??? 🙂
Hi Pam,
Hmmmmm…. a face-to-face chat with Paul. I think you are right. That would certainly put my insecurities in their proper perspective. In the meantime, it’s great to have company on the journey. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.