Ever had an unexpected moment that made you spill your morning coffee? Here’s mine.
I’m cozied up in the breakfast nook of an Airbnb, preparing for the first official day of the Finish Strong event. The energy in the room is buzzing. My makeup artist is swiping blush on my cheeks while I discuss the day’s agenda with my content director.
In the middle of this whirlwind, Scott Hyatt is comfortably seated to the side, deeply engrossed in his phone, sipping his morning coffee.
Then, out of nowhere, with a tone of both surprise and a smidge of indignation, Scott suddenly exclaims, “I sent out the racing newsletter, and guess what? We got ONE unsubscribe! Can you believe that?” He paused for a second and added, “What an ass.”
I desperately tried not to burst into laughter, fearing my makeup artist might accidentally jab me in the eye. Thankfully, she’s seasoned in handling sudden outbursts while working her magic.
Between bouts of laughter, I attempted to get Scott to recreate the scene for my Instagram stories. Once I regained my composure, I decided it was time for a little heart-to-heart.
“Scott,” I began, “you really don’t know why that person left your list. It could be anything! They might’ve accidentally double-subscribed. Or maybe they hit ‘unsubscribe’ by mistake. Maybe they’re swamped with emails and are trying to declutter their inbox. Who knows?” I wanted him to see that there could be countless reasons people unsubscribe. And honestly? It’s none of our business.
What’s important? Focusing on what DOES matter. The ones who didn’t hit that ‘unsubscribe’ button. The loyal readers who eagerly await your messages. The ones who engage, who send you heartfelt replies, who genuinely care about what you have to say.
People come and go all the time. It’s just the nature of life. It’s not about being everyone’s cup of tea – because let’s face it, nobody is. And that’s perfectly okay!
Now, let’s step away from Scott’s inbox for a second. Has anyone ‘unsubscribed’ from your life in some other way recently?
Maybe there’s someone who hasn’t returned your calls. Or a colleague who seems distant lately. Or a follower who used to like and comment on all your social media posts but has suddenly gone silent.
The truth is, everyone is navigating their own journey. Everyone has their reasons. And most of the time, it’s not about you.
You can’t always control how others perceive you or how they react to what you do. But what you CAN control is how you show up every single day.
Instead of getting hung up on that one unsubscribe, focus on the ones who are still here. Rooting for you. Cheering you on.
You’re not going to let an unsubscribe throw you off your game or ruin your mood. And you’re definitely not going to waste your time and energy concocting imaginary scenarios in your head, worrying over the ‘whys’ and the ‘what ifs.’
Next time life throws an unsubscribe your way? Wear it like a badge and march on.
Because boo-berry, for every unsubscribe, there are plenty of loyal subscribers giving you a standing ovation.
