Last night, I won $220 playing craps in Las Vegas.
The fact is that I don’t really understand the game. It’s complicated, and there are dozens of different ways to bet on each roll of the dice.
Watching the game isn’t especially helpful in terms of learning what’s going on. There are a dozen people surrounding the table and three or four employees running the game. People are yelling, and it looks like chaos.
Several trips ago, I watched for a few hours and still had no idea what was happening.
Learn the Game Incrementally
Then I read a short booklet about the game and gained a very limited sense of what was happening.
I came away from my brief education with one thing: I knew that I could place a very simple bet and wait and see whether I won or lost. I’m not always sure whether I’ve won or lost until the employee gives me more chips or takes away the chips I put on the table.
If I get more chips, I take them and put them in my pocket. If my chips are taken away, I put down some more to replace the ones the employee took. I truly have no idea what’s happening except that each time, I’ve left with more chips than I had when I started.
How to Place Your Bet
What’s the takeaway?
I learned one piece of the puzzle. I didn’t need to know the whole game. I won without really understanding every element and aspect of the situation.
You can do the same thing with marketing.
You don’t need to understand all the strategy and tactics.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Learn one thing.
- Show up at the game.
- Put your chips on the table.
- Take away your winnings.
You Don’t Need to Know It All
Let’s look at one example: pay-per-click advertising (I’ve been helping some lawyers with this, so I know it works).
The lawyer learns a bit about the advertising. The lawyer gets in the game by buying some ads. The lawyer gets some new clients.
You don’t need to be an expert on advertising, Google, or pay-per-click. You just need to find a tactic that works for you and then do it, over and over again, until it stops working.
Realistically, you aren’t likely to master every aspect of the game. You’re busy mastering a different game most of the day. The marketing isn’t usually the highest priority for you.
Don’t feel overwhelmed by the game. You don’t need to understand it all. You only need to know the details of one piece of the game.
Marketing has better odds than craps. Learn enough to master one bet. Then show up and put your chips on the table.
