Marketing Dopamine • October 23, 2026
From Recognizing to Doing
This week has been about looking honestly at your marketing.
What is actually working. What your customers would tell you if you asked. What you could stop doing. Whether people can repeat your message. Why your own patterns are hard to see. And why change comes more easily with others.
Each one is a question worth sitting with.
But questions only matter if they lead somewhere.
Recognizing a pattern is awareness. Doing something about it is action.
The gap between the two is where most good intentions quietly fade. We read something that resonates, nod along, and then return to the same habits on Monday. Not because we did not mean it, but because nothing in our week changed to support it.
Moving from awareness to action does not require a dramatic overhaul. It requires one decision, made on purpose, and a way to keep coming back to it. One thing to stop. One question to ask a customer. One message to simplify.
Small, specific, and repeated. That is how change actually takes hold.
You do not need to fix everything. You need to start with one thing and keep going.
Next week, I will share how I plan to keep going myself, and how you can come along.
Lisa Carmichael is the author of The Marketing Dopamine Workbook: From Awareness to Action, available now, a companion to her book Marketing Dopamine: What Your Brain Is Really Doing When You Think You’re Building a Business, coming soon. Learn more at marketingdopamine.com
I couldn’t agree more with this! In my work, I often talk about how awareness is just the beginning. Real change happens when we take what we’ve learned about ourselves and put it into practice through small, intentional choices. It’s not about getting everything right overnight, but about being willing to take that next step and keep growing along the way. 💜
I love how you put that! Small, intentional choices really do add up over time. I think sometimes we underestimate the progress we’re making because we’re looking for bigger changes. Thanks for adding your perspective!
One thing – isn’t that the truth. Becoming aware is one thing then taking an action step is the next thing to do after awareness.
Exactly! Awareness is where it begins, but it’s what we choose to do with that awareness that makes the difference. Even one small action can move us in the right direction. Thanks for sharing!
I agree. Much like life in general, being aware and starting with just one thing can help motivated you to keep going. It’s less overwhelming, and seeing the results will encourage you to make other changes.
Oops! I meant “even if you *haven’t* resolved every problem or healed every wound.”
So true, Lisa! Recognizing what needs to change is the easy part. Actually doing something about it, and sticking with it, is where the real challenge lies. Small steps, consistently taken, can make a big difference!
Exactly! And I think that’s where we sometimes get discouraged. We expect to see results quickly and forget that meaningful change takes time. Those small, consistent steps may not seem like much day to day, but looking back, we can often see just how far we’ve come. Thanks for sharing!
A thoughtful article with a voice that feels natural. I liked the way you addressed the reader and kept the discussion grounded.
Thank you! I appreciate you saying that. I always hope my writing feels like a conversation rather than a lecture, so it’s nice to hear that came through!