Welcome to "Three Wins This Week"

Your Weekly Lifeline to Move Ahead With Three Powerful Marketing Moves

Dear Higher Ed Marketer,

As someone who's spent years in the trenches of higher education marketing leadership, I know just how relentless the demands can be. I've faced the constant pressure of balancing urgent requests, driving strategic campaigns, and trying to support every corner of the institution—all while wondering if I'm actually moving forward or simply treading water.

If you’re like me, you want to deliver for your institution, exceed expectations, and feel that sense of momentum and accomplishment. Yet between the endless meetings, last-minute pivots, and ever-growing priorities, it’s easy to feel like real progress is just out of reach.

That’s exactly why I created "Three Wins This Week."

What This Series Is Really About

Every week, we’ll cut through the noise and focus on three actionable tasks that truly move your institution forward. No endless to-do list. No pressure to do it all. Just three high-impact moves aligned with the higher education cycle and your biggest goals:

• Student recruitment that brings the right students to your programs

• Retention strategies that nurture success and stability

• Advancement activities that build long-lasting relationships

• Brand elevation that stands out in a crowded marketplace

• Academic program promotion that celebrates faculty expertise and student outcomes

Why Three Things Work

I've experienced firsthand how higher ed marketers are asked to do more with less—more programs, more audiences, more channels, all while chasing the same strategic goals. It’s exhausting, and it often feels like true progress is always just out of reach.

"Three Wins This Week" acknowledges that reality. Instead of pretending you can do everything, this series channels your energy into what matters most right now. Focusing on just three things each week allows you to celebrate progress, see real results, and, most importantly, avoid burnout.

What to Expect

Each post arrives aligned with the rhythms of the academic year. In September, we focus on recruitment and retention. October brings application deadlines and FAFSA support. November highlights alumni engagement during giving season. I’ll draw not just from best practices, but from lived experience—so you get advice that works under real-world constraints.

Expect each "Three Wins This Week" post to include:

• Specific, doable tasks for your reality

• Strategic context so you know why these tasks matter right now

• Practical how-tos that respect your limited time

• Simple metrics to help you prove and celebrate your wins

Your Permission to Focus

Here’s the honest truth I’ve discovered: you don’t have to do everything. You don’t have to respond to every last-minute request. You don’t have to be everywhere at once. You just need to make meaningful progress, one week at a time.

This series gives you permission to focus. Permission to put your energy where it will have the biggest impact. Permission to feel good about completing three important tasks instead of feeling inadequate for not finishing thirty less-important ones.

Ready to Start?

Your first "Three Wins This Week" post is ready. Three priorities. Clear steps. Real impact, aligned with your institution’s goals and the academic calendar.

Because the most effective marketing doesn’t come from doing it all. It comes from focusing your expertise on what really matters—and doing those three things exceptionally well.

I’ve walked this path, and I’m here to walk it with you. Let’s focus on your wins, one week at a time.

On your mark. Get set. Go. Your next three wins are within reach.