The Skip It Scorecard
Getting ready to leave French Polynesia
When I tell people we’re skipping Tahiti, I get raised eyebrows and a quick, “Wait, why?” It’s the dream destination, the one everyone expects you to visit. But we’re sailing past it, and there’s a reason.
In a world where everyone’s jumping on the latest trend or platform, saying “no” feels risky. But just like plotting a course through the Pacific, the real win comes from knowing what to skip.
Brand and marketing teams face similar challenges when they choose not to chase what competitors are doing. But what if the decision could be easier?
Let’s jump into it
Tahiti’s got it all: postcard lagoons, vibrant markets and that iconic South Pacific vibe. So why pass?
It’s crowded, costly and not quite us. We’re chasing remote atolls and more undiscovered destinations. Tahiti’s great, but by skipping it, we save time and budget for the places that we like.
Brands need to make the same call. Your competitors might be pouring budgets into flashy campaigns or chasing every new social app. But what if you didn’t? What if you skipped their playbook?
We loved the more chill, unexplored vibes of the Tuamotus
In the vast sea of business, it’s easy to tail the fleet. Doing what someone else is doing, especially a main competitor, is also an easy way to convince ourselves it’s the thing to do.
But here’s a quick gem from Sam Walton, founder of Walmart: “If your competition is doing it, don’t do it. Find a better way.” What others are doing is information, not a requirement.
A helpful resource
You’re making decisions every day about your brand, your business and your marketing. Decision making is both an art and a science, but there’s rarely enough time to unpack every option in full detail.
That’s where comparison comes in. The Skip-It Scorecard isn’t just catchy. It gives you a clear, efficient way to evaluate multiple strategies or competitor moves side-by-side.
The Skip-It Scorecard
This approach was inspired by observing start-ups. There’s often a rush to show up everywhere. But without the staff, budget or bandwidth to follow through, these efforts tend to underdeliver.
Intentional comparison changes that. When you lay strategies next to each other and assess how they align with your brand, audience, timing and resourcing, the picture gets clearer.
Skipping something doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. It means you’re choosing to lead where it matters most.
Take our decision to bypass Tahiti. It sparked weeks of discussion, driven by the fear of missing out. But once we stepped back and compared our options, the choice was easy.
You have permission to skip what others are doing
And there’s more
✏️ Join: The second webinar in our Creative Ops series “Creative, Global Marketing on a Budget” is available to watch!
📚 Read: StoryBrand author Donald Miller has another book, How to Grow Your Small Business, with lessons for all business types.
🎧 Listen: Exploration: Why We Seek Out Big Challenges digs into the psychology of our curiosity and restlessness.
📍Visit: The PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) north of San Francisco is a great three-day road trip opportunity.