Life is not scripted. While we may wish everyday was exciting and fun that’s not how life works. We all have our off days. At the end of the week, I’m grateful when my good days outnumber the challenging days. In the digital age I’m amused at how spoiled most of us have become with the variety of creature comforts, options, and answers to questions that are often available with a quick Google or Amazon online search. We are a nation that’s addicted to digital access and all the gadgets that make real-time communication as common as water from a drinking fountain.
With all the information available in the online world and the speed at which we expect it, I often believe that far too many people expect the same quick fix with real or complex challenges they’re facing and mentally trying to solve. I’d like to share with you a few ways that I’ve discovered and learned from others to recharge my mind, get refocused, and hit more of my goals. Here are five powerful mental exercises you can use to reflect, renew and recharge yourself in the age of speed, digital overload and distraction.
#1. Schedule ‘off-grid’ time each day for yourself. The death of patience in a world of massive options, Internet speed, and real-time communication is a huge mental challenge for most of us. To draw a parallel from marketing consulting, I often see existing business owners wanting a 10-minute, sound-bite, solution to a problem that took years to create. I advise them that it’s not going to be a ‘quick-fix’ and it will require a plan and then executing on it. The challenge is often slowing them down enough to consider options and the pros and cons associated with each.
One of my favorite things to do that I strongly recommend you try is to have a block of time each day where you go ‘off grid’. This could be the first part of the day where you shut off your email, cell phone, turn off the radio or TV and simply focus on yourself. A few ideas include exercise, reading a great book, prayer, meditation, reviewing your goals or writing in a journal.
This will be challenging at first because your inner self talk will often tell you things such as, “Hey, we’ve got too much to get done today. We don’t have time. I’ll fall behind.” Once you block out these thoughts and really buckle down you’ll be amazed at how enjoyable it is to give yourself the gift of ‘off grid’ time each day.
#2. Remember where you came from and where you’re going. Humans have the wonderful ability to self reflect and I’m amazed at how we forget to use it in the proper balance. I meet lots of interesting people on the road and when I’m speaking at conferences. I can usually pick out the speaker’s and author’s that believe their fan mail and inflated ego versus those who are genuine, real and haven’t forgotten where they came from. It’s stunning to me how many of them discount any constructive help and forget who’s helped them along the way. Success is not a solo journey. Hollywood and TV would have you think this way, but behind every successful person are many people who believed in them even when they at times didn’t believe in themself.
Here’s one of my favorite sayings that reminds me to not get too big for my britches. “You’ll meet the same people going up the ladder as you will coming back down it.” This was said to me many years ago from a mentor in the speaking business and it’s true. While I hope to never go down the ladder too far, I’m also realistic and pragmatic enough to know that there are many things I can do my best to control but their will also be situations and lessons, good and bad, which will surprise me. This is how life works for everyone.
With that said, it’s important to not believe all your press clippings. Who you are today is not the same person as yesterday, a month ago, or a year ago. Pull from what you’ve learned from the past and do your best to stay grounded in each day with a solid plan for the future to guide you. The most interesting thing I often observe with many people is that they either relive their past ‘glory days’ or dream too much about the future when their day-to-day efforts are lacking attention and hustle.
#3. Be flexible and remember that when you make a mistake that no one will likely remember it a year from now except you. This is a tough strategy to follow. It’s far too easy for people to relive their negative experiences over and over in their head when they know deep down they should let go of it and move on with their life. We all make mistakes. I make tons of them but I do my best to learn the lesson it’s trying to teach, so I can quickly get back in the game of the present moment. Sadly, there are millions of people walking around each day on the planet letting past experiences hold them mentally hostage when they could and should be free.
To give you some perspective, think about the past challenges you’ve faced and the success stories or positive new changes that have been a result of going through them. I call this flipping your frustration into fascination and it’s a wonderful exercise to help you maintain a flexible and healthy perspective when confronting life’s challenges.
I'll save the fourth and fifth strategies for my next blog post so you have time to start moving on the one's you've just discovered!
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( 3 / 1391 )When I was in the telephone business selling local and long-distance phone services – which by the way is probably the most hated industry on the planet – we had a seasoned, battle-tested director of sales who used to drill us on what he called “being offense minded versus defense minded”.
What did he mean? Simple: make sure you’re doing more “offense” related activities each day to generate enough prospects and leads in the sales funnel to hit and exceed your monthly sales quotas.
He cautioned us about not getting caught up and distracted by the daily “defense activities” such as maintenance,paperwork, wasted meetings, etc. that seemed to consume so many unsuccessful sales reps.
This same analogy relates to your marketing. How much time are you spending each day to promote, generate new leads, meet with serious prospects and create new business? My guess - not nearly as much time as you could or should be!
Yeah, I know you’re busy running the show, training the staff, checking emails, sitting in meetings, and doing a host of other
activities that are quite honestly good excuses for pushing marketing
and promotions to the back burner.
Please realize that most daily activities are chewing up valuable “offense” time and are purely defense-minded. People get blinded each day doing busy work and before they can stop and look at the clock it’s 5:15 PM and they haven’t done anything in the offense category to insure future leads and deal flow.
The #1 reason this happens: Most business owners let others dictate their day with little if any resistance. The time is now. They must make marketing a daily habit, especially in today's economic climate.
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( 3 / 1410 )Yes, the famous quote from former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt has been on my mind lately when I meet with business and non-profit leaders to discuss marketing strategies and the present state of the U.S. economy. I get various reports from many of them on how sales and profits are doing. Many economists are now saying we’re in a recession and that the future is grim. While my opinion is just that, I want to push you to think differently in a market that has obvious challenges and opportunities at the same time.
So let me ask you a direct question: What is your business or non-profit doing to not just maintain but grow right now? This isn’t a practical joke. I’m going to jump on my little soapbox with this blog post today because frankly, I’m getting tired of the fear and excuses being made by people from all sectors complaining about the economy, gas prices, inflation, and most of all their sales.
I’m very pragmatic and maybe too direct with clients and in my live seminars (Ten years studying with fellow marketing guru Dan Kennedy does that to you) and fully realize that some industries are being negatively impacted more than others. Airlines, auto and housing immediately come to mind.
I often think and ask myself, were the folks in some of these segments asleep at the wheel or just plain naïve about the changes taking place in their industry? There’s no simple answer to this question, but let me offer up a clue and quick marketing lesson that I hope serves you in the current state of fear we find the economy and many people experiencing.
Brace yourself, I’m about to challenge many of you to think very differently about your primary function in the market. I truly believe that most people have no idea that they’re first and foremost in the marketing business. What do I mean? It’s easy. Regardless of your title, position or what product, service or firm you represent, your mind set should be that of a good marketer.
Good marketers are relentless and always promoting their message in good times and bad regardless of what’s happening with the economy. They protect their mindset carefully and often ignore the doubters who attempt to sabotage or bring them down. You’d be surprised, but their are a few businesses that are actually doing well and sales are up. While they don’t blast it from the rooftops in the village square, they do have one key thing in common that we can ALL learn from.
Many are great at marketing. When times were easier they never became complacent in the sales and marketing functions. When a challenge arose in their industry they were prepared to diversify and capitalize on their particular industries change, but more importantly fear. This is what I describe in my first Mind Capture book as 'offense versus defense' thinking as it relates to sales. Far too many businesses are stuck in defense mode right now. Unless they change their thinking and get good at marketing and see it as an investment and not an expense, they risk losing market share and future growth due to a competitor who turns up the marketing heat when most people are cutting back.
Here are three quick ways to keep your marketing axe sharp and at the ready:
1. Read every day. For example, this blog, bestselling books, magazines, trade publications and other sources of knowledge must be picked up each day. Ignorance is not bliss is the digital age, it’s extinction. Staying current and aware of trends that help your business is a smart strategy and pays many dividends.
2. Listen to or attend seminars. This could be audio podcasts, CD’s or attending live programs. Serious students of success allocate a healthy percentage of their gross income, regardless if their employer reimburses them or not, to ongoing education. I can tell you that I’ve easily spent two to three times more on my continual learning the last 13 years versus what I paid to get a four-year college education. In addition, I would easily estimate that 80-90% of what I learned at the university is outdated. Heck, the Internet was just starting when I turned the tassle of my cap and threw my hat high into the air at the graduation ceremony.
3. Keep a swipe file. This is a common term and business practice in direct marketing circles. What it means is simply keeping a file of great ads, promotions and offers near your work area and on your computer that you can reference when you need inspiration or a great idea. In my opinion, it’s often a huge waste of time to start with a blank slate when creating offers or brainstorming. The world is full of great ideas, templates, and proven promotions that I’d rather review and modify (not outright copy) if it makes sense. Time is precious. Great sales, marketing and promotional ideas are abundant and plentiful.
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( 3 / 1393 )“Video killed the radio star.”
In the digital age of the Internet and real-time communication, using video in your marketing should be a high priority. I’m amazed when I survey live audiences throughout the country and ask how many of them use video in their marketing efforts, and very few hands go up. The power of the adding this powerful visual medium into your ongoing marketing mix is unmatched. Here are often the top two reasons, or excuses, I hear many people give as to why they haven’t added video into their marketing:
1. “We can’t afford to do it.”
2. “We don’t really know how to add it into our current plan.”
I’m going to blow the first reason out of the water right now once and for all. Video has come down to such a ridiculously affordable level with tools such as FlipVideo and YouTube that this excuse no longer exists in my mind. In addition, there’s a ton of talent all around you to help you with getting good video onto your site, blog, DVD’s, etc. not only quickly but also inexpensively. Here are three quick resources to aid you: your kids (I’m not joking), local high school or college students, or a local videographer or web related company. I admit that I use a combination of professional videographers and guerilla video we capture off of our FlipVideo.
Here are five effective ways to use video in your marketing efforts:
#1. Testimonials from happy customers. My favorite use of video is this strategy. Nothing, in my expert opinion, is more believable and valuable in your marketing than a video testimonial of someone describing how you’ve helped or improved their life or situation.
#2. Product demonstration. A picture or video is worth a thousand words. The entire infomercial industry is built on showing the product, lotion, course, etc. or marketing promise delivered to you as visual proof. “But wait there’s more!”
#3. Make an announcement or special update. Written words are still excellent, but a short, compelling video is even better. Why do we have 24 hour news channels? They live off video, pictures, and digital graphics to tell and enhance the story. Here are a few idea starters for you to consider, select and use now or in the future: A short video to explain and show a timely or key announcement, an update related to your business, staff, product launch, special offer, etc.
#4. To welcome and thank people for stopping by your website. A video from the owner, president, or key person within your company thanking someone for visiting your site and explaining why they should stick around is a smart strategy. Again, keep your videos short (think YouTube) in the 2-3 minute range if possible. While some videos require more time due to a complex nature or if educational in nature, most people miss this one. People’s attention spans are getting shorter and shorter and you must get to the point quickly and without rambling on. The enemy isn’t the remote control or TIVO like it is with TV, but distraction and a mouse in the person’s hand that’s ready to move to the next page in the blink of an eye.
#5. For training or education purposes. I’m asked 90% of the time or more by most people that consider hiring me to speak or do custom training the question, “Do you have any video that we can look at?” They’re doing this to see not only what type of speaker/trainer I am, but more importantly what type of content and ideas I share with groups. Another thing to consider is that some people don’t like to read, especially on a computer screen, so leverage video to also address these types of customers and prospects.
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( 3 / 1382 )Update, update, update:
Northwest Airlines is taking the second 'Mind Capture' book to new heights by featuring it during the month of March within their in-flight magazine, WorldTraveler, as their Business Pages selection on page 66.
With the economy being a major challenge, the timing for the book to be selected is not only a high honor but timely for those in search of ways to stand out and get ahead in today's market. We'll have a link up soon from our main webpage in case you miss it or would like to see a copy of the article and share it with others.
We send thank you's to MSP communications too based in Minneapolis for selecting the book!
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