It's nearly the end of 2012 and what a year it's been. I joined a team of wonderful entrepreneurs, discovered my love and passion for marketing, gotten married and got a puppy named Anya among many other things.
The New Year is a great time to be reviewing goals and what we're up to in life. It's a time where we're not so much on the hamster wheel of life and can stop to think.
Instead of just setting some goals for the next year. I'm reassessing what my intrinsic drivers are. I'm looking at the things I enjoy doing, then delving deep into what are the specific aspects within those things that really give me that sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
I'll use this information as my golden compass. A way to guide my decisions in the next year.
Sunday, 30 December 2012
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Off for a bit - I'm getting married.
I'm getting married in two days time and then after that I've got family around. I thought I'd just say thanks to the people that regularly follow my blog and I'll start posting again shortly after the holiday period!
Happy holidays and see you again soon :)
Happy holidays and see you again soon :)
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
Traffic, it's just like showering.
Friends of mine ask me how I could possibly like living in Auckland with all the traffic.
I drive to work every day in Albany and I live down in Burswood. For people that don't know, that's about a one hour drive each way in traffic.
I don't get stressed out or worried about traffic. In fact, it's something I sometimes look forward to. It gives me the perfect opportunity to think and mull ideas over.
Now, it's amazing how many great ideas and thoughts come out of that time in traffic. If you think about it, it's one of those only times where your brain isn't really occupied but at the same time you can't switch off or do something else.
It's like showering. You can't really do something else, and your brain isn't overly utilised.
Sitting in traffic, I think about marketing concepts, business ideas, observe my thought patterns and all sorts of things. Or I don't think and train my brain in being present to what's going on around me.
I used to have my radio on all the time but now I switch it off.
Give it a try, just notice what happens...
I drive to work every day in Albany and I live down in Burswood. For people that don't know, that's about a one hour drive each way in traffic.
I don't get stressed out or worried about traffic. In fact, it's something I sometimes look forward to. It gives me the perfect opportunity to think and mull ideas over.
Now, it's amazing how many great ideas and thoughts come out of that time in traffic. If you think about it, it's one of those only times where your brain isn't really occupied but at the same time you can't switch off or do something else.
It's like showering. You can't really do something else, and your brain isn't overly utilised.
Sitting in traffic, I think about marketing concepts, business ideas, observe my thought patterns and all sorts of things. Or I don't think and train my brain in being present to what's going on around me.
I used to have my radio on all the time but now I switch it off.
Give it a try, just notice what happens...
Sunday, 9 December 2012
The importance of values and visions
I've been reading a book called Marketing 3.0 and it's about how marketing has evolved and what the state of marketing is.
In the mid 19th century, marketing was focused around the product. Get the product out there, get distribution and manufacturing right, promote the facts and features. Pretty much, the more advertising you did, the more sales you made.
Then, as competition heated up, those old ways started becoming less effective and marketers moved to customer focused marketing. Excellent customer service, customer focused products and thinking, CRMs, solving problems. Bringing emotion and feelings into the mix.
Today, we're now at the next level. We talk about tribes and making a difference in the world. About our values, our drivers and visions.
As we develop our businesses in today's market, it's becoming so important that we're clear about our values and vision. It's what has our customers flock to us, be loyal to us and support our growth. After all, if we're fulfilling on their common values and vision, why wouldn't they want us to grow? Simple really!
So the first step for our businesses is to determine... what ARE our values and vision? What difference are we making in the world?
It's no longer sufficient to provide a great product and a fantastic customer service. We have oodles of choice now, I want to buy from a company that believes what I believe.
In the mid 19th century, marketing was focused around the product. Get the product out there, get distribution and manufacturing right, promote the facts and features. Pretty much, the more advertising you did, the more sales you made.
Then, as competition heated up, those old ways started becoming less effective and marketers moved to customer focused marketing. Excellent customer service, customer focused products and thinking, CRMs, solving problems. Bringing emotion and feelings into the mix.
Today, we're now at the next level. We talk about tribes and making a difference in the world. About our values, our drivers and visions.
As we develop our businesses in today's market, it's becoming so important that we're clear about our values and vision. It's what has our customers flock to us, be loyal to us and support our growth. After all, if we're fulfilling on their common values and vision, why wouldn't they want us to grow? Simple really!
So the first step for our businesses is to determine... what ARE our values and vision? What difference are we making in the world?
It's no longer sufficient to provide a great product and a fantastic customer service. We have oodles of choice now, I want to buy from a company that believes what I believe.
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
The Dip
It's post 38 of my blog and I've begun to slow.
You may have noticed that my posts went from one a day down to one or two a week.
I don't have enough time. I'm distracted with other things. The blog isn't a high priority. I can't think of anything to write about.
Those are the thoughts that come up and I know I've dropped into the dip. Or as the saying go, I've hit the wall.
It's at this point that many of us will give up. I've done it many times before - I'm very familiar with the dip. What I'll usually do here is listen to those reasons, justify them and give up. After all, I am too busy. I do have better things to do and I really don't have anything to write about.
So what am I going to do about that?
Not give in to my thoughts. After all, they're just thoughts born out of survival. I don't want to fail, I don't want to push beyond this point and find that I don't make it. I don't want to look bad. That's what my humanity wants to avoid.
To have a chance at success then is to continue to honour my future that I'm creating. This blog is integral to my future as a marketer.
This show will go on!
You may have noticed that my posts went from one a day down to one or two a week.
I don't have enough time. I'm distracted with other things. The blog isn't a high priority. I can't think of anything to write about.
Those are the thoughts that come up and I know I've dropped into the dip. Or as the saying go, I've hit the wall.
It's at this point that many of us will give up. I've done it many times before - I'm very familiar with the dip. What I'll usually do here is listen to those reasons, justify them and give up. After all, I am too busy. I do have better things to do and I really don't have anything to write about.
So what am I going to do about that?
Not give in to my thoughts. After all, they're just thoughts born out of survival. I don't want to fail, I don't want to push beyond this point and find that I don't make it. I don't want to look bad. That's what my humanity wants to avoid.
To have a chance at success then is to continue to honour my future that I'm creating. This blog is integral to my future as a marketer.
This show will go on!
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