“Foreground”
January is a study in the beautiful glories of gray. And the subtle promises of Spring.
field guide
Courage: Where Am I?
Ever have one of those days when you look around you and say, “where am I?” I don’t even recognize this place. I don’t recognize MYSELF in this place. HOW did I get here?
2010 was filled with lots of those days for me.
For the last couple of years, I’ve chosen a “theme word” for myself in January rather than laboring over the typical new year’s resolutions. The goal was to adopt a single word (a concept) I wanted to explore and magnify in my life for the coming year. The word represented something I needed or wanted to develop, a new area of growth for myself sought out in words and action.
The theme word for 2010 was Courage. As soon as I began the process of choosing a word–as soon as I even had the thought, really–I knew that Courage was the one for 2010. I had reached a point of intersection in several areas of my life. An intersection where the day-to-day realities of living didn’t match the hopes and dreams I was banking on. An intersection where I saw a Haley I never wanted to be, a Haley I felt sold myself short, a Haley uncomfortable in her own skin and yet oddly complacent in that covering. An intersection of which I had become undeniably aware. And, no matter the level of distraction I infused in my life, that awareness couldn’t be denied. And, it seemed that every action and every thought begged the question, “where am I?”
So, Courage jumped to the forefront of my mind. If those life realities weren’t the authentic life of meaning I needed–demanded–for myself, then something had to change. I had to learn confidence and courage. I had to develop the courage to make changes, to take actions, to form new habits, to move. Away from this intersection in a new direction.
Easier said than done sometimes. For we are indelibly mired in our own skin and the trappings of our own making and choosing.
I thought 2010 would be about action. About brave acts of throwing off the bindings. About rejecting foolishness. About having the courage to stand up for myself and my gifts, the courage to create that life of meaning in concrete ways. About the courage to act. And it was to a degree. Still, I reached December with a decidedly uninspired mindset. For all the blessings and accomplishments of 2010, I saw the year as one of failure in many ways. I surveyed the landscape of my life and found the same intersection. The same frustration with the self I saw in the mirror. The same discrepancies between all that looming potential and the nut and bolts realities. What had happened to my courage?
I couldn’t even begin to think about a theme word for 2011. But then, as the evaluations of last year began to sink in, I started to realize something. 2010 WAS a year of courage for me. Perhaps not the “charging the hill” type of bravery the term immediately calls to mind, but courage none-the-less. Last year’s courage involved counting costs. It involved the sometimes painful commitment to look at myself squarely in the face and recognize that I wasn’t the person I wanted to be. It involved an undaunted gaze at my own life situations, recognizing the areas where I had willingly given over control and wisdom and compliance where it shouldn’t be. It was a courage of realization. The courage to recognize and accept. And it isn’t always fun.
Counting the cost takes courage. Taking stock of what your choices are costing you, what they are costing what is most precious to you, is not for the faint of heart. And admitting I’ve been more than willing to pay for everything that cost me dearly has been downright debilitating at times. Taking a close look at my own part in the hard situations I see around me–in that intersection–isn’t easy. But, it’s a necessary first step to having the courage to act.
Having the courage to step forward or step back often begins with accepting that you brought your own self to this unknown place. That courage to look at our own flaws and diminishing tendencies without blinking is a prerequisite to the courage required for change, for action. It’s the kind of courage that throws off distorted views and watered down visions. It’s a clarifying courage, one that puts questions more easily into perspective. It’s a courage that imbues each small step with more as we see that person begin to become more in line with who we know we need to be.
I’m realizing my work in courage isn’t done. It may never be done, but at this intersection, a new measure of courage is certainly required. And I’m ready to see where this new courage can take me. So, I’m continuing my theme of courage for 2011. I imagine some of the essays on the subject will be a little more personal in nature, perhaps a little more raw. Following through with courage tends to do that. I hope you’ll hang in here with me as you seek out areas of courage in your own life this year.
signs . Magee, MS No.2
I’m making my way through the archives in my collection of “vernacular” type — or hand-painted letters and signage. It’s a secret obsession of mine that I’ve been slowly sharing on Plop! Clearly, “decay” isn’t limited to the urban environment, but you have to admire the efforts in repurposing in RaDonna’s signage.
Top 10 Marketing Moves for 2011 (part 2)
I still can’t believe we’re already ten days into 2011. Can you? Sometimes I think it’s easy to let January slip by us as we settle back into normal routines after holiday fun and traveling. It’s easy to do with the marketing efforts as well. I don’t want to do that! I want to begin right now taking 2011 by storm. Last week I shared the first half of my top 10 recommended Marketing Moves for 2011. Some of those recommendations, like an effective logo and a solid website, took business promotional efforts back to the basics. Some moves, like a “yes” mentality and a well-told story, were more toward the mindset variety in re-evaluating how we see the experience of our customers and how we communicate our story. For the second half of my list, I’ve included a few “essentials” that have made a big difference in my own marketing efforts as well as some that my clients are using.
6. Facebook Page — Yeah, I know. Why do I need a Facebook Page? I get that question a lot from both clients and colleagues. I also field a lot of questions about whether Facebook can be an effective marketing tool for a variety of businesses beyond the restaurant or retail sector. My answer is yes. And, I’ve included it as an “essential” because of how important it’s been in my own efforts to get the word out about a new company in the service industry called Small Pond Graphics. My business FB page has been invaluable in raising awareness among my existing network of colleagues and friends about my new business venture as well as in opening up opportunities for new business. And I don’t sell any specific products or make any widgets. My largest target audience is business-to-business, and FB has still given me solid marketing leads. That’s because every clientele whether direct consumers or business-to-business is made up of people. People want to work with people they know and people they feel they can make a direct connection with. Facebook provides that opportunity without the constraints of location.
7. A (Flexible) Plan — One of the biggest mistakes I see customers make in their promotional efforts is embarking on a marketing program without a clear plan. A clear plan requires setting goals that are specific and attainable, choosing marketing venues that match goals with the appropriate target audience, and executing the logistics effectively. If that plan isn’t in place, then you have no basis for determining whether marketing opportunities have the juice to make an impact on your bottom line. But, having a plan doesn’t mean being rigid. If you maintain a level of flexibility in your plans, you can keep a portion of your efforts (translation: your time and your budget) open for creative ideas or options that come along unexpectedly.
8. Multi-media Approach — Because your target audience absorbs information from many “channels” it’s important to consider relaying your marketing message in multiple channels as well. Yes, limiting your marketing venues to one place–a single brochure, just a website, or one print media outlet–can offer some exposure. But, repeating your message with a multi-media approach has exponential value in making a marketing impact. As you are making your marketing plan, consider overlapping messages through several channels like email campaigns, website features, social media as well as print media and face-to-face encounters.
9. Customer Database — Consumers today have an expectation that businesses and organizations are ready to make it personal when communicating their messages. Plus, potential clients have so many message flung their way that only the ones that are most immediate and most personal tend to rise above the fray. The starting point of meeting the new realities of customer interaction is developing a customer database. Gathering and categorizing information about your individual customers allows you to communicate with them consistently and in a meaningful way. It’s as simple as that. Start gathering email addresses, physical addresses and even information like birthdays and purchasing preferences today.
10. Partnerships — This particular marketing move has proven to be a very successful and inspiring effort for Small Pond Graphics over the last six months. That’s why I encourage it as an essential marketing move. It’s easy to think of your business as a lone wolf. But, those days are over. Conducting business focused on protecting yourself and your own control of the customer experience is outdated in today’s marketing climate. Partnering with other businesses you admire and respect can open up great opportunities for growth. Well-placed partnerships and collaboration allow you to expand your service offerings AND your customer base. Plus, I’ve found that working with smart people makes me smarter . Working with other creative people makes me more creative. It’s a win-win.
As my thinking on some of these 10 essential Marketing Moves grows, I plan to share a few more specific posts on their effectiveness as well as some stories from my own experience about their importance. Meanwhile, choose one and get started with making 2011 great for your marketing efforts!
photo 010711 . Sing
“Sing!”
I took this picture last April. This little guy was making a ruckus outside my office window when I worked for Dux D’Lux Advertising and I was able to get a few shots. At the time, I wrote about him in this post over at EyeJunkie.com. My favorite part about this view is the fluffy feathers all mussed in his mid-song flutter. I guess sometimes that happens when you Sing!