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September 2012
How often do you think about something you really want to do and then postpone it?
In many cultures, the New Year brings with it New Year resolutions. The Jewish New Year (5773) starts next week. Being Jewish and having grown up in England means I allow myself to make New Year Resolutions on Rosh Hashanah – and then re-examine them towards the beginning January of the next Gregorian year. That way – I can adjust and fine-tune accordingly.
This past year has been extremely busy – especially workwise. As a freelancer that is good news! However, it is easy to lose a balanced perspective of work/life/family, especially when committed to providing top-notch services to my clients.
My resolution for this coming year is to actively work on that balance. Planned action: see more of my family and close friends I miss. To actually meet up with them and not just talk about it.
So having successfully marketed the idea to myself (and it wasn’t easy persuading myself) the goal has been set. I started by meeting up with my one and only favourite brother, Damien, for a coffee yesterday evening. We haven’t met up “one-on-one” for ages, just because of regular, day-to-day stuff: kids, work… It was great to sit and chat. This morning, I phoned two of my closest friends and colleagues, and agreed to set a “once-a-month” meeting to exchange ideas, support each other in our businesses and be there for each other. It’s already in my calendar with a note to myself not to cancel. What’s all this got to do with marketing you may ask? Marketing starts by asking questions and deciding what you want to do – and what you need to do – in order to achieve your goals. You then need to find the right messaging, communication channels and appropriate audience to pitch to – in order to support your goals. Once you commit to your goals “out-loud” and in public, you create expectations and hopefully anticipation.
Now – all you need to do is meet those expectations, achieving your goals along the way.  So – that’s what I did today. I marketed the idea to myself – having checked that it should have a positive effect on both my business and life in general. Knowing that I’m a tough boss to myself, I knew a “public” commitment to my friends and family (in addition to myself), should be an enabler. Channels selected included personal one-on-one meetings, email, telephone calls and the Internet. If you are reading this, then you are part of the audience I’m targeting, and committing to, so I thank you. Why don't you consider something you'd like to do and resolve to do it? Carpe Diem I would like to wish you a Shana Tova, and hope you will join me in wishing everyone around the world a Happy, Peaceful, Healthy and Prosperous New year, regardless of when you celebrate your own new year.
I dedicate this post to the memory of Stewart Benson, a dear family friend, who passed away last week, at far too young an age. (April 1963-September 2012)
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