I’m a big fan of Garrison Keillor and his radio show “Prairie Home Companion.” What is it that makes his listeners so loyal? Ask any of his 19,370 fans on Facebook and I bet they will agree it’s his mastery of story telling.
Some of the smartest ad campaigns have learned this lesson well. What dad can’t relate to Subaru’s “Baby Driver,” a story about the moment their “baby” drives the first time. Another favorite is an ad where Mark asks his girlfriend for a second chance using Google Chrome. Talk about viral marketing, this ad has gotten over 408,000 hits on YouTube since it first ran on TV. (if you haven’t seen it take a look...
My New Year's Resolution: Drop What's Not Working and Move On
"Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become." –Gandhi
Okay, I get that change is good but why is it so damn hard? For me, as well as many other small business owners, I struggle with making those tough decisions. Why? Because no one likes uncertainty – When we change, we are swimming in untested waters and that can feel unnerving.
This will be the second January that I plan to bring my team together to reflect on our previous year’s strategies and goals. Giant pads, post-it notes, and markers will surround us (and hopefully some pizza and beer). We will discuss our successes, failures, and what we can learn from them as we move forward. I try to share the ‘behind the scenes’ facts; the good, the bad, and the ugly! I feel strongly that everyone from administrators to designers brings their own unique perspectives and solutions to the table.
The idea, together we’ll create a road map for the year ahead. According to Jocelyn K. Glei, Editor-in-Chief of the 99%, “ Select 1-3 meaningful goals that will make an impact. When it comes to resolutions, research and experience show that you're much more likely to be successful if you: (1) lay out a small list of very specific goals, and (2) outline a clear plan of action to achieve them.” To that list I add my own (3) Drop what's not working and move on!
Finally, try to remember the upside to change, it stretches us and makes life just a little more interesting.
So what’s your 2012 business resolutions and your take on change?
