Is your marketing an expense or an investment?

In other words, how do you view you marketing?

It is my opinion that when it comes to marketing it can be placed in both areas. This is because if you view your marketing as an investment you will think long term. That is if you market your business in a proper and consistent way. This proper and consistent way is all about introducing those potential clients to the benefits that you offer, as compared to your competition.

If still you view your marketing as only an expense, it means that you are not being effective at introducing the benefits that your business offers. You are probably promoting discounts or sales events in your advertising.

We all need to examine our marketing and decide if we are discounters or professionals.

What is your decision?

What is the hardest word to say?

Some people think it is the word ‘sorry’ as an old song proposed.

I believe it is the word ‘why’. Why would I say that? Oops I just used it! I believe the reason we don’t ask this small question is because we don’t want to find the real reasons behind decisions that have been made. If you ask the question why, it opens up new opportunities for discussion.

Isn’t discussion the best thing that happens in a person’s life? I believe it is, because when you understand what is going on in a person life you can form a bond and this bond can lead to many opportunities.

When can you start asking more questions, especially ‘why’?

Do you believe the only way to accomplish something is on your own?

I hope you aren’t trapped by this thinking.

I understand the ‘lone wolf’ concept, although I also believe that by working with others more ideas are created for the success of a venture.

When you work with others you have to develop a high level of trust. Some people say that is a hard thing to do. It may be. But think about it this way. If you hired these staff members, you must have seen some good qualities in them. If they are still working for you, they must still have these good qualities. So why not trust them?

Could it be that you just can’t let go of the control? If that is right, what can you do today to improve your own trust level?

Do you like to analyze everything in microscopic detail?

If you do, are you sure you are not over analyzing it?

My concerns are based on the saying ‘analysis to paralysis’. Sometimes in our lives we spend so much time analyzing something that we fail to take action. Has this ever happened to you? If so, you’ve got trapped by the ‘analysis to paralysis’ syndrome.

This syndrome can be fatal, as we don’t take enough action to create an impact in our business or our life. I believe the problem comes from being afraid of making a mistake. I also believe that mistakes are your greatest friends. I know that because if you learn from your mistakes you will grow as a person and you will also grow your business.

What action can you take today to grow your business, without over analyzing it?

Does change really annoy you?

If it does please read on!

Recently I saw a Honda ad from the early 1980’s. The ad had these words in it; ‘Imagine if we resisted change. Without it there would be no progress.’

The question I have for you is; do you like many of the advancements that have happened in your life? I haven’t met many people who didn’t like advancements. The problem I see is that people like change/advancements when they initiate it, but don’t like it when it is forced on them. So the challenge for us is the meaning that we give to the changes in our lives.

What can you do today to change the way you view change or advancement in your life?