About a decade ago I bought a book that was sitting on a bookstore’s “bargain” shelf calling my name. “The Happiness Makeover: How to Teach Yourself to Be Happy and Enjoy Every Day,” by M. J. Ryan, had such a profound impact on my personal happiness that it was quite literally $5 that changed my life.
The book is about changing your perspective, and recognizing and eliminating the unproductive/unhelpful thought patterns and beliefs that block you from experiencing happiness (i.e., “happiness blockers”). Much of the advice, I’ve realized, can be applied to the marketing world as well.
What are the underlying perspectives and beliefs shaping your approach to marketing? If you’re not achieving the results you want, it could be that you’re creating “success blockers” that get in the way of your success. For example…
Do you keep in mind that everyone wants to be happy?
Your marketing materials must communicate to your prospective customers how your products will solve their problems, meet their needs or improve their lives. In other words, how you will contribute to their happiness.
Have you figured out what really matters to your company?
What does your brand stand for? What are your most important marketing goals, and what are you doing to achieve them? Don’t let lesser issues distract you from focusing on the things that matter most.
Are you wasting time focusing on the closed door?
The best sales people are particularly adept at getting past the “gate keepers” who stand in their way. If one door closes, they try another. Marketing can be the same way. If, for example, a particular marketing campaign fails, learn from it and then try something else (i.e. a “different door”).
Have you accepted the fact that life isn’t fair?
Stuff happens. Clients go out of business without paying their bills, employees quit, the world economy plunges into the Great Recession as soon as you launch your business (this is what happened to me), etc. Don’t let thoughts of “how unfair it all is” stop you from moving ahead with your plans anyway.
Are you letting perfectionism get in your way?
There’s an old adage that says that “perfect is the enemy of done.” As a marketing content writer I’ve seen clients get caught up in countless revisions trying to make a website or brochure “perfect.” The reality is, nothing is ever perfect. At some point it needs to be “good enough.”