It’s hard to believe we’re at the end of another calendar year. I belong to a couple of different marketing organizations, and I’ve found that even though they work for different types of businesses, several of their members have formed common bonds to help each other find sales contacts.
I recently attended a meeting that featured a panel of marketing experts who shared some interesting (if scary) facts about some other industries that depend on people to travel, eat out, go to shows, and build and/or remodel houses, etc. This was an eye-opener for those whose focus had been centered on the challenges their own industries and businesses have been dealing with.
So what’s the bottom line message the experts are putting out there? “If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging!” Get over sulking. Quit dwelling on how bad this year was. Get a marketing plan written and in place for making next year the best ever. President Lyndon B. Johnson said, “Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” What better time to write a new plan or beef up an existing plan?
You may have heard the saying “timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.” Getting a well-thought-out marketing plan in place for the coming year is a great way to do a company’s rain dance.
Many of us need to find good ways to get more out of the hours available. December can find some of us wondering how we can get everything completed before the clock strikes 12 on the 31st. One of my friends is a “time-management guru” (I’m one of her “groupies), and she has some advice on improving one’s use of time during the business day.
Following are a few highlights:
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- Spend time like money (i.e., only on things that are important).
- Keep track of which daily routines/chores can be changed or eliminated.
- Outline topics for phone conversations so time doesn’t get lost.
- Go to work early and/or leave later than others so that you have some uninterrupted time to complete tasks.
- Discontinue unnecessary meetings.
- Use the 24-hour rule. Respond to mail, email, phone calls, etc., within 24 hours and get them off your radar.
- Don’t overdo planning.
- Think of waiting (in lines, driving in the slow lane, at an appointment) as a gift of time. Take advantage by doing some busywork that never seems to get done at the office. With the right equipment one can connect with clients, send email, and go online for information, all while waiting.
- Carry a small pad and pen everywhere. The best ideas come when least expected.
December finds us getting ready to turn the page at year’s end. We’re getting our goals and deadlines set for making winning New Year’s resolutions. My favorite “guru of winning,” Vince Lombardi, (well, c’mon, this is Packer country) believed in planning. He said, “To play with confidence, a team must feel that everything possible has been done to prepare it fully for the coming game. Nothing’s more important than that.”
Hope your year’s end is just what you’re planning for! Happy holidays!
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