There are things that work and many more that don't. Let's discuss what we've experienced . . . not our opinions . . . but actually what our days and nights as marketers, business leaders, parents, people are teaching us. Please give us a hand. Tell us about your experience with this stuff.

Friday, June 3, 2011

What Makes a Difference?

I'm constantly haunted by this: don't mistake the urgent for the needed, the activity for the value, the short term for the future, intensity for commitment.

We see it in day to day work.

If we're busy, then we often think it is a good day. And emtionally, that's certainly better for most of us than not being busy. But if you put enough low-value, reactive days together, one finds that very little real progress is being made. And it can be demoralizing.

If you look at your business or career and realize that you are doing the exact same thing you were doing five years ago, then you better be a professional whose market isn't changing or whose expertise doesn't require evolving (yeah, I know there isn't one).

On the other hand if you are like me and not independently wealthy, then you have to take the time to review what you are doing, how you are doing it and how you can truly make a difference for the people you work for and the people who work for you.

Its there; that difference to make is there. And I assure you that you are sharp enough to see it and move that direction. Just give yourself a chance. Because the math is clear; either we find a way to evolve and make a differnce or guess what? We just don't really matter. And that's usually not acceptable to our firm or to our own conscience.

If you need one, here's a starting point. In the next one-on-one meeting ask the person what would make a difference in their professional life. Explore it together.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Want an easier professional ride? Know Thyself

Make it easy for yourself. Be clear on what you bring to the table and what you have yet to develop.

You have some very specific experiences that make you a valuable contributor. Do enough thinking, talking to someone who knows you, writing your list of accomplishments (real things; not puffery) and then use these as your filter to understand where you fit.

Doesn't mean you won't be learning new things and having new experiences. (For most of my career I defined that equation as growth and used it to measure the value of my current job.)

But the point is to know when to be aggressive with your opinions (based on your experience; and please express it that way) and when to listen, observe and learn.

The math here is to always be aggressive with your efforts; just know when you have something to say and when you don't. Check your experience list and you'll know.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Building social media relationships requires multiple access points

For many practioners of social media marketing, a frustration level is often reached as they find their efforts going unrewarded in terms of recognition, interaction, and in the end, no new relationships.

This problem is as old as marketing itself. And for those who feel challenged, Sales Media Marketing Magazine recently ran a piece I wrote for them which provided a simple case study of how its been done over the years. My aim was to get us to focus on the listener, not the tools nor ourselves and consider what is needed to provide a continuum of access points for potential listeners.

Here it is; see what you think:
Building social media relationships requires multiple access points: From Social Media Magazine:

Monday, January 24, 2011

The Evolution of Legal Marketing

The more things change, the more they stay the same? Yes and certainly no.

I actually find cycles to be a bit more helpful in understanding the way things are working at any moment in time. Businesses, relationships, organizations go through predictable cycles given their internal and external challenges and goals.

Anywho, HubbardOne was foolish enough to ask me to talk about where I think law firm marketing / business development organizations are for 2011. Here's my thoughts:



One says a lot of stuff. But for me an organization's ability to say 'yes' to big strategic ideas which can make a difference (and most of the time have no historical basis in the organization) may be the most important attribute to have for 2011.

Oh and the more you say yes to these, the fewer resources you have to do lower value, legacy activity (certainly there is high value, legacy activity that you do as well). Gives you an inherent tool for saying 'no': 'no, we don't have any budget for that'; 'no, the Board has told us to concentrate our people resources over here instead'.

Hope your 2011 is starting off well and you are getting to 'yes' on some things that will make a difference.