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FCPNY
Serving free paper publishers, sales managers and salespeople in NY state

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Holding on can be dangerous

I learned a valuable business lesson today from my spiritual advisor.

I meet once a month with this person, and she is a pearl. If you don't have someone in your life who helps you keep yourself centered, whether you're a spiritual person or not, then find one right away. It helps, sometimes in aspects of your life that might first strike you as non-spiritual. Like marketing and advertising.

She related a story to me that was shared by a person who spoke at a conference she attended this summer. This was a Hopi tribal elder who taught this lesson by describing life as a very fast moving, deep river and we, of course, are all in the river. Where is the safe spot? Most people think it's close to shore where one could hold tight to solid ground and avoid drowning. But the river, like life today, moves so fast that those holding on to the edges are constantly buffeted and blasted by the force of the waves. Clawing away at the shore, fighting the inevitable flow is almost impossible. This causes pain, injury and fatigue. When the force of the current finally overwhelms you -- and it will -- you have no strength left to keep yourself afloat. The end is near for you.

The smart people let go of what they thought was safe and float out into the current, focusing on keeping their head above water and going with the flow. Be aware of those floating around you. Work with them, stick together and enjoy the ride. We all know life...pardon me, the river is not going to slow down; it's getting faster and faster every day. Not much we can do about it either, except to learn to work together and not fight the current. Use it to your advantage instead. Learn to swim in it, to use its force to move you ahead and you can be king (or queen) of the river, or at least your little part of it.

Apply the story. You can't keep doing what you've done in your marketing and expect to survive. Holding on will be the end of you. Embrace the new technologies and learn how to make the existing media work better for you in today's fast paced and sometimes troubled waters. Work with other partners who are moving in the river and can help you negotiate the rapids and falls. That's where we come in. Drop us a note if you would like to have a no obligation chat on improving your marketing plan, the one we can specifically build for you. Call us at 315-472-7825 or e-mail us at info@scotsmanmediagroup.com