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11 Things You Can Do to Help Make 2011 a Successful Year

No one can do everything, but everyone can do something to improve their marketing, their community and their lives. Here are eleven things you can do to help make Twenty-Eleven a successful year.
1. ATTEND BRAND CAMP. Meet three times with key staffers to discuss your brand and your position in the market. Don’t sugarcoat it. Be honest. First meeting: Identify your position. Second meeting: Determine what the best position is. Third meeting: Discuss how to get there.
2. GO TO LUNCH at least once a week, all month. Meet with a customer one week, a prospect the next, a supplier after that and an employee you don’t know well after that. No pitch, no presentation. Get to know the person and their needs.
3. READ. READ. READ. Set aside time to catch up with the industry and the latest trends. Today you need only travel as far as your computer to keep up with what’s
going on.
4. WRITE. WRITE. WRITE. The art of writing may seem lost, but the person who can express himself or herself with the written word will usually succeed. Write a note or email that summarizes your thoughts about a client or customer’s situation.
5. CALL YOUR MOTHER or your father, son, daughter, uncle, aunt, niece or nephew. They love you and want to hear from you. What are you waiting for?
6. FIND AND SHARE IDEAS. You don’t need to write a blog or newsletter to stay in front of clients and prospects. When you see an idea that makes sense for some customers, send it to them via email, mail or hand delivery. You don’t need to rewrite it. Just forward it. You don’t have to think of every idea, but share what you find if it benefits your customer.
7. ATTEND A COUNCIL MEETING. Attend one or two city council or trustee meetings each quarter. How can you complain about your community if you don’t stay informed and make your own decisions?
8. DO THE RIGHT THING, even if it’s more difficult. I never regret doing the right thing long-term. Instead of asking what you GET — ask what you can GIVE.
9. BE AN EXAMPLE. Don’t just “set an example,” be one. Managers tell people what to do. Leaders demonstrate how it should be done.
10. PRACTICE MAKING PROGRESS. l often forget how I picked up things from practice when l was young. Guitar. Football. Writing. Practice never made me perfect, but it helped me make progress. If you are not good at a certain aspect of your job or life, don’t throw in the towel. Note where you are now, set a goal, and work at getting better. You will get better at almost anything if you practice.
11. TAKE IT EASY. I worry about the slacker in my workaholic brain. I fear if I slow down, the slacker will take over. But when I do slow down, breathe and relax, I find I can focus and perform better. You will too.

Stay Tuned and Stay Smart

About The Author

  • Author | George Farris
George Farris is CEO and Senior Brand Coach at Farris Marketing. Connect with George on LinkedIn using the icons above.

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