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1/4/2009 - President's Letter
Getting Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed
by Greg Olson
I have the pleasure of being President of an amazing association, Your Colorado Business Marketing Association. Our programs and membership continue to impress me. We all wish we had a crystal ball telling us the story of 2009 and how the economy will affect each of us. I will not try to predict the end to a downturned economy or give you the top marketing tips you must know for the New Year. BUT - I will give you my top 10 ideas to help you navigate the daily pessimism that creeps so quickly into our minds.
1. Bad news always makes the front page:
I do get tired of reading the newspaper. Most of the news is going to be bad news. We all know people that are losing their jobs, companies that are struggling and it is stressful. However reading your version of the daily downer will not help you keep positive. I like to start and end each day with reading motivational quotes. It may sound corny but it does work. What you think both consciously and sub consciously is what you end up believing.
2. Waking up on the wrong side of the bed:
How many times a week does this happen to you? Make it a point to go to bed positive knowing the next day is going to be better than today.
3. Change is one constant:
Good marketers always realize change will happen and everything is in constant motion. What have you done lately to improve yourself daily to keep up with the constant change?
4. Smile and say hi to a stranger:
Do you walk down the street and just look at all the cracks in the side walk? Stop doing that, look strangers in the eye, smile and say hi.
5. Shovel your neighbors walk:
I live in a great old neighborhood. There is one older couple who can’t shovel their walk and their property is about 39 feet wide. It amazes me that the neighbors on either side of them have never pushed their shovel an inch past their property line.
6. Read something funny:
Some of us have seen the movie Patch Adams, about a Doctor who treated patients with laughter. It really does help to laugh.
7. Walk a different walk:
Our lives our too busy, we get up and rush around getting ready for work, we rush to work, stop at Starbucks, rush through line, walking quickly while staring at the cracks in the sidewalk (See item 4). Try taking a different route to work. Go to a different park or walk through a new neighborhood and take in the sites. It really makes a difference to try new things.
8. Have a world view:
I have been fortunate to work with global companies and travel the world. I have visited many places and was taken back by all the poverty. Having a view about what else is going on in the world will keep you centered and help you realize how thankful you can be for all that you have.
9. One day to live:
A friend of mine recently gave me a printout that had one question. What would you do if you had one day to live? I try to be optimistic and positive every day knowing that something could fall out of the sky and stop me from being upset about my incorrect Starbucks order. What would you do if you had one day to live?
10. Bumper sticker motivation:
One of my favorite bumper stickers stated: “Commit Random Acts of Kindness”. If you make it your goal to commit daily acts of kindness you will feel better and the good karma of the world will reign down on you.
Happy New Year and I will see you at an upcoming event.
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