by Miriam Hara | Oct 27, 2015 | Business Success, Communications, Latest, Management
A company without a social media presence is almost unheard of today. Consumers expect brands to be on social media. New Social Media Research Shows What People Expect from Brands. Are you prepared for the commitment? Are you making the time or do you begrudge the time spent on creating and maintaining a social media presence? Think your social media commitment is killing your company’s overall productivity?
Control your productivity: It’s about managing the day instead of the day managing you.
I run an advertising agency. Every day has priorities but within those priorities there are continuous moving parts that must be addressed in a timely manner. A social media presence is one of those moving parts. Business is not always about multitasking, it’s also about fluidity, responding smoothly and appropriately to situations and not being bottle necked by the myriad of details. It’s about making split-second decisions on whether to expedite, deal with, or delete. It’s about managing the day, instead of the day managing you. Within that framework comes managing your social media commitment.
You have to make time for social. You have to assign the people. If you begrudge the time it takes to create and maintain your social media presence then you have to change your thinking. If you can’t be joyous, then at least be jovial about this social investment. Approach it in the spirit of good fellowship. Social media is not a tangible asset; it’s intangible, but just as important as all of the other intangible assets that make up your business’s identity — your brand, your logo, your reputation. In today’s business climate social media is about social good will. It’s the warm and fuzzy aspect of business. A business without good will? We all know what happens to businesses that don’t nurture good will.
It helps to think of social media as a customer.
It helps to think of social media as a customer. Would you allow a relationship with one customer to suffer because you were spending all your time on another customer? What would happen? Would you ignore your Accounts Receivable because you didn’t have the time to follow up? Would you forget about Accounts Payable? Would you put pitching for new business on the back burner because you’re too busy servicing the customers you already have? This last is a common problem with small businesses — finding the time to get out there and land new accounts! Same with social media, for many of you it’s a question of time and how to manage your social media commitment.
Social is a demanding customer. It vies for your attention. It sucks up your time. It expects creativity. It costs you money … so plan for productivity!
Yes, social is a demanding customer. It vies for your attention. It sucks up your time. It expects creativity. It costs you money — you’re paying someone on staff (maybe more than one person) to deal with it and often those people have other responsibilities, too. Their productivity suffers. Maybe you’re dealing with social media activity yourself and as the business owner your own productivity is suffering. So how do you deal with demanding customers? Every so often in business you get one. A customer has hired you as the expert, to help them, but they’re just not listening to you. You’re putting extensive time and effort into the relationship, but the payback currently isn’t there. You see no promise or value in the long-term proposition. No business wants to lose a customer, but sometimes you have to let one go. But not social media. That’s one customer you can’t afford to let go … so plan for productivity!
Like many things in life, changing your thinking can change the outcome.
Like many things in life, changing your thinking can change the outcome. Try thinking about social as a customer. Accept that it’s a time-gobbling client, but worth the effort because the rewards are there. Accept that the return on your investment won’t be felt immediately, but when done right, it will be felt. Be patient. Remember, the currency you’re dealing in is good will. Do what you do with all other aspects of your business — plan for it. A good social media presence doesn’t require an enormous budget and if you plan for it, the time spent on it becomes purposeful.
While good will can’t be quantifiably measured, it won’t be difficult to measure your productivity, and ultimately the success of your business, without it.
While good will can’t be quantifiably measured it won’t be difficult to measure your productivity, and ultimately the success of your business, without it. Social media is about creating good will. Without good will, productivity issues will be the least of your worries. Repeat customers, new customers, brand loyalty and affection for your brand. Good will plays a role in all of it.
For more about productivity, read our previous blog, ‘Productivity: Write this Down’.
Get tips on building your social media presence and great content with two of our free downloadable e-books, ‘Social Media Understood’ and ‘Content Creation Understood’.
Keep in touch! #SharedWisdom
by Joyce Turner-Gionet | Sep 30, 2015 | Business Success, Interactive, Latest, Marketing
“On the Journey of Learning.”
I saw this tagline (above) on a big yellow school bus passing me on the highway through Toronto. It’s a beautiful line.
Learning is a journey. If we’re open to it and up for the adventure, it can be a tremendously satisfying lifelong learning journey, with plenty of personal benefits, besides the knowledge we gain.
… when’s the last time you went out of your way to learn something?
The kids have been back in school almost a month now, but what about the rest of us? Are we still on the journey of lifelong learning or did we hop off the bus somewhere en route? When’s the last time you learned something new? More precisely, when’s the last time you went out of your way to learn something?
I’m not talking strictly about job-related learning here, although that’s a wise pursuit that can pay off in spades. I’m also talking about lifelong learning for the sheer joy of it.
Some of us embrace learning? For others, it’s a chore! As kids we naturally love to learn. Think of the number of times you’ve heard a child ask the question: “Why?” Why are there no more dinosaurs? How big is the tooth fairy, why can’t I see her and what does she do with all the teeth? Why are the neighbours’ kids allowed to stay up later than me? Why? Why? Why? Somewhere along the way, many of us lose this ravenous curiosity. Obviously, it’s not because we know everything. Mostly it’s because we get busy. Other, equally important things take up our time: our families, our friends, our jobs, our outside commitments, keeping up with the demands of the day-to-day, our health, even our worries. In our quiet times, learning something new is not often high on the priority list.
Many creative types embrace lifelong learning; it’s part of their nature …
If you’re from a family of learners, it helps. If, as a child, your curiosity was encouraged and your questions respected and answered, it sets you up to be eternally curious and lifelong learning follows naturally. Many creative types embrace lifelong learning; it’s part of their nature — they’re open to new experiences, they think outside of the box, they ask questions, they’re naturally curious.
18 things highly creative people do differently
If you work in the marketing field, you will fully appreciate just how critical it is for you to be open to lifelong learning. Take a year, 6 months or even a few weeks off and something changes, updates, evolves or a completely new social media platform arrives on the scene! Blink and you miss it! Look at the rapid evolution that has taken place in digital marketing alone. Once upon a time, in the olden days (ooh, maybe 5 years ago) digital marketing and social media were considered specialist areas. Now ‘digital’ is a key element in any marketing and communications strategy. It’s our professional responsibility to keep ourselves up to date and relevant as much as we can in order to provide informed, educated guidance to our clients.
We’re never too old to learn and it’s never too late.
My father never touched a computer, but he read the paper, front to back, daily, until just before he died at 89. A world traveller as a young man, he continued to scour the atlas, look up facts in his beloved Pears’ Cyclopaedia and was always up for the challenge of a cryptic crossword. A few years ago, a good friend of mine was in the late stages of cancer. She too was a seasoned traveller and the most committed and eclectic lifelong learner I’ve ever met. She researched constantly for pleasure, taught herself a number of languages and like my dad, could hold an intelligent, thoughtful conversation on a great many subjects. She called me late one night from the palliative care ward in Sunnybrook Hospital: “I feel out of touch with the world. I need to research. Can you bring me a laptop.” That conversation has stayed with me; it remains inspirational. We’re never too old to learn and it’s never too late.
It’s not important what we learn. It’s not important how we learn, because we all learn differently.
The 7 styles of learning: Which works for you?
What’s important is that we continue to learn. It helps to surround yourself with people who like to learn. Lifelong learning is intensely, personally satisfying. It increases our confidence. It makes us more interesting as people; we become better conversationalists. It keeps us in touch with what’s going on in the world. It helps sharpen our thought process. Studies reveal that learning can keep us healthier; it can elevate our mood and make us happier and help stave off illness, particularly age-related illness like Altzheimer’s. 10 benefits of lifelong learning.
The greatest thinkers, people whose ideas change the world, embrace lifelong learning.
A little ‘lifelong learning’ inspiration:
“In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”
– Eric Hoffer (American moral and social philosopher)
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
– Mahatma Gandhi (Leader of the Indian Independence movement)
“The best way of learning about anything is by doing.”
– Richard Branson (Humanitarian and founder of the Virgin Group. Interesting fact: Battled with dyslexia, a reading disability.)
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
– Benjamin Franklin (A founding father of The United States of America; helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.)
This one is a particularly interesting comment on learning: “It is what we know already that often prevents us from learning.”
– Claude Bernard (French physiologist, responsible for the concept of homeostasis.)
It’s the start of a new school year for the kids. What about the rest of us? What are we going to learn this year? I’m a foodie. On a personal level, I’ve promised myself I’ll learn more about herbs and spices and which ones work best with which foods!
Tell me what you’re learning. #SharedWisdom
by Joyce Turner-Gionet | Sep 9, 2015 | Agency, Branding, Business Success, Communications, Creative, Design, Interactive, Latest, Marketing, Social Media
Rah-Rah, Google! Give us an ‘E’ (but make it crooked!).
Gotta LOVE that crooked ‘e’ in the new Google logo. It’s so Google! Irrepressible, playful. I hear it’s annoying people. They want to straighten it. Personally, I think it’s perfect. Think about it. Leaving the ‘e’ crooked speaks volumes about Google’s personality.
Not everyone agrees with me, Twitter Users Think Google Copied Heineken with its new logo’s crooked ‘e’ (Google kind of admits it.)
All done in house, the rebranding is a composite of three elements: the word mark, a four-colour ‘G’ monogram and animated dots that represent the Google search engine in ‘thinking’ mode. For those who’ve been under a rock, or enjoying the last days of summer up at the cottage, here it is:
New Google Logo
New Google Dots
New Google Monogram
Here’s a reminder of the old Google logo:
1999 – 2015
Here are some Google logo ideas that presumably didn’t make the cut
Here’s why Google did the rebranding …
Says Google … (from the official Google blog)
“So why are we doing this now? Once upon a time, Google was one destination that you reached from one device: a desktop PC. These days, people interact with Google products across many different platforms, apps and devices—sometimes all in a single day. You expect Google to help you whenever and wherever you need it, whether it’s on your mobile phone, TV, watch, the dashboard in your car, and yes, even a desktop!
Today we’re introducing a new logo and identity family that reflects this reality and shows you when the Google magic is working for you, even on the tiniest screens.
Read everything Google said …
Are we impressed?
I asked a few graphic gurus and marketing types across the industry for their opinion on the rebranding:
“Google, with an upper case G … it’s all grown up!”
“The lower case (previous) logo was approachable. With this new logo, Google has maintained its approachability, but made it more mature. More established. The colours and the playfulness with the dots has added to its “fun” nature … almost showcasing its “magic”. Turning questions into a found result. The use of an uncluttered, streamlined font adds to the contemporary nature … the G, unencumbered, is almost futuristic.
More importantly, I love the Alphabet name … the idea. It’s the basis of communications. With letters and building blocks, imaginations soar. What else can we develop? Where else can we go? It offers the ability of each letter to have its significant place in the sun!”
– Miriam H, Chief Creative Officer at 3H
“… suits their position as a search engine (wayfinding system)”
“Overall, it’s a thumbs up from me. The font they used is called Product Sans and was one they created specifically for the new logo and overall rebranding with the animated dots and icons. Similar to the new-ish Twitter icon, it was (mostly) created using only circles and semi-circles. I think it has a much more ‘current’ feel and suits their position as a search engine (wayfinding system).”
– Lindsay S, Senior Graphic Designer
“They’re still leading the way, now with their very own font.”
“It has retained its simple look and colour palette, while bringing a more accessible and contemporary feel. The font also has a uniqueness, a quirkiness, which demonstrates Google’s lighthearted, forward-thinking approach. They’re still leading the way, now with their very own font.”
– Jayne B, Integrated Marketing Manager
“fun and playful”
“I loved the way they presented it, the animation is fun and playful. I like the sans serif font more than the previous serif font. They’ve had the same logo for a long time. The previous logo was dated and the trend is towards sans serif fonts. Nice and chunky. It was a smart move since Google is now owned by Alphabet company. A new beginning for Google and the new logo is a great start.”
– Craig C, Senior Graphic Designer & Mixed Media Artist
“Just another logo”
“Just another logo. Cultural relevance? There’s a lot of talk about this, but I really don’t think it changes much.”
– Jason H, Photographer
“… reminiscent of the avant garde style of the TTC subway signs that came out in the 1950s”
“The new direction of the Google logo makes it easier to display on smaller devices, the switch from a serif to sans serif will make displaying on smaller screens much cleaner and simpler, it will also scale nicely. The thickness also lends itself to displaying more clearly on mobile screens. The change in the Google Icon, the New “G”, now reinforces the colour coding that Google has progressively moved towards, so now even the icon hints towards the growing suite of properties and product offerings. It seems to be a successful step in streamlining the branding of the complete picture of essential elements that Google is trying to put forward. I find it clean, modern and simple, reminiscent of the avant garde style of the TTC subway signs that came out in the 1950s and are still used for everything in the TTC Subway System. I like it.”
– Kyle M, Digital Designer
“Google’s big enough to be brave”
“Rebranding is never easy. You can’t please everyone and it always opens you up to negativity, particularly for a global giant like Google. Not everyone likes change but Google’s big enough to be brave. The clean, linear font ties in beautifully with the Alphabet name that came out of the overhaul of Google’s corporate structure. The company’s new url abc.xyz gave me a chuckle. Nice, clean, modern logo.”
– Mark A, Marketing, PR & Social Media Consultant
“It’s not a WOW logo, but …”
“It’s simple. The colours are very basic. It’s not a WOW logo, but I think that’s the way it should be for Google. Google is not just a company name, it’s a verb, it’s part of our culture. The logo doesn’t need to be beautiful, it needs to be recognizable and it still is. Just like ‘Google Doodles’, the logo gets changed in those but we always recognize it.”
– Yukari Y, Senior Designer
What do YOU think of the new Google logo? Does the crooked ‘e’ bug you? Let me know!
A HISTORY, FROM A TO … no Z, because Google is far from finished changing the world:
From Gizmodo … The Evolution of Google’s Iconic Logo
From Time Magazine … A History of Google Doodles
by Miriam Hara | Sep 1, 2015 | Agency, Business Success, Communications, Latest, Management, Marketing, Problem Solving
What is common sense? How important is it in business?
In business, I believe knowledge and experience make for common sense. If you don’t have both, you’re working from opinion. Common sense is a way of thinking, based on what you know for sure.
You might have heard your grandmother say: “that girl is full of common sense.” She meant it as a compliment. The “she” grandma was referring to was a highly practical gal, or in today’s speak, someone who exercised good sense and sound judgement that consistently led to sound outcomes. Chances are this gal was working from what she knew for sure.
It’s called common sense because, supposedly, it’s common to all of us.
It’s called common sense because, supposedly, it’s common to all of us. That’s debatable, since we all do things that don’t make any sense. We spend too much, text while driving, drive over the speed limit, eat a second piece of cheesecake even though we’re on a diet, procrastinate on a project, delay backing up our phone or PC and ignore our doctor’s advice. More than likely, as most of us are doing these things, we know they don’t make sense, but we throw caution to the wind and do them anyway. (Just for fun, take the quiz at the end of this blog if you want to to test your common sense.)
Despite what we might think, common sense is not necessarily linked to a high IQ.
Every day we hear something, read something or see something, that doesn’t make common sense. Politics can be a minefield of questionable sense. Government decisions on how our money should be spent are no different. (For an eye opener, on common sense gone MIA (Missing in Action), check out the 2015 17th Annual Teddy Government waste award winners) It’s the same in business. Business leaders regularly exercise good judgement as well as poor judgement; decisions rooted in common sense or resulting from the lack of it. Despite what we might think, common sense is not necessarily linked to a high IQ.
Not all people with common sense are forward thinkers.
In business we use common sense daily, to prioritize. It’s our way of connecting the dots to business preservation. Business thinkers who connect the dots can be forward thinkers, the surest route to business success. That doesn’t mean all forward thinkers have common sense. And not all people with common sense are forward thinkers.
In business you must constantly assess situations. Common sense helps out here too. It allows us to avoid stressful situations. When we are in an unavoidable situation, we can use common sense to negotiate a way out. The more experience I have, the more common sense I accumulate. Was I born with the inclination for common sense? I repeat: I think it’s learned.
Remember Einstein’s sage advice?
A person with common sense also learns from mistakes. Remember Einstein’s sage advice? “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” In business, as in life, if we don’t learn from our mistakes we’re liable to make them again. Common sense encourages us to look around and see what’s happening beyond our own business world. We can also learn from the mistakes as well as the successes of others, a common sense learning approach that works well.
Most common sense people have learned the art of removing themselves from a situation in order to look at it objectively.
Common sense allows us to assess the value of moving forward and double check the move with our intuition — a gut feeling that is based on our past business knowledge and experience — before we act. We’re able to see both the big picture and the details and assess how the details could help or hinder the outcome. Yes, we value and take into account the (knowledgeable) opinions of business others, but we don’t allow your own sound judgement to be clouded by their perceptions. Most common sense people have learned the art of removing themselves from a situation in order to look at it objectively.
You’ve heard of street smarts. There are business smarts too. They’re centered on developing a plan, understanding the weaknesses of the plan and setting up contingencies. Business common sense, based on knowledge and experience (and that dose of intuition), allows us to clearly and objectively assess every business course of action.
There’s a downside to common sense
There’s a downside to common sense in business and we need to guard against it. We must never become too pragmatic. Good business benefits from a healthy dose of intuition and once in a while, a leap of faith. Both might seem at odds with common sense, but they’re really not. Case in point; we started 3H in the middle of a recession!
Got a comical example of common sense missing in action, send it to me?
Grandma would roll her eyes at this one! But in today’s world, there’s an internet answer for everything: How to Develop Common Sense: 8 Steps (with pictures)
Just for fun, see if you have common sense and take the quiz on Quiznatic
A little more serious from Forbes:
10 Uncommon, Common Sense Commandments for Life and Business
by Miriam Hara | Aug 28, 2015 | Advertising, Agency, Business Success, Communications, Content, Interactive, Latest, Management, Marketing, Social Media
In life, we need a plan. To create rich content, we need a plan.
There’s a lot of buzz around content and content creation. For those new to content and content creation, it can get confusing. What is content? In a nutshell: content = information. Rich content = great information.
I’ll give you an example of what’s meant by content (information). As an ad agency, there is:
- The content (information) our clients hire us to create using a variety of vehicles: billboard ads, print campaigns, outdoor advertising, videos (including YouTube videos), TV spots, radio spots, advertorials, brochures, packaging, websites, Social Media, etc. … you get the idea.
- Then, there’s the content (information) we create for the agency: our internal marketing and advertising. This could be news and views delivered via our website, blogs, tweets, Facebook posts, pins on Pinterest, Instagram, posts on LinkedIn and on business-to-business sites, etc.
Rich Content – What’s its job?
Content’s job is to add value and provide insight. To do this, it must be engaging. To be engaging, it must be informative and interesting (i.e. ‘rich’). To be effective, it must be targeted. This is important. 3H’s content reach is wide-ranging and eclectic. We speak to our clients, to large corporations, small businesses, executives and non-executives, the business-to-business market, people in the creative field and students (particularly those in the arts and communication). A content piece may not (and likely, will not) resonate with all of these people, all of the time. So at 3H, we vary the content regularly, to make sure there’s something for everyone. And we’re strategic with our content. We put it in places where the people we want to see it, will see it.
Who? What? When? Where? Why? And How?
A helpful way to plan for engaging content creation is to think the way a news editor or journalist thinks when developing a piece. Answer the four “W” questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? And answer the ‘H’ question: How?
Who?
Define your target market(s) — the people you want to speak to, the ones you want to engage with your content.
What?
What do we want to say to our audience? This will also help establish a tone for your content and a voice for your organization. Your business is unique; tone and voice help get that across.
When?
When will we reach our audience? Plan to reach out regularly, in the same places, so that not only do they expect you, they search you out. Appear sporadically and you’ll lose your audience. Be flexible and adaptable: if you notice your audience gravitating to new places (and with the pace of technology, this happens regularly) — be there for them.
Take advantage of established media events, things such as Earth Day, Labour Day, Heart Month, Diabetes Month, Valentine’s Day, etc. If your business is geared toward any of these things, piggy back your content on the media excitement.
Every business experiences an ebb and flow. Make the most of slower times to come up with new ideas for content.
Create events, unique ones that belong only to you. Then wrap content around these events. Content is about engaging your audience. Give them a reason to get excited, to celebrate and to connect with you.
Where?
Where will we reach our audience? Where do they hang out? If you’re not sure, do a little research.
Why?
Why do we want to create rich content? Sounds pretty basic, I know, but it’s important. Why do you?
As you plan moves along, the “why” should stick around. You’ve implemented a plan, but don’t set it and forget it. Review. Regularly. How is your content being received? This leads to important answers to questions, such as: “Why is this type of content working well for us, but this other type isn’t?” The success of your content is measurable. For example, you can measure the progress of your Social Media efforts with metrics (The 5 Easy Steps to Measure Your Social Media Campaign). You can measure response to your website Five Keys to Success for Measuring Your Website.
You can measure it by the comments and feedback you’re getting. If you’re never getting any feedback, start asking why?
A good plan has legs
A good plan has legs, it evolves; it can take you to new places with new insights so that your content consistently delivers value. Gives your audience a reason to keep coming back.
A good plan needs a good team
Content creation should not be the sole job of the content creator(s). I’ve said this before: Everyone in a company can and should have input. It makes for a much richer, collaborative and enjoyable experience and ultimately, content will benefit, in quality and quantity.
HOW?
How will you do it? It’s all about fiber …
- Meaty and rich content.
- Make it regular.
Add value! Provide Insight!
If you don’t feel comfortable or confident enough to create your own content, hire a content creator. It really is that important!
STICK TO THE PLAN!
(If it’s a good plan.) If the plan’s not working, find out why and fix it. Then … STICK TO THE PLAN!
Want to delve deeper into Content Creation? Download our free eBook: Content Creation Understood. 21 short snappy insights (we call them biz-isms) that will help you wrap your head around creating great content.
by Miriam Hara | Aug 26, 2015 | Business Success, Communications, Latest, Problem Solving
Stephen Leacock, Canadian writer and humourist
Canada’s Stephen Leacock had it right way back when. In his typical satirical style, he was saying: we make our own luck. We certainly do in business. Business opportunities and success: what’s luck got to do with it? Everything and nothing …
We often hear people say: “that guy, or that girl, is lucky.” Successful people are often considered lucky. More often than not, they look lucky and they sound lucky! Success is a simple recipe: it’s all about perspective and approach to life. It’s also about readiness. Chances are these so-called lucky people are “lucky” because they do four very important things …
- They seize business opportunities when they present themselves.
- They search out business opportunities, rather than waiting for them to arrive.
- They create business opportunities, in places where others see none.
- They recognize business opportunities, where a less curious, less open mind, might miss them completely.
There is luck in having business opportunities present themselves
You’re on a plane and sitting beside you is a marketing director of a national company (although you don’t know that at the time). If you’re open and curious about the person, you say hello, allowing you to take advantage of the luck of the draw that the guy or gal represents business opportunities. There is luck in having an opportunity present itself.
You’d miss that opportunity if you didn’t say hi and instead, opened your laptop and went to work, played a game on your phone, or stuck your earplugs in to listen to music.
There is luck in living in the moment
The fact that you smile and say hello indicates openness and curiosity; you’re in the moment. Being in the moment allows you to recognize opportunity and sometimes, uncover hidden opportunities. There is luck in living in the moment.
Maybe the person sitting beside you isn’t a marketing guru and doesn’t represent business opportunities. That doesn’t mean there is no opportunity. Maybe he’s a guy who travels around the world fixing military ships … so you learn about that. Human interactions have tails, sometimes the tail takes you places or teaches you unexpected things. Opportunities to learn are never wasted.
Good Luck has nothing to do with it
When people say ‘Good Luck,’ just before you get up to speak in front of 200 people, luck has nothing to do with it. You’ve prepared. You know your subject. You know your audience. Same with pitching for a new client — your ultimate success won’t depend on luck. You listened to what the client needed, you can give them what they need, you and your team covered all the bases, now you’re going to present your best.
When you pick up the phone, or get an email that says: “We’d like to you to come and give us a capabilities presentation for Advertising Agency of Record,” it has nothing to do with luck. It means the company’s heard about your work. Typically, it’s because you do good work. When it comes to good work, word gets around and leads to business opportunities. Hard work pays off. Luck has nothing to do with it.
Do nothing and you miss the opportunity and that’s no luck at all
If the company found your business through your website, you’ve obviously used SEO, adwords and content creation successfully. You put technology to work for you. You got found! That’s not luck, again it’s a reflection of your hard work.
You bump into a friend or acquaintance, nothing to do with your business world. She says that she wants people to meet you, that she’s spoken about you … you strike while the iron’s hot. You follow up immediately and make the next step happen. Do nothing and you miss the opportunity … and that’s no luck at all!
Lots of opportunities in life and in business are wild cards
I remember when I first came to Toronto. I’d been in town less than a month. The agency wasn’t even fully established. One of my designers told me that a large national was looking for an agency, but the selection process was already in the works. We could have said … “oh, that’s too bad,” or we could do what we did. We sent them something that was awesome … and received a fax back (yes, a fax!) inviting us to pitch as their “wild card”. We pitched. We got the business. That’s not luck. That’s creating business opportunities – making things happen!
Lots of opportunities in life and in business are wild cards. The “who knows, but let’s take a chance and go for it because I think there’s a chance,” type of opportunities. Even a small chance is some chance. But you have to act on that chance.
Luck in business is not passive
Webster’s Dictionary defines luck as: “the things that happen to a person because of chance: the accidental way things happen without being planned.” When we talk about success in business what counts is making chance count, making the “accidental way things happen” work in our favour.
Luck in business is not passive. It’s 100% active. Opportunity + Readiness = Business Luck. If you count solely on luck, you’ll most certainly be unlucky.
Think you’re lucky? Tell us why?
Send us your Lucky 7 List: we’re looking for a list of seven personality traits or positive actions that you believe have contributed to your success. We’re also looking for an Unlucky 7 List: seven personality traits or actions you feel can hinder or even prevent success. In a future post, we’ll publish the most motivational Lucky 7 List and the most enlightening Unlucky 7 List.
#3HLuckyList #SharedWisdom
