Avatar (the Film)

The most incredible (and expensive!) computer game ever written that you actually cannot play.
What was Cameron thinking?

The 12 days of Christmas Can Improve your Business!

The Christmas break is a great time to reflect on your business. You should be through the stress of final deliveries for customers, no phones to answer and no staff asking for advice or guidance. This is prime thinking time, and it doesn’t have to consume your precious days off either, just park stuff and let your subconscious do the analysis.

So here’s my 12 days of Christmas plan. Maybe it will helpful to you as a guideline.

Day 1 – I relax, relax and relax some more. Chill down, clear 2009 out of my head and enjoy time with my friends and family. A cluttered mind doesn’t think straight.

Day 2 – I have already ordered and received my two business books and novel from Amazon. I will enjoy reading them over the next two weeks and let them challenge me. (Well, maybe not the sword fighting and magic wizard stuff!)

Day 3 – Each day I note and take away a few points I can realistically action in the New Year or use to develop new ideas for my clients.

Day 4 – I review 2009. What could I have done better? Where were my successes? What was a total waste of my time? Only takes me an hour and I write it all down.

Day 5 – I start to organise my ideas into categories. (1) Increasing customer value (2) Technologies and process that can make me more efficient (3) Marketing ideas for generating new business over the next year.

Day 6 – I clear out and/or archive inactive client paperwork from my PC and filing cabinets.

Day 7 – I chill out – its New Year’s Eve!

Day 8 – I totally chill out! I’m exhausted from the previous night.

Day 9 – Clear out day. Remove unnecessary contacts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and MSOutlook, etc.

Day 10 – I chill out and detoxify myself for all the Christmas excess.

Day 11 – I finish my books, pick-up dry cleaning, buy my Moleskine for the year (they’re on sale!) and ease myself back into work mentality.

Day 12 – I’m invigorated and ready for 2010’s business challenges. I start to contact all my clients and prospects and begin to implement some of those new ideas. I love Toothbone again.

Wishing you all a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Try to Smile this Week!

I don’t think there is anything worse than a grumpy marketing professional.

I see my job as keeping my clients invigorated about their businesses. If I continually bring pessimism and bad ideas I don’t deserve the work. So…try something new this week, be dangerous and crack a joke or two. You’ll be surprised at how many positive responses you actually get.

AND OVER DELIVER! If you’re a true creative you’ll have no problem generating plenty of ideas. Sometimes the wacky, off the cuff concepts are the ones that work. Keep in mind your client’s business though, inappropriate or crude ideas will never go down well.

This week, remember that Christmas is coming – keep a smile on your face, not your heart on your sleeve.