At the end of the week it is always worth reflecting on the learning points for the week just passed. One of the key lessons as far as marketing goes is reviewing your mindset and, in particular, your inner voice.
You are probably familiar with your inner voice. It is always with you and how you talk to yourself has a huge bearing on how you approach actions, especially those with which you are uncomfortable or actively dislike.
There are books written about this topic. “Taming Your Gremlin” is particularly good and written in a light hearted way. However for today, consider how you criticize yourself.
You are your own worst critic! Most people wouldn’t tolerate someone else addressing them with the language they use to themselves. Some thoughts to end the marketing week:
- Try saying out loud what is in your head – be careful where and when you do this of course! It might be worth replaying it in private. However listen to the language you use and how it comes across. Would you take that from someone else?
- Do you self criticize, or self- castigate? – as much as people like to think they take criticism well, many do not. Let’s face it, who likes to be criticized really? However much you dislike it though, constructive critiques are useful in helping our awareness, and leading to change. Check your inner voice – is it constructively critical? Is it teaching you something? More often than not your voice is actually abusing and name-calling! That isn’t constructive in any one’s world.
- Recognize the intent. Self talk is often trying to protect you. It is trying to avoid you taking action that might embarrass or humiliate you. Recognize this and accept the intent, but make a commitment to push through that by considering the benefits you will get.
- Shine a light on your inner voice – this is why the book above talks about a gremlin. Acknowledge your inner voice. You might even want to talk to it or give it a name. It lurks there all the time but bringing it out into the open lessens its impact considerably.
Small business marketing is fertile ground for negative thinking. You have a choice in whether you allow it to germinate and grow. Recognize it and commit to having it work for you. Your inner voice doesn’t have to be negative, it can be a tremendously powerful force driving you forward. When you allow that to happen, you will have a friend encouraging you, rather than a critic waiting to knock you down.
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4 Responses
Good article, but what are some ways to start the week off? Ways to start the week with a positive instead of negative mindset?
Posted on September 25th, 2009 at 10:21 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jerry Smith. Jerry Smith said: New blog post: Negative Marketing Thoughts http://bit.ly/43rGfC [...]
Posted on September 25th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Great point Sydney and I realize, in retrospect that pairing negative and marketing in the same sentence may not have been the best idea!
The start of any week is exciting. Who knows what great clients you are going to meet this week? These are some ways to get into that mindset:
1. Learning – what will you learn this week that makes you better at marketing (or indeed at anything important to you)? In this way even the setbacks move you forward, you have simply learned something that didn’t work. How will you change it next time?
2. Who can you help this week? You have a passion for your business, who is going to benefit from that this week? You probably don’t know yet, but it will be fun to find out.
3. You will know more on Friday than you do now
4. Turn your thoughts to your clients and prospects – what are their challenges, how do you help them? How will you find out what they are dealing with? In this way you will be looking for those you can help rather than looking to “sell” to clients. It is much more interesting and fun because it talks to what you LOVE to do.
Hope that helps – have a good weekend and a GREAT week next week!
Posted on September 25th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
[...] Posted by Kevin Dervin · September 28, 2009 · Print This Article This post is about some ways to start off the week with a positive marketing mindset… for Sydney and others who are trying to get past any negative marketing mindset (see Friday’s post on Negative Marketing Thoughts). [...]
Posted on September 28th, 2009 at 9:21 am
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