Springtime in the Garden
Like so many of us, spring has me thinking about change and about growth. And, to be honest, I’ve been feeling pretty burnt out where I am, professionally. So, I’ve made the decision to make some changes.
For years, as a marketer, I’ve been working with artists and venues, small businesses and festivals. And, more often than not, I’ve had the stress of the gig economy keeping me up at night. It’s a feast or famine way of life in the pond I’m in so I’m riding the current into the ocean looking to build my own plentiful table.
Marketing What Matters is my ride into the ocean, my calling card in the digital world. Rather than thinking global and working local, I’m going to throw myself into the world and take a stab at working global while still thinking local.
What does this mean?
Hopefully, it means I’ll get to do more of the work I love and have more weekends to spend with the people I love. And it means that I might get to work the way I want to work — with honesty and without hustle.
Here’s what I know: most marketing is hustle. It’s PT Barnum. It’s snake oil and slight-of-hand. It’s less about what’s being offered and more about tricking the customer through the door. But the world is full of good and decent people doing good and decent work. So why is so much marketing tricks and gimmicks? Because it’s easy. Or, at least, it’s easier. And it’s lazy.
Here’s what else I know: it doesn’t have to be that way. Is it more work to get what you’re doing in front of people who really care about it without any tricks? Yes, it is. But it’s work everyone can feel good about. If the work is honest and is honestly appreciated by the customer, the marketing should be honest to. I’m not interested in doing cookie cutter work and I’m not interested in working with people who are. If you’re the client for me, you bring passion to the work you do and you’re trying to bring something unique into the world. If that sounds like you, take a look around and then get in touch.
So there it is, I’m going to try to put something in the world that I haven’t done before. I don’t know what it’s going to look like. And it’s scary and silly and I’m doing it anyway.
Put Something In
by Shel Silverstein
Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-grumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a loony-goony dance
‘Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain’t been there before.