Are people impressed? REALLY
I am no longer impressed with the number of years a person or company has been in business. I used to be. That’s because I confused ‘years in business’ with experience, growth and innovation. It’s not same.
Now, I ask the question: “Does that person/company have 25 years of experience or 1 year of experience, 25 times?”
In reality, people don’t generally stop learning or growing after their first year in business. Maybe it’s five years. Maybe seven. It’s different for different people, but it does happen.
The tunnel vision – “We’ve always done it this way” factor kicks in, at least temporarily, for many.
So as people are blaming their present woes on the economy, I suggest that the recession is not the whole story. The business climate simply exposes the weaknesses of companies, large and small.
Some things to ponder:
- Is your logo/business identity stuck in 1978?
- When was the last time you attended a local, regional or national conference, symposium or seminar on your industry specialty? (i.e. catering, balloon decor, DJ entertainment, etc.,)
- When was the last time you attend a conference or seminar, specifically to improve your business, marketing and sales skills? (If you attended Wedding MBA, you get bonus points).
- If you are an owner or senior manage, do you encourage and subsidize continuing education for your staff?
- Do you have a paid advisor or close confidants who will advise you in a truthful, useful, and helpful manner?
- Do you have time blocked out to construct a written wedding marketing plan for 2010?
- Does your company have specific goals for product or service changes, growth, size reduction, operations improvements or the like?
If you didn’t answer affirmatively to a majority of these, it’s entirely likely that you and your business are either stuck or drifting. Your business is running you. Not the other way around.
Christmas ads (let alone Halloween promos) are already visible. It will be 2010 before you know it.
“What, precisely are you going to do, so that 2010 is a better business year than 2009 or 2008?”
Please get back to me on that by posting a comment. The world wants to know. In fact, I’ll be posting some of my 2010 plans. I don’t want it to be, Do as I say, not as I do.
Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority
i have been keeping a journal of what went well and what i have learned (the hard way) for all events i have decorated this year. Right after take down i set aside soem time to write an over view and detail surprises and issues that come up that i did not plan for. i have notice some patterns (both good and bad) that i will be addressing with the 2010 wedding and event season. Best wishes to all your readers for the new year.
I am in huge planning mode for 2010! I get the bonus points because I was at the WMBA and this last Monday I was at MLT University (travel classes). With that I am not only keeping up on conferences and classes I am reading as much as I can currently the book “The Power of the Platform” Awesome by the way!
We all like to think that we are not stuck in time, but really most of us are. So I love this post.
My current plan is to create a marketing funnel, planning and keeping track of all marketing tools. Example: where I am marketing, how I am attacking it, what are my responses and so forth! What I like to call “Testing and Measuring” with those results I will do what is working and get rid of what is not.
I will also be setting a side time each week to work on my business and not just in it. That is so important!
Success for 2010!
In business since 1991 and always working to not be stuck in time.
As a member of Bridal Show Producers International, I get together with fellow bridal show producers twice a year to share ideas and get new inspiration to create the best bridal shows. Then I was at Wedding MBA last week too, so doing good on points.
Now if I could only find more hours in the day to do everything I’ve got on my to do list. I’m always looking for educational opportunities for myself and my staff!
Great article Andy!