Slow Down and Appreciate Life
A week, a month, a year, they go by like the breeze blowing through your hair. You never have enough time. Enough time to think, play, work, live or maybe even just relax.
The reason I'm writing about time is that since the birth of my new daughter on May 8th, I'm beginning to learn how to slow down and appreciate the little things. That's right, the little things – those simple events that are usually the driving force in our lives and capture our attention in powerful new ways. They are the precious moments in time you can recall without even thinking; the images inside your mind that make you put everything else aside if only for a few brief seconds. A special smile, a voice or maybe even the soft silky edge of your daughter’s blanket tickling her cheek. These are images that you remember and every time they resurface, they create an emotional connection.
With the fast-paced lifestyles we all seem to face these days, it's hard to slow down, or even remember what you've done from week to week. But maybe it’s time to try to change that. We need to take a time out and realize that the little things are what people remember most.
So how does this relate to marketing and advertising? I think that we need to take a step back in our approach to our profession as well. Maybe it’s time to slow down and ask ourselves what will make people remember the specific product or service being marketed. I have a feeling that we might come to the conclusion that it's going to be the little things they will remember most. Maybe it’s the ultra-smooth, special paper used on your sales folder or the smartly worded and personalized follow-up e-mail sent to a new fan of your web site. These little things are what people remember most and could ultimately make the difference in them coming back for more or telling their friends about your organization and its products.
Here’s a thought. The next time you are rushing to produce a new sales brochure, identity package or web site, just stop for a second, take a deep breath and slow down. Then, ask yourself if what you are putting together is likely to be remembered. If not, think about why you remember that special smile from your daughter’s face. When you create that emotional connection, people will always stop and make time to appreciate what you have to offer.
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