Dear Fellow Dream Builder;
I’m watching the Oscars tonight. I confess to enjoying them. Being a creative thinker and deep down an artist, I’m inspired to see what are really just dreams come to fruition and more than that get recognized. I’ve written a few novels and I understand the sacrifice and work that goes into producing any art. Let alone great art.
And I’d like to suggest that running a great and profitable business is much like creating art. As is the marketing that should go along with it.
Art is nothing more than giving expression to your creativity. Some of the most creative folks out there are business owners. Entrepreneurs trying to provide a needed service or a product they know will fill an identified void.
But just as with art, marketing and business come along in all shades of effectiveness. There is art that moves us and inspires us to greatness. Marketing should do the same. So why I’m I talking about Oscar winning marketing? Many of you will suggest that the Oscars have nothing to do with marketing, or perhaps that they don’t always go to the most worthy film/actor/director etc.
And you’d be right. But I’m writing to you tonight as I’m watching the Oscars and they got me to thinking about marketing. I’ll show you how they go together. How you can use the Oscars to make better marketing and to have greater successes for your business more often.
Firstly I’d ask you to think of your business and your marketing efforts as art. Put effort into and take pride in what you are putting out there. Make it the best you can be. I’d start with integrity. Art is or at least the best art has integrity. So should your business. Be guided by goodness and honour and honesty.
Secondly, art is made not so much for the awards as it is to speak to the human condition. Your marketing, your business should do the same. I’d argue that there isn’t a decent film out there that was made firstly in the hopes of winning an Oscar. Make sure your business and your marketing are not about the awards. And those awards are likely advertising awards or increased sales. As unintuitive as this may sound, run your business and marketing guided first by how you can be of service to your clients. This is your marketing as art speaking to the human condition. Address your customers needs and you will be honoured and rewarded by awards and sales and success.
Lastly, art is fun. If you aren’t having fun in your business and marketing, you’re doing it wrong. I’m pretty sure Steve Jobs has fun at work and his marketing tells that story too. So have fun with your work, your marketing, it is your art. Make it passionate and fun.
Seeing YOUR big picture,
Jason
