Chris Brogan's newsletter landed in my mailbox Tuesday night, and yet again it launched me into some deep thought about my goals for 2011. Unless you hate getting really useful knowledge geared towards growing your capabilities, go sign up for the newsletter here.
Chris' latest edition included a bit about 2011 resolutions. However, because Chris always does things differently, he challenged me to come up with three words (instead of resolutions) that will act as guideposts for things I want to accomplish in 2011. Resolutions are too narrow and too easily broken. For example, his 2006 words were "Ask, Do, and Share." I've thought about what I wanted to do in 2011, with you along for the ride, so I thought I'd share them with you.
CREATE
The cornerstone to content marketing, brand storytelling, social media, blogging, new media, or whatever you want to call it is creation. Some would say it's content, but I think it's more than that. Because aside from just places choc-full of content, people are creating communities and technologies that help us connect and engage.
In 2011 I'm challenging myself to CREATE. I want to update my blog more often. I've written 80 posts in 2010, a little more than 1.5 per week. I want to easily clear 2 per week, (104+). I want to create more useful content for free, like my Ten Tips for Effective Presenting eBook or my Social Media for Business SlideShare Presentation.
I love creating for clients, but that's not enough. I need to create more value for you.
CONNECT
One of the most underrated marketing techniques, especially from a personal brand perspective, is to be a connector. A connector is someone that spends time and energy bringing others together, with no motive other than to enrich the lives of those he/she connects. Doing this can DRASTICALLY change someone's life, and can be the ultimate courtesy.
As we become more social and connected every day, the opportunities to connect those of similar passions, interests, or needs becomes both easier and more vital. You can connect two people who share a passion for presentation design. You can connect someone who is having tax troubles with your close friend who is a fantastic accountant. You can connect two people who share a similar business goal to see if they can align forces.
My 2010, and my life for that matter, was drastically changed when I met Emily Cavalier (Mouth of the Border). She was one of the free-ticket recipients that joined me to Seth Godin's Linchpin Session. She is the ULTIMATE Connector. She has introduced me to numerous individuals in her vast network, particularly her friend Clay Hebert (Daily Sense) who is now one of my close friends. This past summer Clay invited me to a weekly pick-up basketball game (aptly titled #GeekBasketball) in NYC with other social-media-ites and creatives like AJ Leon (LaC Project & Rise of the Cubicle Farmer), Brian Simpson and Adam Wallace (both from the Roger Smith Hotel), Adam Ostrow (from a little site called Mashable), and numerous other great guys.
My life, both personally and professional, has benefited exponentially because Emily, Clay, and others were kind enough to be connectors. I can only wish to connect others in 2011 in the same way they did for me in 2010. And people ask about the ROI of Twitter...
ELEVATE
On the heels of the good that being a connector provides, I also want 2011 to be a year of ELEVATION. This is defined in a few different ways.
First, I want to elevate my own game (after all, these are MY resolutions, right?). I want to step my speaking game up more, which will include an appearance at Hook: The Presentation Conference in March (will I see you there?). I also want to spend more time training employees to create more effective presentations. Side note - I'm not one who is afraid to cannibalize my own business. I realize educating the business on how to create more effective PowerPoint presentations is like auto mechanic teaching you how to change your own oil. They'd make more money if you didn't know how to change your oil and brought it to them every time, and the same goes for presentation design. However, there's no shortage of bad PowerPoint. I'd rather start saving audiences and making this world a better place.
Secondly, but maybe more importantly, I want to elevate others. I want to write content so useful and educational that it elevates their presentations. I want to contribute more by guest posting on other blogs. I want to promote the fantastic work that others do to elevate their blog and/or their business. I want to succeed by helping others succeed.
I definitely live in a marketing world of roses. My former boss used to tell me I'm too much of a West Coast marketer - all love and hugs - give content away for free, no gates, limit form fields, don't call unsolicited, opt-in, easy unsubscribe, simple, emotional, story-filled. I don't care (except that I'm from Boston, the East Coast). That's the way I think marketing...scratch that...That's the way I think business should be. That's how I do business. I never cold-call. I wouldn't dare buy a list. I actually don't advertise anywhere. Every single bit of business is inbound, through content, word-of-mouth, or relationships.
In 2011, my West Coast marketing will be revved to the max. Create, Connect, and Elevate.
What are YOUR three words to guide YOU through 2011? Please share them with me in the comments.
CREATE image courtesy of Ken Colwell on Flickr
CONNECT image courtesy of Mike Bitzenhofer on Flickr
ELEVATE image courtesy of Eric Ward on Flickr