Welcome to another episode of 7-Minute Marketing with Pam. My name is Pam Didner and I love sharing a little dose of B2B, digital and content marketing seven minutes at a time.
Happy New Year! Can you believe it? It’s 2018.
I don’t know about you, but I have this love-and-hate relationship with New Year’s resolutions.
Here is the “hate” part
New Year’s resolutions frustrate me because I have what I like to call a “one-month curse” that I can’t break. I spent a couple thousand dollars buying a treadmill once. I used it for about a month, and now that treadmill just sits in our bedroom collecting dust. I pass by it every day and tell myself that I need to get on it, but I always end up doing something else instead, like eating…
I bought an expensive and beautiful diary with the intention of writing every day, but again, that one-month curse. That expensive and beautiful diary is situated nicely right next to my monitor. I see it every day, but I end up doing something else instead of writing, like binge-watching TV! Just I’ve just finished watching the first season of the Orville by Seth McFarlane, the creator of Family Guy. I don’t like his humor very much, but I have a huge respect for him. He can sing, dance, write, act, direct and produce. An incredibly talented individual.
Ok, I digressed. Let’s come back to New Year resolution. I talked about how much I hate New Year resolutions.
Now, let’s talk about the “love” part
Not keeping up with resolutions doesn’t stop me from creating new ones. I still create New Year’s resolutions every year with fully committed enthusiasm. So, I am either in complete self-denial or I am an eternal optimist who believes that I have a chance to be salvaged by a distorted gleaming hope of a miracle.
I choose to believe the latter. I, one day, will be strong enough to break that one-month curse. The key words are: one day. It will happen one day.
Before writing down my 2018 goals, I went back and checked on my 2017 New Year’s resolutions. I failed miserably on any goal that required regular commitment like, “Do yoga three times a week”, or, “Write a blog post every week”. Well, I can toss these resolutions right out the window. That one month curse!
Although I am terrible at keeping up with resolutions that require daily or weekly discipline, I was actually pretty good with deliverable-driven resolutions. Last year, I set out to launch a podcast, resolved to complete a book proposal, and learn how to do a handstand which a yoga pose of balancing on my hands with my feet kick up in the air.
I accomplished all three of them! 7-Minute Marketing with Pam was launched in September. I can now do a handstand (see picture below), and I started working on my 2nd book with a publisher. Won some;Llost some. I can live with that.
So, here are my 2018 New Year’s resolutions
1. Do yoga three times a week: I have not given this one up yet. I am determined to break the one-month curse and make it a two-month curse in 2018. That will be a progress!
2. Complete my 2nd book: The manuscript is scheduled to finalize on April 1st and the book is scheduled to be available on September 10th, 2018. So, you know what I’ll be doing for the first half of 2018.
3. Check off three things from my bucket list: This one is not going to be difficult at all. I am on it! It’s all about traveling, going to places and having FUN!
4. Learn how to do a forearm stand: I learned to do a handstand this year. It only took the whole year… The forearm stand is another inversion stand that I want to learn in 2018. Time to build my shoulder strength and give my biceps a kiss!
5. Learn the Waltz and West Coast Swing: My son loves West Coast Swing. It looks so cool when he showed me. I want to give it a try.
Here they are. My five new year resolutions. I feel the force is strong with me… for today, anyway.
Actually, the force has been strong in the past three and a half years after I left the corporate world. My book, Global Content Marketing, took me to over 10 countries. I was fortunate to be able to share my how-to through speaking, coaching, consulting and writing. I made friends around the globe through various social media channels.
Most importantly, many people have helped and supported me along my journey without asking for anything in return. I am forever grateful for your generosity.
Don’t get me wrong: I still have my ups and downs. I have good days and bad days. I still worry about the sales pipeline. I am still facing growing pains. I’m still working long hours. I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. Ha!
While recording this podcast, I am staring at that expensive and beautiful diary next to my computer. Rather than writing every day, I think I’ll just write a year-end review. That will be a good starting point.
Even though great challenges lie ahead, I’m still looking forward to 2018. I still believe that the force will continue to be strong with me.
Happy New Year, everyone! May the force be strong with all of us.
That is this week’s 7-minute Marketing with Pam. If you have a question for me, you can reach me pdidner.wpengine.com or @pamdidner.
Thank you for listening, until next week.
What can Pam Didner do for you?
Being in the corporate world for 20+ years and having held various positions from accounting and supply chain management, and marketing to sales enablement, she knows how corporations work. She can make you and your team a rock star by identifying areas to shine and do better. She does that through private coaching, keynote speaking, workshop training, and hands-on consulting. Contact her or find her on LinkedIn and Twitter. A quick note: Check out her new 90-Day Revenue Reboot, if you are struggling with marketing.
