Warning, I am no creative writer, but this is 100%!
He's a dark, towering, behemoth figure, glittering in the moonlight as it stomps - clomp, clomp, clomp.
With a bit of a hunchback- that's because he is carrying so much love in his heart that it is weighing him down. But he's on a big mission to cover ground- lots of ground.
This monster's name is Bert- Bert has one job and that is to look a business owner in the eye, take a deep sigh of relief with them, and give them a big hug- almost killing them.
Warmth. Energy. Connection. Clarity- That hug contains everything that these business owners in this fantasy world need to learn about how to stay alive in 2020 & beyond to be a leader of their movements with all senses engaged.
From bakery owners to financial planners, to professional consultants, they need to feel a connection to a greater purpose and keep spreading Bert's hug around to the rest of the world. Ultimately, these hugs eliminate unethical marketing as we see it in our world.
BEAR WITH ME
I'm a little crazy but when you dream up this particular something really big. When you start putting the pieces together, you begin to really get engaged on a human level with something that you can wrap your hands around for how much you want to feel out of your big innovation. I love Bert and Bert is my biggest creation I've ever dreamed up after 29 years of life on this planet.
"So many years after the doors of the business closed- their PEOPLE stuck together as a tribe."
Aside from children's picture books and fictitious monsters in the stary moonlight, I had a big vision of what this monster of a retreat + program was supposed to become- my solution to what needs to happen to lead the way of a new kind of business building and growing model that formerly was called, "marketing" and just rework the human experience a bit.
I'm no Dr. Frankenstein
but I've spent since 2013 to make sense of Social Media in business and put my finger on why it was such a fascinating strategy for so many business owners to jump on board. I couldn't think of another reason other than it was the closest form of human connection that they've been longing for in their business.
I can tell you how we got here: Decades of traditional advertising, marketing, and selling to people without actually empathizing with them first. Just recall the last "unknown CID" number that rang in through your phone- DECLINE!
For as long as I've been in the workforce, and I understand it's not that long, I have been seeing the attitudes and approaches of business owners who want to start marketing and simply go to what's easiest- the non-human approach. Simply put, they were missing Bert's hugs.
As that process trickles through the cycle of a new prospect, that loss of connection continues on and on and on. Business owners begin to build communities of misalignment with their customers and clients, because, well, they were just trying to get anyone and everyone in the first layer of connection as quick and cheap as possible.
With that, we have created a landscape of mass consumerism - consumers and buyers who are not satisfied with what they really are getting- so they just keep seeking more: Disconnected, not loyal what so ever, and can easily shop around for the newest and cheapest who will give them a deal and what they are looking for.
These businesses either closed or eventually got aquired, and it was interesting that one thing stuck over so many years after the doors of the business closed- their PEOPLE stuck together as a tribe. The ones who got them, the ones who felt like family, and the ones who were really chosen from a crowd of many.
If we continue to prioritize making stronger, more meaningful connections with our people- our businesses might last farther beyond what we could imagine and bring us more fulfillment than millions of dollars could ever.
We shouldn't be doing that from the very first impression of our brand- our marketing- since we know in the long run, it's not how we want to cultivate a community around us. Don't you agree?
As a marketing and creative branding strategist, I understand that prioritizing what's human about business is the long game. We all are incredible beings that just want to feel a sense of belonging to a tribe that will miss them when they aren't there. A community of super fans who will pivot with you and the changing times no matter where the world may take our businesses. Can you imagine how much less marketing you would have to do in the long run with this approach?
I'm happy to invite business owners with a big purpose & mission to an intimate group program + retreat for the next 6 months. Our kick-off party will be happening over 3 days in Chicago on April 15th -17th (you know, to celebrate Tax Day!) and get a giant hug from Bert that will change your world forever.
I want you to feel the way connection feels like in 2020 with the way Ethical business owners demonstrate how they connecting, or excuse me, "marketing" with the human side in their business. Ultimately, you will plan out your Mission-Driven Marketing Plan for the business that you own that is about to change the world.
Applications to allow Bert to fulfill his mission to give you a hug firsthand will be closing April 1st, so please apply for one of the 10 spots here: http://mktgbrand.com/retreat
