Resolutions…

Why do we have to make them on New Years Day? I have made resolutions on days ranging from February 4th (my wedding anniversary) to September 3rd (birthday), and all it really comes down to is honesty – honesty in your decision to resolve an issue and honesty with yourself and the others that decision may affect.

As the New Year rolls in, my kids all asked me if I was going to be making any resolutions for 2008. Now, although I think this was done with the prompting of my loving wife, I really had to sit down and decide what resolutions I was going to make for 2008.

In July, I resolved to improve my career… done.
In September, I resolved to re-finish my son’s bedroom… done.
In November, I resolved to create a stronger bond with my faith… working on that one.
In December, I resolved to quit eating so much junk and start working out again… working on that one too (the holidays kill me… I LOVE TO COOK!).

There are always opportunities to act upon. If I were to make a list of resolutions today, within 30 days, those resolutions would be changed simply by daily influences. So, I resolve to not make any resolutions for the year 2008.

So what was my response to my kids?

Well, (kids), I’m much more productive making smaller strokes (focused) as resolutions throughout the year than to create one, massive, overwhelming task. Although I will try to be a better dad, husband, brother, son, co-worker, friend and human (in general), that’s something I should try to do EVERY DAY.

So, how do you handle your resolutions? Do you make one every January 1st, or do you make smaller, more focused resolutions as opportunities, events and situations require?

I do have a handful of resolutions for the upcoming year. Some are obvious (diet, exercise, more blogging, etc.), and others are personal (family, self, God), but the best resolution I can think of was posted by a blogging friend/idol of mine, Dean Hunt.

Just Do It. Sounds familiar, huh?

Happy New Year, EVERYONE. I hope you ALL have a great 2008.

Keep Cooking!

Andrew

This morning, while still sound asleep (where I do my best thinking), my eight-year old son walked into my room. Of course, he doesn’t nudge me, or say a thing, but I knew he was there. I shot up (as best I could for four in the morning). “What’s up, Bubba?

“There’s a Vampire in my room.” His voice trembled. He was sniffling, and on his face I could see traces of tears that had been wiped away. My shoulders dropped.

“Let’s go look…” I rolled (literally) out of bed, put my hand on my son’s ruffled hair and walked him to his room. “… Now, you know there’s no such thing as Vampires, right?”

“uh-huh…” sniff.

I turned on the light and looked around the room. “Now, did you invite any Vampires over last night?” I asked him.

“No.” He just looked up at me like I was a complete “Gomer” (Common in my house). I smiled and started to explain a simple story that my mom told me over 30 years ago…

Jump ahead a few hours.

So, I sat in my office this morning somewhat disturbed, with thoughts of night stalkers, bats, misty apparitions and blood sucking swimming through my mind. His fear was close to my heart, and because I had such an aversion to Vampires when I was his age, I could almost feel that anxiety and crippling panic well up in my (now almost 40-year-old) body.

Check email. Yeah, that will dilute the situation – get my mind on work…

Here’s what I received:

“Hey Andrew – I think we had a misunderstanding. It was really our intention to get some free marketing advise from you (sic). Although our marketing coordinator had been struggling with (this project) for some time now, and the ideas we discussed helped, I don’t believe we ever discussed compensation for consultation. We also didn’t expect to be placed on your marketing list or to be solicited for future work. We have a marketing department that handles all of our collateral.

Please take us off of your calling and e-mail lists.

Thank you,” “Nosferatu”

So, now I’m disturbed and angry… My first reaction – write a post about those so-called clients that I liken to my son’s Vampire. Yep. They suck – on multiple levels.

Not only do they drain time, energy and creative from your company, but they also, in your efforts to build a “rewarding” relationship, suck the joy, inspiration and will to live from your company’s soul.

This really started out as a rant, but with my son’s situation in mind, a simple solution my mom gave me in 1976 stuck in my mind.

“A Vampire can’t enter your house unless they’re invited.”

This is a factoid that I’ve trusted and lived by for years. Although some across the Web have debated it, I like to hold true to my mom’s advice. Of course, I blamed vampires for sneaking into my room and messing up my hair at night… Not as deadly, but just as creepy.

So, how does this apply to my email?

I invited this “Vampire” into my house. I opened my collar, tipped my head back and posted a flashing sign saying, “Fresh AB-Negative Free For The Taking!”

In business, we’ve all run across these “Vampires.” Whatever you may call them, they’re going to be there, lurking at our doors, waiting to be invited in for a complimentary cocktail. My first mistake was not defining the purpose of the meeting(s) nor defining expectations for the guy across the table and myself.

After 20 hours and a lot of emails and phone calls, I learn what?

• Define your intentions.
• Discover the customer’s needs.
• Reveal (that you can provide) the solution.
• Commit yourself to the customer.
• Ask for the job.

Simple? Yep. If they want the solution, they need to understand that, because this is your profession, they’re expected to pay. In my haste to “establish a relationship” with this client, I forgot the necessary steps to “business relationships…” And, in my naiveté, I lost out on a lot of hours and money.

How do you react when confronted with “Vampires?” Does your discovery process eliminate the potential? I’d like to hear. Tell me your “horror stories.” Comment on mine.

Until next time – Keep Cooking!
Andrew

Photo Credit: www.imdb.com