Appreciation Marketing – Holidays

This week’s blog posting is late, but yesterday was special. We spent time with some friends out of town whom we had not seen for several months, and a blog posting was less important than they were. Sometimes we need to pay attention to our friends and family and not chase our business opportunities. Remember the phrase, “Stop and smell the roses”? We need to follow that advice more and more to make us appreciate what we have, who we know, and what is possible.

We attended a choral presentation by a group of people who just love to sing together. They performed holiday carols, with no instrumental accompaniment, except for a piano for a portion of the show, and they were fantastic. Included in the presentation was a reading of the story “It Was the Night Before Christmas”, where the reader was surrounded by children of all ages. They were so sweet and listened in rapt attention to the reader, who was very animated to hear and watch. It was a very pleasant evening listening to the sounds of the holidays.

Afterward we went to dinner with our friends and shared Christmas gifts. We were reminded of friendship, the joys of sharing, and remembrances of past occasions and happy times, as well as some no so happy times. It was a wonderful break from the hustle and bustle of the holidays as well as the working week that we all normally experience.

We spend every day running from meetings to other meetings, try to sign customers to orders for our products or services, and looking for the next target to pursue. Our current clients, who have been loyal and true to us, should be appreciated for their loyalty, and we should actually let them know that we appreciate them. We should show our friends and family our appreciation for their support, their advice, and even their business. But do we appreciate ourselves, rewarding ourselves with a moment of reflection on life and all that it means to us?

This is a wonderful time of the year. However, it is also the time when we strive to “make our numbers”, those targets that we need to achieve to be considered successful. We run from post to pillar trying to sign the next customer or make the next sale, which will put us over the top, whatever that level is. Just calm down and stop for a moment and look around you. Take in the joy of this time of the year and let it engulf you, soothe you, and wash over you. Let the smells, the sounds, and the music play over you and then just smile.

This is a time of remembrance, sometimes remembering the good, sometimes the bad. Try to remember what was good, what was funny, and what made you happy. Don’t think of what should, or could have been, or what you may have lost; think of the good that you have, what you had, and pleasant times that you have shared. Remember those who made you happy, and let them know, if possible, that you appreciate them. If they are not still here, honor them by letting someone else know their story and your caring thoughts.

Appreciation Marketing is a way of life, not just in business, but in your personal life also. Make it work for you in your business life and in your personal life. Please leave me your comments, or call me at 360-314-8691, or email me at Jim@SOC4Now.com, if you wish. Remember that one of the greatest gifts that you can give someone can be re-gifted or even returned. That gift is the gratitude expressed in a “Thank You”, perhaps accompanied by a hug. Until we speak, have a happy holiday season and consider yourself hugged.