Inspiration

I've been reading a book all about PR. It's something that I perceive is quite mystical and yet now half way through my reading I've found out that most of it is just plain common sense and nothing more.

It's fair to say that I absolutely hate the thought of marketing my business and after years of telling myself I really should be doing it and beating myself up over the head for not doing it - I realise that I just need to do it in my own low key way rather than shouting from the rafters about People Potential.

This hate of marketing I think comes from childhood (as do most things!), I don't ever remember being told by my parents or anyone else not to boast about what I had, where I went on holiday etc. Yet, I do remember a deep sense that it was incredibly rude to talk about all the things you had and even more so to people who didn't have as much as you. The key word was boast - so I never have, and whilst a lot of people would say marketing isn't about boasting, it does have an element to it.

I was watching the fabulous film Billy Elliot (not sure if that should be two t's) with my friend recently, she grew up in the north east of England in the 70's and her father was a miner. She described to me what it had been like living through the miners strike and how very similar it was to the film. She remembered the Christmas of the strike and how she got a quarter of the presents she usually got and whilst she was incredibly disappointed on Christmas morning, she somehow instinctively knew (a bit like me - not that anyone had ever told her) that she must smile and be really excited about the presents she had got, even though what she had wanted for Christmas was not under the tree.

In the PR book there is quite a lot of advice in there that I give to my clients who are looking for a job - get networking, organise yourself, have a plan. I guess promoting a business and promoting yourself have an awful lot of similarities.

One idea that did catch my attention is the suggestion of having an inspiration box (this can be literally that, or a space in your filing cabinet or even an old tatty carrier bag). The main thing is that it is a recepticle for you to put things in.

The inspiration box is to collect any piece of marking or PR that you come across that makes you think twice about the product or service that is advertised.

I use a similar exercise where people cut out and keep job adverts that sparkle to them - this may be the organisation, even a specfic word in the ad, the location etc, it doesn't necessarily need to be the job itself.

The inspiration box is to be used when you feel uninspired about doing your marketing. Its there to give you a kick start and help you focus on what you are offering.

Similarly the job advert exercise is there to help a client get clarity on exactly what they are looking for.

The concept of the inspiration box could be extended - maybe you just put things in there that inspire you, or maybe you put keepsakes and things you would like to remember in there. I guess the list is limitless.

What would you put in the box if you had one?