Marie Kondo (author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up is famous for encouraging you to ask if the things you surround yourself with spark joy. What if you applied this concept to your business marketing?
There are so many things you might feel like you have to do to market your services that it’s easy to forget about joy. For example, I was talking with a client one day about doing the Get Clients Now! 28-day program, and after glancing at some of the suggested actions from the book she made these comments:
- Spend 1 hour each day cold calling — Heck no!
- Volunteer in a visible position once a week — In my profession? Nope.
- Do one thing to get my name in print each week — I’m getting palpitations just thinking about this.
Clearly these particular actions were not sparking joy in her! So we turned the conversation to other things she could do that might be more joyful, like joining a women-only networking group. Although she was still a bit hesitant, we were a lot closer to joy.
What’s so special about sparking joy?
Marie Kondo’s book was an instant hit because she tapped into something deeper for all of us. It’s not just a book about organizing your house; it’s about looking at what really matters to you (your values, hopes, dreams, etc.), and how these are reflected in the items you surround yourself with. If the things you interact with most often give you joy, you are predisposed to have a life that feels in alignment with you. The same principle applies to your business marketing.
What if your marketing sparked joy?
You know that without marketing you’re not likely to have as much business as you’d like. (Even if you feel you aren’t doing any marketing, you probably are). Taking actions that spark joy is the quickest way to build and sustain a business that you and your clients love. When you choose marketing strategies that spark joy, your marketing is more effective and you have a sense that you’re on the right track — like your work is making a difference — and that makes everything worth it.
How do you find what sparks the joy?
Finding what’s joyful as it relates to marketing can be an adventure… one you willingly and excitedly embark upon. Notice what you’re already doing: does it make you feel alive, or hollow inside? Do you look forward to doing it, or dread it? Are you connecting with your ideal clients, or going through the motions with just anyone?
Chances are, you have one or two things you enjoy doing that effectively connect with your potential clients. Relish those and take them deeper. There may be a few things you’ve been afraid to try, yet are curious about — why not give them a try? Who knows, perhaps the new things will spark some joy!
Allowing yourself to enjoy your marketing, and letting it spark joy in you, makes a huge difference in the success of your business. Surround yourself with things you love — including your marketing — and you’ll bask in the glow of a business well created.
