My husband loves woodworking. I’m begging him to build a little free library for our neighborhood’s community park.
Why? Because the symbol of a little free library would reflect our values, as a family and as a community. We live in a wonderful neighborhood full of thoughtful, curious people. They’re active in local causes and are advocates for education. A dozen or so have spent many weekends over the last couple of years bringing the greenspace of the community park back from the destructive brink of invasive plants. They’ve even created a creekside path for walkers to enjoy. It’s a beautiful, contemplative space, right outside my front door!
I’d love to see the books that pop up and get exchanged. Can you imagine someone discovering Richard Rohr or Zora Neale Hurston for the first time, just because someone donated a book, and we had made a space for someone else to receive it with surprise and delight?
Our values roar for more attention. Not just in our hobbies or our homes, but in our businesses, too. When I talk to people about marketing the first time, they are often so discouraged and say that they hate marketing. That almost always signals that the real issue is that they hate compromising their values for what they believe marketing means.
What if marketing started from your values? What if it started from that place of deep service and love for the people that you want to serve? What if it started with the commitment to never compromise your values?
What if we permanently release the idea that marketing is a vehicle for tricking and taking? What if it were simply an enthusiastic educational exchange, infused with grace?
What if marketing is as simple as making a space to let ideas flow into the community, like a little free library?
image credit: michael r perry
By Laurie Foley
I'm Laurie Foley and I help solo professionals like you discover your natural brand so that you can get clear, get noticed and get clients. Please request your free copy of The Inner Brandifesto, my popular guidebook full of brand-building exercises.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Love the little library idea. I’ll send you a box of books to start you out – just say the word!
Sue
Now Joe is noticing them everywhere! I think it will happen.
Thanks, Sue!
This:
“What if it were simply an enthusiastic educational exchange, infused with grace?”
gives me a happy smile.
As does the whole piece = gladness, and.. relief.
You show the way, every time you write!
Thank You!
Thanks, Kathleen! There really is another way that feels good and does good. Maybe it’s my years of working with non-profits that gives me hope in this area. They were always great about sharing their message in a way that people will happy to engage with them.
Love the little library idea! Every community should have one. And a garden (ooh, plant library?).
Oddly enough this has made me realize that I don’t avoid marketing for the reasons you state. I know marketing can be done in a values based way with integrity- I’ve seen it, and those are the people I choose to work with. But I’m going to guess I’m far from the only person who finds marketing difficult because it draws attention to me and my work (well, duh, that’s the point, right?) and I’m carrying an exceptionally strong message that tells me it’s not okay to share, to offer, to draw attention to anything I’m doing regardless of how positive it is. I expect a smack down every time I put something out there, even when evidence points to the opposite. Good to know, because I think I was aware of this, but not aware of how this piece fits in the big picture. Thanks for inspiring the insight.
Fascinating observation, Lesley!
I might have a turn-around for you… What if it doesn’t draw attention to your work? What if it draws your client’s attention to her work – thereby engaging her with you?
Tell me where I’m wrong.
Oooh, that IS a turnaround! And that is what I do- I help women see themselves. I act as a mirror, my marketing is a mirror for the amazing women I work with. Pure, beautiful, loving awesomeness. Thank you.
Hey Laurie,
When you’re ready to loan out any of your Kindle titles, please let me know. And I’d like to share any of my titles with you too.
I just love being a voyeur on your bookshelf.
Let me know if you’re looking for something lendable in particular, Blaze. Thanks for your offer, too. Do you know about http://lendle.me/? Ever tried it?
Hi Laurie,
Yes, I’m on lendle, I wish it were more intuitive. And I’m not looking for anything particular, and I do like your style.