My Marketing Manifesto

There are a lot of things a lot of people believe about Marketing. So I thought perhaps I would clear up some of MY beliefs about Marketing, so we can either align or graciously part ways ??

First of all, what is a manifesto? It's a public declaration of the issuers intentions, motives and views.

With that, here is My Marketing Manifesto.

I Believe in Authenticity Over Hype

I believe in Authenticity as I define it: doing or saying, what YOU would do or say, WHEN you would do or say it. No one else's way is more sustainable than yours. The most effective means of communication - both inside and external to an organization - is to be REAL. Filter out those who disagree. Align with those who agree. Don't waste time trying to convince anyone of anything. Reject shallow marketing tactics that prioritize hype over substance.

? Let us strive to be the MOST us, to bring that out in the people around us (including potential clients), and always, always remember who we are and why we do what we do?

I Believe in Humans First

I believe in People. Before targets. Before numbers. People are at the heart of every marketing effort. People create marketing and people consume marketing. When a marketing strategy filters the people out of the equation, it is doomed to fail. Humans desire understanding. Humans desire empathy.

? Let us strive to create experiences that add value to human lives rather than intruding upon them?

I Believe in Sustainability

I believe that in order for a company to succeed, their marketing efforts need to be sustainable. In that people WANT to do them. People find JOY in doing them. I believe that sustainable businesses fund sustainable humans. A sustainable Earth. A sustainable society.

? Let us strive to find answers, systems, and processes in our Marketing that deliver not only dollars, but value throughout our entire global existence?

I Believe in "How Can We"

I believe in asking questions. And not the simple questions, but the questions that Go Deep. I believe in FINDING ways; CREATING ways to achieve what WE desire. I reject that there is ONE WAY to do anything. I embrace the power of individual brands in their knowledge of how they can make something happen. I do NOT believe in waiting for something to be done for us.

? Let us strive to go one level deeper; to never accept an answer unless we are confident in checks all our boxes?

I Believe in the Power of Diversity

I believe the more diverse thoughts that are in a room, the more likely we will be able to come up with a unique answer. An answer that is right for us. I believe that a new perspective ALWAYS adds value; and doesn't require agreement to add that value. I believe new perspectives incite learning, which makes us grow; as individuals, and as business units.

? Let us strive to put more voices in the room that sound different than our own; to gain new perspectives on our own voice and stand?

I Believe in Transparency

I reject the concept of "there is nothing to see here". There is always something to see. To be observed. Especially in people. I believe in reflecting this in marketing practices because we have nothing to hide from our people. And if we DO have something we think we need to hide, we will explore that mindset internally to find ways to find comfort in our mistakes; in our humanity.

? Let us strive to remove the barriers that keep us SEPARATE from our community, and embrace the fact that experts, inventors and innovators fail as part of their success?

I Believe in Accountability

I believe in doing what you say you're going to do; when you said you were going to do it. And if you don't, I believe in sharing WHY. I believe that humans are imperfect, and will never reach 100% accountability, and I reject that we should not TRY.

? Let us strive to keep our words, marketing and otherwise, not only as a promise to others, but as a promise to ourselves?

I Believe in Evolutionary Practices

I believe that humans are constantly evolving; which means businesses, and therefore Marketing, are ALSO constantly evolving. I believe in letting go of practices and mindsets that are not serving us. I believe in trying new things without being concerned that they might fail. I believe in learning from failure and continuing on the path towards success. I reject anything that is built to be PERMANENT.

? Let us strive to more forward, through FAILURE, so we can move more quickly toward SUCCESS?

I Believe in Collective Contribution

I believe that every human has a unique contribution they can make to the world. I also believe that most people are NOT making this contribution. When we can come together, me making MY contribution and YOU making yours, as a collective, we win. I reject the solo journey. I embrace a team that's primary goal is to achieve the goal TOGETHER, and to make our unique contributions along the way.

? Let us strive to identify OUR meaningful contributions, as well as the meaningful contributions of others, and puzzle them together into a beautiful picture that takes us to where only we can go?

I Believe in Listening to Connect

I believe in listening because we WANT to listen. I believe when we can do this, we create the space for a different level of connection. I reject the basic marketing practices of customer surveys that achieve nothing. If we say we're going to listen, let's listen. And THEN, let's do something with what we heard.

? Let us strive to listen more than we talk, and do SOMETHING with what we hear; even if it was hard to hear?

A Manifesto In Practice

It's all well and good to make these kinds of statements. And if you don't know me, you would have NO IDEA whether or not this was how I did business.

The cool part of a manifesto is that, while it's a promise, it's also a TEST.

It's a test for your marketing efforts.

It's a test for your business conversations.

It's a test for your business strategy; and even business structure.

It's a test for your onboarding practices.

How well are you performing?

If you're trying to accomplish the above ways of being in YOUR Marketing Program, but you're not passing the test, we should probably chat ??

Because I'll tell you one thing, while I don't believe in perfect 100% scores in these areas, I do have more intentionality in these spaces than most people. Especially when it comes to your marketing ??