When I lost my marketing manager post due to the recession and started my own marketing consulting business, I never realized that change was meant to be this good.
During this past year, trying times and all, I had the opportunity to assist business owners with their marketing and much sought after Social Marketing and SEO needs, job that is quite challenging for small engineering and automation firms. Engineers are indeed brilliant, but when it comes to presenting their amazing new technologies and products they are absolutely at a loss.
If you are still curious, engineers assume that what they do, does not require explanation, so they fail to answer simple questions such about their developments such as: what its, what it does, how it does it, what is the innovation or new technology used, how do you use it (applications), future applications, why their product or technology is better than others, and so forth.
On the other hand, time on my own has allowed me to expand my horizons in ways I never imagined. I did a road trip across Canada, became an accomplished swimmer, might even be competing in 2013, and like Conrad Black, I also started to learn to play piano a few years back, but having free time allowed me to go deep into my music studies. As an adult learner, I never found the time to practice and establish a routine.
Now I am going for my grade 3 piano exam and have a few recitals under my belt.
What does this all mean? Simply put, that I am more creative and more productive today than ever before. The needs of my clients are pressing, the budgets small, the right time was yesterday.
Today, having to do a presentation to a Board of Directors seems something that is just too easy, after having to endure the shame of learning piano with little child prodigies and performing at recitals where, as the one and only adult student you are introduced as "a rarity". At every recital I did feel a bit like Susan Boyle;s first gig, but it has paid off. These past few months of practice served me well and now I will be performing among adults.
As much as I miss working full time, I have to admit that this hiatus has made me a more creative, intuitive and dynamic marketing. Sometimes is really good to stop to smell the roses, and/or live to your full potential.
