It’s Back to School Season. The Promise of Fall is in the Air (Though Not Here in Arizona). A Fresh Set of No. 2 Pencils. A Package of Index Cards. Hallway Hellos and High Hopes for the New Year. Yes, It’s September.
“September is the new January,” said author and happiness expert Gretchen Rubin. “The air seems charged with possibility and renewal.” If you’ve been goofing off this summer and avoiding your marketing, make September the month to get your mojo back.
Marketing Class is In Session
I’ve come up with eight marketing assignments for you. (You’re welcome.) Pick one or several — and then make a plan to get your marketing homework done by October 1.
Stock up on new supplies. Is there a marketing-related tool you’ve been wanting to buy — something that would make work-life easier for you? For me, it could be finally upgrading my Buffer (social media scheduling tool) from the free version to a pro account.
What would make your marketing easier? Would the benefits outweigh the cost? If so, make that purchase you’ve been putting off and maximize your marketing momentum!
Get up on time and don’t miss the bus. We all remember what it was like to oversleep and be rushing around and then having to sprint to the bus stop. If you’ve been too tired to focus on marketing, wake things up in September. You know what area(s) you’ve been avoiding. And I know what I could do better or more consistently. Tackle your pressing marketing needs or delegate them to someone. I’m here for you if you need me.
That Was Then, This Is Now (Dating myself with this subhead)
Reconnect with old friends. I have fond memories of walking the halls of Center North Junior High and re-connecting with friends I didn’t get to see over the summer. (That first sight of a crush was fun, too. Kevin Fitzgerald, I adored you.) If you’re out of touch with your business buddies, reconnect with them on LinkedIn or invite them out for coffee. Staying connected to business VIPs takes time and energy, but it’s worth the effort.
Which clients, prospects, power partners or fellow business owners will you reach out to this month? Pick at least two or three people, then pick up the phone and call or text them.
Don’t say the dog ate your marketing homework! Tackle a few items on your marketing to-do list, and your business will say thank you.
Make a good connection with the teacher. I don’t want to say I was always a teacher’s pet, but my people-pleasing tendencies frequently kept me in good standing with them. I wanted my teachers to like me but also to acknowledge my class participation and hard work.
Is there someone you look up to whose opinion about your business (or your marketing) matters? Reach out to them today. It could be just the boost you need. Have you been longing for a business coach or mentor or hoping to find an accountability partner or group? Be a stellar student and go after the support and advice you need. And don’t wait until January 1 — September’s your best month for action.
Go to the Head of the Marketing Class
Turn in your homework on time. We all missed a school deadline or two. Yes, even a goody two shoes like me. It was a sucky feeling, especially if the teacher made a big deal out of it. (Mr. Wills, I’m looking at you.)
If you’re behind on marketing, it doesn’t feel good and it’s definitely bad for your business. Get motivated this September to not just talk about what you could be doing — but tackle some of the marketing items on your to-do list. It could be networking you’ve been putting off or addressing a website that’s sorely out of date. Why not be a good student and get your homework done.
I don’t know if Gretchen Rubin was the first person to coin this neat phrase, but here’s her 2015 Inc. article, Why September Is the New January.
Sign up for an extracurricular activity. I wasn’t into sports in junior high and high school, but I found other after-school activities that played on my strengths: enjoying writing (volunteering for the yearbook and newspaper staffs) and loving music (joining more choirs than I can count).
I didn’t consider those activities to be stretch assignments back then, because I honestly enjoyed them. But they did take extra time from my life and my parents’, too.
Is there a business-related activity you could volunteer for that could earn you marketing credit? It might be public speaking or starting a networking group. You’ll give up some free hour, for sure, but the rewards and connections could offset the time commitment.
Don’t Get An “F” in Marketing
Work hard for good grades. When I was in junior high, I was a solid student in everything but math. I remember getting a C- in Algebra — the lowest grade I’d ever received. I even started having math-focused nightmares. Even today, I still doubt my math skills but I’m sleeping AOK.
What grade would give your marketing efforts this year? What could you tackle in September that’ll help you rest easier at night? I don’t know exactly what’s troubling you, but if you pick a focus area and work on it over the next 30 days, think how accomplished you’ll feel October 1!
Eat the cafeteria’s veggies. (Yes, they were overcooked, but there were probably a few nutrients still intact.) Is there some aspect of marketing that’s hard to swallow? Maybe it’s time to just put that thing aside and stop feeling guilty about it. But if your gut says it’s important, delegate the task to someone else. (“Eat my green beans.” LOL)
September is the New January
I know I could can up with more educational analogies — like, be nice to the janitor or make sure the principal knows your name — but I’ll leave a few to your imagination.
Are you ready to make the most of September? Show up at marketing class, do the homework and see what a difference it will make for your business.
