I had a college professor who made a life-long impression on me. I wish I could say it was because of a course he taught, but it was actually because of an observation he made – of me. It happened at the corner bar where I was shooting a game of pool with one of my friends. Prof. Lieben came up to me and said, “Teresa, you have so much potential, but you are lazy with a capital L.”
My friend, who had actually attended high school with me, argued with the professor. I’d been the classic over-achiever in high school, pushing myself to excel in the most challenging courses offered. I was the “model student” and graduated with honors. Surely, Prof. Lieben couldn’t be talking about Tess.
But what my friend didn’t know is that Prof. Lieben was exactly right. He hit the nail on the head, actually. Perhaps it wasn’t laziness, so much, as losing my way. I’d worked hard to get to college, and was working three jobs (at times) to afford college. I had all of this potential, but I’d lost sight of the goal – why I was in college in the first place.
That kick in the pants observation has always stuck with me – resonating in my ears so I don’t completely lose sight of my goals.
We all lose short-term sight of our goals from time to time. We are so busy “doing” that we forget where we are “going.” You often see this in business – you are too busy reacting to the daily demands from clients that you forget to forge forward with your marketing and communications plans.
As we wrap up these last few weeks of 2008, take a moment to reflect on the marketing goals you made at the beginning of the year. What did you accomplish? What didn’t you? And then begin laying the foundation for your 2009 marketing plan.
Don’t wait for your kick in the pants. Make it a point to constantly review your goals, and you will be better equipped to meet them and not lose your way.
You’ve joined the blogosphere! Hurrah!
Seriously, you make some great points… ones I definitely needed to hear!