By Shirley Mott, Content Specialist at JJR Marketing
It’s time to climb the mountain. But, never, ever reach the top. Why would I ever say that? After all, isn’t it everyone’s goal to ascend to the pinnacle: of success, of popularity, of business growth? Perhaps it’s the journey that is more important, complete with missteps and tumbles.
Andy Rooney once said “Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.” Rooney, a writer and television celebrity, may be most remembered for his satirical comments on “A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney,” the closing segment of CBS’s 60 Minutes. Was he satirical when he said this, or could it be the key to business growth?
I contend that the latter is true. Think about your own business. If you’re an entrepreneur, during the idea and planning stage, adrenaline seemingly surges through your mind and body. Nothing can get you down. However, if your business growth plateaus, do you feel sad or panicked? If so, as Rooney alleges, perhaps business growth and happiness are intertwined – and I’m not just talking only about the bottom line.
The internet is bursting with articles telling you how to grow your business. The same is true for personal growth. You can find information about improving management, hiring the right employee, refining your leadership skills. All are components of business growth, which means to me that there is no one right answer.
As a marketing firm, JJR Marketing is tasked with building awareness for clients and in turn, helping them grow their business through marketing and public relations. If you ask me, this is where the fun is – and happiness results. As a content specialist, I get to share stories. Nothing makes me happier than learning about a client’s journey – their successes, their failures and where they are as they climb that mountain.
You may not think you have a story worth telling. I beg to differ. Every person, every business has a multitude of stories to share with the world. Not every story is told in the same way or shared through the same avenue. And…not all stories will resonate with your target audience. In that case, we pick up the pieces and try again; with a different story or tell it using different media. We keep climbing that mountain because after all, “The only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks,” Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook said.
So let’s have fun, grow your business and tell stories – your story.
Shirley Mott is a content specialist with JJR Marketing who loves a good story. She’s skinned a few knees on her own journey, but she’s still climbing. The Batavia, Illinois resident rolls her eyes at a few of the far-fetched stories her husband and sons tell, but she’s happy that they’re all ascending the mountain together.