By Jackie Camacho-Ruiz
Here’s a truth that may come as news to you — every 2 days the amount of content we create is equivalent to that of which was produced between the beginning of time and 2013. Yes. That much content.
Whether you’re creating the content on your own personal blog or creating it on behalf of larger corporations, the truth is that we get stuck in mental cycles that we need to break if what we want is to innovate and captivate. The noise of the internet and the content machine can be so loud. I’ve found this to be true in my own experience at JJR Marketing. Our work with clients is anchored in constantly listening to who they are, as a person or as a brand, and maximizing their unique attributes to position them on a platform that attracts the right kind of eyes.
When trying to navigate the saturated content space, I lean on 3 questions that help propel us forward:
How do we create an inventory of our ideas and our thoughts?
How do we create a strategic approach to share those ideas?
How do we create continuity and consistency to maximize those ideas?
These questions help us keep our finger on the pulse of what the world wants and how our thoughts can help meet those needs. On an agency (or company) level, the questions trigger us out of ‘group think’ and force us into new conversations. The key is to also create the setting which allows for this dialogue to prosper — at JJR, we make sure to invite new voices and new idea holders into rooms and encourage them to disrupt the past paradigms in favor of innovation.
On an individual level, the impact of these questions can be life-changing.
Here’s an exercise that could potentially help you disrupt your own thought habits and dig you out of any holes you’re deeply entrenched in.
Take a piece of paper and add 15 minutes to your timer. For the allotted time, jot down all of the questions that you are most frequently asked or all the reasons that others come to you for advice or solace. Take a deep breath. These are all the areas in your life that you’re considered a thought leader in. You are the go-to person in XYZ area because of the qualities that are inherently you.
Disruptive thought helps make sure that you are always existing in line with those inherent qualities and that you’re rejecting stagnation. The act of taking stock of what those qualities are means that you’re less likely to neglect your own power or the gifts you bring into the world. To become aware of these qualities also means that you’re gifted the opportunity to continue to build upon that reputation and brand. The 2nd and 3rd most commonly asked questions people have for you will help demonstrate how you ensure that you’re channeling your talents through a medium that makes sense to your talents and within a commitment that is sustainable with your lifestyle.
While I can’t predict what amazing inherent qualities you’ll find in yourself, I can attest to the truth that this level of disruption will spark a magical feeling within you and the community you’re trying to reach. Once you manage to hit the brand voice on the head, you’re playing on a new level — one that invites people to connect with a higher purpose and a higher vision: one that breaks through the saturation of all the content that is produced in two days.
Will you be asking these questions to yourself or in your next team meeting?