Yes, those are real nails I'm standing on.
When I speak about marketing and
communication, I usually close my
presentation by climbing on top of a table
and making my "point" visually, if not
literally. I realized recently, however,
that "Spike" makes a point that
goes beyond marketing.
The Marketing Analogy
"Most people
pack their marketing messages with a pile of
blatant, boastful bullet points. With so many
points in a message, and with so many
messages out there that all look and sound
alike. . . NONE will
penetrate," I say as I step on the nails.
Balancing there on one foot, I remind the
audience of the
photos they've mostly likely seen of people
who can fall
asleep on a bed of nails with many
points--which is exactly what their marketing
will
do if they don't embrace and implement a few
of the Maverick Marketing principles they
just learned.
Then I take the board with a single nail
poking through it and . . . well . . .
demonstrate how being a Maverick will,
indeed, penetrate.
The Anything-But-Blah Analogy. Having
performed The Bed of Nails segment in a
marketing context countless times, I got to
thinking one day (actually, I was second
guessing myself with a little whining on the
side). I was thinking that perhaps "Spike"
was getting tired, gimmicky. I'm doing a
bigger mix of motivation, humor, work/life
balance material now, too. Besides, if he
"retired,"
I wouldn't have to check him as luggage;
I would save travel time on both ends of a
trip, at check-in
and baggage claim. Heck, I could even start
buying
less-sensible
shoes!
But then I thought again, and had one of
those take-your-own-advice-walk-your-talk
moments along the lines of an epiphany. Yes,
Spike
and the Bed of Nails help me summarize my
marketing
mantra in a memorable way. But my message is
not just about marketing anymore. It's about
resisting the usual, expected, blah blah blah
way of doing or saying things--in the
marketplace and in the workplace.
A life less ordinary. That's my passion, and
my point. Looks like Spike is going to stay
on tour a while longer.
What about you? What one thing could
YOU do
differently today that would make a
difference in your life? Your business,
attitude, communication, relationship? Call
instead of email? Compliment instead of
critique? Listen more, talk less? If it's not
your typical, expected way of doing things,
it will stand out. . . dare I say "penetrate"?
Trust me on that one!
