Mindful Marketing, Red Canoes and Loons

Mindful marketing, red canoes and loons mingled in my meditations lately. Meditation is something I typically do through the lens of a camera. It’s how I take time for myself and stay mindful in how I “see” the world both literally and figuratively. Allowing myself to reframe how I engage with the various events in my daily life is both calming and motivating. Reframing my thinking and recharging my internal battery are critical.

From too familiar to keenly aware

Recently, I enjoyed an early morning kayak outing on the lake where my parents own a summer cottage. I grew up there during the summers and I know (or at least I thought I did) the lake like the back of my hand. It’s where I learned to swim when I was a little girl, it’s where I now paddleboard, sailboard, waterski, play with my kids and relax most summer weekends. It’s my personal slice of paradise and on this paddling trip I realized I occasionally take it for granted.

On this solo trip without kids, my significant other or a rush to return to my parental duties, I was accompanied only by my professional camera. I made quality time for me. While photographing just about anywhere is always a pleasure, I adore the water and it is my preferred location. The water is soothing; there are many loons on the lake and the morning light is superb.

As I secured my equipment in the cockpit to keep it from getting wet, I paddled out in a fairly strong headwind and choppy water. Disappointed that this might not be the calming trip I’d envisioned, I paddled toward a cove I hadn’t visited up close in awhile. The water was much more calm there. An old, red canoe caught my eye, a loon then popped up on the lake’s surface about 30 feet away. My long lens was perfect for taking close ups of the canoe and of the bird with which I’ve long been fascinated.

New patterns emerge

Further into another cove, I started to notice patterns. Patterns in the cedar hedges hanging over the water’s edge; more patterns in mossy covered rocks where waves lapped against them; and then I focused on pairs of objects, like pairs of Adirondack chairs placed purposefully on docks where I imagined their owners sitting and enjoying sunsets or watching children play in the water. The rippling water reflecting the sun’s light against the hull of a sailboat etched in my mind vs. taking a photo that would not depict the movement of the water and what I saw in the moment.

The best find was a very narrow, little inlet that I’d never noticed in all my years on the lake. It was shallow, narrow and about the width of my kayak paddle. The flowers and the bird life in that little world were beautiful. These are things you don’t see out on the lake or even at the water’s edge. While I’m not familiar with the habits of loon life, I’d imagine this could be an area where they may nest. I felt like I was somewhere else completely. As I headed back to the broad lake it hit me that we don’t often take the time to really see and absorb our surroundings whether in our personal or professional lives. This “a-ha” moment isn’t original, of course, but the experience served as a much needed reminder.

Mindful marketing

Last week, my colleague, Pat Heffernan, wrote about being cautious about lusting after “the shiny new object” in the marketing communications arena. The essence of her message was to focus more on a thoughtful process and implementation of your goals to earn customers or attention vs. the “I must have this” attitude about the latest and greatest tool or app.

There’s a parallel in my personal experience with what Pat wrote in her blog. When planning the process to market your business, product or service, remember what your ultimate goals are. Go back to when you established your business and what inspired you in the first place. I’d bet it wasn’t just to make money but to fulfill a desire to change a market, a goal or a mission. Perhaps you wanted to help people, provide a produce or service that would add sustainable value to your customer or client. You had passion.

Make time to be mindful instead of feeling the pressure to have the “next great thing” or keep up with your competitors. Stepping back to gain perspective may actually serve as the edge you need to recharge your business goals.

Some questions to jump start your thinking:

• What were my original desires? What inspired me and how can I recall that to help me move forward?
• What are the long-term effects of my planning process and ultimate goal? Do they still serve and help my target audience or mission?
• Are these decisions and plans in line with my personal values and beliefs?

Attention to your inner voice and details can help you refocus. Step away from the day-to-day routine and be mindful of your intentions, your direction and the results you wish to achieve. Really “see” those details and make time to embrace them.