<h2><a href="/2010/01/officeviewblog.gif"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-747" title="officeviewblog" src="/pullinc/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/officeviewblog.gif" alt="officeviewblog" width="515" height="432" /></a><span style="color: #808000;">When I established my guidelines for writing and developing the voice of our Influence By Design blog– I declared I would share only information that adds value to my marketing colleagues on the client side, and never make it about me personally.  I’m in flagrant violation of that guideline with this post. As I look out my office window, I’m hell bent to share my musings on this new year/decade ahead, forgive my indulgence</span>.</h2>
In light of the current state of affairs in our economy, for many business people, this down-turn has been a perfect opportunity to refocus, regroup, make new plans, and generally ratchet it up a notch.  Many businesses are well prepared for opportunity when things get cooking again. My business is no exception.

As I thought about how I would grow the business this year, I discovered myself connecting more deeply with what I really love about my work and my business, beyond the making-money part.  Each year I ask myself the all important question  ”why am I doing this?”.  Here are my answers and not in any order of importance:

<strong>I love contributing to growth and expansion</strong>

<strong>I love when my expertise contributes to the success of others</strong>

<strong>I love to creatively express useful ideas and bring them into form</strong>

<strong>I love the diversity of my client’s businesses</strong>

<strong>I love putting a face on things that influences positive perceptions and experiences</strong>

<strong>I love design</strong>

<strong>I love to be around smart and talented people</strong>

<strong>I love to create value through the venue of my business.</strong>

Pure and simple, after 30 years, love continues to keep me going in the face of today’s challenging business environment.  I love doing what matters to me and serves others. We created PULL at the very beginning of this downturn.  My colleauges and I felt strongly marketers would highly value the deep expertise and specialized talent we provide them helping them be more confident in the business decisions that drive their brand marketing initiatives. And delivering these outcomes in a “cut to the chase, no BS” process. It turned out to be good timing.

As marketers begin to see a glimmer of light at a turnaround, more are preparing themselves for new opportunity and reconnecting with their brand heritage discerning how it supports or hinders serving customers in a crowded marketplace.  I see more opportunity on the horizon to serve people and share the love than ever before.  That’s what it’s all about.  Like Bob Dylan says “ you’re gonna have to serve somebody”.  After all the marketing theory, buzz-words and industry hype about fragmented media channels, and social media emergence, a successful brand simply begins by serving people well.

If we find ourselves having a conversation about your business growth, it will because we share this same point of view.  I love my work! My wish– 2010 becomes a year of prosperity for all of us. Happy New Year to you!