My baby is turning 7 today. Time goes by *so* fast It honestly seems like just last week, we were assembling her crib and painting her nursery. Now Suzanne is a not a baby anymore but a real live full-fledged little girl.
Maybe it is because she is an only child — but my daughter seems very wise for her seven years. I think I have learned as much from her as she from me. She has a natural flair for sales, negotiation and marketing. Here are some lessons about marketing that Suzanne has taught me.
1. Keep Inviting More People One of the hard things about having a summer birthday is that people are often out of town on your birthday. School ends early in New Mexico – and the lead time for getting invites out is almost too long. Suzanne was not daunted by the possible low turn out at her party. She just kept inviting more people. Her party is tomorrow and I made new invitations this morning. If you aren’t getting the sign ups or clients that you want - just keep asking.
2. Approach People I’m not at all sure where she gets her extroversion — but Suzanne is not afraid to walk up to any kid that she sees and strike up a conversation. She’ll walk right up and ask to play. She’s made a lot of friends that way. I think when we grow up – we become shy in some ways. When I watch her - I think — well, what is the harm in being friendly and approaching other people?
3. Maintain Brand Integrity Suzanne is one of the few 7 year olds I know with a consistent brand. Suzanne’s brand colors are pink and she is a “princess”. Princess to her means someone who is kind, caring and smart. Suzanne is always true to her brand.
4. It Pays To Be Nice Suzanne is probably the only kid in her first grade class who didn’t get in trouble in school. This is because she was very nice at the beginning of the year. By the end, I think she “got away” with a little more because she already had a solid reputation for being well behaved.
5. Ask for A Commitment (Preferably in Writing) Suzanne is great at getting down to brass tacks. She’ll say — “Mommy, can I go — yes or no… and then present me with a piece of paper with two checkboxes on it — yes and no. Once the box is checked, the commitment is made. No wishy washiness in Suzanne’s world.
What marketing lessons have you learned in unexpected places?
