'Work' is Not a Bad Word.

Here is a 'behind the scenes' look at the marketing concepts, education and 'work' of a public speaker dedicated to progressive change:

I attended a seminar on public speaker marketing in early 2009 to both continue my education and perhaps network with other speakers and share ideas. I learned a few very valuable pieces of information that have changed the way I am marketing myself, including a new tag-line that best represents the promise I offer to clients.

When I shared my business card, one speaker challenged me on the use of the word 'work' in my main topic 'thinkWORKnotJOB' because, she said, the word 'work' wasn't as attractive as other words might be. I explained my viewpoint about it, that the word 'work' exists in the popular phrases 'body of work' and 'life's work', which are among the main points I share with others.

I had thought long and hard about the concept of thinkWORKnotJOB and I wasn't about to let the whole thing go because of one speaker's opinion. In fact, the most difficult thing about my whole concept was the title! It took many months of writing to finally arrive at a title I was proud of and that represented me best.

That speaker did me a huge favor, however, in that the comment made me look deeper into what I am doing and challenge myself regularly.

In the end, the title persevered and has been with me for over three years (and will be for many more). The funny thing is what I recently read in a book I was given for Christmas entitled 'The Likeability Factor' by Tim Sanders. Being a fan of 'Think and Grow Rich', 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' and other monumental works, I immediately delved into 'The L-Factor' (as it is known for short). One quote within the book sparked the writing of this blog entry and the quote was by one of my inventor heroes Thomas Edison.

The quote reads as follows: "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

My summary is this: if you persist in a state, enterprise or undertaking in spite of counter-influence, opposition or discouragement, the pay-off will reveal itself, eventually. Just because you see it, intangible, in your mind, doesn't mean it won't manifest itself in due course.

That's my thought for the day! Happy 2010!

- Buck Moore