I often describe myself an an “Emotional Archaeologist.” In my public relations company, I bring my invisible shovel to meet with clients. I dig away at their stories. After all, I was a news reporter and reporters ask a lot of questions.
The invisible shovel is a metaphor for asking quality questions. To going beneath the surface and uncovering the good stuff. The stories and gems are always there, even when the the client humbly insists they don’t have a story. The only reason they believe they don’t have anything newsworthy is because they are digging in a different corner of the yard. Their minds aren’t on news.
They may be plumbers looking for leaky pipes. They may be graphic designers searching for a nifty font. They may be doctors conducting tests to diagnose a patient. They are using their own tools to dig in their own way.
What are you digging for? New business, new revenue streams, new publicity, new employees, new Social Media apps, new gadgets?
Before you start digging, consider these 5 points:
1. Are you digging in the right place? Are you laser-focused? Or are you 10 miles East of Ja-Bib, just a stone’s throw away from Crap’s Corner? Silly GPS didn’t work. Darn.
2. Do you know what you are digging for? Don’t dig because your friends are busy digging. If you think you’ll recognize the gold when you find it, that may not be effective in business development. It works in the mall for clothes and gift shopping, but not as a growth strategy in the marketplace.
3. What will you do with “it” when you unearth “it”? Or is finding “it” the thrill, and then “it” sits on the shelf as a dust collector nagging at you that you once again, fell short? You didn’t see it through. Enter unrelenting negative self-talk.
4. Who have you invited on your archaeological dig? Can they truly help you in creative and energetic ways to tear up that dense, tough soil and recognize and retrieve the hidden nuggets? Or are they standing by watching you sweat with calloused hands? They may not say it but they will be ready at the snap of a finger to celebrate the successful dig and reap the rewards of your vision and hard work. Sure, they were in the yard, near the shovel, but note to self: their hands are clean.
5. Why are you digging? What’s your real, no-nonsense purpose? To uncover the neat stuff and hoarde it selfishly, or to share it lovingly with your community and family? What contribution would you be willing to make when your shovel unburies the gifts and treasures you have been seeking? Do you have an ulterior motive attached to your shovel? Or is it authentic, pure and transparent?
Dig with humility, focus and purpose. Being in business means we are not afraid to get our hands dirty. The shovel awaits.
(Photo Credit: Mahalie)
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These are very good questions. Sometimes “why” is harder to understand than the “what”.
You are absolutely right Deb. Answering the question “Why” often takes us down an introspective and long path.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Susan