Ralph Waldo Emerson was a wise man.
Journey
Not heard of him? He’s the late American lecturer who knew a thing or two about being on a journey. One of his quotes has pretty much inspired me over the last few years.
“Life is a journey, not a destination.”
Or there’s…
“An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.”
And finally (but there is another one later on…)
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
Bit deep for a blog? Well, not only has Ralph inspired millions with his musings, they also help us understand the ever-evolving industry we find ourselves in.
Marketing. On-line. Off-line. Digital. Web development. Content curation and creation. Design. Search Engine Optimisation. Branding. PPC. Traditional. Modern. Public relations. Social media. Trends. Sales. Plans. Growth. Sustainable. The list is pretty much endless.
This week, the Happies took part in the first of a few planning meetings for the year ahead. Coffee and croissants were consumed, thoughts were put down on Post-It Notes and ideas were thrown around. And while everyone had different ideas – because no idea is rubbish – the common theme was the same – we are all on this amazing journey.
Along the way we will pick up new skills, new expertise and we can adapt them to our surroundings, whatever we might be doing for our clients or the business. We are there to provide a service and our knowledge will help them prosper and grow. Expanding our knowledge is key going the extra mile, even though sometimes that mile can seem a greater distance.
But the journey doesn’t have to end in your comfort zone, even Emerson thinks so…
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
The path I followed didn’t quite work out the way I had planned so I had to choose another one. And, do you know what? It was the best thing I ever did. Moving from the sometimes mad world of the newsroom to the fast-paced, ever-changing landscape of PR, content and marketing wasn’t the easiest transition but what a trail it’s taking me on.
New challenges, new skills, new experiences are what drives us forward. Not sitting still but going forth with thoughts and ideas with a fresh belief that you are doing the right thing.
Some work, some don’t, but as with everything is life, you learn from it. And so much is gained from learning.
So thanks Ralph, I hope your well-chosen phrases continue to inspire and provoke actions.
Nick Hyde is PR & Content Manager and creative thinker at Happy Creative, a full-service marketing and creative agency based in Blackpool, Lancashire. To learn more or contact us please go to www.happy-creative.co.uk
