How can we avoid Groundhog Day?

Posted by Larry Garfield on 2 February 2012 | 0 Comments

Groundhog Day is one of my favorite movies of all time. Besides being a huge Bill Murray fan (I grew up watching Saturday Night Live), I love the underlying message:

LIVE EVERY DAY WITH A SENSE OF WONDER.

When the film opens, Bill's character, Phil Collins, is as cynical as they come. Angry. Self-centered. Selfish. He's a miserable guy. He likes no one and no one likes him. He complains about the hotel. He thinks the people around him are stupid hicks.

He becomes trapped in Groundhog Day. Doomed to live it over and over and over again. At first, he uses this as the chance to live out his own selfish schemes. Until, finally, he realizes that if he takes the time to notice and care about the small things around him, the world opens up to him. He takes piano lessons. Saves lives. Falls in love. He learns a lesson that changes his life.

OK, SO WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH MARKETING?

I am fortunate to love what I do for a living, and work with a very talented and fun team. After nearly 30 years, it would be easy to become cynical or bored. Which is why we try to look at every new assignment as the opportunity to do something truly great. Not to just win awards. But to bring real passion to our clients - and make our work the best it can possibly be.

Just imagine how much better our websites, ads, brands can be. How much more innovation we could build into our plans. How much more fun we'd have.

Let's not sleepwalk through our days. Let's get infectious with our enthusiasm. Here are a few ways we like to shake off the cobwebs and build in a sense of wonder.

1. Ask "why" Why will anyone care about what you have to say?
2. Think bigger. Enough with the small ideas already.
3. Get inspired. Read Steve Jobs' biography. Go to a museum. Pick up Communications Arts.
4. Sneer at anyone who says "But we've always done it like that."
5. Love the work.

How do you avoid Groundhog Day? We'd love to hear your ideas.