Today's Marketing Cookie - Do It Now

Today's Marketing Cookie came from Rose Cahill, Vice President of Insurance Industry at Acxiom. I had the pleasure of working with Rose for a few years to generate thousands of leads for a national life insurance company. She knows the life insurance business like no one else I've met, and I've learned a lot from her. If there were just one word to describe Rose as a marketer, I would say, "fearless", because she was willing to try just about anything to get more leads.  If I were to pick one word to describe Rose as a person, I would say, "gracious", because I've never worked with a nicer more thoughtful person. I encourage you to follow her on Twitter: @RoseMCahill

What do you want to do? Please write it down. Go ahead and write it. I'll wait for you...

Let me be clear. I didn't ask what you think you should do. I didn't ask what you would do if the stars aligned and all conditions were perfect... I'm asking you to give yourself permission to choose something specific for yourself.

This thing you want to do... How long have you wanted to do it? How many times have you talked yourself out of doing it? Is it something new you just thought of? Or are you like the rest of us, and this thing you want is something you've wanted to do for as long as you can remember?  What are the reasons you keep giving yourself not do it?  Not enough time? Not enough money? Not young enough? Not brave enough? ...and the reasons continue. I think Henry Ford said it best, "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right."

Did someone else give you reasons why you can't? Let's just settle this right now. Only you can determine your ability, just as much as only you can choose what you want. Be very careful. Sometimes when we can't come up with suitable excuses of our own of why we can't do what we want, we walk around soliciting reasons from other people so we don't have to take responsibility for not doing what we want to do.  If you are ready to throw off the shackles that have been holding you hostage, my next question is, "Are you ready to start?"

Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying, "You may delay, but time will not."  It's true. If you already know what you want to do, there is no good reason to wait.  Stop dreaming and start doing. I give you permission - to give yourself permission!

My wife, Moonie Garcia always wanted to write a children's book and one day she decided that she could. She wrote her book, then illustrated it. Three long years later, she was invited for book signings and making special appearances to promote her new best selling book. Her next book took only one year to produce and people love what she creates. Today she is working to open her own gourmet coffee and dessert shop called, the Moonie Garcia Cafe. Why? Because she wants to, and because she can. Her dreams are just like yours. The only thing you need to do now is start.