Marketing

Marketing is like the Ultimate fairy tale Quest. The brave young person with a vision that most don't understand or can't imagine, sets out on the road carrying his precious grail or sword or trophy. He believes so strongly in what he carries. He meets with people, explains what it is and why he loves it; they pass him by. He keeps going, becoming hungry and tired and haggard but still believing in what he carries.

Finally, at what seems like is the end of his rope, another person puts their belief in him, and the story gets better and the journey gets a little easier. Maybe it's an old crone who tends him, maybe someone lends critical advice, maybe a younger one decides to follow. But no matter what form it's in, it is a relief. Because any form of attention is better than none. The hardest thing for a human to bear is to walk around in the world with a full and open heart expressing oneself, wanting to share and to help, and soliciting no reaction - as if he did not exist.

Direct Mail, CPC, SEO, email marketing, knocking on doors... How much longer until someone looks up...

If the marketing quest really is like the fairy tale, the big break will come when I have nearly given up but just for the hell of it, tried one more time. And if the metaphor continues, once I have finally earned what I needed, the whole world will come pouring in wanting a piece of it - and when that happens I will no longer need them.