If you are anything like me, you started 2021 off ready to ‘take the bull by the horns’ and make a new start. With one quarter down, the bull isn’t exactly playing by the rules. Every day I’m learning how to do things differently and finding ways to create new opportunities.
It can be disheartening when plans go awry. Sometimes it’s external factors which conspire against us. And, there are also times when the motivation well just runs dry.
I’ve discovered a motivating hack that also presents great PR opportunities.
The Fresh Start Effect
According to the theory, we are more motivated and likely to take action towards a goal after a time-based landmark which represents a new beginning.
The start of a new year is the most obvious temporal landmark. At the end of a year, we reflect on the past and look ahead to the new one with a clean slate and renewed vigour. Temporal landmarks are abundant. Consider your current goals and what landmarks you’re referencing. For example:
- Start eating healthily after the Easter long weekend
- Hit a turnover value by financial year-end
- Launch a new product in Q3
- Engage with employees when we get back to the office
- Send out a newsletter ‘when things go back to normal
When that deadline rolls around, we get a psychological kickstart, do things, change our behaviour, and move toward the goal with new energy.
The Good News
The Fresh Start Effect is not tied to particular dates or days. If you sense motivation is flagging, you can engineer a Fresh Start and harness its effect. Don’t wait for things to go back to normal, or to return to the office. The only condition is that the temporal landmark must have significance to the person or people you are trying to motivate. There must be a sense of leaving the old behind, and the chance to start again and reach new heights with a new beginning.
Think widely about what has changed recently in your business – have you implemented a new sales system, celebrated a birthday, moved premises, restructured, launched an online store? Fresh Starts are fabulous news opportunities, and we can help you dig around to find them.
Where does SWC fit in?
As creative thinkers and skilled communicators, we can help you identify opportunities to create a Fresh Start. We will help you tell the stories that give the temporal landmark significance and articulate your company’s goals in a way that motivates and attracts people to work with you.
Or flip it on its head and nudge your customers or clients towards a new beginning by timing offers with occasions most meaningful to them.
If you want to push the ‘reset’ button with your employees, colleagues, or clients and customers, give me a call so that together we can create a Fresh Start.
Regards
Shirley and the team at SWC
