It’s that time of year… the dreaded New Year’s Resolution is approaching, and most people start thinking about what they are going to do different or better or more or less of in the upcoming year. In short, it’s time to reevaluate your life, both personally and professionally, and take stock of what you can do differently in the new year.
One of the bigger problems I have in my business is focus. I am always coming up with new ideas, and I am a voracious reader both online and offline. It seems I’m coming up with new business ideas, ways to market existing businesses, and some just plain crazy ideas on an hourly basis. And part of this is the fire hose of information that comes with always being connected. Facebook, Twitter, Google, RSS, and email newsletters provide me with a steady stream of great ideas from others who have forged paths I hope to follow.
But, in keeping with the theme of looking ahead, I’ve realized that I need to focus a great deal more in 2010 if I want to grow my small business and learn the right things from the right sources. I’ve decided to drastically reduce my influencers and really try to focus on who I think will help me the most in the upcoming year. Help me grow my business and strengthen my relationships with the community of people who I can most relate to on a more personal level.
Here are the top folks I’ll be keeping on my list, and I hope you get a chance to explore all the great content they have to offer any small business when they are looking to make the most of today’s connected world.
- Seth Godin – To me, Seth is one of the most insightful minds in marketing and business today. Seth offers great advice and insight into how business should be run in a world where the consumer has taken back control of the transactions in business.
- Chris Brogan – If you’re looking for someone who knows all about social media and how it can be used in business and personal branding, Chris is one of my go-to guys. He puts out a ton of great content and he’s one of the most giving people in the space.
- Jonathan Fields – An interesting guy who has been involved in a number of careers, and now does the work he most enjoys. For those of you (like me) who are at a crossroads in their professional life, Jonathan offers some great advice.
- John Jantsch – The mind behind Duct Tape Marketing, which is a great resource for information about marketing your local business. There’s tons of free info, and some great products for purchase.
- Naomi Dunford – She’s the face of Itty Biz, a site for very small businesses that have no marketing department. Naomi’s an acquired taste (WARNING: If you don’t like swearing, don’t visit the site!), but the information and advice she offers is top-notch.
There are quite a few other folks that I’ll be following in 2010, but this is a great starting list if you’re looking to improve the effectiveness of your marketing and to take advantage of social media and the connected world we now live in.
Here’s to a prosperous 2010, and I hope to see you online soon!
Chuck
