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MARKETING IS – LIFE!

Are you thinking of studying marketing? And you are wondering whether it is a good step? Whether you will find a high income job later? Whether it is the right decision?

Before I dump my thoughts on this subject I need to deliver a very important message to you. Now I need you to bear with me and keep on reading because this might turn your life upside down!

Why do you want to study Marketing?

I bet that now you are saying: “is this guy gonna help me out or is he gonna make things more complicated for me?”

The powerful message that needs to be delivered, specially to the youth; is that before deciding to study ANY degree, you must have a clear goal and a clear reason why you want to study that specific subject?

You have to know that institutionalized education is very less likely going to get you anywhere.

The prejudice of education is DEADLY! Before I started my B.A in Business Management I looked at it this way; I thought that by acquiring any degree; my career will automatically be successful and I will be rich. I will not need to educate myself anymore blah blah blah and then I’m free!! No more responsibilities!

Well, Guess what? I was completely wrong.

After doing a lot of research on the topic of success, on the topic of happiness, on the topic of material wealth, and after reading tons of books on these topics I came to the conclusion that whatever it is that you want to pursue, YOU HAVE TO PURSUE IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

So what do I mean with pursuing something wholeheartedly?

Ask yourself, are you studying that specific course just for the sake of studying it? Is it aligned with YOUR OWN DREAM or is it your parents dreams? or your friends dreams?

You have to make sure that there is a solid passion for what you are about to do or else you would do it half-assed.

First step

You need to discover what it is that you want to do profitably and enjoy doing it at the same time.

I know you are saying that life is tough and there is no way that you can enjoy your work but believe it or not, there are people out there who enjoy doing there jobs, so you need to eliminate the belief that there is no such thing as a fun job. In other words, you need to discover something which you are good at.  I recommend that you read Sr. Ken Robinson’s book The Element: How finding your passion changes everything. It’s a very good read, the author relates very successful people and how they relate their success to their talents and passion. Another good book is Now, Discover your strengths  by Marcus Buckingham & Donald O. Clifton, in this book the author explains how essential it is that you focus on your strengths rather than focusing on your weaknesses, whats amazing about the book is that they give you a unique code to scratch and then you go to their website, enter that code, do an online test, and discover your five dominant character themes. I found the book very helpful as I related the themes to myself.

Going back to our subject of doing something you enjoy doing profitably; For e.g, one thing I’m good at is relating one thing to the other. So, how does relating one thing to the other help me be good at something? Well, if I can relate topics well, I can explain things! I can teach, I can speak, I can intrigue your mind with questions,  next question comes; how can you do it profitably? Like I said I can be a teacher! I can write a book and try to sell it! How can you turn it into a hobby? I can have my own blog where I explain things and I assist those who are in need of help I enjoy doing it, if you were physically here with me right now I would talk and talk and talk explaining things to you till you wished that you have never ever met me.

Second step

You need to ask yourself, what is the benefit of going to university?

Look my friend, the university either makes your self-esteem, or breaks it. The only noticeable benefit I see in going to university is that I learn people skills. THAT’S IT!

I bet you are now saying what the hell is this guy talking about? What about the material which is provided in class? What about the practical knowledge that is passed on to you in class?

Einstein says: “The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education”

Stop for a second, and ask yourself, now what did one of the greatest minds on Earth mean when he said that?

More than 90 % of what is taught in universities is forgotten after graduation, once you start working at a job, they teach you to do things from zero, unless if you had excessive repetition or understanding in a given thing; it will evaporate from your mind.

Now we don’t want to start a debate on the beneficence of universities, the critical point that I want you to understand is that if you want to learn something, you can learn it anywhere and anytime, at the library, at home, at your garage, wherever.

So before you start enrolling for your course stop and ask yourself, do I really need to do this course?

Is it aligned with my definite chief aim?

If you have not yet planned a definite chief aim, go ahead and do it this moment.

Now going back to what I meant by marketing is life.

“What the hell is this guy talking about? Marketing is life??” Yes let me repeat that sentence so you don’t forget it, Marketing is life! Why? because everything around you is marketing, from products to services, politics to Music! Everything is Marketing.

To get a job you market yourself by applying in companies and creating a product description of yourself (CV)

Have you ever heard a politician win an election without marketing himself like Obama did with his “Hope”? Have you ever seen a product that got sold without being displayed in the market?

Are you still confused?

Let’s illustrate using the music industry.

Haven’t you noticed that every song that you hear is generalized? The vocal artist will definitely not say “oooh my love when I was in my old apartment you came to my flat at 9am and you had a can of soda in your hand you where wearing a pink scarf and you looked a little angry but I thought that you are happy…Now these lyrics are totally irrelevant to the average person who might be listening to the song, i.e he can’t relate the song to his own life, he will say what the hell is this artist talking about??? unless if the artist generalizes his lyrics by saying.. walking down the street (everyone walks down the street) I remembered the good times we had (everyone remembers the good times they had with other people unless if you are a zombie, then your case is exceptional) Driving in the car with my baby (how many of you drive your cars with your “babies”?) you see where this is going? When the artist generalizes his lyrics, he can relate to many people and many benefit from the artist’s songs as they are relating their own life to his song therefore buying his CDs. (Enlarging market target)

Marketing is life 🙂