I was talking with a bunch of wedding photographers recently (we hang out in packs, yes) about this post I’ve been meaning to write but wasn’t sure it would be well-received. They encouraged me to go for it (because they want to see my business go down in flames?) so here I am. You’re going to have to hang with me for a paragraph or two – don’t leave on “your marriage isn’t special” – let me get to why on earth I would say this to engaged people.
Most of the people who read this blog are around my age, so it’s likely you have been job hunting on Craigslist. When I was doing it, I was mostly looking for administrative stuff because it’s where my skill-set was when I left college. Who could really do much besides use a computer, read, write and type? Pretty much every listing wanted someone “detail-oriented.” Because they said they wanted it, I said I was it, even though I had this strong nagging suspicion that I really wasn’t even remotely detail-oriented.
So I’ve just come back from a sumptuous cheese feast with some clients (hi guys!), where I really couldn’t mesh better with a couple. These people get me and I’m pretty sure I get them. And I thought maybe it was time to muse a bit on “personality-based marketing” and how it’s so great not just for my business but for me as a regular old person who sometimes feels brash or awkward or unappreciated.