Resolve to make your life as an AEC Marketing Professional more peaceful, productive and healthy based on the Top 10 New Year's Resolutions Americans make.

1. Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions
Ten Ways to Make Your Life as an AEC Marketer
More Peaceful, Productive and Healthy in 2016
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2. #10 Spend More Time With Family
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3. Are proposal deadlines keeping you from
spending time with your family?
Start submitting on only the projects you can win. Refine your Go/No Process. Track
resources, win rates, and ROI to make subjective decisions. Do Research. Make sure
that when you submit, every word you write is focused on the client.
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STOP!
The best way to win more work is to submit fewer proposals.

4. #9 Fall in Lovecc: MOHSEN MaSoUmI - https://www.flickr.com/photos/8323744@N08

5. Are you passionate about your career?
Discover your “Why?”
The purpose, cause, or belief that would enable you love your job.
If you can’t live your passion where you are, consider a move.
https://www.startwithwhy.com/
“Imagine a world where people wake
up inspired to go to work”
– Simon Sinek
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6. #8 Help Others with Their Dreamscc: puntxote - https://www.flickr.com/photos/32432770@N06

7. “We make a living by what we get, but we make
a life by what we give.”
- Winston Churchill
• Look for someone new to the industry who would benefit from your knowledge.
Mentor them.
• Find a philanthropic organization that serves a cause you are passionate about.
Donate and serve.
• Reassess the value of time vs. quality time. Coach your child’s soccer team or
volunteer in the classroom. Show up for family dinners. Have a game night.
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8. #7 Quit Smokingcc: Joaquin Villaverde Photography - https://www.flickr.com/photos/46078235@N03

9. Withdrawing from nicotine is tough.
It can cause emotional insecurity and self doubt. But these feelings
aren’t unique to those giving up cigarettes.
Instead of reaching for a cookie, pick up a pen and write.
Journaling daily has been proven to reduce stress. Write down your ideas,
frustrations, fears, and reasons to be grateful. It will make you feel better.
cc: Rubin Starset - https://www.flickr.com/photos/98601772@N00
The Anxious Americans, New York Times, 7/18/15
“Americans are a pretty anxious people.
Nearly one in five of us – 18 percent - has an
anxiety disorder.”
- New York Times

10. #6 Learn Something Excitingcc: Shawn-Tron - https://www.flickr.com/photos/32020938@N07

11. Embrace the new era of marketing.
“In this new era of marketing, unique, impactful, differentiating
content-driven experiences will become as important as product
development. Successful marketers will adapt and change in a
constantly evolving media operation that focuses on creating delightful
experiences to inform, entertain, engage, and evolve the customer.”
- Content Marketing Institute
Content Marketing Institute
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12. #5 Stay Fit and Healthy
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13. Did you know sitting is the new smoking?
Practice 10 Healthy Work Habits – Cleveland Clinic Wellness
Here are five healthy work habits that will decrease your
stress, increase your productivity, and keep your spine healthy.
• Take a Break
• Master New Skills
• Use the Stairs
• Leave work at the office
• Don’t sit still
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14. #4 Enjoy Life to the Fullest
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15. As the saying goes…all work and no play
makes Jack a dull boy.
Use your accumulated vacation time.
41% of Americans don’t take their paid time off. This is a liability taken
on by US businesses of $224 billion.
http://fortune.com/2015/05/01/paid-time-off-vacation/
“We had someone die in the office – DIE IN THE OFFICE – last
year. She was pushing herself to come to work because she …
could not afford to take unpaid time off”
- Administrative worker at a New York City Law Firm
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16. #3 Spend Less, Save More
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17. High growth firms grow 9x faster, are 50% more
profitable, and spend less on marketing and sales.
- Hinge Marketing
Favored marketing initiatives of high growth firms:
• Prioritize getting good people
• Have a brand story
• Focus on client needs and priorities, not selling
• Pursue a well-defined group of target prospects
Marketing initiatives of firms that are struggling to grow.
• Submit a lot of proposals regardless of whether or not they can win.
Hinge Marketing, Spiraling Up
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Most professional services firms market themselves inefficiently.

18. #2 Get Organized
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19. High growth firms make plans and follow them.
In order to make content marketing a component of
your overall business plan, you must summarize key
strategic information and create a content calendar.
Consistency and focus establish
your path to success.
cc: B Tal - https://www.flickr.com/photos/68634595@N00

20. #1 Lose Weightcc: Camera Eye Photography - https://www.flickr.com/photos/22605449@N06

21. Marketing content isn’t judged by the pound.
With so much content pouring into our in-
boxes, Twitter feeds, and LinkedIn pages, we
only skim the surface, giving content a “taste
test” before determining if we want a big
bowl of it.
Be visible and memorable!
• Publish content that is relevant to your target client profile.
• Use concise text, compelling images, and engaging headlines.
• Don’t forget SEO - integrate keywords.
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22. If you want to find out more about how to keep these resolutions, go to www.dbcreates.com to
sign up to receive my upcoming series of relating to elevating your marketing in 2016.