Category Archives: Karens Notes

Pink flags: Not quite red flags, but…

You know what a red flag is. Warning, danger, ā€œbad gut feelingā€, something was said or done which is an indicator this (whatever ā€˜this’ is) will not go well. Prospective client or team member, new client relationship, business opportunity such as a merger or sale. In any of these (and many other) situations we stay

ā€œTarget audienceā€? You’re not shooting at them. You’re inviting them.

ā€˜Target audience’ is one of those marketing phrases which gets used without a great deal of thought. Yes, you could also say ā€˜ideal audience’ or ā€˜client avatar’ or some other official sounding phrase, but as with all marketing terminology I prefer to question everything. Target. Why target? Where does that come from? A target is

Listen to that ā€œlittle voiceā€ which reminds you to do (or say) something

You know when you think, ā€œOh, I meant to message that person forā€¦ā€ (whatever it was), and you don’t, and then later on that day they message you to ask about the thing? You think (or say) ā€œAhhh, I was literally just thinking of you today and meant to get in touch!ā€ And sort of

The #pf100days video challenge: why we avoid video & what to do about it

As you may have noticed, we’re doing a 100 days video challenge for accountants who want to get better at video. AndĀ the best video coach is….you, doing more video.Ā  Think of a child learning about how video works. They see you on your phone, and they want to hold it. If you let them hold

There are no shoulds in this room: How “should” equals ‘could’ + shame

I’ve got a personal vendetta against the word ā€œshouldā€. It’s a shame word, a guilt word. And an unnecessary one. I started this change over six years ago. I’d never loved the word, but there was a final kicker when my dad was terminal, and on hospice. It had been a long road, as cancer

Swearing in marketing (a brand decision)

As we keep hearing about being ā€œrealā€ and ā€œauthenticā€ in marketing, and being ā€œmore humanā€ in the content we create and share, we have to have the swearing conversation. Swearing has historicallyĀ been considered ā€œunprofessionalā€.Ā Along with tattoos, drinking (alcohol, obvs) during working hours, and comfortable clothes which are unstarched and without collars or ties or jackets.