First Things First — Getting Started the Right Way

Scott: Posted on Monday, July 23, 2012 1:49 PM

In one of my first jobs out of J-school at Mizzou, I wrote technical instruction manuals. adidas zx 500 And yes, it was every bit the giant party it sounds like it would be. soldes nike air max pas cher But, it taught me at a very early age, the importance of processes in doing things correctly. Adidas Superstar Pas Cher Numerical order, step by step and doing the first things first.

If you’re building a complex industrial marking and labeling system for a factory for example, you don’t want to start with step 23, because obviously the other steps built things for the thing in step 23 to attach itself to. If you didn’t build those things, then the machine really won’t work correctly. Trust me, I’ve seen it.

Same thing with PR and marketing. chaussure timberland homme nike air max 1 There is a methodical process that takes a company from understanding its messaging, positioning and market data to a place where it can clearly communicate about those things in a way that others will understand it. And this process just can’t be skipped.

• If your website team is building a site and you haven’t done the messaging piece — STOP.
• If you are talking to the media and haven’t done step 1 — STOP
• If you are communicating in any way about your company and haven’t started with step 1 — STOP

Step 1 is really, really important. It clarifies what you’re doing — what you really want to say. adidas homme Please don’t skip over it or try to come back to it later. I know we’re all in a hurry to get things done these days, but there is something to be said for taking the time to do the most important things correctly. And when you do, your company’s communications efforts will be succinct and clear and (wait for it) FOCUSED on what you want/need to achieve.

Engineers used to kid me at that first job and say “Robertson, do you really think people read those instruction manuals you write?” I’d smile and say “If they want their industrial marketing and labeling machine to work, they will.” “Besides, it’s easy”, I’d say. ugg 2017 “Just start with step 1.”

I’d love to hear what you think. ugg soldes Please comment below. And if you ever used my instruction manuals to install Diagraph-branded marking and labeling equipment, let me know that too.