When you are struggling with a complicated business or marketing challenge, where do you go for help?
Last week I got to participate in a Wisdom Counsel organized by my friend Danny Rosin and led by Rob Lowe, whose GIVING BACK PODCAST focuses on non-profits. I met Rob a few weeks after he interviewed my daughter Fanny about some non-profit work she was doing in Wilmington in the food business. Fanny recommended me to Rob to be interviewed and then I recommended he connect with Danny. And then Danny did some of his magic connecting Rob to his non-profit community in Raleigh.
A Wisdom Council is an assembly of like-minded individuals who share common interests in a specific area. In this case, non-profits. At the event were founders and directors of more than a dozen different agencies focused on helping others in the community. Represented were non-profits like A Place at The Table, Step Up Ministry, The Green Chair Project, Band Together, Parents for Educational Freedom for NC, The Walking Classroom, Activate Good, Redefined Courage and several others.
Rob guided the workshop as we sat around a table together and listened to several participants discuss a difficult challenge they face with their work. Many of the attendees would provide some thoughts and ideas to help resolve their problem. We provided our counsel.
As most of you probably know, a council is meeting for discussion or advice, but to counsel is a verb meaning to give advice. They sound exactly the same.
Non-Judgmental
The key was that the advice was non-judgmental, heart-centered, but also blunt and direct. It was a rare privilege for me and one that made me feel so proud to know several of these amazing individuals who all cared about making the world a better place.
In Judaism, there is the notion of TIKKUN OLAM and loosely means repairing the world. The idea has roots in Jewish mysticism like Kabbalah and connotes social justice. You are obligated to try and make the world a better place, even if it is just helping one person in a small way. When I can use my marketing knowledge to help even one person, I believe I am helping repair the world.
WISDOM COUNSEL for Marketing
Like this non-profit gathering, if you can find marketing professionals who work in different business and can agree to meet once per month or per quarter, you can share the challenges you face in a safe environment. I have witnessed these counsels for CEOs, Executives, and marketers. It’s a powerful way to get advice from like-minded marketing pros experiencing similar challenges.
The key to success at running and participating in these counsels are:
- Honest, frank and authentic discussions
- No judgment, just a desire to help
- Careful listening to the core problem to provide strategies to overcome the problem
- Keep your ego in check; it isn’t about you but about giving back and helping
- Stay strategic and don’t devolve into throwing tactics at problems
Have you ever been to a Wisdom Counsel? What was your experience? So much of my interest in helping is rooted in my relationship with my Grandfather George Ginsberg, the Penny Philanthropist who would ask me who did you help today?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
You can set up a time to chat with me about your marketing challenges using my calendar. Email me jeffslater@themarketingsage.com Call me. 919 720 0995. Visit my website at www.themarketingsage.com The conversation is free, and we can explore working together
Photo courtesy of Karma and the Universe (I don’t know who took this picture)
PS A special congratulations to my friend Danny and his leadership of Band Together who raised over $1,000,000 for the Interfaith Food Shuttle. Thank you for helping to repair the world.
