Frodos Journey: What It Can Teach You About Marketing Your Small Business > NetSparsh

Home
>
Small Business
>
Frodos Journey: What It Can Teach You About Marketing Your Small Business

Frodos Journey: What It Can Teach You About Marketing Your Small Business

Just recently, I took a break and caught "The Return of the King" at the movie theater. At the same time, I was pondering a topic for this article. As often happens, the themes and timing converged. Here are 10 things you can learn about marketing your small business from the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

1) The task is primarily yours. In the Lord of the Rings, Frodo must complete the task that is primarily his (i.e. to destroy the ring at Mount Doom). In the same vein, marketing your business is a job that is primarily yours. If you don't take the time or make the effort no one else can do it in your stead.

2) You will benefit from help. Throughout Frodo's journey he was supported and assisted by many people along the way. Many entrepreneurs generally avoid asking for help. Who or what do you need to ask for help so that you can be more successful than you are now?

3) The path always opened up and not usually before it was needed. In the movie, there were many times Frodo and his company narrowly escaped doom and destruction. At the last minute a path would open up that would lead them to safety. In marketing your business it's often the same way. You can see where you need to go but the path may not open up for you until the last possible moment. You need to stay the course and trust that all is unfolding just perfectly - even when it doesn't look that way in any particular moment.

4) Persistence pays off. During the movie, there were many times Frodo probably wondered, "Why me?" and several times where he was too tired to think about going ahead but he did, led on by his vision and sense of responsibility. Where in your business can you be more persistent and more responsible to your vision? How could this give you the energy to move ahead?

5) Pay attention to signs along the way. Throughout the movie, there were hints and clues about what might happen next - the same is true for your business. When you pay attention to the clues and hints along the way you are more well-prepared for any unexpected turn of events. Pay particular attention, especially, to outcomes which are significantly different than you anticipated.

6) Take advantage of the rest-stops. It's important on a hero's quest, and as a small business owner, to take periodic rest-stops in order to refresh and refuel. When you find yourself in a business lull use that time to put additional structures and supports in place. Use the rest-stops to your greatest advantage.

7) Recognize that everything comes together in due time. Sometimes, small business owners feel impatient when their business is not growing as fast or profitably as expected. Understand, though, that building a business has a certain rhythm and pattern. When you work within the pattern, rather than fighting against it, you will feel calmer and more confident. For Frodo, he needed to travel a great distance to get to Mount Doom and he needed to 'put in his time' so to speak in order to complete the quest. For example, he had to first travel to meet Galadriel or else he wouldn't have been able to move through the part of the journey when he met with Shelob. So understand that all your efforts are coming together even if, sometimes, they seem like random tangents to your path.

8) Learn as much as you can along the way. In the movie, Frodo learned about various lands by paying attention to those people he met along the way. He was able to gain assistance and loyalty because he took the time to learn from everyone he met. The most successful business owners are the ones who continually make time to learn and take the best of what they learn to propel them even further.

9) Be flexible and yet stay the course. Several times in the movie, Frodo needed to change his plans in order to appropriately respond to events as they unfolded. Similarly, small business owners need to be flexible in their planning so they can take advantage of new opportunities as they arise.

10) Success may sometimes look or feel different than you expected. In the movie, each of the main characters pursued a different path after the journey was finished. Each had a different life trajectory after playing their part in the story. For every small business owner success may look different than you expected and may require some new adjustments. For example, you might have great success with a marketing approach and then have some glitches in fulfilling the orders. Success doesn't come without lasting change.

As we move forward in this year I invite you to examine your business from these viewpoints: 1) see where you can take actions that you must take, 2) where you can allow help and assistance in a new (or bigger) way, 3) where you can find paths that open up to lead you along on your journey, 4) where you can persist in the face of adversity, 5) where you can learn from the information unfolding around you, 6) how you can better use your rest-stops, 7) where you can grasp the pattern of business unfolding as it should, 8) where you can learn from those you meet, 9) where you can be more flexible and 10) finally, where can celebrate your success and move onto a new playing field?

Follow these steps, and you will manifest a positive outcome in your quest for small business success.

*Please note that all the trademarked terms mentioned in this article are the property of their respective owners*

About The Author

Dr. Rachna D. Jain is a sales and marketing coach, author, consultant and speaker. Sign up for her free email newsletter, "Sales & Marketing Secrets" To learn more or to contact Dr. Jain directly, please visit http://www.SalesandMarketingCoach.com.

[email protected]

In The News:

Alphabet VirusTotal Enterprise Small Business Features Business News DailyEvery small business needs good cybersecurity systems to protect from threats and attacks. Could VirusTotal Enterprise be the solution you've been searching ...

For the Average Hacker, Your Small Business Is an Ideal Target EntrepreneurHeadlines are full of cybersecurity breaches, and big businesses like Google and Facebook are some of the latest to fall victim to outside attacks. A vulnerability ...

Department of Energy Issues Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Funding Opportunity Announcement Energy.govWASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry has issued the Department of Energy's (DOE's) second Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) ...

Adelman, Deem Support Enterprise's Expanded Small Business Offering The Company DimeEnterprise Holidings is enjoying success with a small business portal backed by Adelman Travel and Deem. It's a tough audience.

Intuit Backing You Campaign Supports Freelancers, Stars Danny DeVito Small Business TrendsThe new Intuit BACKING YOU campaign has Danny DeVito looking to make you laugh and think about your small business finances.

Kingston Collision Tapped as OnDeck's Small Business of the Month PRNewswireNEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- OnDeck® (NYSE: ONDK), the leader in online lending to small businesses, today announced Kingston Collision as ...

Six Best Practices For Small Businesses To Give Charitably ForbesGiving for small businesses may seem like a challenge, compared to large corporations that give hundreds of thousands – or even millions – of dollars a year to ...

Weebly and Square Want to Fix Your Ugly Product Photos Small Business TrendsProduct images can make or break your ecommerce site. Get the right image for your products with the newly launched Weebly Photo Studio online.

Cloud Computing For Small Businesses: What You Need To Know ForbesUnderstand how various cloud computing solutions can maximize your business efficiency.

USM offers small business workshops | Business Meridian StarThe University of Southern Mississippi's Small Business Development Center in Hattiesburg will join forces with the Gulf Coast center to conduct a series of ...

Michigan small business owner gives workers $4 million in holiday bonuses WDIV ClickOnDetroitThe holidays are a time for giving, and it's also the time when many people wait anxiously for Christmas bonuses.

Small business helping to stabilize state after quake KTVAJon Bittner of the Alaska Small Business Development Center touted the small business sector's role and creativity following the Nov. 30 earthquake.

Who are you as a small business? How to give your brand a voice customers want to listen to SmartBriefThis post is sponsored by Facebook. Communicating in a voice that represents your brand is vital for businesses of all sizes in today's digital world. With social ...

Amazon.in’s first ‘Small Business Day’ has up to 80% off for customers Economic TimesBENGALURU: Amazon has announced exciting deals for the specially curated 'Small Business Day' that begins at midnight on December 16. Customers can ...

Marcus Lemonis: This is the biggest mistake small business owners make on 'The Profit' CNBCMarcus Lemonis is adamant that he always puts his best foot forward when it comes to dealmaking. Unfortunately, that's something the small business owners ...

IntegriShield Honored with Thinking Bigger Business 25 Under 25 Small Business Award PRNewswireKANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- IntegriShield is honored to be a recipient of Thinking Bigger Business' 2019 25 Under 25 Small Business ...

Wow Your Audience with These 10 Incredible Presentation Ideas Small Business TrendsWhether you've got a big account on the line or you want to impress your charges or your peers, these presentation ideas are designed to be winners.

Small businesses fear cost of EU clampdown on unsafe goods Financial TimesBusinesses from the US, Canada, Japan and dozens of other countries will be banned from selling many types of goods to the EU unless they appoint a ...

Indian small businesses thrive on Amazon special sales day Business StandardIndian small businesses and enterprises (SBEs) witnessed a 1.4x spike in the sale of their products on Amazon during its 'Small Business Day' sales event, said ...

Weekly Staff Picks: Our Holiday Small-Business Gift Guide Armenian WeeklyWe hope these gift suggestions from Armenia and the Diaspora will satisfy someone on your list this holiday season, right up through Armenian Christmas on ...

CCWA offering Small Business Development Workshop | Features | news-daily.com News-Daily.comOctavia Gilmore, CEO and founder of Creative Juice, will conduct the workshop, Marketing and Branding in the Social Media Age.

Small Business Owners Making The Most Of Winterfest BKLYNERPROSPECT HEIGHTS – Following a series of articles detailing issues at Winterfest at Brooklyn Museum, merchants participating in the event ask, despite the ...

Do banks' new small-business lending platforms deliver on their promise? We applied for loans to find out The Globe and MailSmall-business owners have long complained about the difficulty of getting bank loans. The process has often been slow and bureaucratic, and many small ...

Five ways small businesses got screwed over in 2018 SmartCompany.com.auFrom confiscated websites to "telecommunications hell", here are five ways small businesses were hard done by in the year that has been 2018.

Doing business in real time: Driving small business results in today's digital world SmartBriefRunning a successful small business today requires being able to do business anywhere, at any time. And many small business owners are turning to tech tools ...

2018 taxes: Here's how small businesses can save big PostBulletin.comThere are just two weeks left in 2018. But, if you're running a small business, you still have time to make a few moves that could reduce your tax bill.

'Game changer' payments idea leads MYEFO pledge for small business The Sydney Morning HeraldSmall businesses didn't get to check off all the items on their wish list but the government's mid year financial outlook handed down on Monday did provide some ...

Huntington Bank Ranks Highest In JD Power Small Business Customer Satisfaction PRNewswireCOLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Small business owners ranked Huntington Bank highest in overall customer satisfaction in the Midwest ...

NYC awards $1.8M in grants to small businesses Metro USSmall Business Services, through its NYC Love Your Local effort, is awarding grants help New York City small businesses like Harlem Doggie Day Spa thrive.

The Best 30 Examples of Holiday Greetings for Business Owners Small Business TrendsIf you can't get everyone a gift, at least them people know you're thinking of them this year with some of these genuine holiday messages for businesses.

A 'Brave Little State' Excerpt: Starting And Running A Small Business In Vermont Vermont Public RadioWhat does it take to start and run a successful small business in Vermont?” That's the question that VPR podcast Brave Little State answers in its.

'Brexit is a business bankrupter': small firms brace for no deal The GuardianSmall and medium-sized businesses, the lifeblood of communities, have told of difficult decisions to quit Britain or cancel investment plans because of Brexit.

Small business productivity still held back by poor broadband East Midlands Business LinkPoor broadband and mobile coverage are still holding small businesses back, particularly in rural areas.

Entrepreneur Q&A: 'We have always been self-funded' http://smallbusiness.co.ukWe chat with George Sullivan, founder of The Sole Supplier, about how he grew his business from a blog he started five years ago.

ATO small business compensation to be reviewed under $13.9 million package SmartCompany.com.auSmall business compensation from the ATO will be put under a spotlight in a review to be undertaken by the Department of Finance.

A Fake Review Attack Hits Thousands Of Companies...And Other Small Business Tech News This Week ForbesHere are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them? 1 — A massive fake review attack has a ...

How Your Small Business Can Use Video Marketing To Increase Revenue ForbesWith all the marketing tactics at your disposal today, it's difficult to focus on just a handful that can drive results. Few strategies are proving more effective in ...

Photoshop Creative Cloud 2019: Best Businesses Features Business News DailyAdobe's CC subscription and Photography Plan help small businesses keep up with the design tools and techniques they need to create inspiring marketing ...

Choosing the Right Hardware Vendor for Your IT Business Small Business TrendsBefore you get your IT business off the ground, make sure you can rely on your hardware vendor. Here are some ways to choose the best.

Ozinga recognized as top employer and small business nwitimes.comOzinga, the Mokena, Illinois-based concrete supplier with Region operations in Gary, Crown Point, Cedar Lake, Schererville, Portage, Valparaiso, LaPorte, Knox ...

Grand bargain no bargain for some small businesses | Local News Gloucester Daily TimesIPSWICH — For small Bay State business owners such as John Webb, the owner of an Ipswich-based transportation company called Webb Transportation ...

House Small Business Committee Proposes Legislation to End Self-Certification for SDVOSB JD SupraOn November 27, 2018, the House Committee on Small Business introduced House Resolution 7169, the proposed Verification Alignment and *Service* -disabled ...

World Of Warcraft Helped This Man Grow An 8-Figure Business ForbesEden Amirav was Israel's national undefeated champion at World of Warcraft. He has also established and sold one seven-figure business and founded another ...

Top Styles for Business Casual Men Today Small Business TrendsClothing trends are always shifting. To help you keep up, Here's a look at what's considered business casual men clothing in today's workplace.

Small-business optimism dips over fears of an economic slowdown: Survey CNBCAlthough tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks this year fueled small-business optimism to hit its highest level in decades, the latest CNBC/SurveyMonkey Small ...

Female small business owners have their eyes on the prize - research VoxyWe've all heard about the glass ceiling that women must push through to gain senior management roles, but we hear less about those who have taken matters ...

Small Business of the Year: Good City Brewing BizTimes.com (Milwaukee)Good City Brewing LLC was launched in 2016 as a small brewery and taproom on Milwaukee's East Side. Its popularity meant an expansion was in order by ...

Yorkshire Marketing Experts Unite To Help Local Small Businesses Fly In 2019 Business Up NorthThis week two established figures from the Yorkshire marketing sector are coming together to launch a New Year workshop that's intended to help small ...

Small business owners in Winona hope to start new holiday tradition News8000.com - WKBTThe renovated Levee Park was the site of the first ever Winona Holiday Market on Saturday and Sunday.

Corsicana in top 10 in the race for season four of Small Business Revolution Corsicana Daily SunThis week, Amanda Brinkman, creator and producer of the acclaimed television series “Small Business Revolution – Main Street” announced the Top 10 towns.

10 Shopper Behavior Secrets Eye Tracking is Revealing Small Business TrendsThese 10 eye tracking results from shopper behavior studies will let you know what gets a customer's attention while they're in your store.

Joe Ferguson, Director, Small Business Development Center | Q&A El Paso Inc.More than 850 people – everyone from budding entrepreneurs to seasoned business owners – walk into the Small Business Development Center every year ...

Miami County grant helps Tipp City special education class launch small business WDTN.comTippecanoe High School hopes the coffee cart will give special education students more real-world opportunities.

The Small Business Story of the Year WCBS 880Joe's choice for top small business story of the year. What's yours? Send him your choice on Twitter @joeconnollybiz. AddThis Sharing Buttons. Share to ...

Daily MailThe Mummy Diaries star, 27, has been receiving freebies from Yorkshire-based website Forever Sewing for the past two years, and has posted numerous ...

Small businesses, desperate to fill open positions, juice job offers with amazing perks CNBCJob positions at small businesses across the country are remaining open for months. To attract solid candidates, Main Street business owners are not only ...

Simplifying Digital Transformation at Your Small Business EntrepreneurEvery company can benefit from digital transformation, but that doesn't mean every company should change in the same way. Digital transformation means ...

Seneca Street in South Buffalo attracts small business WGRZ.comIt was all about small business at a Christmas market in South Buffalo on Saturday. "It's a beautiful setting. It's an old church, it's a great way to get the community ...

4 Tech Trends in Store for Small Businesses in 2019 BizTech MagazineNearly everyone would agree that 2018 was a far-from-boring year, and that applies to small and medium-sized business IT as well. Raymond Boggs, vice ...

Let's Talk... 2019 | Dynamic Business – Small Business Advice – Forums DynamicBusinessWhat kind of opportunities are in store for the new year?

Dear small-business owner: We’re the government and we’re here to crush your spirit Financial PostGovernment treatment of the self-employed operators of privately owned enterprises is unfair to the point of being unethical. With this in mind, the following letter ...

How small business owners can support their employees' health and wellbeing SmartCompany.com.auAlmost 90% of Australian workers feel companies have a responsibility to look after their health and wellbeing, so here are some ways to get started.

GDPR: Small business owners still ‘clueless’ about data protection rules, study claims The IndependentSmall business owners polled for a new survey have admitted they are still “clueless” about GDPR - leaving the personal data of millions of employees and ...

Sam Faiers defends herself after accusations of ripping off small family business HELLO! MagazineSam Faiers has spoken out after being accused by fans of ripping off a small family business and copying their designs.

Small business MYEFO wishlist: write offs, talent acquisition The Sydney Morning HeraldThe push is on for the government's mid year economic outlook to make its small business instant asset write-off scheme permanent and refocus conversations ...

Small Business: Kiwi clothing brand's deal with retail giant Oakley - Hunters Element New Zealand HeraldRobert Wilson started his brands when he was 21. Fast forward 16 years, he has patented a camouflage print and inked a deal with retail giant Oakley.

14 Irish start-ups and small business win €239,900 funding Ireland, news for Ireland, Ireland,StartUps, Business WorldThe Local Enterprise Office for Dublin City has awarded €239,900 in funding to 14 Dublin City-based small businesses and start-ups, supporting 25 jobs.

Top Small Business Manufacturing Trends in 2018 Small Business TrendsAutomation, offshoring and technology have made a major impact on US manufacturing businesses of all sizes. Here are the 2018 manufacturing trends.

Entegra Bank Selects Akouba by Velocity Solutions to Power Small Business Digital Lending Global Banking And Finance ReviewVelocity Solutions, LLC, the leading provider of revenue enhancement solutions to regional and community financial institutions, announced that Franklin, N.

34 Graduate From Fair Haven Small Biz Program New Haven IndependentThirty-four current and aspiring small business owners graduated on Friday from a Grand Avenue training program that teaches Spanish-speaking ...

You can buy from these indie businesses through Instagram DMs Fast CompanyThese scrappy entrepreneurs let customers order bread, furniture, and much more, all through DMs.

Business Insurance: The Safety Net Your Small Business Needs ForbesAre you risking your small business's future by going without insurance? Here are the basic kinds of business insurance every business owner should consider.

Do small business owners support Trump? Not so fast Fast CompanyThe majority feel that the Trump administration is doing more for large corporations than small businesses.

Small business optimism takes a dip CNBCCNBC's Kate Rogers joins the "Squawk Box" news team to break down the results of the NFIB Small Business Optimism Report.

How U.K. Small Business Owners Can Eliminate Wasted Days by Creating Their Ideal Working Week EntrepreneurWith the rise of business ownership and entrepreneurship in the U.K., the traditional 9-to-5 has become obsolete, as on average we are working 52 hours a ...

Five Strategies To Safely Grow Your Small Business ForbesThe opportunity to grow a business is exciting because it means the business has done well enough to expand. Customers are connecting with your product or ...

2018 midterm elections are over – what small businesses can expect next The American GeniusNow that the midterm elections are officially in the rearview mirror and the dust has settled, there's a lot to unpack for small business. There were plenty of ups ...

Frontier Label combines digital printing services with design to give small businesses a competitive edge Upstate Business JournalProduct labeling may not be one of the first things a company considers when looking to grow sales, but if you ask Jared Powell, it definitely should be. Not only ...

Report on Small Business Newsletter: Harley-riding Alberta nurse generates big buzz on L.A. fashion label The Globe and MailThis is the weekly Report on Small Business newsletter. If you're reading this on the web, or if someone forwarded this e-mail to you, you can sign up for it and ...

Immigration a Growing Concern for Overall Happy Small Business Owners Small Business TrendsAccording to the NWYC Q4 2018 Small Business Sentiment Index, immigration ranked as a top small business concern in this quarter.

The Clock Is Ticking: Small Business Tax Strategies to Do This Year TheStreet.comMake a few smart moves now and you can close out the year with the peace of mind that you made the best tax moves for your business.

"American Express" featured Andrew Flamm, director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pace University, in "These Tips Can Help You Stretch Your Working Capital" Pace News"American Express" featured Andrew Flamm, director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pace University, in "These Tips Can Help You ...

Lili Pad Named Finalist For Small Business Award Patch.comLili Pad Named Finalist For Small Business Award - Vestavia Hills, AL - The Lili Pad is one of 10 finalists for the eighth annual Independent We Stand ...

COMMENTARY: How Virtual Card Acceptance Drives Innovation in Small-Business Payments Digital TransactionsIn 2018, the acceptance of virtual cards, also known as v-cards, by small-to-midsize businesses (SMBs) increased significantly as suppliers embraced the ...

Augmented Reality Examples to Inspire Small Business Owners Small Business TrendsUse these augmented reality examples from these big brands to introduce the tactic into your small business marketing mix.

LETTER: Unimpressed with ‘small’ business owner’s comments about St. John's tax hike The TelegramI read an article in another news publication yesterday which has left me angry and disheartened with Brenda O'Reilly, partial owner of O'Reilly's Pub and ...

The 10 Most Customer-Focused Companies In South America ForbesSouth American companies face the volatile world of instability and inflation, but they still show that focusing on customers can lead to success. Here are 10 of ...

Top 6 Channels to Consider When Spending your Marketing Budget Small Business TrendsWondering how to spend your marketing dollars most efficiently? Focus on these top 6 marketing budget line items to start.

Small businesses need to address bad reviews online, and here's how Asbury Park PressBrad Schweig thought he had a satisfied customer when a woman who bought outdoor furniture in March 2017 posted a five-star review online. Less than a year ...

QUICKBOOKS for Small Business Owners Fallon County ExtraBy Elin Kittelmann,. Fallon/Carter County Extension. Join Fallon/Carter County Extension and SMART (Southeast Montana Area Revitalization Team) for a free ...

The New Dell Vostro 5000 Designed for Small Business Users Specifically Small Business TrendsThe new Dell Vostro line of laptops gives small business more options at affordable price points. Here's what you need to know.

Small Business Roundtable Discusses Healthcare as The Number One SMB Issue Small Business TrendsMore small business healthcare concerns — namely the quagmire caused by legislation — are the number 1 issue facing many small businesses.

The bright future of small business: it's in the clouds The GuardianCloud technology and hyper-connectivity have revolutionised the way small businesses operate. Adopting agile solutions is proving vital to the future success of ...

The City of Searcy Seeks $500,000 through Hulu's Small Business Revolution KARKSearcy was one of 12000 cities across the US nominated to be featured on season four of the show. So far, it has advanced to the top 20.

Employee well-being is an important small business priority Washington PostA healthy workforce is an asset for small businesses. When employees feel healthy and supported, everyone benefits. (Partner *content*)

Small Business Saturday isn't a novelty anymore – independent retailers depend on it CNBCSmall Business Saturday, now in its ninth year, is sponsored by American Express and encourages consumers to get out and shop "small" supporting local ...

Small Business Saturday by the numbers: 67 million expected to shop, $85 billion spent CNBCAmerican Express launched the holiday in 2010 as a way to help small business owners recover from the recession.

Disaster loans now available from Small Business Administration for 8 counties Radio IowaIowans in eight counties who were impacted by severe storms and flooding this summer can now apply in person for low-interest federal disaster loans.

Senator Limmer earns top marks for small business record ECM PublishersSenator Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove) has received a perfect 100 percent ranking from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) for his ...

The humble straw and reusable cups send eco sales rocketing The Sydney Morning HeraldSmaller operators are seeing sales of reusable goods up by as much as 1000 per cent this year.

Frodos Journey: What It Can Teach You About Marketing Your Small Business

Small Business Small Business