Finding Your Way in the Woods (or Weeds…or Web…)

Lost in the Woods by Jesse Kruger via Flickr Creative Commons

Hard to accept that we’re already in the second week of the year, and this is my first post. Have meant to write something every morning, and have done so, just not the blog. No slowdown going on here – as client requests have us rushing headlong into new territory – in multiple directions. Sounds like a frightening opportunity to get lost in the woods (or the weeds, depending on your POV and geography)…

Or does it really have to be scary?

I think what it means instead is that we are being trusted to use our knowledge, skills and experience to help organizations create new paths to success. The accelerated pace of change and action is also testing us – to stay up to the minute on market research, social media tools, gadgets and software – all while still maintaining strong personal connections with clients, vendors and journalists.

Create a Map – BEFORE You Set Out

I’ve done a fair amount of travel around North America, Europe, even the Middle East. Before each trip, I research the destination area for points of interest, history, culture, easiest ways to get around and where there’s at least one bar the locals rave about. This helps me get oriented before I arrive. However, I also love to wander about freely, getting ‘lost’ on purpose so I can discover new things. Our business is much the same. We create a map of a project, with timelines, budget, destinations (goals) to help us see the big picture. But sometimes in the execution of the plan, we are pulled off in a direction we did not expect. Often this is a learning opportunity. However, we still need to find our way to the destination at the end so we have to get back on the path at some point.

Zoom Out for Perspective

If you find yourself wandering in the middle of something, say a website re-design, take the time to pull away from the details and look again at the original map from the ‘zoom out’ or ‘Google Earth‘ view. It can help you regain your perspective.

Leave Breadcrumbs

Just like the Hansel & Gretel fairytale, marking your trail is a good idea – only make sure the markers aren’t edible so you can find them if necessary, otherwise you’ll be dealing with a witch. Document what you do, including mistakes, so you have a record of what works and what works better! This also helps when reporting results to clients.

Find a Guide

Never hurts to get input from others who have gone before. If you are faced with a new task or a new direction which is unclear, seek advice. Granted, filtering through the many ‘experts’ in some areas might prove daunting, which is why building a trust network is important too.

Ignore Distractions

Insects whirring, a shiny object in the distance, wolves howling – or today’s online equivalents. (There goes TweetDeck again – chirping there’s another tweet.) As a naturally curious person, it’s easy for me to wander the net all day. One inquiry leads to another. An email, an IM, a tweet – all can pull me off my path. But I know that, so I don’t wander too far or too long. I ‘check my compass’ at regular intervals. Good thing too, or I’d be in Tierra del Fuego by now. (One day I’ll get there).

Now I’m happy. I’ve finished one journey (aka post) for today. Several others are running concurrently, and I’m keeping my eye on them too, so I can get out of the weeds when I’m ready.

How about you?

–Donna