David Diana

Everyday, in my line of work, I wake up and judge myself by a number. When that number is elevated, I get this feeling of safety, control, and permanence. It washes over me like a warm bath. But then a new day comes, and who knows what it brings. On the surface these moments happen once a day, when in reality, they’re occurring all the time. They serve as a constant reminder of change, and at times, I drive myself crazy with the roller coaster ride. One day you’re on top of the world – maybe your book of business is full, or you land a new job, or hit your own “number”. And you feel fantastic. Problem is…you can’t stay there.

“Inspiration shows up after you make some sort of gesture.” – Bindu Wiles, Creativity Coach. Isn’t it interesting once you’ve followed that rabbit down the hole? Bill Moyers refers to the phenomena of living your truth as being helped “by hidden hands”. Joseph Campbell tells us when you follow your “bliss” you are put on a path that has been there all along. This is the key to good marketing.

He was “a friend of a friend”, new to town, and looking for work. After we spoke, I realized I had no idea about the details of his story (e.g., Why did he leave a high paying job and a great city? What did he love so much about Charleston that would make him take this risk?). What I did know is that he was looking for employment, and began by leveraging his network to see whom he might meet.

New York City…circa 1984. Crime had overwhelmed New York at all levels. It was chaotic, seedy, drug ridden and dangerous. And then suddenly, in just a few short years, things changed. By the mid 1990’s, New York had become the safest “big city” in the nation. How? How in the world did a large, crime infested city successfully change its fortunes?

“If I’d have asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, ‘A faster horse!’ ” -Henry Ford In the 1920’s and 30’s, the standard form of treatment was psychoanalytic in nature, consisting of four to five sessions per week for years at a time. Psychological problems were seen as the result of intrapsychic conflicts and unconscious motivations with an unwavering emphasis on the past. Let’s think about this for a moment.