It’s easy to forget what it means to be a team. I’m constantly listening to friends squabbling with their co-workers and wondering why they are relating these concerns and issues to me…and not their team mate.

Working in a team is (or should be) a naturally collaborative, competitive, healthy environment. Yep, that’s right – collaboration and competition do not have to be two distinct feelings. I’ve seen people work amazingly well together who were vying for top spot…but still supported each other where it counted. In many ways, their mutual competitive tendencies made each of them stronger.

So where do you draw the line?

When competition holds you back from working with the people around you, it becomes impossible to be a team. The word team becomes a joke even – you’re a lone wolf doing “work” but not contributing in to the best of your abilities – or to the greatest benefit for the company.

Compete. But support each other. Don’t forget that at the end of the day you are on the same team and you should be pushing each  other and holding each other accountable. After all…it’s easy to complain to others about how inadequate your team mates are.

But if that’s how you feel…don’t you ever wonder what they think about you?

In order of priority –

1. Get the job done.

2. Get the job done.

3. Get the job done.

Your own personal moment to shine is totally and utterly secondary. Or rather…fortherary?

One thing I’ve grown to realize is how difficult it is to truly get to know someone when you’ve never spoken on the phone or seen them in person. Now, there are exceptions to every rule and I’m grateful that a number of people in my life and work are steady eddies who are frank, honest and don’t hide behind their online personality to be something different than how they are and who they should be.

Then I see folks who hide behind their keyboards and do things that you wouldn’t typically see someone do in “real life” or a face to face situation. Being a “username” and having a gravatar all of a sudden gives the license to say or be anyone you want. It makes it difficult to get to know someone, let alone build a solid foundation of trust.

I’m glad I have people who shrug the drama queens off and are happy to move right along with me. It’s too much of an emotional drain to wonder why someone would be malicious – with these fanciful interwebs it’s usually a simple answer.

Because it’s just so darn easy.

Image: sxc.hu

Over the last five weeks I’ve been pulling a lot of things together for our biggest tradeshow of the year…CES. I’ve learned a lot, been hair-brained crazy and will be delighted to see the fruits of all our labor in January.

One of the biggest things I’ve taken away from this is that all those things you read in marketing books about having so much money that you’re just spending on whatever it takes get to zero so your budgets don’t get cut the following year…aren’t very realistic.

Yeah…I’m guessing that’s really only the case for maybe 5-10% of marketing professionals. The rest of us have a lot more people around and above us asking a simple question…why?

Luckily, my sister and I were brought up under a simple rule – “make me a reason”. In other words, don’t pound your fists and stomp your feet…articulate why you feel the way you do and let’s talk about it.

Even if I didn’t get my way, it always felt better to at least lay out what I thought instead of being shut down with an all powerful “NO.”

In everything I do, in every dime I allot to any particular project I think about the why. I think about what reason I would have if someone came up to me right this instant and said “how come you ordered that many business cards?” or “why do we have our logo on water bottles?” Sometimes it comes down to dollars and cents and other times it comes down to added value. Or whether something is really necessary…or not.

I think this is a far better way to start – and from there I’ll have the skills to scale this method for when I have $5 million dollars to spend. I’m fortunate enough to be in an environment where as long as we can all agree that the expense is justified and worthwhile, we’re good to go. But I think part of that comes down to being conscientious and thoughtful about what to do and what to pass on before people start raising their eyebrows.

Looking at the big annual picture, budgets and options can be determined for all the projects, materials, collateral and campaigns that are planned throughout the year. Always asking yourself “is this worth the money?” and “could we be getting more out of this?” before someone else surprises you with these questions (you know they’re thinking it…) will keep the creativity flowing and ensure you’re getting the most out of your budget.

I don’t usually talk to much about my profession (which is probably the most distinct difference between my other half and me…), but I’ve been thinking a lot about continued education these last couple of weeks so heck, why not.

During my time at university, I learned and forgot things like it was my job. Balancing life, work,and school meant that studying was condensed/frantic/just enough to get that A. Then on to the next topic. I’m pointing this out not because it’s the right way to learn, but because I’m still adjusting to the difference between ‘the books’ and ‘real life’. Before the university crunch, I used to read lots. Lots, and lots, and lots. Fiction, biographies, autobiographies (I highly recommend both Rewrites and The Play Goes On by Neil Simon), mystery, etc. etc…all the time.

Now, I have the best of both words. I’m reading for pleasure, but also for practical use. There are times where I skim instead of absorb, and have to back up, re-read and slooooooow down. But at the same time, when I read something that really clicks, it totally rejuvenates an otherwise tricky/difficult/boring task.

I’ve got a number of books I could list off…and I’ll probably do that in a later post. But, for this one, I’d like to highlight one resource that I truly find indispensable.  If you’re going to invest in one thing to take you beyond that diploma, it’s a premium subscription to Marketing Profs. There’s a tool, a resource, a guideline, a tip for everything. And the best part? You can download these case studies, you can take seminar audio files with you. I can immerse myself in a topic, or just get some perspective from an applicable blog post by one of their experts.

I can run…and listen…and be learning. Freakin’ awesome.

So, if you’re looking to learn more about this field, you’ll probably want to get one of those bookstore discount cards. But, you should also check out Marketing Profs. There are free resources to get your feet wet, but trust me…when you’re paying, it’s totally 1000% worth it.

Okay. I’ll step down off my soapbox now. I’ve got some reading to do.

Seriously – calculators are my best friend and long division gives me the heebie jeebies.

However, when I came across this cost analysis for Redfin, I had to at least take a quick glance…which turned into twenty minutes…and finally I thought I’d squeak out this blog post before my battery died.

So, if you’re not a numbers person, but you are interested in what people in your office are dealing with even if you’re not aware of it…read about Redfin. It’ll bolster an entrepreneurial spirit and give you new appreciation for what a co-worker or two or entire department is thinking about…while you’re maybe pondering fonts and taglines.

Not that there’s anything wrong with fonts and taglines.

Or colors – here’s some great basic color theory points to consider…