This Date in My History — Mon., 6/3/02 10:46PM on my sofa and melting

If it’s true that the harder I work, the luckier I am — which is a quote from either Edison or Jefferson, but definitely on one of my mail-outs — then I should be rolling in v-o gigs.

I sent half a dozen emails yesterday to companies I found at ozonline.tv, which has a directory of all sorts of creative companies in GA. The depressing and overwhelming thing is that the list has tons of companies I haven’t heard of and therefore aren’t in my database. So who are these 350 people in my database? Am I sending all my expensive mail-outs to the wrong people?

I know that I created my database the wrong way. I gathered names from the GA Business Directory and the Atlanta Business Chronicle Book of Lists and created a database without, as they say in marketing circles, qualifying my prospects. I could have good companies with the wrong contact name, companies who would never hire voice talent, and good potential clients all mixed together.

I haven’t had a lot of time to make phone calls while at work, and response to my emails has been limited in the past. I was pleased to get a response tonight to one of my queries yesterday, and the person said they use voice talent and to send my stuff. I wish I could prepare a media kit in less time, but I practically have to print everything new.

It bugs me sometimes (like tonight) to be working hard in my room and hear Drew downstairs laughing at the TV. I’m jealous that he has time to relax and even more jealous that he has steady business from the newspaper for photography without ever having to work for it. He said one day he’d like to do something with photography, and I suggested that he approach the local newspaper with the idea to be a stringer. He did, and they’ve been calling him ever since.

I, on the other hand, have spent countless hours and 1000s and 1000s of hours [sic — I must have meant “dollars”] trying to market myself and get my big break, and for what? This year, I’ve made $925, which is more than the preceding years put together.

I vowed to celebrate every step I take toward my goals, but, right now, I feel overwhelmed, tired, grumpy, and somewhat depressed because I feel like I am spinning my wheels.

Of course, some of my negative feelings could be caused by being hot. The temp today was in the 90s, and the A/C hasn’t been able to keep up.

Today’s Take-aways:

1)  You need to create and maintain a great contact database for your marketing efforts. In addition to contact info, I record notes about conversations, especially the personal data I learn about my contact, and actions taken like demo submissions Before entering any information in your database, you will want to be sure that the person or company actually needs your services and that this person is the one who would make the decision to choose you. Otherwise, you could spend valuable time and money marketing to people who would never hire you.

2)  Balance between business activities and the rest of your life is critical! Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your business won’t be, either. Obviously, balance is a bit more difficult to achieve if you are starting your business in the evenings and weekends after full-time job and even more complicated by your family’s schedule. Time management is your friend! Schedule time for both your business and family activities so that you can move forward on your goals without feeling like you are forsaking your family to do it.

3)  Jealousy is a self-defeating emotion that keeps you from reaching your destiny. We need to learn to be happy with who we are and where we are in order to get where we want to go.

4)  When you feel grumpy and start complaining about everything that’s wrong, try instead to make a gratitude list of all that’s RIGHT in your life. Not only will you instantly feel better, but your gratitude is the key to receiving more for which you can be grateful!

Photo:  iStockPhoto/PhilHillPhotography