“To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.”
— William Blake
Growing chrysanthemums illustrates a number of key points about online launches.
First, you must truly serve the plant or your results will be poor. The same applies to online marketing and your prospects, especially during launches.
Japanese philosopher, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, states: “Unless one fully becomes a servant of chrysanthemums, discerning what they crave and obediently complying with their demands, the results will be poor, no matter how strenuous one’s exertions using one’s own particular methods.”
Exactly. Launches are just like that. You have to figure out what the prospects want, find ways of providing that, excite them about the possibilities and always keep your focus away from yourself and on them.
In the website LanguageOfFlowers.com, the chrysanthemum is viewed as representing “cheerfulness under adversity.” That sounds a lot like a launch. We must maintain an upbeat attitude throughout the entire launch process all the while enduring all sorts of challenges, disruptions and changes in direction. It is a never-ending battle of smiling under duress.
Interestingly, flowers have a positive impact in general and generate an almost unconscious appreciation from people. A group of researchers from the Wageningen University in the Netherlands figured out the following: “…cognitive performance is better in offices with plants than in workplaces without them.” Perhaps we need more flowers in our office during a launch week!
The founder of the super successful Templeton growth fund, Sir John Templeton, once stated: “A grower of chrysanthemums awaited a visit from the Emperor, who was coming to enjoy his blossoms, of which there were hundreds In bloom. The growers selected one magnificent specimen, then cut down all the others, leaving this one perfect flower, letting its beauty have its way with him. Can you imagine being so caught up in appreciation of one flower that everything else fades into the background?”
Can you imagine being so focused on your prospect and their needs that all other challenges, stumbling blocks and miscellaneous launch woes fade away by comparison? Talk about connecting on a new level…
How many sales would you make? How many raving fans would you create? Perhaps it’s time to emulate the growers of chrysanthemums.
