How Meditation Has Made Me a Better Marketer.

Marketing is about problem-solving, and storytelling.

The internet has given everyone a microphone, making storytelling skills more crucial than ever before. But with everyone focused on shouting their own messages who is actually committing themselves to being a better listener?
The reality is, most people don’t fucking listen. Regardless of the scenario, most of us are always listening to respond. In fact, according to Psychology Today “only about 10 percent of us listen effectively.” Luckily for us, meditation is a daily habit that makes it easier to focus despite all of the distractions.
As a strategist, it is as much my job to listen as it is to sell, or story tell. I’ve realized that developing a consistent practice has allowed me to be calmer overall, AND more effective professionally.

Mindfulness has many benefits including lowered stress, increased attention span, patience, and self awareness. For a deeper dive on the benefits, I recommend reading this essay “What I Learned from Meditating for 777 days in a Row”, by Kenji Summers, a fellow marketer who has also seen the impacts of meditation firsthand.

verb.
think deeply or focus one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation.

noun.
1. the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. "their mindfulness of the wider cinematic tradition"
2. a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

Ever been on a call that drags on and on, and when it’s finally over you are actually more confused than when it started? Sitting still and observing your own mind, repeating mantras, and other mindfulness practices can dramatically increase one's capacity to listen. By keying in to the present moment you’re able to maintain a deeper attention, ask clarifying questions, and redirect the meeting to ensure it’s a valuable use of everyone’s time.

Do you have to complete projects that require data entry, or create analytics report, capture and collate screenshots? To me, these activities are the marketing equivalent of doing laundry, or dishes. I rather be brainstorming, researching, or coming up with creative ideas. But, bills must get paid. Since establishing a regular meditation practice these tasks I usually hate are met with much more focus and attention, thus shortening the time actually spent doing them.

Being present is a simple way to increase collaboration, and effectiveness. I say this because meditation not only has the ability to impact how you relate to yourself, but it also influences awareness and how you relate to others.
On an interpersonal level meditation has allowed me to key into signs of discomfort, anxiety, excitement, hesitancy, and other emotions in others.
Say you’re leading a brainstorm — I have found that I am much more aware of who is or isn’t contributing, which can help me shift the balance and ensure that the extroverts aren’t taking up all of the space for example.

I highly recommend the Liberate app, but have also had great experiences practicing with the Calm and Muse apps as well.
Some of my more transformative experiences with meditation have come through shared experience, so check out organizations like Buddhist Insights, or HealHaus.
Even if meditation still seems intimidating, take small steps like following the Breathing Space, and Black Men Feel for mindful content and experiences.

Michael TongeMay 21, 2020