Thinking Differently in 2007

Maybe it’s because I am the son of a Methodist minister, but sometimes I can’t help but to compare developments I see around me to what I see happening in the church.

Back when I was a kid, the mainstream denominations (Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Lutherans, Episcopalians and of course, Catholics) ruled the roost when it came to religion. The fundamentalists, pentacostalists and evangelicals were smaller, non-influential churches derisively referred to as “bible thumpers” and “holy rollers”. Respectable people didn’t go to those churches (I’m talking early to mid 60’s here, folks). Only the uneducated, the simple-minded, the folks looking for an easy answer, people with such dark pasts that they’d never shadow the doors of a “respectable” church.

But something happened over the past 30-40 years.

The evangelicals, using media and marketing technologies that were beneath the dignity of respectable episcopalians like me, began to define a whole new set of rules in the practice of religion in America.

Their influence reached into the practice of politics, and Presidents haven’t been able to get elected without the blessing and strong support of evangelicals for more than 20 years now.

Meanwhile, the mainstream denominations have lost membership, money and influence. They’re floundering.

The ones that are flourishing are adopting techniques they learned from the evangelicals without actually becoming evangelicals themselves.

It’s been amazing to watch.

So what does that have to do with the normal topic of this blog, namely business?

A lot.

I’ve been in the business of online marketing and advertising for 12 years now. I’ve experienced tremendous success and some humbling failures as well.

I’ve watched, over the past couple of years, as “internet marketers”, whom I have generally thought of as fly by night used car salesmen and sleazy operators, have continued to grow their successes in an astounding fashion. I’m finding my old approaches don’t work as effectively as they once did, or if they do, do so very slowly.

My jaw drops as I see people I know and respect adopt some of the techniques and practices of those I thought were charlatans, do so in a classy manner and meet with the same astounding success as their intellectual predecessors.

I’m feeling the need to change my game. I don’t feel I have the time I once had to wait around.

My gut feel about all this was further reinforced today when I read Dave Taylor’s Intuitive.com blog entry for today, entitled “The Best Internet Marketing Deal of 2007 is Happening Today!“.

I’ve known Dave for over 10 years, having met him at the Web Advertising Conference in Monterrey, CA in 1997. He’s always been an above board, straight up, respectable kind of guy in my book.

So when I see Dave embracing the philosophies and practices of those in the “internet marketing” circles while maintaining his integrity but experiencing great success, it’s like “deja vu all over again”.

I’ve decided to start learning the ropes from these guys and utilize their practices in building my next business. I even have a new mentor lined up that I have confidence in and think is a pretty good guy.

As far as my religion is concerned, while I’m still a mainstream protestant (Episcopalian), it leaves me feeling a bit empty when I bother to attend. They may be adapting their politics quite nicely to the left, but they aren’t adapting their services to the souls of their congregants. So I take in a sermon from Joel Osteen every so often to take in a message that speaks to my heart and the life I live.

For business, we’ll see if my exploration into “internet marketing” practices pays off. I’ll be sure to let you know.