Kelly Mallozzi

The One Word that Changes Everything

Jennifer Garner and Netflix probably didn’t invent YES DAY (it’s actually based on a book by the same name.

I love the concept. Parents, for one day, must say yes to everything their kids want, within  some pretty reasonable parameters like budget, geography and duration.

Saying YES. Sometimes it can be scary and uncomfortable. I am asking you to try it more anyway.

Three years after the beginning of the pandemic, the world looks differently. And some things we use do take for granted are coming back, maybe with some tweaks.

Here are a few things I am going to ask you to say YES to this year. Let me know how it goes, will ya?

When is the last time you talked about, or thought about, how you actually feel about what you do for a living? How you feel about your job is as important as how you perform at your job. And I don’t think we talk about it enough. The good news is that it is never too late to figure out how you feel.

Here are 5 ways to say "Yes!" to that will reap great rewards:

1. Go somewhere new!

Maybe a vendor has asked you to come and tour their facility. Maybe a networking group you belong to is having a happy hour next Friday at a new place across town. DO IT! Extending yourself out of your comfort zone is good for you. You will meet new people, find out about a service or product you didn’t know was available to you, or try some new kind of food you never knew you’d been missing all your life. New = adventure. New = Good.

2. Learn something new!

Whether it is how to start a TikTok page for your company or being able to explain the fundamentals behind personalized direct marketing, if there is something going on in your business that you are not comfortable with, now is the time to raise your hand, say you need help and get to learning. There is no downside here. The more you know is not just an NBC jingle from the 90’s. It is the truth.

3. Take on a project outside your comfort zone!

Let’s say a client asks you to do something you’ve never done before. It will not require you to go out and buy new equipment or software, but you have not tried something like it before. Before you say no, think about the implications of being able to add that aspect of your offering to all of your clients. Hearing the dollar signs ringing in yet? It is also empowering to your team to give them some latitude to figure out the best way to do it. Yes. You might lose money on the first one. But on each subsequent project you will get better and better and more profitable. Just say yes.

4. Consider a new hire who "gets it"!

There are two whole generations of people who have grown up as technology natives, but who may not look and sound like the kinds of people you typically hire. Talk to them anyway. It is time to start reverse engineering some of the roles within your team. You can look at the person, decide that you admire their energy, vision and manner, and decide that you will find a place for him/her on your team. It may be a title you’ve never had before. You might invent a title for him/her. New blood is what our industry needs; it’s what you need. Fresh perspectives. People who are not afraid to challenge and even defy what you think you know. This industry needs more shaking up. Shake.

Yes. Just say it!