Sunday, November 22, 2015

Heart and Sole

One of my favorite quotes from Forrest Gump is about shoes ... "Momma always says there's an awful lot you could tell about a person by their shoes. Where they're going. Where they've been. I've worn lots of shoes. I bet if I think about it real hard I could remember my first pair of shoes. Momma said they'd take me anywhere. She said they was my magic shoes."



Unlike Forrest, my magic shoes aren't my first pair - they are the shoes that became such a part of me over time. The metaphorical "red stilettos" that encapsulate my career, my passion as a marketer. Just as I loved shoes my whole life, I loved to write and it is this love of writing and the balance of creativity and an analytical mindset that fit me well as I first forayed into a traditional marketing role.

The nice thing about magic shoes is that they give you the power to adapt to ever-changing conditions and I was able to embrace evolving trends of online and digital marketing. But, learning new things isn't necessarily a guarantee of success. One must understand that marketing is understanding human behavior and emotions - why do people respond to a message and why do different people react differently?

My trusty red stilettos have seen a lot of miles - you can tell they have a few scuffs from kicking obstacles out of the way, from wading in water to get to the other side. They tell of the times I had to dig in and the times I had to tip toe. But the heels are still steady and are ready for more miles. Each time I look down at my shoes, I can see the reflection of my face and my heart and I know that regardless of a company's size or industry, my shoes have made me the perfect fit.