If you've been here before, you know I spent a whole week on the high seas. No, I wasn't a pirate. I was on vacation, on the largest cruise ship on the ocean (if their marketing is right): the Oasis of the Seas.
Even though our anniversary is this summer, we booked the cruise to celebrate 10 years of marriage, and I took my parents with us, who were celebrating 45 years together.
We had an amazing time. But now with a week back to work, I thought I'd share with you three tips that may help you and your business.
1. Create Memories
My goal, for this particular vacation, was to create some shared memories – for my wife and I, for my kids, and for my kids with their grandparents. So we picked the best boat we could afford. And a great room. And bought my son a tux so he could look like James Bond.
But this tip isn't just for you and your family.
The truth is that I spend the same amount of energy every year trying to create memories for my staff that work for me. We may not take a cruise, but we plan events and do things together that create memories we talk about years later.
I also create memories with partners and with key folks I coach. This year I'm taking some good friends to the Indy500 to create some shared experiences.
Know why?
Because we don't do business with robots or animals. We don't do business with corporations. We do business with people. And that means building relationships and trust is critical.
And so, if you want to develop that trust, learn to create memories.
(by the way, there's still time to sign up for my WP Cruise)
2. Capture Memories
All the work that you put into creating shared experiences won't mean much if you have nothing to show for it. It's why I try to take lots of photos, or have them taken, when we're doing things.
Everyone remembers this one (it's Bill Gates early on with Microsoft folks).
Who knows if this one will be a future hit?
It's a group of WP friends as we went to Disneyland together.
Here's a set of shots we had taken while on the cruise – to help my family remember our time together.
[envira-gallery id=”5410″]
(If you liked the way those were placed on this page, check out Envira)
3. Share the Memories
Lastly, and I know you hear me say this a lot. Learn to tell the stories of the experiences you've had.
When I talk to people about our day at Disneyland, you know what the response is? “Hey, tell us about it next time, we want to be part of that.”
Shared experiences are naturally inviting. People want to be included. And the best way to develop your community, build your network, and take your online relationships further, is to share your stories and invite them to join you the next time.
What does this mean for you?
Well, it means you need to develop some skills at planning. Because memory creation isn't just going to take care of itself.
It means you need to buy or borrow a camera, or hire someone, to take photos to commemorate your time together.
And it means you need to develop ways to share and invite others to participate in even more memory creations.