Christmas Day my son, daughter in law and myself spent a better part of the day playing Boggle, a game where you shake letter dice and the pattern they fall in is the guide to how you will form words from connecting letters. Being pretty equally matched in spelling and vocabulary the competition was steep. We realized repeatedly how depending on where we were sitting certain words were more visible. Since the rules stated that you could not turn the game board, each of us would shift our position or rotate our heads to be able to see the letters from a different angle and were always able to find more words.  Getting a different point of view gave us more opportunity to win. 

As 2009 begins, and those of you left standing begin the process of creating your quarterly and yearly marketing plans, force yourself to gain a new perspective.  Maybe it's driving through some older neighborhoods you haven't been in for a few years or going to a club or restaurant where your prospective client would be from an entirely different demographic. Listen to what is being talked about, the energy there, the types of cars in the parking lot. (luxury, SUV, Hybrid)

Join a new networking group or 2. Put yourself in some new groups. If you've always marketed for listings, do a campaign for buyers this year and vice versa. Taking a new perspective on what you're doing will stir you up, maybe intimidate you a little and let's face it, nervousness can easily be interpreted as excitement... you may just attract business in places you never imagined before!