Date: July 2015
Wednesday, 29 July 2015
Perspective is an interesting thing
I've been away now for one week and am completely relaxed and recharged with a half decent tan courtesy of being in the mediterranean. Travelling has always been something that I have loved to do. I travel constantly for work and also for pleasure, usually mixing the two together. To travel is a luxury and a privilege. For the first time in a long while, I am seeing just how amazing my life has been because I have been able to travel and experience so many different cultures and environments, that broaden my perspective on life.
Published in
Mellissah Smith
Monday, 27 July 2015
Am I good enough?
I won't beat around the bush on this topic because it's something that we all experience at some point in time - and if you say that you don't, I am calling #bullshit.
I am always asked to help friends out with their marketing. It's been something that I am asked every week by at least one person. I tend to shy away from it. I know you are thinking "why?". The truth is that I think deep down that I won't be good enough to help them. They deserve the best to get their business idea off the ground or take their business to the next level. And that may not be me. It may be one of my team members. It may even be a competitor.
Here's why:
I am always asked to help friends out with their marketing. It's been something that I am asked every week by at least one person. I tend to shy away from it. I know you are thinking "why?". The truth is that I think deep down that I won't be good enough to help them. They deserve the best to get their business idea off the ground or take their business to the next level. And that may not be me. It may be one of my team members. It may even be a competitor.
Here's why:
Published in
Marketing
Wednesday, 22 July 2015
Cheering from the grandstand is the best position in the house
It's been a mammoth month in so many ways. End of financial year in Australia is always draining. As a marketer, there is no fun in fulfilling your obligations as a business owner for the taxation department.
Published in
Marketing
Tuesday, 21 July 2015
The billable hours conundrum for professional services firms
Unlike many professional services firms, I cared less about how much billable hours people are doing until the fatal day that it was brought to my attention by my internal accountant that some people were "performing" not as good as others and the gap was significant.
It is harder to work in a professional services firm than in corporate. Knowing that you have to do a certain number of billable hours is a lot of pressure until you actually stop thinking about it.
It is harder to work in a professional services firm than in corporate. Knowing that you have to do a certain number of billable hours is a lot of pressure until you actually stop thinking about it.
Published in
Management
Monday, 20 July 2015
Follow up is the killer of many successful marketing campaigns
There are so many reasons why marketing campaigns fail, but don't let not following up be one of them.
Published in
Marketing
Sunday, 19 July 2015
What's holding you back and how to fix it immediately
Everyone has been there. You know, when you look in the mirror and wonder to yourself 'why you haven't achieved what you set out to achieve' and then give yourself an 'upper cut'. For those who don't know what that means, it's very Australian!
We control our own destiny and deep down, every person, even the one's that blame others for their 'lot in life', know that if you are not achieving something, then it's no-one's fault but your own.
They are harsh words. You may say that you wanted to be rich, but were never given the opportunity but we have heard lots of stories of people growing up dirt poor who become squillionaires or elite sportspeople - so that alone is no excuse.
We all want something. Many of use strive to achieve it and put the right actions in place to make it happen. When failure crosses our path, we get back up and dust ourselves off, then try again, perhaps in a different way.
But some people fail and then become too afraid to get back up. Worse still, some people don't even try, because they are so afraid of failure. For what? Someone is going to laugh at you? Someone is going to think you are not as good as you want them to think? Your ego will be bruised? These things are as silly as they sound. Toughen up and start putting into action the things you need to, to achieve your goals.
There is simply no excuse for not trying and certainly no excuse to blame others, your circumstances or anything else on why you can't do what you really want to do. Anything is possible, you just have to believe.
In my experience, people are often held back (including myself at times) by:
1. Procrastination:
We control our own destiny and deep down, every person, even the one's that blame others for their 'lot in life', know that if you are not achieving something, then it's no-one's fault but your own.
They are harsh words. You may say that you wanted to be rich, but were never given the opportunity but we have heard lots of stories of people growing up dirt poor who become squillionaires or elite sportspeople - so that alone is no excuse.
We all want something. Many of use strive to achieve it and put the right actions in place to make it happen. When failure crosses our path, we get back up and dust ourselves off, then try again, perhaps in a different way.
But some people fail and then become too afraid to get back up. Worse still, some people don't even try, because they are so afraid of failure. For what? Someone is going to laugh at you? Someone is going to think you are not as good as you want them to think? Your ego will be bruised? These things are as silly as they sound. Toughen up and start putting into action the things you need to, to achieve your goals.
There is simply no excuse for not trying and certainly no excuse to blame others, your circumstances or anything else on why you can't do what you really want to do. Anything is possible, you just have to believe.
In my experience, people are often held back (including myself at times) by:
1. Procrastination:
I take full responsibility for the fact that I am a procrastinator. I have great ideas, but often sit on them a little too long or find every excuse as to why I can't do it - namely, because I am too busy. What a load of bullshit. If you want it, do it.
2. Commitment phobic:
Another great reason why you can't achieve what you set out to achieve. You are phobic of making a commitment to achieving it. You want to travel the world, but you find every reason not to book your flight. You want to buy a house, but you find every reason not to put down that deposit. This usually follows you everywhere in life. Work on it. Don't let this be your reason for not succeeding.
3. You are not flexible:
You will only do it your way. You don't listen to others, or take advice and mostly you don't listen to your gut instinct. For instance, you want to be a newsreader, but you live in Sydney, and there is too much competition for roles as journalists. So move to a country town with a small television station so you can learn the ropes and get noticed. But no, you can't move - right? Wrong. If you really want it bad enough, you will do it.
4. You expect instant results:
Let's face it. You most probably will fail the first time. So don't pack up your bags when this happens and head home. Get back up, and try it again. You start a business and it doesn't make you a millionaire over night. Do you close the doors? Or do you keep working at it? The only thing in life that gives you instant results is chocolate and alcohol.
5. The right time never comes:
You are waiting for the right time. When you have had kids, or when you have paid off your mortgage or better still, after Christmas or when the market changes. This is your mind playing delay tactics and winning.
6. You compare yourself to others:
There will always be someone prettier (or better looking) than yourself. There will always be someone smarter or more successful than yourself. Get use to it. Unless you are Bill Gates, which I take it your not if you are reading this blog, there is always going to be someone who makes it look easier than it is, or who will be better than you in some way. Play by your own rules. Own you! Never compare yourself to someone else, but by all means learn from others.
2. Commitment phobic:
Another great reason why you can't achieve what you set out to achieve. You are phobic of making a commitment to achieving it. You want to travel the world, but you find every reason not to book your flight. You want to buy a house, but you find every reason not to put down that deposit. This usually follows you everywhere in life. Work on it. Don't let this be your reason for not succeeding.
3. You are not flexible:
You will only do it your way. You don't listen to others, or take advice and mostly you don't listen to your gut instinct. For instance, you want to be a newsreader, but you live in Sydney, and there is too much competition for roles as journalists. So move to a country town with a small television station so you can learn the ropes and get noticed. But no, you can't move - right? Wrong. If you really want it bad enough, you will do it.
4. You expect instant results:
Let's face it. You most probably will fail the first time. So don't pack up your bags when this happens and head home. Get back up, and try it again. You start a business and it doesn't make you a millionaire over night. Do you close the doors? Or do you keep working at it? The only thing in life that gives you instant results is chocolate and alcohol.
5. The right time never comes:
You are waiting for the right time. When you have had kids, or when you have paid off your mortgage or better still, after Christmas or when the market changes. This is your mind playing delay tactics and winning.
6. You compare yourself to others:
There will always be someone prettier (or better looking) than yourself. There will always be someone smarter or more successful than yourself. Get use to it. Unless you are Bill Gates, which I take it your not if you are reading this blog, there is always going to be someone who makes it look easier than it is, or who will be better than you in some way. Play by your own rules. Own you! Never compare yourself to someone else, but by all means learn from others.
Published in
Mellissah Smith
Friday, 17 July 2015
Social media made our company successful
Last night I did a speech in front of a group of hugely inspiring business women on how I built Marketing Eye to be in the position we are in today.
In writing that speech, I realised something very important. Our success didn't really have much to do with what we were selling, as ultimately in that market, we have a lot of competitors.
What made us so successful, and ensured that our phones ring non-stop with inquiries is social media.
In writing that speech, I realised something very important. Our success didn't really have much to do with what we were selling, as ultimately in that market, we have a lot of competitors.
What made us so successful, and ensured that our phones ring non-stop with inquiries is social media.
Published in
Marketing
Friday, 17 July 2015
How to be a high performing marketing executive
If you don't believe that being average is an option, then as a buddying high flying marketing executive there are a few tips that may take you to the next level and help get you noticed in the market.
8 Key traits that are imperative to the success of high performing marketing executives.
1. Dream big: Marketing Executives that stand out from the crowd often have big dreams that they want to fulfill. These dreams are documented in diaries, post-it notes, and importantly deeply entrenched in their mindset. Nothing stops them from achieving their dreams.
8 Key traits that are imperative to the success of high performing marketing executives.
1. Dream big: Marketing Executives that stand out from the crowd often have big dreams that they want to fulfill. These dreams are documented in diaries, post-it notes, and importantly deeply entrenched in their mindset. Nothing stops them from achieving their dreams.
Published in
Marketing
Wednesday, 15 July 2015
Marketing Manager Melbourne - Position Available
Marketing Manager Melbourne
· St Kilda Road location
· Fun collaborative work environment
· Consulting position
Published in
Marketing
Wednesday, 15 July 2015
5 MBTI personality types that will thrive as marketers
Before I hit the ‘apply’ button to become one of Marketing Eye’s interns, I familiarised myself with the marketing company through reading this blog. Half way through the first post, which was written by Mellissah herself, I stopped for a brief moment and thought to myself: ‘Hang on, this sounds rather familiar… This sounds A LOT like something I would write.’ Like Mellissah, I had always envisioned myself as an entrepreneur because I enjoyed the idea of working for something I believed in, which was a difficult standard to meet if you worked for someone else or another company. I was able to relate to Mellissah’s posts on a personal level, which was something I had not expected from a marketing blog. I only learned later that we owned the same pair of Tiffany & Co. glasses!
It occurred to me that Mellissah and I had rather similar personalities – both perfectionists, visionaries, intuitive, idealistic and determined. Of course, similar people would be attracted to the same jobs. That was expected. What I hadn’t expected was to experience this first-hand. It had made me question my individuality, but more importantly, meeting Mel helped me confirm that marketing was an achievable career choice for me.
It occurred to me that Mellissah and I had rather similar personalities – both perfectionists, visionaries, intuitive, idealistic and determined. Of course, similar people would be attracted to the same jobs. That was expected. What I hadn’t expected was to experience this first-hand. It had made me question my individuality, but more importantly, meeting Mel helped me confirm that marketing was an achievable career choice for me.
Published in
Guest Blog