Date: October 2017

The momentus shift from either writing a press release and distributing it to media or doing a pitch, to turning the tables and having the media follow companies and individuals on social media - public relations has been turned on its head.

Being an influencer on social media and owning a magazine with a decent distribution has resulted in our office often being inundated with products that people want us to test.

I am sure having offices full of millenials is also a draw card for many brands, and the fact that everyone is active on social media.

Friday never comes fast enough, not because I don't like my job, but due to the fact that my brain is trained to think that there is an euphoria to do with weekends.

In truth, my weekday brings me more joy than any weekend could, and while I work tirelessly on my many projects, it is the satisfaction I get from each and every project I finish that really has me pumped.

Marketing Eye goes from strength to strength and we will have our biggest year ever in 2017/18. This is especially sweet due to the fact that so much work has been put into getting the company into the position it is now.

As I embark on an ongoing improvement phase in the business, I note that there is one thing that I am doing wrong, that many other companies fall prey to.

With all of this talk on what some people do to reach their career goals in Hollywood, it seems that we have forgotten the 'real' world.

In the real world, to get a big pay rise, you have to work really hard, ensure that the company is profiting from your work at a rate that is commensurate with industry standards.

As you have seen, some people get paid more than other for various reason:

Perfectionism can be taken to unrealistic heights: let’s cast our minds to the fallout of the Harvey Weinstein scandal in the US. It has exposed some of Hollywood’s dirty secrets of sexual harassment in the pursuit of perfection.

By this I mean, ambition often gets a bad rap. The trait that pushes someone toward success can sometimes turn into a game where winning isn’t about achieving; it’s about beating the other person. Channel it correctly, however, and ambition can bring great results.

In the media or life in general, there is an expectation for everyone to be flawless. On social media, everyone appears impeccable - but when one investigates deep down the vault of reality, life appears far from what we see on our screens or on the news stand.

So why do so many of us feel the need to drive in this lane towards perfection? Are these expectations doing us more harm than good?

Like many other's, I have been reading bits and pieces on the Harvey Weinstein scandal and I have to say, that it's great that things like this have come to light. However, he is by far not the only person, and not the last to use his power and influence to get what he wants.

When I grew up, my parents taught me wrong from right. They also empowered me to never put myself in a situation where I would be uncomfortable or in danger.

As I embarked on a career, there were times when men of power would 'hit onto me'. From sending me gifts, to outwardly touching my behind or leg. I was given a room key from a television station manager in front of others at a bar, and another time a celebrity from the station followed my taxi back to my apartment. At no stage did I feel like I was not in control or didn't have the ability to say no. The room key, went straight in the bin, never to be discussed again. In fact, I never thought about it again. Likewise, when the taxi stopped I ran up to my apartment and locked the door. He didn't know my apartment number (of course, because he had never been there), and I felt safe as I was at home.

There comes a turning point in life where you ask yourself: "Is this the best way to spend my life?"

If the answer to this question is "I don't know" or "I don't think so" then it's time to make a few changes.

Everybody dies, but not everybody truly lives is a statement that many of us should have posted everywhere around our offices and homes. Working is not living. While we may get a thrill out of the next deal or feel accomplished by achieving something we set out to achieve, it's not what defines us. It's not what is going to ultimately make us happy.

The last quarter in Australia is always a tricky one. With public holidays, grand finals, racing carnivals, school holidays and the festive season parties, many sales and marketing professionals put their foot off the accelerator.

Last week I was chatting to one of my staff members and all of a sudden it occurred to me... it's better the devil you know. When you work in marketing, so often your salary is forever capped unless you get one of those coveted roles at Facebook, Google or a Top 100 company globally.