Blog Author Mellissah Smith - Page 28

Less hustle, more bustle. That's what I say. I know most entrepreneurs talk about how they hustle their way to success. I can safely say, I have not. In fact, I dream of being a hustler, but fall dissimile short of this in every way possible because I am one of those people who can tell you what I do if you ask, but won't broadcast due to the fact that I am actually shy.

It takes a team to build a business, and one bad egg can spoil the broth. If you have been in business for some time, like myself, this will ring true. While we read so many blogs and stories about how leadership determines culture, I beg to differ. In fact, I think leadership has little impact on culture, but people do.

Yesterday was a eye-opener for me. I saw an international team collaborated to make sure that their boss (aka me), knew how much they meant to each and every one of them. They went over and above, with every single person contributing in one way or another.

This morning, I decided to have breakfast at my favourite cafe, Hobba Prahran before heading to the office. I sat at Hobba with a big smile on my face. I have spent the past month with my teams in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Atlanta and it has been amazing.

The energy in each office, stand up meetings, pride in their work, on-boarding of clients and in general, their 'nice-ness' is beyond anything you would ever expect in an office environment.

I had a particularly stressful period of time. Hackers had attacked our business and we were leaking cash like no tomorrow. I handled it great for the first three days, then I fell apart. I felt like it was all too much. My life is full and to add that type of stress to my life, I felt overwhelmed. It was certainly challenging.

My team could see that I was stressed, and on my last day in the Melbourne office prior to heading to the US, the team wanted to celebrate my birthday. I asked them if they would mind if we didn't celebrate my birthday and celebrated just Christina's instead.

What makes our agency special? It's a question that I am asked frequently, and it always makes me think "what is it that is our secret sauce?". What makes us different from the marketing company down the road?

On the 28th of August, I celebrate another year, and for that I am forever grateful.

In not so many words, the other day I was told that I couldn't play with the big boys because they had more money and could get a software solution out faster than I could. It was devastating to hear, but it was the second time this person who I respect immensely has said this to me.

Did most of the tech companies that became billion dollar enterprises not start from garages? Did they have hundreds of millions to play with when they started? I don't think so. So, why would I not be able to self fund my startups that are disruptive and bring to the market products and solutions that will change the game?

Sitting at my desk that overlooks the Sydney city skyline and harbour, I often look out and cannot appreciate more just how fortunate I am.

I work with immensely talented people, who put their heart and soul into their jobs. I mentor people that are not only appreciative, but really good people. I am mentored by what I consider the best of the best, although I don't always think so when I am 'wrapped over the knuckles' usually because my focus is on the 'new shiny toy' and they don't want me taking my eye off the ball.

The Liberal Party has firmly lost my vote. The fact that they think it is ok to throw away $122 million on a plebiscite postal ABS vote is attrocious. We voted you in to make decisions, not sit on the fence and waste our tax payer money. 

If I was to say to you that I was able to give you a marketing strategy that guarantees a competitive advantage - would you say yes?

In fact, would you sign up now, knowing that it is highly unlikely that your competitors will get into the top 100 signup, which will complete the testing of the robot?

If you don't believe in it, why do it? 

I had breakfast with 'the devil's advocate' this morning. A dear friend who always asks a lot of questions and is possibly so seasoned that instead of having a glass half full when a new idea or business starts, he spends a little too much time in focusing on what won't work.