Date: December 2015

I was driving along Dandenong Road yesterday in Melbourne, talking to a girlfriend of mine and I said, "if someone really knew me, and was the love of my life and was to propose, they would hand me a Tolstoy book, as the token of their love."

She laughed, "and you say you don't have lists!".

There has been so many changes in marketing over the past 12 months, that not too many marketers can honestly say that they are totally 100% up to speed.

We try in ernst to be up-to-date and continually upskill our people, but it doesn't always work out to plan, particularly when they are busy doing their day jobs.

That's why it's so important for marketers at all levels to take time out of their day to work on themselves and their capabilities in marketing each and every week as part of their routine.

We are presently looking for a talented marketing executive in Sydney. Someone with one to two years' experience, with a passion for being the best marketer possible.

As a company we have so much to offer our young team, and we know that they will learn more at Marketing Eye than possibly any other position in marketing elsewhere.

As we close our offices today until the second week of January, I realise that it's time to reflect on our wonderful journey and what we have all learned this year.

We have had the most amazing experiences, namely through our people and clients, who constantly amaze me with their insights, perserverence and determination to kick goals. 

There is so much going on this time of year, it is ridiculous. Usually, I do the smart thing and disappear overseas or head up to the family property in Queensland to hang with my family, but this year, I am staying put... well, for now.

I have so much to do as I have alluded to in previous blogs; Marketing Eye's expansion plans, Licensing the Marketing Eye model, a new technology platform that I have developed and a new tech company that I am about to go into capital raising mode for. On top of that, I have my passion project, The World Incubator, and selfishly a holiday overseas to the snowfields.

Is your retail company innovative enough? Will you be left behind? Is it fad or fashion? How will you ever know? Strategic innovation places one retailer on top of another. People are always looking for different - what no-one else has. But then they want what everyone else has. It’s hard to keep up.

There are so many things that entrepreneurs do right, and often it is for the world to see. Yet there are still some things that we don't quite get right. 2016 is going to be a huge year. There is so much in store and while we all focus on business, the Government has a few headaches not just with stimulating economic growth, but ISIS and climate change. 

There are so many types of love that we all experience; a love for food, a love for our dogs, a love for our family, a love for special people in our lives and of course, the great love.

I've only once experienced a great love. The type that sends you crazy, that gives you butterflies even after the first year, and keeps you committed long after it is over.

Everyone loves a great Christmas party, unless of course you are a little like me and you have gone to one too many already. 

Christmas is coming closer and there have been a lot of party invites. I have mostly opted out as I don't have the "missing out syndrome" (FOMO) and know that as you get older, there is only so much casual chit chat you can handle.

Fuck it! Seriously, I know I just swore but that's exactly how I feel right now. We keep holding ourselves back in fear of something. Actually, everything. But where does that get you? Nowhere, that's where.