In October, Marketing Eye will host its first corporate retreat for staff from around the world. We have put a lot of thought into where we should go, what sort of program would benefit employees, what our objectives are, and how do we engage our employees to go on the ride of growing the business to the next level.
Losing jobs to technology is really nothing new if you think about it – even when humans haven’t been totally overrun they have learned to adapt to technology and machinery to become more efficient and accurate in what they do.
With continued advances in artificial intelligence, technology and robotics, businesses will need to stop and rethink their approach to getting the job done in the most competitive manner.
Businesses are having to transform their training models and methods, reevaluate their hiring practices, reconsider their organisational structure and transform their job descriptions.
We are all on a journey in life, that is quite often than not, dictated by our desire for greater experiences or money. The latter is an interesting mark as it can either defeat you, or make you, and few people find the happy medium whereby they have enough to live a good life, and to give to others at the same time, without making money their scorecard.
Experiences are to be had. Sometimes people hold themselves back from their full potential, only to find disappointment in the end result. Why are they holding themselves back, when they could simply let go a bit and find their way into the place they were always searching to go?
Reality Check: Robots haven’t just landed in the workplace – they are already expanding their skills, increasing productivity and retention rates, and moving up the corporate ladder. As technology continues to bring unprecedented improvements into the workplace that essentially streamline processes and creates efficiency, employees will really need to start thinking about their value and worth to an organisation.
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?
Who has fallen in love with the 'new shiny toy' and forgotten about their old one's?
I have definitely done this so many times. My mentor always says to me "The new girl is always prettier than the girl you took to the dance". So true. I can attest to that.
I have never been more busy in my life. I remember 2 years ago feeling completely overwhelmed by having so much on my plate, and feeling as though I was floundering.
I kept on taking on more 'stuff' and it wasn't a case of not being able to say no. I simply wanted to do all the things I was doing and they were important to me. I hired two personal assistants and that worked wonders, except I decided that they were too good to be personal assistants and moved them promptly into other roles.
Some people are satisfied with minimal sales and minimal income, and there is no motivational factors that will ever change that. All motivating them will do, is change their expectation of entitlement.
As a child, no-one asked 'why' more than me. I was so annoying to everyone around me because I was curious and I wanted to know 'why' things were done the way they were, or why mother nature did what it did.
That has followed me mercilessly through life, and I say it like that because without doubt, it has gotten me into some trouble or at the very least, ruffled a few feathers.
It's 2 a.m. in the morning. I lay awake having just flown in the day before from Los Angeles. My eye's are sore, and somewhat tired, but my mind is wide awake. I can't seem to get back to sleep. I get up and get a drink from the fridge.
Last week was mammoth. I spent 4 days on a speaking tour of the Fraser Coast, promoting Marketing Eye's not-for-profit, The World Incubator, and innovation as a whole.
There are many lessons to learn when talking to crowds, and the first is to adapt to the crowd you are talking to.
We are quite the fancy pants of marketing of late and have delivered a business and marketing plan for our own company that is one of the best I have ever seen. We haven't focused on our old-style corporate internal document, but instead, a fully engaging interactive and KPI orientated presentation that has inspired our team to do more, be more and conquer quite a few goals.
Marketing Managers want to be at the table when business decisions are being made. They, by sheer title, believe that they are being largely ignored over Sales Manager who bring dollars to the table and other senior management team members including technology.
With planning on the agenda this week and new hires, it has become apparent that we have to look closely at the past to ensure that our business goes into the future with it's best foot forward.
I'm in heavy business planning stage right now and I am looking for a lot of growth and development within our business. Our products need further development before August, and our APP must be finished for our clients, licensees and employees so that training and development as well as the marketing dashboard is at their fingertips.
I'm a strong believer in technology and how it powers performance. I don't hide behind the fact that I believe that marketing needs to reinvent itself and allow robots in, while still maintaining the personal touch. It's a hard combo and no-one really has it right. Marketing automation was supposed to solve this problem but there is no program yet on the market that actually does this well enough.
The human touch is still over-needed.
To keep abreast of what is going on in our industry and to maintain our position of leadership, we are working more on innovation and technology, while teaching new staff, new ways in which they can work to better perform for clients.
A catalyst for this is change is needed every year in a growing progressive company. You can't deliver upon continual growth at the rate we are aiming for without making sure you are a step ahead of the market - always.
People buy-in is instrumental and at my own fault I have sometimes forgotten that inclusion when I have impulsively developed a new or innovative process. Fairly stereo typical of an entrepreneur who is creative, but not acceptable and sustainable.
If your business hasn't:
Developed a business plan for 2016/17 Developed a marketing strategy that is not the same as last year, for 2016/17 Audited your processes for constant improvement across all areas Set your sales goals and ensured all team members are across them Invested in people management, development and growth allowing adequate budget for the year Made innovation your number one motivator for staying on top Bought a copy of Gazelle's and completed the two page template and shared with your team
