Blog Author Mellissah Smith - Page 136

A couple of years ago, I was invited to be an Ambassador for Ozchild (www.ozchild.org.au).

Ozchild has a history of helping children from underprivileged environments since 1851 and now has a group of 500 volunteers and around 170 staff.

Yesterday I was asked the question about what are the concerns of small to medium sized businesses when it comes to marketing right now.

The truth is only they know, however I have a good gauge having spoken with more than 100 small to medium sized businesses in the last month.

Many businesses are turning back the clock and placing a greater emphasis on traditional word-of-mouth marketing and the latest social networks to grow their market share.

Having been in business for 10 years and totally absorbed by the businesses I already own and operate, I have had little time to think of anything else.

But like a well oiled chain, most of my businesses operate fairly efficiently and effectively without my daily input. These days I am more a problem solver than a day-to-day runner of the business.

They are the people we entrust with our finances. All day, every day they tap numbers into their calculators reducing our taxes, finding ways to maximise our financial futures and giving us valuable advice on our financial situation.

I have a good friend who always talks about ‘living the dream’. He arrives at a friends house, they go “what have you been up to?”, he replies “Living the dream”. Actually, you can pretty much ask him anything and the reply is always the same. Go figure.

Companies that are managed well, market themselves and are honourable in the way they conduct business always seem to succeed.

I am not known for being overly political but I do resonate with those that are and who stand up for what they believe in.

Harsh – probably, but I am yet again flabbergasted that people waste valuable marketing dollars on half hearted attempts at marketing and sit back and have a pity party wondering why they did not work.

Some people turn on the television to laugh, others to be entertain… me… to be motivated.

I rarely watch a show that doesn’t have some relevance to my life. Yes, I was addicted to Sex In The City, then came Lipstick Jungle and on the weekend, the DVD for Cashmere Mafia.