Blog Author Mellissah Smith - Page 43

Finally, I have a printed copy of the 2016/17 Global Marketing Strategy for Marketing Eye and it is being developed out to the point where every single item in the marketing strategy is given to a person who is responsible for outcomes.

It's particularly exciting given that usually we only share part of the plan, but this year, we decided to share it all - along with our profit sharing strategy for employees. It's time for many of our younger team members to start investing in houses or apartments, and they cannot do that without getting some real money behind them.

The pressure of growing your business is insurmountable with the number of areas that each business has to consider. 

As a company, Marketing Eye has been a company who believes that growth is imperative to keep employees engaged, stay ahead of the curve and invest in areas such as innovation and technology – but this is all not easily funded.

I came across a company recently that sparked my attention:Kabbage.

Marketing is instrumental to business growth. It provides the forum for sales to occur. Without it, sales people have a hard job. There have been many changes over the past 12 months and it is becoming increasingly hard for CMO's and Marketing Managers to stay abreast of changes.

I don't really like speaking at "all women" conferences. I am definitely not a gender specific person. I think every person is equal and should be treated likewise.

In fact, I think men now have it harder than women. With all of these mandates that say women should hold 50% of the positions on boards, many will now be overlooked even if they are better qualified, with more experience and capable of bringing more to the table.

But the fact of the matter is, many women have been overlooked for years. It's kind of pay back time - but I am not sure society is doing it right.

People often ask me how do I do it. I travel continuously and I have done this for many years, and I do it without blinking an eye lid. Booking my next flight is just part of the parcel of having a job that takes me across three continents.

From falling, we remember how to pick ourselves up and keep on walking. In life, we are a bunch of complex creatures, and whether we admit it to ourselves or not, we have many ups and downs on our road to our next destination and beyond.I've had a pretty amazing life. I know that I have been privileged in so many ways; phenomenal family, great loyal long term friends, new friends and great loves. In many ways, I was prized with a place on the podium.

But with that comes a lot of 'stuff' and not all of it is great. As a child I remember being a bit of a silent dreamer. You know the one who never really tells anyone what their dreams are, and keeps them all to themselves. I had good friends then, and many are still the same friends that I have now. They have seen me evolve from a shy child, to an adult comfortable in her own skin.

I've failed more times than I can remember. 

Do you know someone who always has to have the last word in a conversation or an argument? Everyone has come across this type of person and knows how frustrating or plain sad it is when you see it.

Having the last word is closely associated with ego. Egomaniacs always have to have the last word. It gives them a feeling of power, as if they immediate draw all of the power of the person they are communicating with and become powerful due to it. 

Who are you? Do you really know? Do you know what you stand for? What do people think of you?

Your personal brand is everything to the people that count, and means nothing to those that don't.

I always wonder why people try to be someone else when their true self is beautiful inside and out. Why some pretend, while other's have a comfort in their own skin that exudes a brand that has connection, meaningfulness, and realism.

We are taught to do so many things in business; how to hire people, how to inspire teams, how to make money, how to get sales in the door, how to increase your profits. The list is endless, and somewhat exhausting. How, as an entrepreneur, can we get it all right?

I had a dream to see the world... and I did it. In fact, I am still doing it. 

I also had a dream to own my own marketing firm. Did that too. And still doing it.

We all have choices, and we all have dreams, but few of us actually live the life we dream of living. What holds us back, is ourselves and our own determination to fulfil our own dreams, and not that of others.