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40. It's not exactly something that I have been looking forward to, but without realizing it, it is almost here.
My friends keep telling me that "life begins at 40". To be brutally honest, I am not so sure. How can someone think that is the case, when in your 20's you made all your mistakes but had the time of your life. In your 30's, you made some more, but they were far more manageable and life was pretty good. You had more money than in your 20's, more experience and had fewer issues. You felt as though you were more comfortable in your own skin and you came to terms with your flaws.
Then you started approaching 40. Somehow everything went back a few steps. Firstly, just when you thought you were comfortable in your own skin, you realized that there were a few things you wanted to change. For instance, your appearance. Do those wrinkles really belong to you? Have your eyebrows really drooped that much? Are your boobs really that saggy?
My friends keep telling me that "life begins at 40". To be brutally honest, I am not so sure. How can someone think that is the case, when in your 20's you made all your mistakes but had the time of your life. In your 30's, you made some more, but they were far more manageable and life was pretty good. You had more money than in your 20's, more experience and had fewer issues. You felt as though you were more comfortable in your own skin and you came to terms with your flaws.
Then you started approaching 40. Somehow everything went back a few steps. Firstly, just when you thought you were comfortable in your own skin, you realized that there were a few things you wanted to change. For instance, your appearance. Do those wrinkles really belong to you? Have your eyebrows really drooped that much? Are your boobs really that saggy?
Published in
Mellissah Smith
Innovation was a popular word in the office yesterday and as I watched everyone talk about innovation in one way or another, I became enthralled with how excited everyone was just by using the term.
Published in
Small Business Marketing
It was eight years ago when I first came up with the idea of producing a custom magazine for my business Marketing Eye.
I put it in my business plan and had every intention of doing it.
I put it in my business plan and had every intention of doing it.
Published in
Small Business Marketing
Over the years, I have been dumb-founded by what former employees have written on their LinkedIn profiles about what they did while working at Marketing Eye.
The first one that had me gob-smacked was a French assistant, who wrote that she had developed and managed the Marketing Eye brand, building the company’s marketing strategy and executing it.
In reality, she was a personal assistant, who had poor English and was struggling to do any task at all from an administrative perspective. She didn’t write anything, had no contact at all with design or branding but was excellent at organizing my dinner appointments, assisting me with my wardrobe and in general being a great personal assistant, albeit one that could not write on an email on my behalf because of the poor English factor. She worked for me for a few months only which I did it as a favour for her boyfriend who was a good friend at the time. In the end, I had to tell him, that her English was so bad, I couldn’t afford the luxury of her impeccable taste in clothing, makeup and picking restaurants at that stage of my life.
The first one that had me gob-smacked was a French assistant, who wrote that she had developed and managed the Marketing Eye brand, building the company’s marketing strategy and executing it.
In reality, she was a personal assistant, who had poor English and was struggling to do any task at all from an administrative perspective. She didn’t write anything, had no contact at all with design or branding but was excellent at organizing my dinner appointments, assisting me with my wardrobe and in general being a great personal assistant, albeit one that could not write on an email on my behalf because of the poor English factor. She worked for me for a few months only which I did it as a favour for her boyfriend who was a good friend at the time. In the end, I had to tell him, that her English was so bad, I couldn’t afford the luxury of her impeccable taste in clothing, makeup and picking restaurants at that stage of my life.
Published in
Marketing
Instragram, the billion dollar acquisition of Facebook, is finally paying dividends. Just weeks after the launch of a new feature, Instagram video, the social media platform has exploded overtaking its main competitor in short frame video, Vine.
While Vine has been a novelty to many, its 6 second video application has gone from 2.5 million Vine links on Twitter on June 19 to a massive dip of 900,000 links shared on Twitter, an alarming 64 percent drop, just one week later.
While Vine has been a novelty to many, its 6 second video application has gone from 2.5 million Vine links on Twitter on June 19 to a massive dip of 900,000 links shared on Twitter, an alarming 64 percent drop, just one week later.
Published in
Marketing
The first disclaimer I have is that I am not a parent. In fact, I am nowhere close. I have a dog, whom I love dearly, nieces and nephews – but that is it.
It seems odd that I would choose to write this blog, given my situation, but as odd as it may be, I think there is some relevance.
On Wednesday, I was flying from Chicago to Denver and there was an African-American woman with two children under 2-years of age who were crying. As I watched the situaiton, I heard snickers around this lady getting louder and louder with people complaining “just my luck to sit next to screaming kids” and “I have a headache already”.
It seems odd that I would choose to write this blog, given my situation, but as odd as it may be, I think there is some relevance.
On Wednesday, I was flying from Chicago to Denver and there was an African-American woman with two children under 2-years of age who were crying. As I watched the situaiton, I heard snickers around this lady getting louder and louder with people complaining “just my luck to sit next to screaming kids” and “I have a headache already”.
Published in
Mellissah Smith
A simple conversation can lead to anything. Literally, anything.
Like many entrepreneurs, gravitating to other entrepreneurs or business people is natural. Talking to a Neurosurgeon is not.
"It's not brain surgery" is one of my favorite sayings. The other, "it's not rocket science". It seems quite apt that I find myself in conversation with a neurosurgeon, whose gene pool is only bolstered by the fact his father is a rocket scientist. Was I intimidated. Hell yes! But how impressed I was to be having such an intriguing and relevant conversation with a neurosurgeon, was only interrupted by moments of wanting to be opportunistic. I had to literally stop myself asking if a sperm donation was a point I could include in the discussion. Now, what single woman wouldn't want to have a child with this gene pool?
Nevertheless, when I pulled myself together, I realized the synergies between business and neurosurgery isn't actually poles apart and much closer than one would think. As a marketer, we have certainly learnt a lot from neuroscience and consumer behaviour, but the outlook of how a surgeon views what they do, was what struck me as being something every entrepreneur can learn from.
Like many entrepreneurs, gravitating to other entrepreneurs or business people is natural. Talking to a Neurosurgeon is not.
"It's not brain surgery" is one of my favorite sayings. The other, "it's not rocket science". It seems quite apt that I find myself in conversation with a neurosurgeon, whose gene pool is only bolstered by the fact his father is a rocket scientist. Was I intimidated. Hell yes! But how impressed I was to be having such an intriguing and relevant conversation with a neurosurgeon, was only interrupted by moments of wanting to be opportunistic. I had to literally stop myself asking if a sperm donation was a point I could include in the discussion. Now, what single woman wouldn't want to have a child with this gene pool?
Nevertheless, when I pulled myself together, I realized the synergies between business and neurosurgery isn't actually poles apart and much closer than one would think. As a marketer, we have certainly learnt a lot from neuroscience and consumer behaviour, but the outlook of how a surgeon views what they do, was what struck me as being something every entrepreneur can learn from.
Published in
Small Business Marketing
Published in Herald Sun and on www.news.com.au on June 12, 2013 and written by LIsa Mayoh.
Thought this great story published by Herald Sun and News Limited was a great one to share. Feel free to link directly to News Limited website and read on http://www.news.com.au/business/worklife/how-to-run-a-successful-marketing-campaign/story-e6frfm9r-1226662277666
WITH videos going viral every day and more products to be sold than ever before, marketing has never been more important. But how do you create and execute a marketing or advertising campaign destined to meet the masses?
Well for starters, if everyone is walking in one direction, turn around and run in the other.Thought this great story published by Herald Sun and News Limited was a great one to share. Feel free to link directly to News Limited website and read on http://www.news.com.au/business/worklife/how-to-run-a-successful-marketing-campaign/story-e6frfm9r-1226662277666
WITH videos going viral every day and more products to be sold than ever before, marketing has never been more important. But how do you create and execute a marketing or advertising campaign destined to meet the masses?
That's according to experts, who admit that yes - creatines often do their best work over a game of ping pong.
Mark Held from www.thinksalot.com.au says the key to good advertising is keeping the message simple.
"You're essentially telling a story," the award-winning creative director tells news.com.au.
"So the story should always appeal to its audience, and be delivered in the right tone of voice.
"It's about finding something interesting and truthful about the product or service, then giving it a pinch of wit and charm so it becomes more easily palatable to the people you are talking to.
Published in
Marketing
"Be the best you can be" campaign by Children of America is being launched on Wednesday officially in the US market, by childcare company, Children of America, tells children and parents that "if you want to run, run as fast as you can. Don't worry if you fall over - just get back up and keep running, running, running."
Children of America hired Australian headquartered marketing agency newcomer, Marketing Eye, to establish the company's social media presence while at the same time inspiring children, parents and even teachers to be the #bestyoucanbe.
The marketing campaign will run for three months and will entail all facets of the social media mix along with a campaign to encourage people of all ages to inspire other's on how they are being the best they can be.
Children of America hired Australian headquartered marketing agency newcomer, Marketing Eye, to establish the company's social media presence while at the same time inspiring children, parents and even teachers to be the #bestyoucanbe.
The marketing campaign will run for three months and will entail all facets of the social media mix along with a campaign to encourage people of all ages to inspire other's on how they are being the best they can be.
Published in
Marketing
Most founders and entrepreneurs have their heads stuck so far up their you know what, to actually take the time to truly learn something from the young guns in their offices.
Another gross generalization, but the reality is that too many of the Gen-Xers who have started businesses 5 years ago, are working their butts off and are not spending the time needed to lessen their load by giving the young, up-and-coming executives the chance to really make a difference.
Here's my experience. I was sharing a glass of wine with Maikayla Desjardins, a Marketing Executive at Marketing Eye Atlanta yesterday and I asked the question, "why did you leave your job in New York and come and work for me in Atlanta?"
Her first response was: "You sold me on Atlanta as this awesome place to live - but let's face it, it's not quite New York!"
Another gross generalization, but the reality is that too many of the Gen-Xers who have started businesses 5 years ago, are working their butts off and are not spending the time needed to lessen their load by giving the young, up-and-coming executives the chance to really make a difference.
Here's my experience. I was sharing a glass of wine with Maikayla Desjardins, a Marketing Executive at Marketing Eye Atlanta yesterday and I asked the question, "why did you leave your job in New York and come and work for me in Atlanta?"
Her first response was: "You sold me on Atlanta as this awesome place to live - but let's face it, it's not quite New York!"
Published in
Small Business Marketing
Will your tattoo affect your chances of a workplace promotion?
Jun 03, 2013 Written by Mellissah Smith
Today I was asked the question, "what inspires you to come up with blogs?"
The answer is simple: "things that happen in every day life often inspire me."
If the truth be told, the blogs have been few and far between of late because inspiration is being cluttered with real life work, legals and end of financial year in Australia.
Jackson, a talented young guy on a 3-month internship with Marketing Eye asked the question and then followed with, "what do you think of tattoos?"
I had to think - not much. I don't have one myself, but many people do. They don't offend me, nor do I think that it would affect my decision in hiring someone or giving them a promotion, but this is not the case with all organizations it seems.
The answer is simple: "things that happen in every day life often inspire me."
If the truth be told, the blogs have been few and far between of late because inspiration is being cluttered with real life work, legals and end of financial year in Australia.
Jackson, a talented young guy on a 3-month internship with Marketing Eye asked the question and then followed with, "what do you think of tattoos?"
I had to think - not much. I don't have one myself, but many people do. They don't offend me, nor do I think that it would affect my decision in hiring someone or giving them a promotion, but this is not the case with all organizations it seems.
Published in
Small Business Marketing
After a weekend of doing all the things on my to do list, readying myself for a trip to the U.S. that is going to include travelling with my dog, I am taking time to reflect.
It's the experiences in life that make us who we are. I have had the most amazing life journey, growing up in rural Australia with a life full of animals, family and friends. My career has been more outstanding then I ever dreamed of mainly because my expectations were so low and I guess I would have been just as happy following the route of many of my school friends and having a family rather than any major career.
Starting a business at 25 was exhilarating to say the least. I remember when I was 26 years old, with my then business partner, talking about how lucky we were and how we wanted to pinch ourselves because life really couldn't get any better.
It's the experiences in life that make us who we are. I have had the most amazing life journey, growing up in rural Australia with a life full of animals, family and friends. My career has been more outstanding then I ever dreamed of mainly because my expectations were so low and I guess I would have been just as happy following the route of many of my school friends and having a family rather than any major career.
Starting a business at 25 was exhilarating to say the least. I remember when I was 26 years old, with my then business partner, talking about how lucky we were and how we wanted to pinch ourselves because life really couldn't get any better.
Published in
Mellissah Smith
Walking in the park this morning, I saw this dog jumping up a tree chasing a possum. I couldn't believe my eye's on how high this dog was jumping.
My dog, Pip, watched the dog but didn't notice that there was a possum up the tree. I am sure she was thinking "what is this dog doing?"
Often we all don't take time to understand that the way one person views something to another is not appreciated enough or understood.
My dog, Pip, watched the dog but didn't notice that there was a possum up the tree. I am sure she was thinking "what is this dog doing?"
Some people see things that others don't.
Whether we are looking at an advertising campaign or looking at a piece of art, what one person see's another may not. We can't all be the same, yet we can all appreciate the different view that we take on the things we see in front of us or in the distance.Often we all don't take time to understand that the way one person views something to another is not appreciated enough or understood.
Published in
Marketing
Before and After Website Design - why sometimes you have to start from scratch
May 22, 2013 Written by Mellissah Smith
I met a guy at the bar at Treetops Restaurant on Peachtree Road in Atlanta a few months ago. He had a hint of an Australian accent and in no time at all was talking to me about how we both derived from Australia and were embarking on business expansion.
Quite a smart man, he was fascinating in so many ways; his knowledge of the world, people, psychology, business and his story on how he had grown up and started doing what he does today. I would imagine him to be a highly successful businessman who commands the attention of everyone in the room.
Quite a smart man, he was fascinating in so many ways; his knowledge of the world, people, psychology, business and his story on how he had grown up and started doing what he does today. I would imagine him to be a highly successful businessman who commands the attention of everyone in the room.
Published in
Website Development
This morning I was a little shocked. Someone who I had never had a conversation with, who is an indirect competitor of my business, said something that was defamatory about my character.
12-months ago, I would have fallen in a heap, so devastated by someone actively going around (in this case internationally) to deliberately try and ensure that an opinion was made of me that is not only incorrect, but is made to ensure that others have the same opinion.
It's never nice to hear something being said about yourself, but after years of growing thicker skin, it now takes a bit more to stop me in my tracks. I now "get" that not everyone is going to like you, nor are they all going to think you are good looking, interesting, smart or that your business is anything to write home about. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Where this becomes grey is what they do with that opinion.
12-months ago, I would have fallen in a heap, so devastated by someone actively going around (in this case internationally) to deliberately try and ensure that an opinion was made of me that is not only incorrect, but is made to ensure that others have the same opinion.
It's never nice to hear something being said about yourself, but after years of growing thicker skin, it now takes a bit more to stop me in my tracks. I now "get" that not everyone is going to like you, nor are they all going to think you are good looking, interesting, smart or that your business is anything to write home about. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Where this becomes grey is what they do with that opinion.
Published in
Management
