Monthly Archives: February 2012

Every failure teaches you how to succeed…

Posted on February 29, 2012 by | Leave a comment

leap-of-faithDel boy once said ‘He who dares wins’.  Great words.  Now I am not suggesting Derek Edward Trotter is a man to base your business on but he was a man who was never scared to dream and that is a quality we should all embrace.

We all have dreams and thoughts of success.  The difference between those who reach the promised land and those who are just dreamers is not being scared to fail.  Every great success has been born out of failure and that blind faith that tells you to keep going.

I suffer from a disease called Atychiphobia.  This is the fear of failure.  This is what drives me.  However it can also be something that could stop me reaching my fullest potential.  It has taken me a long time to learn from my failures rather than allow them to debilitate me.  Don’t get me wrong I do not like to fail and I am not suggesting anyone should be happy to fail, however it makes us human.  I am still scared to fail but I have realised that I have to put myself outside of my comfort zone in order to reach my goals.  I am realistic enough to realise that this will come with setbacks, setbacks that will shape me as a successful individual.

We have all learnt from failures throughout our lives, even if you think you haven’t.  We all fell over as toddlers learning how to walk, but we got back up and gave it another go.  Many of us (well me) rode into a tree or three learning how to ride a bike, but you keep going.  There is no scientific formula for success, the only given is that you will fail before you get there.

So the next time you think “I’m not sure if I can do that” give it a go anyway.  Yes you might fail, but you will learn more from that moment than just taking it steady and staying within your comfort zone.  It may just be the making of you.

 

Written by,

Sunjay Patel

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Charity Starts at 12,000ft

Posted on February 22, 2012 by | Leave a comment

 

In a time where the economy is uncertain and inflation is high, it is understandable to worry about ourselves and our finances. Most of us seem to have less than before and more things we need to pay for. However it is also fair to say, there are always others that would see us as fortunate. A wise person – my Mum – once said to me “If ten people put their problems into a bowl, they’d almost always take their own problems back out again”. In other words, as bad as things might seem, it’s not until we hear of others that we realise, things aren’t that bad after all.

I live by that philosophy and though I’m not booking Barbados for my annual holiday this summer, I have a great job that I love and a full belly when I go to bed each night. As such, I like to help those that perhaps are in greater need. Last summer I put on a jump suit, a silly hat and funny goggles…and raised money by leaping 12,000ft out of a plane for a cause very close to my heart. Truth be told, I loved every second but the outcome of helping people remained the same.

Here at Lipton Fleming, we support a fantastic charity called Eaves (for more information click here) where even the smallest contribution or assistance means so much to those on the receiving end. So as we get stuck into another year and we all pay close attention to our funds, we should all pay a little bit of attention to those that wish they were in our position as well.

Written by,

Marc Conway

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How candidates can cover, letter by letter.

Posted on February 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Firstly it’s important to remember that your cover letter is your introduction/preface, it is almost akin to the first steps into an interview room.  It’s the first impression we create so we must remember it is important to make it a good one. The main purpose of your cover letter is to entice the reader to want to learn more about you with a view to actually reading through your CV.Cover letter

The easiest way to achieve a great cover letter is through structure and this can be done by covering three key areas and working this into an exciting, digestible and readable response to a job brief you have seen.

1. Answer the brief outlining your achievements and accomplishments.

By presenting some of your skills and achievements which tie in with the brief and will add value, to grab the attention of that recruiter straight away. As the opening is the first impression you will make, ensure it’s to the point. Candidates who have a creative introduction that outlines their skills in respect to the job brief will find that they get a better response rate from recruiters, so remember to be creative.

2. Explain how you are the right fit for the company.

This is a very important part of the cover letter and needs to be specific. You will need to address how you are going to use your skills to help take the company forward and fulfill the role. Make sure this is no more than two paragraphs.

3. Make sure it’s an enticing cover letter.

From start to finish your goal is to keep the reader interested and slowly reveal how you are perfect for this role and that you have so much more to offer. The cover letter should also be drawn to a close inciting a response possibly even an open ended question.

A cover letter serves as an important initial introduction which should compliment your CV and enhance your application for a job. Please treat it with the respect it deserves and take the time to seal yourself an interview.

 

Written by,

Richard Ward.

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Marketing – The Disillusioned Profession…?

Posted on February 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

In the wake of the previous recession and with the threat of a double dip, Marketing Jobs and the Marketing profession has taken a hit, leaving our creative masterminds out of work and in some instances, with a bruised ego.

The lack of understanding in the market place of the value that Marketing managers, communications gurus, campaign ambassadors (to name a few) could add to businesses, seems to  be a trick that major hiring and decision makers seem to be over looking.

Incredibly, after speaking to some dejected candidates, and “make a difference now” clients, it has become obvious that Marketing jobs were seen as “fluffy” roles that could be soaked into the Sales, HR and I.T teams.

These are teams that were deemed to add instant value and measurable output as soon as yesterday.

The Marketing roles became quickly and heartbreakingly redundant, whilst the need for Sales, HR et -al professionals increased.

Working in Marketing recruitment and taking a bird’s eye view of the goings on in the market place, I am not surprised to notice that many Marketing professionals have had a career change.

To become something that they believe the employer population are looking for.

You can hardly blame them. With mortgages, rents, school fees, families, cars and food to pay for – chasing your dream for many marketers, has become a profession that could leave them hungry and with no roof over their heads. This saddens me.

Marketers need to educate industries of their value, and for company bosses to take heed on the necessity of a top notch Marketing manager.

The right candidate(s) could significantly increase sales figures and social awareness of the company brand.

In 2009, a well known US company, whose portfolio boasts of cleaning and personal care products, injected 5.4BN into Marketing and Advertising, which resulted in sales revenue of 11.9Bn in 2010 in just over  a year. This injection figure is of a vast nature – obviously not every company can afford this, but there must be a trust that any money invested – with the right Marketing Strategy, there will be a return in investment. The huge palette of the marketing spectrum is infinite, from your strategic offline brand managers to new age online marketing boffins.

Marketing changes every day and what worked last year – would almost certainly not work this year. In the current market I would urge Marketers to up skill so that they stay current in a trying market. Marketing is a necessary spend, but patience is needed. These talented individuals are strategic thinkers. It will take the better part of 10 – 18 months before a real dent of their hard work is seen. Comparing them with Sales, HR or I.T personnel, whose ripple you can feel within 6 – 8 weeks is not relative, major corporate and small businesses waited and believed in these pool of candidate.

Figures show that their wait on these seemingly sleeping “think tank” candidates paid dividends.

Moral of story? Invest in a Marketing manager…. Sit back and wait..

Written by,

Che Egbuna.

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NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Posted on February 1, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Maybe you are the newbie in the office, or perhaps a new person has joined your organisation, or maybe you head up a division within a company that requires fresh blood.

Whatever the case, everyone knows what it feels like to be new. The question is are you making the most out of your new role?

Embarking on a new career journey can be a very nervous and exhilarating time but it is also a great time to learn and develop as a person, after all you got this role on merit – you should make the most of it!

If like me you have recently joined a company, you will be acutely aware of the common things you do as a new person…

  • You arrive ridiculously early every morning for the first few weeks as you are afraid to turn up late, so early in fact that you have to go to the nearest Starbucks to pass the time and make sure you arrive at a reasonable hour.
  • You are also so determined to impress and prove your dedication that you stay late after work, and then when you get home spend all night glued to your computer screen, researching and looking up books your colleagues have suggested are a ‘good read’ just so you have a conversation starter tomorrow.
  • You also ask everyone’s advice, desperate to learn and be inquisitive but end up with a sore head and a multitude of conflicting ideas and opinions, with no idea of the original question you had asked.
  • Moreover, you are so determined to make your mark and impress your colleagues and bosses that you sign up and volunteer for everything from the work bake-off to blog entries.

I am very new to the full-time working world but to everyone reading this I am sure you will all remember too well doing some of the above and living on pure adrenalin in your first few weeks in a new job.  It is all part of the process but it seems to me that what you should always remember is that your first few weeks in a new role are the best time to ask questions and listen to your peers. It is also an opportune time to think of ways you can add value to your company and make a difference, plus it is the perfect time to make use of all the training and time your colleagues can give you.

From one newbie to all others, embrace being the new kid on the block and make your first few weeks count and this should set you up for a long and fruitful career.

 

Written by,

Emma Lodge.

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