Mother’s Day has always been bitter sweet for me.

Bitter: I have missed my mum for 34 years, since 2 May 1980.

Sweet: for the last six years, Mother’s Day has changed, since becoming a mum to my girls, Ava and Hannah.

Bitter: each Mother’s Day was always a reminder of loss.

Sweet: now I am reminded of loss but it is now enveloped with happiness of being a mum

Bitter: I am reminded of the loss my mum would have felt, knowing she would not be here for me.

Sweet: I know she would be proud of me.

Sweet: don’t wait, start your legacy this Mother’s Day…

Sweet…

Hannah+Ava

Happy Mother’s Day 2014

https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/MeandYouBook

Isn’t life funny sometimes?

When we think, life is better on the other side or somewhere else?

We hear friends fantastic stories, we see their holiday snaps on Facebook, we learn of better paid jobs, the nicer bosses, the better and much calmer parents… and sometimes… a small part of us wishes our life was better, like theirs.

I have wished that… I see their holiday snaps and think, why am I not on holiday?  (I confess, I am one of those avid holiday photo sharers on Facebook.)

It could be easy to feel down when comparing your life with others, that seem to have everything, do everything, get paid more and work less, have a better house and more well-behaved kids… but do they really?

Context is everything.

Judging from a distance and typically out of the true context, everything would seem better on the other side.  While I wish I took more holidays (who doesn’t?) life is pretty good.  From today – I am going to focus less energy on comparing my life with others because in reality – it is not fair, accurate or even worthwhile.

I have learnt, to stop looking over the fence.  Imagine the growth if I concentrated on my own patch and my own aspirations.  I will no longer be driven by wanting more (whatever more is) by comparing myself with others.

I have learnt, to be thankful and celebrate what I have now.

I have learnt, the grass is always greener, on my own side.  Time to get back into my garden.

Nic

The grass is greener, on your own side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

birthday, business, Hub Marketing, The Hub, The Hub Marketing Communications

Happy birthday Hub!

You are probably looking at my photo and thinking… seriously, she looks a bit older than nine… (only a bit, surely!) 

This year my marketing business, The Hub celebrates its ninth birthday.

On 10 February 2005, I sat down at the computer for the first time, without a secure job, as The Hub Marketing Communications. I started with one client, the spare room as the office and one staff member (ok, he was my dog, let’s just say mascot).

Interestingly, at the very same time I started officially wearing the entrepreneurial hat, others were doing the same – YouTube began and the Huffington Post was launched.

Other events worthy of mention in 2005 – the largest known dwarf planet in the solar system, Eris, was discovered. There was the landing of the Huygens probe on Saturn’s moon Titan. The movie, Catwoman won the 25th Golden Raspberry Awards. Steve Fossett became the first person to fly an airplane around the world solo without any stops and without refueling. Tiger Woods won the 69th Golf Masters Championship.

Clearly, The Hub was in good company.

In a professional sense, much has changed since the advent of The Hub. Social media and digital platforms began and changed the face of marketing and communications. Dependent on your attitude (and control issues) from a business perspective you might think it’s the worst thing since the Catwoman movie. Or like me, consider the significant opportunities these platforms create for business.

We have grown from one person and one client, to a team of ten with more than 40 clients Australia-wide. Who would have thought? Actually most people know I have a 15 year plan – I am a bit like that. I even planned the timing of the birth of my first child.

From a personal perspective, I had a few milestones myself, with the most notable being getting married, having two children, finishing a couple of degrees and publishing a book. It is amazing what you can get done in only a few years!

Through all this, The Hub and I have happily and steadily evolved, innovated, changed and grown. I’m a big believer in not growing the fastest or being the biggest, this doesn’t drive me. What drives me is partnering with exciting inspirational leaders wanting to achieve exceptional results in whatever sector they lead.

We are inspired by these people. We like working with them in helping them achieve their goals and at the end of the day, this drives our team.

inspire, business

To inspire is great!

 

Throughout our nine years a couple of things haven’t changed.

My vision, of being the most sought-after marketing communications firm. The other being my first ever client is still with us.  Brian Leyden, it is good to have you still with us after so many years.

Here’s to the next exciting nine years.

Nic

PS – for more Hub news, check it out here

 

Ho ho ho…

03/12/2013 — Leave a comment

Thank you to our Hub friends, family and clients.  We’ve had an amazing, fun year!  2014 is looking like another fantastic year with what is already lining up – can’t wait to get stuck into it!

Wishing you a safe and Merry Christmas.

HUB_FB_XMAS_Milestone_Dec2013

The Hub Marketing Communications office is closed from Monday 16 December until Friday 3 January inclusive.

Chat again with you in 2014 – ho ho ho!

Love Nic

Memories are important

Sharing memories and stories are important for our children

I know this sounds incredibly fatalistic and morbid of me, but I have written a letter to my daughters, just in case I should die.

I am not dying, thankfully I am healthy and happy.

My mother died when I was seven and because of this I feel like I have grown up with a gap of understanding.  Sometimes it feels like half of me is missing.  Since having daughters of my own, my mortality, and its affect on them, hit me hard.  I don’t want my daughters to grow up not really knowing me, even if I die of old age.  I want a book to write my thoughts, dreams, stories and memories.  To collate and display precious photos with explanations.  To write about watching my daughter’s life journey unfold. I wanted something they could keep and read and maybe understand me a little more.

As I talked about this with my friends I realised they wanted the same.  So two years later we have the Me & You Book.  A legacy book for mothers to write a keepsake journal for their daughters.  To talk about the things we don’t have time to talk about.  To remember the funny stories along the way.  To share our tears and heartache.  To show our love for them is undying.  To ensure our daughters have us forever in this book, no matter what happens.

I don’t think this is morbid.  I wish I had a letter and a book like this from my mother.  I am going to do things differently with my girls.

http://www.meandyoubook.com

My first entry into the Me & You Book.

To my daughter, Hannah

Me & You Book - a special keepsake for mothers and daughters

Me & You Book – a special keepsake for mothers and daughters

In your hands you hold a precious gift from me.

You are incredibly special to me, so I’ve written this legacy about me and you.  It celebrates my memories of you and the special people, places and events that have shaped your life.

This family heirloom will also uncover more about your heritage, your nanny and poppy, grandparents, and of course more about me, daddy and Ava.  You have these memories, stories and hopes in my handwriting.  These words show how treasured you are to your family.

This book allows you to take a trip down memory lane.  Whenever you want to whisk yourself away to another time and place and be with me, you can.  You now have a record of our life together, specially for you.  This journal is filled with love.  As some things in life can fade, know that through this book, our memories and our love will never fade – it is with you forever.

You are my shining star, with an abundance of individual gifts and talents.  You have a generous, caring nature full of kindness and laughter.  You are sensitive (I love that) and want to understand the detail of how things tick.  I love every moment of our journey together.  You and Ava are my greatest success.

My only advice is to listen to yourself.  Follow your heart and mind, combined there is no greater strength.  Your life is filled with opportunity and choice.  You can be and do whatever you want.  Know whatever you chose, my only wish for you, is you live your life with inner strength, happiness and an abundance of love.

It is hard to describe the kind of love I have for you, my daughter.  This book shares the joys, tears, laughter and love you have brought to my life.

This is the way I can be with you forever and how I can show the depth of my love for you. 

You are part of my heart.  I will watch over and love you – always.

Love your Mum

Nicolle's daughters Ava (left) and Hannah (right)

Nicolle’s daughters Ava (left) and Hannah (right)

xx

Me & You Book Author. Nicolle Jenkins showing the book to daughters Ava and Hannah (and husband Dugald)

I could easily give you the six secrets to SME success, and right now you are probably thinking, oh yeah that sounds great! I admit I love those articles too, the ones listing the top tips for ultimate and far-reaching success. Let’s face it, most of those articles are written by people who have never owned a SME business.

Come on… we need to get real. There are so many of these articles floating around on the internet nowadays. While they are usually a nice read and a good reminder of what we should be doing, how many of us have actually actioned anything after reading them?

So before we go any further – I need to be honest with you because as a SME business owner, I know you are busy. (Deep breath)… there are no six secret to SME success. I just said that so you would start reading this article, BUT stick with me, because what I am going to write could save your business – or make your business even more successful. Yes – I am that confident.

If you don’t have a coffee, tea or bubbly in front of you, I think you should stop reading… get one… and come back with a notepad, ready to take action.

What I am going to write about is going to help you build your business, no matter the industry and no matter whether you sell a product or a service.

The greatest business danger
For our businesses to survive, we need to change our mindset on how business works. Humour me. Get up out of the chair and physically step back out of your business – look at it critically from an external perspective (that is, remove any emotion) and ask yourself. Is your way of doing business dying? Most of us (if we are being honest with ourselves) should answer yes.

I know it is scary, it’s ok, it is only me listening right now, but the sooner you are honest with yourself, the sooner you can start saving the business you have carefully nurtured and built. For those who have owned your business for more than 10 years, you will find this process more difficult.

We live in a changing world and change is coming quicker than ever before, BUT I firmly believe that with every change comes opportunity. First, we need to stop thrashing our existing business model when it is clearly suffering a slow death. Secondly, stop blaming others; the economy, online sales and cheaper providers – we need to take control back. We need to adapt, evolve, move and modify our business, to take advantage of new technologies, systems, relationships, connections and products.

Are you ready?
Recently at a business conference, researcher and author, Jim Collins said “The greatest danger for business is not failure. The greatest danger for business is to be successful without understanding how you became successful.” Collins went on to add “Arrogance and success can be the enemy for any business because you miss the early warning signs.”

Are you ‘that’ business? Are you missing the warning signs?

Collins said developing ‘a bit of paranoia’ in business can keep you sharp. So how can we create a healthy amount of paranoia in our business? I suggest you start with your customers. Are you losing them? Are they going elsewhere? Do you know why? Do you know who your customers are? What they like and don’t like about your business? Can you honestly answer these questions? Many can’t, because it takes courage to listen and be ready to change. It takes courage to build a business not about you, rather build a business for your customers.

If you are not close to your customers; and know what they want and how they want it – you are losing relevance with them and your bottom-line is suffering because of it.

We all know (or should know) that being agile and moving with your customers is the key to this rollercoaster ride we call business success. Reinforcing your relevance with your customers by knowing what they want and delivering it – are the two key ingredients to thriving in today’s moving global economy.

The key advantage for SME’s is that we are (or should) be able to evolve and be agile much faster than bigger business – this can be a source of competitive advantage for our survival.

Are you open to change?
Are you ready to ask your customers what they want from you and truly listen to their opinions?
Are you ready to potentially turn your business model on its head and consider new ways of operating to keep your relevance, fight off competitors and deliver what your customers actually want?

If you are, (awesome!) my next article will help you in this new era of customer engagement.

If you are not… just keep drinking the bubbly…

(This article was first featured on the Australian Business Advisory website http://www.australianbusinessadvisory.com.au)

A friend died yesterday and I can’t stop crying.  I knew he was sick and not doing well, but his death has taken my breath away.

He was close to my age and only last week when we chatted and he was positive he was going to kick this ‘infection’.  Today I found out it was cancer and true to his form, he didn’t burden many people with the truth or the seriousness of his condition because he thought more about others than himself.

When he told me that his doctors told him to get his affairs in order, I didn’t believe him.  When he started to cry, I still didn’t think it possible.  I am struggling because he was young, he was a caring person, he was incredibly strong and as I told him – if there was anyone that could beat this – it was him.  He didn’t let anything push him around, and that is what I loved about him. I wish I could bottle that strength and power for future use.

He would be so disappointed.  He would be disappointed that his body gave up on him because his brain was sharp right till the end.

I am sad, I have lost an inspirational business mentor and friend.  I have lost someone who I could turn to, and no matter what – he would be there for me.  I am sad for the young family he left behind.

Then today in an unrelated matter, a friend shared with me how she is being bullied at work.  I know the bully, because I too have felt the brunt of his actions and words – and I can’t help but feel sorry that my friend is gone and the bully is still here.  I know, harsh, but that is how I feel.  I feel ripped off, as I am sure so does his kids and wife.

What is very real to me today, is that cancer is impossible to reason with.  That even the strong and courageous and undeserving can fall.

(Deep breath)  I have always believed that from every difficult challenge or situation there is always a solution or positive element we can take away, but sometimes life is so unfair that it is difficult to see anything positive from such a tragedy.

The only thing I can do to stop myself from feeling totally powerless – is to never give cancer a capital c.

I will miss you Mikey Mike.

x

There is no doubt… if you want to change something in your life, the beginning of a new year is a great time to start momentum.  You’re fresh from a holiday, enjoying the sunshine (in Australia anyway!) and return to work inspired to do things differently.  I get it… I really do!  But if you truly want to make a change, the last thing you should call it is a new years resolution – otherwise it is certain to fail!

New years resolutions get a bad wrap!  Essentially as a brand, resolutions don’t have good stickability.  The concept is built for failure because you will inevitably – not live up to the resolution.  It is a short-term brand built on guilt!

So what to do?  As a parent that has just (very recently!) turned 40, it is all about clever branding – by not calling it a resolution!  You will be more forgiving on yourself, more flexible and if it doesn’t work out – you can call it something else further down the track – I mean who has ever set a new year resolution mid year?

I have some changes I want to make to my life.  Changes to a routine I have built up over many many years.  Changes to some habits that are no longer serving me well. Changing to increase more ‘me time’, a focus on being healthy, exercising more and blowing bubbles more (scuba diving).  These are my changes for 2013 and to help encourage its long-term success – I am branding this change my ’40 and focused’ phase.  See – it even sounds longer…

Why start the new year destined for failure?  Brand your changes the way you want – its more fun that way!

IMG_4206

Me diving with a massive beautiful Potato Cod at the Rowley Shoals

If your wind-down towards Christmas has been anything like mine – it has been a bit manic, crazy, frantic and slightly overwhelming all at the same time. 

With everything that is happening around the world, I feel it is a good time to express my gratitude and love for my family and friends.

AND my appreciation for the people I spend the majority of my time with – my awesome Hubster team at The Hub Marketing Communications.

Nothing says Merry Christmas like a team photo from The Hub – so I thought I would share this with you!  I hope it makes you smile…

Have a magical Christmas and be safe on the roads.

See you again in two weeks – all refreshed and slightly overweight from all the mince pies and champers – to start this all over again for another massive year in 2013!

Hub_Xmas_FacebookPic_DEC2012

Don’t forget to join us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hub-Marketing-Communications/115176038521060

or

www.thehub.net.au (our new website to be launch in January 2013!)

I am selfish.Women_in_leadership_ppt_JumpingWoman_Slide29

OK… weird way to start… let me clarify.

I am selfishly invested in recognising the value women have in business… hang on, hang on… before you close this blog – hear me out.

It has taken me 40 years to admit publicly that I am in fact a feminist.  Growing up in the 80’s the term feminist certainly had negative connotations, of hairy armpit, bra burning, aggressive women that never brush their hair.  In hindsight I think I was a closet feminist, although I never burned a bra and well… did the other bits regularly – but you don’t need to know those details.

Why am I now comfortable to publicly admit that I am a feminist?  Because now more than ever it is time for change.  This is where my selfishness comes in…

When it was just about me and my career as a business woman – in the early days I did it on my own, without really a thought of changing it for others.  It was easier to focus on me and what I needed to do to progress, glass ceiling or not.

Why was I so career focused?  In hindsight I think was because at a young age my mum died and I turned to my Dad as a role model.  Dad had always run his own business and from my perspective – he instilled in me a strong work ethic, a no handout mentality to create your own independence.  If I wanted something – you worked for it.  Maybe that is why it didn’t seem like a big deal when starting and growing my own business.  I am pretty sure Dad doesn’t understand his role in my life choices.  It is what it is – I can’t change who I am, nor would I want to.

But then I became a parent.

I had two children.

Two girls.

AND EVERYTHING CHANGED.

Suddenly it was more than about me – but actually this made me even more selfish.  Now it is about the world I want for my daughters to grow up in.

If my daughters were entering the workforce now – this is what they would face in Australia.

This is just not good enough.

Women_in_leadership_ppt_v4

With two young girls, my focus is the betterment of this – for them.  No matter what or who they want to become – so they have choice, freedom and a pathway to be whoever they want to be…

We need to encourage change.

Women_in_leadership_ppt_v4_2

We know…

FinalSlides10

A huge thank you to the Lush TV team for producing this video.  They rock www.lushtv.net

Information and research data for these two videos were sourced from McKinsey and Co, EOWA, the Harvard Business Review and Nicolle Jenkins.

The design was created by my awesome team at The Hub Marketing Communications www.thehub.net.au or follow us on facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Hub-Marketing-Communications/115176038521060