Archives For Life

Bitter Sweet Mother’s Day

23/04/2014 — 3 Comments

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

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Is the grass greener on the other side?

11/04/2014 — 4 Comments

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I am nine this year!

03/04/2014 — 2 Comments
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

 

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When I die, please give this letter to my daughter

23/10/2013 — 2 Comments
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)

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New Year Resolutions…. blah!

08/01/2013 — Leave a comment

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

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