Archives For business

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

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

Yes…after a couple of years of promising that I would start a blog, I have finally begun.  I thought I would start with a video (so I didn’t have to write much – see I am cheating already!)

I have a plan for this blog, to write about life, inspirational stuff and marketing all of which reflects who I am, as a 39 year old (nearly 40, jeez), mother, business owner, scuba diving marketing chick.  I love writing but don’t do enough of it, so I am going to dedicate one early morning a week to write my thoughts on something that inspires me.  I hope my thoughts or learnings inspire you – or at least make you smile.  Thanks for joining me…