SEO and PPC share of traffic and clicks
Following on from my last post, this is an in-between post as to traffic to a search engine results page (SERP).
I thought it would be handy for those who don’t know the difference in traffic and clicks for SEO and PPC.
Costa Coffee Oban this morning
I typed the following search query into Google.co.uk.
“share of clicks serps seo ppc”
This is what Google delivered by its AI.
AI OVERVIEW
Organic search results receive more clicks than paid search results on search engine results pages (SERPs):
Organic vs. paid search
75% of clicks on SERPs are for organic results, while 25% are for paid results.
CTR by ad platform
The average click-through rate (CTR) for Google paid search ads is about 2%, while marketing agencies see a CTR closer to 5%.
CTR by position
The average CTR for the top organic result in Google search is 31.7%, which is 10 times higher than the CTR for the 10th position.
Here are some other statistics about SEO and PPC:
53.3% of all web traffic comes from organic search, while 27% comes from paid search.
70% of marketers believe SEO is more effective than PPC.
64% of marketers invest in SEO.
55% of marketers consider SEO to be very important or extremely important to their marketing strategy.
93% of businesses that invest in SEO see an increase in website traffic.
You can use both SEO and PPC to create effective marketing campaigns. You can use PPC to get your name out there quickly, and then use SEO to boost your organic traffic.
A December’s working week in photos.
And what a fine place to live and work - Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Oban.
found us
“People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy.” Anton Chekhov
Savouring a view out to sea from Gavanan Beach near Oban.
Life’s reality can be our singular viewpoint of it and not one governed by the outside influences that swirl daily about us.
(*There is a more concise version of this post if you scroll to footnote at the bottom of this page.)
What glasses are you wearing today when you look at life?
Can you see the Robin?
Can you see the beauty in all including people, no matter what?
Do you need glasses given to you by others, by society?
Are you looking with clarity at your life, or is your viewpoint opaque, clouded by a focus on others? By wearing glasses given to you people and society, and so wearing their world views.
It is so easy to be myopic as to what others have done to you, not done to you, your world situation and where you are; compared to being yourself, true and authentic, living each moment at a time, recognising what has been and may come, whilst not being and living in moments past and yet to come.
I always remind and encourage people to draw their sphere of influence inward , from that which is outside of them and self; for self is what we truly control. And in controlling self we have direction, purpose, clarity. We live in our moments when we focus on self, not the moments of others.
"What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness." - John Steinbeck, "Travels with Charley: In Search of America"
Scottish mountains when sailing into Oban. The rugged beauty of winter.
I like the quote and its symmetry to weather. The reality is that winter balances summer and vice versa; both are really mirror images. Yet the interpretation one can put on winter is darkness, cold, damp, wet, snow, despondency. But this is an interpretation. Is not winter also something to be marvelled at as a season of beauty, of both hibernation and recovery for new growth and life, and also a time of reflection, of closing in together in warmth with loved ones?
To Mentor is to Grow
This is something I have done for years and for the most part freely believing in the mantra of giving back what was freely given to you. After all how much of life to you really need to live and enjoy life?
What I have learnt is that a lack of self belief and faith, of low self esteem, of people pleasing, of fear of action to lack of goal and dream planning is down to the interpretation we have of life including ourselves, which is a product of the glasses and thus viewpoint we were given from birth. And that it is possible to re-engineer all of this and simply remove the glasses and adopt a viewpoint of self, others, world and all that we are comfortable with.
Through mentoring I grew others and I grew myself. I learnt to be empathetic, caring and considered.
Sailing into Oban, with Ben Cruachan beyond. I see its rugged and towering beauty and cast aside my worldly beliefs and marvel at what can await me.
In simple terms I wasted so much time thinking about other people, other places, and other things. It did not matter if it was a house to live in, a job to aim for, jealousy or anger, or worse hate of others, bemoaning a situation I found myself in, usually blaming others for this, hours spent conniving my climb up the corporate ladder, or worry pangs of what people thought of me - The list went on ad nauseam.
I was very shallow, insecure, eager to please, easily led back then.
Thankful not anymore.
What glasses are you wearing this winter, or do you need to remove them?
found us
I now realise I gave good advice when mentoring or advising in my 10 years of found us but did not necessarily follow it myself!
I do now.
I took my glasses off which jaundiced my viewpoint to one of believing I was not good enough, people better than me, and spent too long worrying about others.
Now, I just focus on me and how I can live in each moment and I now achieve so, so much more.
I care for but am not worried as to other people. Why should I be? Nor do I worry as to places or events, let alone what’s happened or may happen.
I now teach this approach (and actually have done for a while) and people I work with, especially the senior ones. I now do think each senior person with all their confidence are quite insecure beneath the surface. And that’s okay. That’s being authentic and believable. Rather than the usual approach of positioning oneself with bravado, knowing it, and keeping people at distance for fear of being found out.
*Sweary Footnote - the simple version for those who can’t be bothered to read my post.
There is a chap called Craig Johnson who once said to me that the world is 50% c**ts and 50% non-c**ts. I still remind myself of this fact.
Where will your journey take you when you become free of what you were? Disembarking the Isle of Mull ferry to Oban.
Early Christmas Treat For Customers.
It is November. I have an early Christmas Consulting Treat. Read further for what’s on offer.
Argyll Terrace, Tobermory - Saturday 2nd November
A lot has happened this year. And a lot certainly happened in October; the most notable a move to Tobermory and the Isle of Mull. What will happen in November and December, of what remains of 2024 for found us, Peter Cobley, and those he knows or is yet to know?
Now that things have settled down
Now that I have settled down, I can focus on found us and its customers; or yet to meet customers which I imagine will be in the locality of the Highlands and Islands.
The business is two thirds consulting where I apply my sales and marketing, commercial, and board level experience across the advertising, marketing, and media verticals and its people.
The other third is a gift for working with and knowing people, and applying that to executive search and selection/head hunting for the industries I've working in - advertising, marketing, media. I’ve placed MD’s, broadcast directors, executive creative directors, heads of digital before now for leading businesses, and start ups.
Results
I have a track record of working within start ups, businesses in growth, and established blue chip entities - all of which required me to hit stern targets, which I delivered on. This has been across commercial, sales, and marketing functions.
You can see some of the companies I have worked with in the work section of found us.
I can provide exact details of how I target set, of how targets were delivered upon, of how metrics such as margins were part of the process; all such facts and figures I am happy to share with people.
Sales, marketing, running companies is my forte, and I am good with people. I can be utilised in pulling a team together in a joint enterprise to achieve the result, and I have always excelled in this.
So if you are a business person or company looking for a transformation person, a growth person, a new business getter, or a senior “sounding board” I’m your man.
The Pre-Christmas OFFER
I am keen to engage with a new client in the county of Argyll and Bute where I now live. But the offer applies to any person or company that needs help, is genuine, and delivers good product and service.
I will happily work for a day free of charge.
Ideally a company or person in start up phase, and needs that help, that leg up, the experience of someone who has been in the game, delivering results for a number of years.
I get a delight out of helping people and companies, seeing them prosper, and it is not about the money any more.
(Such work will also keep me out of trouble. Ahem…)
Sums me up really. I’m Claire’s know - that’s the wife - but a very kind hearted knob.
Oban, New Business Offer…
I look back on my first proper week on Mull with fondness and happiness.
Saturday just gone - St Columba’s Cathedral in Oban
When in Oban Wednesday I thought possibly of staying over, though in the end did get the last ferry back to Mull with Claire.
My thoughts that day moved to new business and my new location. And I revisit this on Sunday, today.
Wednesday on the 495 from Tobermory to Craignuire - beats Tameside for views
Wednesday on board the Loch Frisa, heading to Oban - drizzle and cloud
Wednesday’s weather report; it was overcast and low cloud and drizzle, making this amazing place brooding and atmospheric. (Amazing place being Mull, Sound of Mull, and Oban.)
I’m was over for a meeting in Oban. With a possible stay over to see friends. Claire was also heading over that evening, and I hooked up with her, both getting the last ferry back, my having decided not to stay over.
Saturday saw us both back in Oban
Minty needs some work on a possible blocked ERG valve, which is to do with particulate recycling. Minty is the campervan we love and cherish.
Lochaline waiting for a ferry, Friday 18th October
So Saturday saw us on a ferry again to hand the campervan over to a local chap for the work, with a day out in Oban. The rain held off until the afternoon, with us seeing an overcast mainland and bracing wind as we shopped, walked, slurped coffee.
The highlight was St Columba’s Cathedral. Roman Catholic which is my religion of birth. And what a cavernous place of peace, prayer, and reflection. (I am not religious these days, just spiritual.)
We sat there in contemplation in a mostly empty church, both making a connection.
New Business (and an offer)
I still push the offer of a day’s free work from found us, ideally for a start up, or business local to Oban.
I enjoy helping smaller businesses not to mention my being delighted were I able to help someone in my new home location.
So if you are interested or know of a business in the Tobermory or Oban vicinity, do let me know. Happy to provide my Consultancy services for a day free of charge.
(And this also applies to businesses located elsewhere, or who may already know me.)
A day’s FREE Work - celebrating a move to Tobermory.
As of Friday just gone I finally joined my wife in Tobermory. And this is also a beautiful relocation for found us and my clients, and potential new clients and people.
Looking into Tobermory Harbour
An Offer
It is a straightforward no strings attached way of my getting to know new customers especially those on my new doorstep in Scotland.
I am happy to provide a day’s service FOC across any of the disciplines I work in.
Read below, have a look around the website and get back to me.
Peter Cobley and found us
In a nutshell I excel in Executive Search and Selection, Consultancy, Sales and Marketing Services, Mentoring; and acting as a Director for start ups or businesses in growth that may need a Commercial Director or Non-Exec, or could for example need help with company structure, profitability, or staff and process efficiency.
I have a track record of achieving results with years of experience in offline and online media, in both London, the Regions, and Ireland. I’ve been involved in the growth and sale of companies, building and management of teams, acquisition and retention of clients.
With Digital I am consummate, being well versed in how to use search, programmatic, across to conversion at website. I’ve been multi channel and platform for many years, have retail and eCommerce experience, as well as knowledge of above the line branding work.
I work with start ups across to medium sized businesses, and am fascinated by what I will find in both the Isle of Mull, its neighbouring islands, and the mainland, including all around Oban, my nearest town. My clients and contacts are UK based, and I work internationally, and this includes having placed a General Manager for an agency in their Shanghai office.
For years I have worked for major brands and have a look at this in the Work section of found us - it is by no means my total work over 10 years. Working with blue chips and brands is something that I will always do, especially leveraging my London and Legal experience.
So it is exiting times for found us.
Peter Cobley, a bit more.
A grasp of my back ground can be found on LinkedIn, and my life found at PeterCobley.com.
found us - An Offer For Customers.
Hunting for good businesses to work with, helping grow them using years of experience and success.
And as an early Christmas treat, and to celebrate my move to Tobermory I’ll include a free day of initial consultancy, executive head hunting, or sales and marketing services - read below
Tobermory, Isle of Mull
So as of yesterday found us finds itself living in Tobermory, Isle of Mull. A wonderful place to live with my wife, and for us to indulge in our love of the outdoors.
Photo taken at “Crater Loch” (Lochan’s Airde Beinn)
The found us location is irrelevant and it always has been remote, even when based out of Manchester for the last 10’years. I’ve a history of meetings in various locations and Zoom calls with people overseas.
I remember one challenging brief when seekng an experienced Executive Creative Director for a leading creative agency that involved Zooms as far afield as South Korea and Taiwan.
And to be honest my career has always involved travel, whether real, or virtual.
found us executive search and selection
This successful side of my business and experience has seen my find and bring to a business senior leadership candidates. I’ve placed for Microsoft across to Dentsu, and helped build teams for OMG/PHD, not to mention others. I have thoroughly enjoyed the briefs and working with talented people, who’s skill sets have ranged from Broadcast Director, Creative Director, or Digital Media Director.
I’ve leveraged my contacts, knowledge of the industry, and use quantitative methods to assess candidates, reporting back to clients as to progress.
Happy to provide testimonials.
Mentoring
This is something I take great pleasure in and also works alongside my Honorary Teaching Fellow position at Lancaster Management School.
I’ve helped talent spot, grow, and drive people’s careers. I work closely with business leaders who also help with mentoring, having run and sold businesses themselves.
Again, happy to provide Testimonials.
Consulting
I’d always wanted to grow this area of the business and did so successfully after COVID.
I’ve worked with advertising agencies, clients, and media owners to help advise on subjects ranging from staff, sales and marketing and commercial matters, helping write marketing plans or advise on business metrics for example.
Ask for more information, or testimonials.
The offer!
A day of free work across any of the above disciplines.
That’s it, and no strings attached.
Tobermory with “The Boss”
found us and Peter Cobley
A friend of mine, James Brown (not the deceased Soul legend from the grave), has given me a kick up the bum and demanded I say nice things about my business and myself.
Well here goes. Gulp.
Photo of myself at the halfway camp of the Saunders Mountain Marathon 2024.
Let’s start of with yours truly. I’m 53 years old with a huge wealth of experience in the advertising, marketing, and media industries, both offline and online.
I started my career in London in National Press in 1994, then shifted to ITV. I embraced digital/online properly in 1998, and helped roll out the likes of Who wants to be a Millionaire onto the Web. I hit the Search marketplace right at the start around 2002.
And from that point onwards I occupied Senior Leadership positions in start ups across to multi-million turnover businesses as a Board Director. All of which led to acquisition or growth of said businesses.
A damn fine track record!
found us
In February 2014 my business had life breathed into it, and I’ve never really looked back. I was as able to fulfil my love of working with and growing people and businesses.
The business originally focused on the executive search and selection in my industry, something I was and am successful at working with major agencies, clients and media owners to find C-Suite people.
As the business developed I rekindled my mentoring and person development skills, also deciding to not hire staff or explains the business along those lines. I’d been there, done that, and bought the proverbial t-shirt.
After COVID I started consulting, if but for the fact the bottom fell out of the senior recruitment market in the advertising, marketing, and media fields. The Regions I excel in; North England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, all have a superb wealth of talent and businesses.
I act as a sales and marketing director, commercial, Sales or Non-Exec. As a Board Director I am experienced, trained, reliable, honest and achievement led.
You are welcome to talk to my clients.
I’m a director for hire with strong experience in start up and established business and I tenaciously deliver results, also utilising a tried and tested group of people who I’ve known for years.
Me, myself, and Peter
I work closely advising the team at the Management School of Lancaster University.
I give back by Volunteering with:
OCD Action (I’m an OCD sufferer with a very analytical mind.)
Change Grow Live (CGL - addiction services)
ANEW - charity rehab and homeless services.
I have a mantra of “give back what was freely given to you.”
You see I was helped in my career and life by some wonderful mentors. I learned a lot from them.
I read loads and listen to loads. Currently I’m listening to a Murikami book, across to re-reading Stephen Covey material, and dipping into Gabor Mate’s In the realm of the Hungry Ghosts.
In my spare time I’m to be found running about the hills as I fell in love with Fell Running (trail/mountain running), and have raced for many years.
Claire, my wife, and I love travel, outdoor swimming, and cycle touring. All of which we’ve done way before it became fashionable!
Synopsis
Look me up, really do. I love people and nice businesses and enjoy helping people up their chosen ladder, or will roll my sleeves up and help grow a nice people led business.
I’m very good at what I do! And I am proud to say this.
http://linkedin.com/in/petercobley
Oban Harbour.
Substance over Form. Secrets, Lies. The Law of Equity.
Backpackers hostel in Oban.
What secrets are you keeping? What lies are you keeping? What is your truth? Are you speaking your truth?
Do you think of how you present yourself professionally? Have you ever thought of yourself as a limited company with a mission statement and brand values?
Who are you versus what you choose to show, and how does this potentially affect you?
This is so important for how you present to other people, who will then interpret your presentation via their own filters. This is so important for your well being. I shall explain.
Oban Harbour.
Looking out over Oban Harbour, evening of Wednesday 16th October.
Substance and Form, Truth and Lies
Substance is what and who we are. This is our raw self, good and bad.
Form is how we present to the world (and believe it or not ourselves.)
Truth is self explanatory as are lies.
The Law of Equity / Jurisprudence
I studied Law at Lancaster University and thoroughly enjoyed it. Left leaning approach and certainly not Black Letter Law which seeks to make Law and Life as based upon rules; very dull and facile if you ask me.
In my second year I had to study Equity as a requirement for the Bar and the Law Society, and also chose to study Jurisprudence as an elective. It opened my mind as to Natural Law versus Man made Law, and the power of Equity, and legendary Judges such as Denning who used it to creat such vehicles as the Constructive Trust.
Point is I learnt about Substance and Form via the Equitable Maxim of Equity looks to Intent rather than Form
I am now going to copy from:
https://mcmahonsolicitors.ie/maxims-of-equity
Why? Because they beautifully explain the history of the Courts of Equity and Equity’s Maxims, one of which is the aforementioned Intent rather than Form.
Based on my legal philosophy, especially in the dangerous age of Social Media I suggest you take yourself back to basics and ask the following questions.
Who am I?
What do I believe in and stand for?
What is my purpose?
If I were a business, what would be my mission statement? What’s my Substance.
Is there a dichotomy, a plain discrepancy between my Substance and Form? Form is how I view myself and how others view me.
If there is discrepancy, you will be subject to inner turmoil and spiritual malaise. To present against your true Substance is hard, hard work. And people I suspect at times will see through this. And to be see through is to lose trust and connection. Frighteningly we can also lose connection with self.
But it might be the case you have to look to your very Substance. And slowly but surely change how you tick - and this is hard. Your Form (how you present) is undoubtedly an output of Substance.
Oban Harbour looking out to the island of Kerrera.
Are you will to take a risk and alter “you” and your “environment”? This is a photo taken last night of Oban at dusk. My wife and I have chosen to change where we live. We are also working on ourselves, and how we present.
What does this mean for me?
You have two options.
You can present who you really are, be who you are, showing all imperfections. Substance. You can actually drop the word “present” as it is artifice. Just be. I’ll come back to this.
You can “present” to the world, which is okay since we all wear character hats or personas. Whether son, daughter, mother, employee and so on.
But be authentic and true to your Substance. Your Form should reflect your very Substance. This creates connection to self, to other, and inner peace.
With point 2. You need to understand that each person is determined by genetics, biology, nurture and environment and will interpret you via their own “filters”.
You can alter your Substance! What you believe in, who you are. It is not easy with age. But as I’ve learnt it is doable. Why live a life that’s not you? Especially when feeling you must fit in.
Be Equitable to yourself and Society.
View from our house in Tobermory.
Freedom from Form (masking myself for people, thinking that’s what they want) has resulted in my having time to savour life. Like drowning in this evening view from the bedroom of our house in Tobermory.
Substance over Form
I’m learning that for a variety of reasons, I’ve spent much of my life focusing on form rather than substance. My focus has been on having my hair done perfectly, wearing the right clothes, having my makeup applied perfectly, living in the right place, furnishing it with the right furniture, working at the right job, and having the right man. Form, rather than substance, has controlled my behavior in many areas of my life. Now, I’m finally getting to the truth. It’s substance that counts. — ANONYMOUS
There is nothing wrong in wanting to look our best. Whether we are striving to create a self, a relationship, or a life, we need to have some solid ideas about what we want that to look like.
Form gives us a place to begin. But for many of us, form has been a substitute for substance. We may have focused on form to compensate for feeling afraid or feeling inferior. We may have focused on form because we didn’t know how to focus on substance. Form is the outline; substance is what fills it in. We fill in the outline of ourselves by being authentic; we fill in the outline of our life by showing up for life and participating to the best of our ability.
Now, in recovery, we’re learning to pay attention to how things work and feel, not just to what they look like.
Today, I will focus on substance in my life. I will fill in the lines of myself with a real person—me. I will concentrate on the substance of my relationships, rather than what they look like. I will focus on the real workings of my life, instead of the trappings.
Panoramic photo of Oban Harbour.
A Scottish adventure, a dream fulfilled. Do you dream?
Glengorm Castle
I write from Lochgilphead, then I’m off to Oban, after that Tobermory on the Isle of Mull which becomes the new home of found us. You may have already seen island photos populating this website.
My wife is Scottish and we are outdoor types, always have been, and we’ve loved the wilds of the Highlands and Islands. Claire landing a teaching role at Tobermory High School became the catalyst for the move, the sale of the house near Saddleworth, and the physical and mental de-cluttering of our lives.
Dreams, Goals, Plans
I want to write about dreams we had and have, and of how in business speak we take the fookin’ fun out of dreams by calling and turning them into goals. In fact we cause internal conflict which leads to stasis or “ground hog day” with plans to follow that we never execute. For me the terms “goals” and “plans” are mere business speak. Business jargon that eviserates the essence of a dream we had or long for.
I’ve always had a love of books, and in this blog post I can only but recall Orwell’s Doublethink from 1984. This is where the individual is sold two conflicting ideas as reality. In the case of 1984 the indoctrination occurs via “Big Brother” within the dystopian society that our protagonist Winston finds himself in.
People dream; we still have that child within us. And dreams are important. Yet when we get a job, a career, we change.
We focus on business goals.
We forget self and life outside of employment, career, life.
We use the word “goals”, letting go of dreams.
This business term “goal” sanitises the dreamers, and all of us dream.
What is a dream?
It is a want, a desire. A wish driven by emotion and our very self. It is an achievement of ours and not another.
And this is a crucial distinction. We have become vehicles fulfilling other’s dreams via the language of goals. This post is about our own personal dreams; of how to recognise, reach them.
This is the conflict, the Doublethinking Orwell warns us of.
We feel we need to create goals and plans but do not realise these are subject to or driven by others goals and plans. So we believe in our goals, but also in achieving the other’s goals seeing them as part of our goals and planning. This is the contradictory position I realised we can find ourselves in. This is society. Believing we can achieve our goals and another’s, when both are mutually exclusive. In real terms this is dressed up as job, career, success, achievement. But we are failing to fulfil our dreams.
Have you ever had a flashback to those childhood days of dreaming?
Dreams and Goals
I prefer to talk about Dreams and Action versus Goals and Plans.
Here’s why.
Dreams are unique and centred in the very soul of the person.
Action is a doing word and avoids our being bogged down in pure plans. Many people plan but can fail to act or are distracted.
I discovered plans are irrelevant because when a dream, it is always with us and we will act on the spot to fulfil a dream and not be limited to plans that may take the very life out of intuition and risk taking.
This aligns with the concept of living in the moment, acting in each moment to create tomorrow’s moment, yet to arrive.
If you must talk Goals
There is a huge wealth of material on goal setting and creating plans to match and meet these goals.
I myself would first recommend reading a famous book called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People written original by Stephen Covey. Have a look at: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_7_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People
Whilst written a while ago and updated, the book is a valuable insight into how you work as a person, and of how not to work, and of goals and planning in a traditional and business sense.
But we can reduce traditional goal setting (in a business or career context) to the following.
Set a goal. You can use the SMART acronym to do so.
I suggest you also look at a SWOT analysis of self.
Then you create the plan(s) to do materialise goal. I personally prefer looking at Q1-4, and H1/2. You can then break a quarter or half year into individual months, then weeks.
Look at year 1. Then 2-3 years and what you wish to achieve, then 5+ years.
What I am trying to distinguish is my preferring to dream as against thinking of goals. It may seem like semantics, but I use the term dream since this takes me out of work, career, other people, and taps into what is important for me. What in fact “floats my boat.”
We commonly lose our dreams to the job or career or way of life we think we should embrace.
Here’s a good example.
Claire, my wife, and I are outdoor types being fell runners, cyclists, and swimmers. Claire is Scottish and through her we have had many adventures in the Highlands and Islands of her native country. And we were married in Kingussie. We had a dream to move Scotland.
We discussed the dream together.
We made drawings of the house we’d like to live in.
We looked at timelines.
Claire took action by registering with the relevant teaching organisation and getting a new Scottish DBS.
I looked to run found us from Scotland.
The action Claire took was to look for teaching jobs. Hard to come by in the Highlands and Islands.
With it being dream, we were driven, faith and hope created.
Claire eventually spotted a biology teacher role at Tobermory High School which she went for as her dream and won it.
This became the catalyst for us both to take the leap of faith by selling the house and moving to Tobermory.
The dream drove the action.
We did not really lay plans down. We just acted.
You’ll note I use action and not the word plan.
Action delivers and plans do not. If you have a dream and no plans you are likely to act each and every moment you live in.
And this is what I prefer to do now. And it works.
Trust That Good Will Come
It was a slow, boring January day at the Blue Sky Lodge. We had just moved in. The house was a mess. Construction hadn’t begun yet. All we had was a plan, and a dream. It was too cold and rainy to skydive or even be outdoors. There wasn’t any furniture yet. We were lying around on the floor.
I don’t know who got the idea first, him or me. But we both picked up Magic Markers about the same time. Then we started drawing on the wall.
“What do you want to happen in your life?” I asked. He drew pictures of seaplanes, and mountains, and boats leaving the shore. One picture was a video-camera man, jumping out of a plane. “I want adventure,” he said.
I drew pictures of a woman tromping around the world. She went to war-torn countries, then sat on a fence and watched. She visited the mountains and the oceans and many exciting places. Then I drew a heart around the entire picture, and she sat there in the middle of all the experiences on a big stack of books.
“I want stories,” I said, “ones with a lot of heart.”
Across the entire picture, in big letters, he wrote the word “Woohoo.”
As an afterthought, I drew a woman skydiver who had just jumped out of the plane. She was frightened and grimacing. Next to her I wrote the words “Just relax.”
On the bottom of the wall I wrote, “The future is only limited by what we can see now.” He grabbed a marker, crossed out “only,” and changed it to “never.”
“There,” he said, “it’s done.”
Eventually, the house got cleaned up and the construction finished. Furniture arrived. And yellow paint covered the pictures on the wall. We didn’t think much about that wall until months later. Sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, and sometimes in ways we’d least expect, each of the pictures we’d drawn on that wall began to materialize and manifest.
“It’s a magic wall,” I said.
Even if you can’t imagine what’s coming next, relax. The good pictures are still there. The wall will soon become covered with the story of your life. Thank God, the future is never limited by what we can see right now.
The wall isn’t magic.
The magic is in us and what we believe.
Before we start speaking the language of letting go, we need to understand what a powerful behavior letting go and letting God really is.
God, help me do my part. Then help me let go, and let you do yours.
Activity
Meditate for a moment on the year ahead. Make a list of things you’d like to see happen, attributes you’d like to gain, things you’d like to get and do, changes you’d like to occur. You don’t have to limit the list to this year. What do you want to happen in your life? Make a list of places you’d like to visit and things you’d like to see. Leave room for the unexpected, the unintended. But make room for the possibility of what you’d like too—your intentions, wishes, dreams, hopes, and goals. Also, list what you’re ready to let go of too—things, people, attitudes, and behaviors you’d like to release. If anything were possible, anything at all, what are the possibilities you’d like to experience and see?
More Language of Letting Go: 366 New Daily Meditations
Lochgilphead… where’s that?
I type on my iPhone, and my first ever blog post via mobile, and the outcome to be see as I juggle photos and text via the Squarespace CMS.
So you find me in Lochgilphead right by the sea loch, Loch Gilp, and the entrance to the Crinan Canal. Find Oban and go South and you’ll find me.
Why am I here? Well in a roundabout way this is part of my journey to Tobermory and the Isle of Mull, and a new chapter in the annals of found us and for that matter myself and my wife Claire.
Some of you more observant ones will have noticed photos on the found us website of Scottish scenes; well most are in fact from Mull.
I and the business (well me) move here to follow Claire my wife’s work, and our dream. That dream was to live in the wilds of Scotland. Claire who is Scottish landed the head of biology teaching job at Tobermory on the Isle of Mull at the High School. We sold our house on the edge of Saddleworth, and Lochgilphead marks an epoch in the move.
What will it bring for found us? Will the consultancy business survive and thrive, or will it pass as many others have? Who knows, suffice to say I’m happy with the 10 years I’ve put in. And excited for change, which I want and so need. You see I’ve always embraced change, even when it creates darkness.
What next? Who knows? Who cares!
Feel free to comment.
Where’s Wally?
Well…. Not exactly true, but it amused me indeed to think of the analogy. Suffice to say that Wally is in fact the eminent Tom Cheesewright, Applied Futurist, and long standing contact.
We caught up today in cavernous Foundation on Whitworth Street. A Metrolink tram from Ashton into the bowels of Piccadilly and then a walk to the coffee shop. Passing the beautiful old buildings that line the route, and including what were the old UMIST buildings. Which makes me think of my age.
Tom was, and is always on good form and a cheerful wind blowing into my somewhat vacant mind. Especially when food comes into play, and it was lunchtime. Always a distraction. That said I ended up having a coffee and instead ate on returning home.
It has been a while since we caught up and it was good to chat as to market and economic trends. We both tried to figure out when we might see an upturn in economic conditions, different to sentiment. Labour will get into power we agreed, and with this we will see a rise in positive sentiment amongst the population and those that consume. But this won’t manifest itself properly as an upturn for business, taking aside Christmas, until Q3 of 2025; so quite a while away.
Tom is perfectly fine, strongly supported with his speaking, consulting as a pre-eminent Futurist for leading brands, and also representing other notable public speakers.
I’ve always felt he deserved to do well because not only does he have what it takes, he took the plunge and followed his dream to success and reputation when no one knew what the heck a Futurist is. I’d always recommend him.
Please do make sure that you read up on what TC gets up to in his life; it makes for great reading. And I was quite fascinated when he mentioned he is producing and delivering a Podcast for the BBC.
Tom also runs Pomona Partners, representing a number of leading speakers. A highly recommended look for those needing expert speakers.
Tom like me enjoys reading and is an avid consumer of educational books, and recommended the following by Peter Etchells. I’m interested in a book (having read Irresistible) that talks about having a positive relationship with tech, social media, and mobiles. I’ve used one of my Audible credits for it.
The Amazon precis reads, “Professor Pete Etchells studies the way we use screens, and how they can affect us. In UNLOCKED, he delves into the real science behind the panic about our alleged device addiction and withering attention spans. Armed with the latest research, he reveals how little we have to fear, and the great deal we have to gain, by establishing a more positive relationship with our screens. That begins with asking ourselves some essential questions about how we use them.
Instead of clamouring for us to ditch our devices (before guiltily returning to the same old habits), UNLOCKED is a sustainable, realistic and vital guide to transforming our connection with technology.”
Ancoats Coffee, Guy Levine, Ditto Coffee, Craig Johnson.
A nice day was had yesterday in Manchester. A tram from Ashton for an afternoon coffee with Guy Levine, and a second with Craig Johnson.
It was a pleasant day indeed and a nice walk from New Islington Metrolink stop between Ashton to Rochdale Canals for Ancoats Coffee and Guy Levine.
I have known Guy for many years and we both enjoy our chats as to life and all that entails. Guy is an entrepreneur behind Return.co and Abe & Co. Let me tell you more.
Return is digital marketing agency that focuses on customer journey and how to achieve that. A business I have worked with for years.
Abe & Co is a speciality coffee roaster set up by Guy, that my wife and I buy coffee from. It is quality, unique, hard to find and beautiful coffee. And that reminds me that I need to get some coffee on order for Dukinfield.
I’ve caught up with Guy over the years chatting as to all sorts and sharing a love of cycling and Zwift (the male advertising mid-life crisis go to), plus Guy’s family and beliefs something he is so passionate about and to be admired for. Through thick and thin I have been able to stand on the shoulders of a giant, and I thank him for his support.
Next meeting involved a 15-20 minute walk through Ancoats into Piccadilly Gardens and down Portland Street to meet Craig Johnson outside Ditto Coffee on Oxford Street.
Craig is someone I again have known for a number of years and like Guy a good hearted, caring, confidential, and professional person. He always considers his staff and clients and looks after them. We have caught up many times over the years and have become friends, with the coffee catch up at Ditto a natter as to business, family, life and the rest. Highly enjoyable.
Another person I admire. A family man who cares for his wife and boys, and driven in business but proof that you don’t need to be horrible or an arse to achieve in this game.
Speaking of which Craig is currently CEO of Ultimedia in Manchester, and his knowledge of eCommerce and digital marketing is second to none.
I said a fond goodbye to Craig and made my way via Whitworth Street to Piccadilly for the Metrolink tram back to Ashton.
Finishing off with Big Trouble in Little China
Great Easter Sunday with a mixture of stuff, the house to myself and writing this post to a long overdue viewing of a classic film. Youngsters watch it. Watch it now! (And Escape from New York.)
This blog entry is light hearted and nothing to do with work, advertising, and consultancy. More designed for those bored enough to read what I get up to on an Easter Sunday when not yabbering on about found us.
So the day started well early, 5am I think and that was taking into account the clocks going forward an hour. Between then and 9am I got a heck of a lot done sorting things for Claire coming down tomorrow from Scotland. Then back to bed as shattered and still suffering from a cough for which I’m on antibiotics. Meanwhile as I slept Claire made her way from Mull to Oban.
I awoke and climbed out of bed.
Plan was to head to Denton to repair one of the shared bikes at ANEW, then transport Claire’s road bike back ready for heading to Scotland. The bike has been down here a while. All ready to go and the washed out feeling hit me again from the aftermath of the cold and the cough. Back to bed for what must have been a couple of hours. Mind you I did listen on Audible timer to 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, a highly recommended read and one that fits in with my belief system.
Got up and checked where Claire was on the campervan tracker. She was heading to Hamilton via the scenic route through Callander avoiding Easter Sunday traffic in the Trossachs and the Loch Lomond route.
Me? It was getting into Denton part 2, and this time I was ready. Whilst heading for the bus I listened to an absolute banger on Spotify - Sugar is Sweeter by CJ Bolland.
Got to Denton and said hello to the lads, made a brew, and proceeded to fix a punctured tyre with a new inner tube. Which proved to be hard as the tyre was very tight on the rim.
Task accomplished only to realise the front of said bike has a flat and needs new front brakes…. Claire’s bike had the front wheel removed and it was placed into a bike bag. Now, you are not allowed bikes on Stagecoach buses even in bags but I strode to the bus stop bike bag on shoulder and the kindly bus drivers let me on; important as I was pushed for time needing to get back for a kind lift from Mark to a meeting. On getting back I realised Claire’s bike had a puncture on the front tyre on the seam of the inner tube, so effectively knackered.
On arrival at the meeting and set up, the weather had dropped in temperature making it a tad nippy with a wind. But we had a good meeting nonetheless despite being thin on the ground over the Easter weekend. I took three photos of Christ Church in Ashton with its wonderful organ that was built 6 years before the death of Queen Victoria. And I received a lovely present in the form of a book of walks for Mull and Iona from my friend Debbie.
Returned home to home made stew and the delight of being able to watch Big Trouble in Little China. Legendary. And also replaced the inner tube on the front wheel of Claire’s bike. Oh, and have munched away on Lotus Biscoff chocolate biscuits. Ah……
Smile, because we can.
Smile because you can, and Varley and I did in order to goad the excellent David Edmundson-Bird. Why? Because he refuses to smile despite an excellent write up on ChatGPT.
Today involved a good couple of hours with a fav’ person in a fav’ convenient haunt. I travelled in today to Carluccio’s in Manchester Piccadilly for a personal and business chat with Mr Mark Varley, and useful it proved indeed. Carluccio’s is buried deep in my memory of meetings. Never too busy, good coffee, good food, friendly staff, and great when you cannot be arsed walking into the NQ, especially when it’s pissing it down.
It was a good meeting chatting as to consultancy, speaking events at Lancaster University, the industry, family, across to the elections in the UK and US. Connection is something that is so important to me. From a business perspective; yes, we all get that. But we also benefit spiritually and emotionally from meeting peers.
David Edmundson-Bird
There was connection. I shall explain. I noticed Mr E-B had written a cracker of an article on ChatGPT and of worthy reading. Prescient, knowledgeable, and explains the bleeding obvious impact on your SEO amongst other things. However I felt he ought to smile. He pointed out that smiling was weakness and the conversation deteriorated into black humoured banter thereof. So Mark and I thought we’d smile for him (and wind him up.)
Do read E-B’s article because it makes important points as to the conflict of AI, brand integrity, useability, and honesty.
Manchester, NQ, Peeps, Metrolink Ticket Collectors, The Rozzers, Ashton.
The always ever cheerful Richard Gregory
A good day was had in unexpected cold and the slight rain of the NQ in Manchester where I met three people I had not met in a while. Only one gets a photo mention as I forgot to snap the other two. But never mind. The journey home was livened up by people being nicked off trams at Piccadilly for ticket evasion. Life is never dull in Madchester. (Oh, and I had an enjoyable few minutes perusing Fred Aldous in the NQ for gift ideas; one of which were mugs covered in hand drawn willies or boobs - depending on today’s preference.)
Anyway I refrained from purchasing the porcelain of naughtiness and made my way back to Piccadilly for a tram to Ashton and more on that.
First meeting of the day was a well overdue and colourful bitch and stitch session with Danielle Bromley who I have known for a while and someone I rate on a par as a sales and commercially led person in the business. Not to mention she’s sane, which says a lot in this game. I would like to publically mention that her offspring, in my humble opinion, have the best Mum ever. Mind you she was rolling eyeballs at needing to take a phone call from school on behalf of a sick youngster that belongs to her. Danielle dealt admirably in the moment by saying she was in Manchester, could do nothing, and if she could not contact her mother then said child was the property of school for a few hours. Proper Mothering if you ask my opinion. No Snowflakes in that family!
Joining us for the second meeting was and is the lovely, serene Mick Style avec bobble hat and I wish I had taken a photo since I can confess to never having seen Mick in a bobble hat in town and it threw Danielle and myself if honest. We had a really good natter as to his cycling recently in Spain which certainly wet my whistle and also caught up on some interesting business ideas and contacts. It was good to see him looking so well. I am glad he is thriving outside of the big network agency scene.
Last but not least was lunch with Richard Gregory at Yard & Coop on Edge Street in the NQ. Clearly home of anything as long as it is chicken.
Mind you the food was very nice as was the long overdue chat with Richard. Business and personal stuff was discussed and I also talked Richard through my moving to the Isle of Mull in a few months, whilst he told me of NY bound plans for his 50th in two weeks, of which I was jealous. He was good, is a good guy, and was on good form.
On the way back I did take some random photos around Stephenson Square and Tariff Street; it has changed, a bit.
Metrolink Ticket Collectors and The Rozzers
I am not sure if it was a slow news day on the ticket collector enforcement front for the girls and boys of Metrolink, but by heck they were mob handed with the Police at Piccadilly this lunchtime, apprehending any poor soul failing to have bought a ticket. Identified, straight to the Police, novelty hand bracelets attached, then frog marched off in full public view. It was a somewhat dystopian moment, especially as I was listening to Fahrenheit 451 on Audible on my headphones. But suppose paying the fare is only fair? (Geddit?)
I now finish off this post in Ashton’s Costa Coffee in my best bib and tucker including a rather nice Bee shirt before I head home to relax, maybe have a nap - Richard welcome to the 50’s.
2 pictures and 2 different found us
It is a funny old world in my life at found us in terms of locations. I currently type from Costa Coffee in Ashton under Lyne, and Claire was on a walk in Tobermory earlier and sent a photo of the bay. I’ll be there for the Easter hols. Just thought it funny in terms of locations and the juxtaposition of the two images (Tosser use of big word alert.) It is funny how location can alter the business mentality I have, its reception, and how I approach things. For example, Tobermory and Mull lend themselves to calm, thoughtfulness, and a considered approach to life and business and a distinct lack of not chasing money.
Sunday 24th March 2024
Been tidying up the website and discovering some wobbly internal links (D- and must do better as official web master) and thought I’d write a brief entry.
Ashton town centre has been nice today and not crowded, in fact positively civilised. I suspect people are out enjoying the nice weather. Blue sky with fluffy clouds which make me smile as I think of the song Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb. A legendary song by a legendary duo, and I groan as I now realise it was released in November 1990. Christ on a Bike that was 30 years ago and I was three months into my first year at the University of Lancaster.
I’ll have to head back to the house in Dukinfield for the simple reason I am starving and have food that will otherwise go to waste. But may grab another coffee en route, from Starbucks.
Slow day today in my being sedentary but have already got a lot done on the laptop.
Biz meetings and new business
Am out in Manchester next week if you fancy a catch up and am on the hunt for new business in the form of senior head hunting briefs and consultancy work. But not desperate. Quality not quantity and in the words of Basil Fawlty, no riff raff please.
“ Master the topic, the message, and the delivery.” — Steve Jobs, Co-Founder, Apple.
I deliberately dug this quote out of the bag, well that is a lie, I used Google to search for a good quote on writing content and chose this one out of three from the search results. One of the other quotes is below. Why content? Me being a smart ass? No. Because I am re-reading Fahrenheit 451. Well, listening on Audible if honest. I am lazy and that’s okay. And it is 4.27am on Saturday 23rd of March and I cannot sleep.
And what is Fahrenheit 451? It the temperature at which books burn.
For anyone who relishes or for that matter writes, consumes, uses, or has content play a part in their life this is a must read book. A testimony to the power of content and of how it can be controlled by the unscrupulous or more frighteningly the lost.
Job’s quote is double edged. I shall explain.
Good writing is important for conveying something that is important to you. That’s the substance of your content. Know you topic. What is it that burns you up? That’s important because it is the passion. Next, how do you say what you want to say? What’s your Prose? How is this consumed or interpreted by readers? Yet delivery in this day and age is vital and Job’s was a master of the last two elements. Topic? Computers and stuff. Bit dull if you ask me. He mastered the message and delivery.
Job’s quote can be viewed as sinister. If one thinks of content as this three step process then we have a very simple way in which content can be consumed to nefarious means. Set topic, message to to the masses, deliver en masse. Sound like Populism? You bet ya!
Books and what they contain have been outlawed and are burnt by Firemen
The crux of the novel (sans spoilers) is that books and thus content is outlawed to the masses and instead the Parlour or interactive technology as Bradbury describes it delivers defined content. Does this sound familiar? Society and its characters become devoid of emotion, of life itself.
This is my worry with books, and content, and all the SHIT that now appears on the Web and is so easily consumed via Jobs second and third elements from his quote; ease of message and delivery. I allude to social media, Apps etc. and it is worrying. The advertising community is helping dictate content via the search engines hence the term Search Engine Optimisation.
Here is another quote to elaborate on what I think.
Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read.– Leo Burnett.
It is the simplicity with which people can be convinced that have been leveraged by the advertising and of course Politicos. Simple (“They, Our”) media is messaging that is delivered via an easy to use and access channel(s). The message of a brand across to that of a political party and it’s theme. Hence the term “Their, Our” Media - the media of organisations or brands, and people can be brands. This is mass media in its purest form. You will and do consume what “We, They” have to say.
Hang on a minute you cry… You are writing for your blog and Pot, Kettle, Black. So WTF are you doing?
Peter Cobley’s thoughts
Neatly summed up via a paragraph from Wikipedia that summarises how Bradbury felt and I certainly feel.
“In later years, he described the book as a commentary on how mass media reduces interest in reading literature.[8] In a 1994 interview, Bradbury cited political correctness as an allegory for the censorship in the book, calling it "the real enemy these days" and labelling it as "thought control and freedom of speech control."[9]”
We are all seeing a challenge to freedom of speech, but this is phrase that has been worn out and become misunderstood in popular vernacular.
I do embrace the dissemination of content that the Web has allowed for and created; shifting control of media from “They” Media of the traditional Press/Media Barons to “My” media as created by me and others. Unfortunately two things have happened that warrant concern and need redressing before the balance shifts too much into dystopia and we have to fight a rear guard action.
Under the cover of “My Media”, my ability to create content, the big boys of business, politics have snuck in under the guise of how great the Internet and Web is and of benefit to all to peddle their shite. See Citizen Kane. And remember the phrase, “ A wolf in Sheep’s clothing.”
“My Media” of the newly empowered individual has taken a nose dive with a vast quantity of further shite appearing across digital media. You could argue I do the same and stop reading what I write. People have been influenced by the type of message and it’s delivery (remember the Job’s quote) and are aping what the big boys and girls do rather than be authentic and real and true. All content thus blends into one, including audio visual and becomes a societal pastiche with no originality. A far cry from the heritage that literature evolved from - fiction, biography, social commentary, parody. Think of Shakespeare or Thackeray for example.
Note that Press Barons of old (Citizen Kane was allegedly based on Hurst) have now morphed to the likes of Google or Facebook (Messaging carriers) allowing a Pandora’s Box of shite to hit the airwaves. There is no POLICING of this, but…
The concern of a Governmental policing takes us down a slippery slope of who decides what is correct content. Yikes. Best left to people to decide what is content that needs consuming. Been going on for years since Adam was a lad. What government needs to do is batter and kick the content carriers who in my opinion are facilitating the shite. In old money we need more virtual printing presses and need to expose Zuckerberg across to Musk for what they are, Wolves in Sheep’s clothing. The base utilisation of content to generate money. Police them by all means but allow for more carriers.
The bloody frightening addiction of online and digital
This goes hand in hand with what I have just written previously. Topic, Messaging, Delivery are clouded and become further clouded as we sign up to non-stop drivel via addictive technology and this worries me. Have a read of the Fahrenheit 451 and of how Bradbury blends technology into the book in the 1950’s and you’ll see how prescient he actually was, or fooking hell very true to later life.
Again from Wikipedia as I am being lazy.
“In writing the short novel Fahrenheit 451, I thought I was describing a world that might evolve in four or five decades. But only a few weeks ago, in Beverly Hills one night, a husband and wife passed me, walking their dog. I stood staring after them, absolutely stunned. The woman held in one hand a small cigarette-package-sized radio, its antenna quivering. From this sprang tiny copper wires which ended in a dainty cone plugged into her right ear. There she was, oblivious to man and dog, listening to far winds and whispers and soap-opera cries, sleep-walking, helped up and down curbs by a husband who might just as well not have been there. This was not fiction.[81]”
Where are we going as people, as society, as individuals?
This all worries me, as one who was almost lost himself.
We need to act before it is too late.
We need to read, to write, to read and write together, to stick two figures up at those who feel they can both dictate what is content and how it is delivered.
Do get out there and write or go and buy a ticket for an independent play or show.
Responsibilty
We all have a role to play in taking action and stopping this decline and decay into puerile content and more so those who peddle it, especially people like me who work in advertising. We do know better.
Consult, consult, consult. Erm, just help
Consulting can be a maze and all you can see is a wood and no trees. Trepidation, frustration, waste of money? A proverbial Gordian Knot. But brute force (graft) equates to action. Action slices through your knot whether client or consultant. Drop the BS Consultant. Client, what action is needed from outside source/stimulus?
Consult is a big work in big business and one that I use but also get fed up of. What is consulting? Snake oil? Pithy words easily sold? Pithy words easily taken and paid for? In fact a quick Buck?
Goyt Valley, Bredbury - March 2024
Sat here on a Thursday relaxing and thankfully getting rid of this dratted cold and cough. Stuff to do that includes volunteer work with OCD Action from 11am - 1pm. But I am allocating some time as to found us. Few e-mails to people and business contacts, rest as still drained, and some web work including this blog.
Consult, business “cuddle”, chat, or action?
I prefer action and always have done. To me I try not to dress up what I do when working with others, just deliver. If honest I was like others, the market, the advertising business as I would look to use big words and plans. I now call this polishing the turd and this is the proverbial advertising turd, and a turd that I no longer wish to polish.
With a bit of time, experience, personal illness, and getting more serene and tolerant with age I realise that my role is to act as one of a team, a pal, a friend, and someone who should look at speaking my truth, being honest, and focus more on the moment versus grandiose plans delivered as an armchair general.
This has had quite a huge impact in how I deal with clients and their businesses. The truth hurts is a very old adage but one I am now comfortable with.
So what is action?
Really straightforward and oft forgotten. It is about getting involved with detail way before applying anything, whether that be what you know or from a book, or a plan.
Money, money, money
I have always known that money and cashflow are the most immediate things that can scupper a business. And something that I look at daily with a business, just how much working cash do we have and what is the daily burn rate? I am not too bothered as to assets and liabilities as these are not per se immediate problems.
Looking at salary and rent are big ones. Salaries including expenses and rewards keeps people motivated and people work to live and not the other way around.
Paying suppliers is another huge one for me, morally and sensibly. There is nothing worse than waiting for a bill to be paid and this applies to our suppliers.
This gives me an immediate handle on cash and what we can do with it. Important in the service industry that is advertising.
(Assets and liabilities can be examined later, but one thing to note is that I always like a business with money aside for emergencies. Ideally I like a business to be able to trade for a quarter without issuing an invoice.)
Sales and Marketing
We then have selling the business, its people, and letting everyone know what you do and that they should engage with you. Simples?
We can be more simple.
WHATS - What are we selling, how do we make it, what area do we sell in, to whom do we sell it to, and what are out special features?
I always like to lift the bonnet and have a look at the engine. Is what we sell sellable? Is it what the market wants and needs, or are we flogging a dead horse? Questions that must tie into the “to whom” are we selling? Who are our clients, punters, people we like working with and what do they think of our service and product?
The rest of the acronym is self explanatory.
People, staff, colleagues
Always important to try to sit down with all members of staff, and that’s all staff and not just managerial. Information must flow from the ground up and not down. Takes time, but worth it. People and what they do are the bread and butter of the standard advertising firm. And how they do it is so damn important. It is all very well to say, “what’s the margin?” That’s a given. But are we honestly delivering good service, product, and value for money? Do our staff and clients have pleasure in what we do? Life is for living and seizing a moment. Past has gone, so don’t dwell on it or you are playing catch up in real time, and thus also jaundiced what is to come.
Plans, yawn, plans
Planning is important, very important, but don’t miss the wood for the trees. It is very easy to get wrapped up in planning and not to do anything.
My philosophy is to hit the ground running and figure it out afterwards. Information is important and its immediate acquisition allows for action, plans can sadly stifle this, and you need to be aware and this is why it is important to have communication with staff.
Oh and always keep your feet on the ground.
AND THAT ALSO MEANS ASKING FOR HELP. Giving advice means being humble enough to ask for help from staff and people you know. Some consultants can be aloof and arrogant. Don’t be, this is poor and leads to mistakes. No one person is infallible.
Meeting Peeps in the NQ and Ancoats
Today was a good day, despite having a horrid cold with hacking cough, as I ventured by tram from Ashton into central Manchester to catch up with three old advertising comrades for a natter over coffee. Very productive and well met with people I have known for years.
The first person was met at a prompt 9.30am, but in fact I was 10-15 minutes late due to underestimating the tram journey to see the very unique Mark Varley. We met at Foundation on Lever Street and it was interesting to see Manchester’s Northern Quarter still resembling a Costa Del Sol building site. The coffee was very strong, but nice, and drove some good nattering between a pair of individuals who started their careers together in London a few moons back.
In fact we are both so prehistoric that we can remember using dial up modems and the Mosaic Browser. And it was Mark who introduced me to a sh*t new search engine that had no content or advertising called Google.
It was interesting to hear that the advertising market is flat at the moment and will probably remain so until two elections happen. One here, one across the pond, and may the Lord have mercy on our souls.
Mark and I had a good chat over consulting, an area we work in and one we are looking to develop, both mulling over working together again. And we both are lucky to have straddled offline and online media and so can add a certain something when working with companies at senior level. And we’ve held a number of board positions previously and gained a lot of useful experience, not to mention having the privilege of working with some clever people.
Next was a quick walk into Ancoats to catch up with someone who can only be described as a character. This being Simon Wharton of PushON, the established eCommerce consultancy and a company I rate and well led by the front of house Simon. Interestingly it was good to catch up with him having recently referred a Shopify build from a large luxury car dealership brand.
It was nice of Simon when being photographed to pose with his legendary resting bitch face.
Simon kindly brought me up to speed with the eComm’ market including platforms such as Magento, and it was interesting to hear how PushOn does not just advise on eCommerce and tech, but has a razor sharp marketing team that specialises in eComm’ executions - certainly worth bearing in mind, and why I recommend PushOn.
We chatted as to family and friends in the beautiful Beehive Mill in Ancoats, before I moved onto the next meeting.
The next catch up was with the wonderful Heidi Kenyon-Smith at Another Heart to Feed on Hilton Street back in the Northern Quarter. I’ve known Heidi for a number of years and originally helped her move from client side to agency, and she has now moved back to client side as General Manager of the female brand Simply Be, where she excels.
We chatted family especially her two children, Betty and Ralph, and my heading up to the Isle of Mull to be with Claire later in the year. Heidi was clearly saddened at the number of redundancies at Dentsu where she worked previously; which in my opinion is so short sighted and will have extreme consequences for the UK business. Yet again, London always seems to know best about the regions when it comes to the advertising business and time will tell.
We only had an hour before I had to head to Piccadilly for a train for another meeting, spluttering with a cough as I went.
It was a good day. That’s it. A good day with nice genuine people.