Mrs P on #OwningIt
22.05.2015 |
- Posted by Rachel Picken
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The last 10 days at MPAD has been, quite simply, incredible. On Monday this week we released the news that since our rebrand last May, we’ve had 45% growth in turnover, with a great profit.
It’s over and above our target, and I couldn’t be prouder of all of us – not to mention the culture and team cohesion we’ve all built around meeting a shared goal, and some a campaigns over the past 12 months.
On Thursday, we saw one of our favourite clients, Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, who we’ve worked with since 2010, sweep the board at the Cornwall Business Awards. I absolutely love that a charity is making its mark on Cornwall’s business community, and actually got out of bed at midnight that evening to join the Twitter celebrations.
On Tuesday, Mark also spoke at an awesome new event, Thrive Sustainability, which we really hope could become a firm part of Cornwall Business Week. On Wednesday, we had a cracking day at the Cornwall Business Fair.
Then on Thursday (a mummy day for me) I received the incredible news that we’d won a significant, exciting and lucrative new project, which involves exploring an entirely new and exciting demographic for us. I was taking feedback on our tender and interview with a sleeping toddler in the back of the car.
I limped to the end of the week, exhausted but exhilarated, and excited about the opportunities for 2015.
So how did we do it?
Quite simply, we’ve had the belief, passion and dogged determination that this year, we will nail our objectives. We set our growth targets, decided our strategy – which was a rebrand and re-position – and chased down the opportunities that now show in our client portfolio and on our bottom line.
I’ve always believed in our culture, and how our approach could be adapted across the marketing disciplines. I also had to work hard at the stuff I wasn’t so good at – namely finance. I had to force myself out of my safe zone (writing stuff, chatting with journos) and into the unknown (spreadsheets, uncomfortable finance meetings).
But I faced my fears, took ownership, and now look after the accounts for my professional body in the region, CIPR SW.
And on that big tender win – our lovely business development manager Simon (currently in France with his other business, Glisten) kept trying to manage our expectations that we may never get anywhere with it. But hardcore us ignored the inner critical friend, knuckled down and embraced the brief.
It totally paid off, and Si humbly ate his beret.
It’s not just at work where confidence and belief in abilities will get you where you need to go.
On Sunday, three of us tackled Bodmin Moor’s 10 Tors for our client iSight Cornwall. Proof that with the right pair of shoes, a girl can tackle the boardroom and a 13.5 mile hike.
Meanwhile on Saturday, our senior content developer Nigel was feeling artistically compromised when his band was asked to play a cheesey 80s power ballad for a wedding at St Mawes Castle. He was feeling pretty uncomfortable and not looking forward to it.
My advice was: Own it! Go hard or go home – no one will be convinced by a half-arsed attempt.
Here’s the photo evidence. An oddly proud boss moment.
I feel that #OwningIt is becoming a philosophy for us at MPAD. I also feel proud that I can empower my staff and even my family to set themselves a challenge, tackle their weaknesses and nail it.
What are your examples of facing your fears or the unknown, and #OwningIt?
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