Where did January go?

So, 6 weeks into 2009, it's been a busy start to the year, both on the mentoring front, and for Intelligent Marketing. Plus I've managed to squeeze in a week's skiing in the French Alps with a mad bunch of 18 friends - two of whom were actually on their honeymoon, and another 2 of whom got engaged (off piste!) while we were out there.

The See Saw effect...

For the business, the start to the year has had its ups and downs. We're all guns blazing on the acquisition of new clients - we're being kept super-busy responding to some really big opportunities from well known blue chip brands. We've already won new clients in Xerox and Coast (a new fish restaurant) and are well placed to win quite a few other hot prospects this month and in March.

On the 'down'-side, it's becoming frustrating that so few of our existing clients are in a position to confirm their budgets and their marketing plans for 2009. Projects are coming in to us at the last minute and, whilst it's brilliant that they do, not having a forward view is really hard to manage, particularly when you've got the welfare, motivation and morale of 22 staff to think about. And keeping busy on pitches and prospective business isn't the most profitable way to spend our time in the short term.

I think being flexible is going to be key to 2009, and we're revisiting and revising our plans monthly to accommodate the ever-changing economic environment.


Moving the mentoring forwards

This flux is inevitably going to affect the mentoring process as well - reviewing my objectives from 3 months ago, I'm not sure they're still as relevant now as they were then - our business is having to adapt to the challenges of the current trading environment, and my focus has to be slightly different as a result.

It's been busy already this year with the first mentee get-together in January, and the superb 'mid way' event with Suzanne's session providing much food for thought.

Also in January I arranged to meet up with cK, Karen's Head of Online Sales at TopTable. He's made some great suggestions on closing techniques for selling (we're probably a bit too 'softly softly' in our new business approach) and shared some useful contacts in digital media that we could potentially work with. There's also a strong chance that we could work with cK and Top Table on some specific projects for one of our clients, a bottled water brand, so I'm putting him in touch directly with one of our Account Directors.


What next?

Next up is my monthly get together with Karen - planned for Wednesday this week, at which I think we'll discuss some of the points raised as part of Suzanne's session on 28th January, revisit the mentoring objectives, as well as discuss the 'pressing business issues of the moment'.

I'm already looking forward to it as our catch ups are always both thought-provoking and inspiring.

Sadly I won't be able to make the next 'Dynamentee' get together although I'm doing my best to send through suggestions, contacts and feedback via email directly to other mentees if and when appropriate. In the mean time, if any of the others have any useful client contacts/opportunities, I'm hoping they'll send them my way too!

Until next time...