by Joyce Turner-Gionet | Sep 8, 2015 | Agency, Latest, Management
Labour Day: why?
We’ve all been celebrating the last hurrah of summer on the annual Canadian Labour Day Holiday Weekend. Officially (and sadly!) after this, summer holidays are over and it’s back to normal for Canadians. For Canucks, Labour Day is always the first Monday in September. But why do we call it Labour Day?
I did a bit of research because I honestly wasn’t sure! And it seems Labour Day isn’t just an official holiday for Canadians, eh!
It’s celebrated in the United States and in many other countries around the world, but often, on different dates. For some countries, it’s on May 1st, to coincide with International Workers’ Day. All over the world, it’s meant to celebrate the achievement of workers and it’s a history worth celebrating.
It came out of Britain’s Industrial Revolution, where the average work day could last a horrendous 16 hours, six days a week!
Labour Day came out of the Labour (Trade) Union Movement. As Wiki notes, it’s often referred to as the eight-hour-day movement, an incredibly important movement that we all benefit from today. Labour Day came out of Britain’s Industrial Revolution, where the average work day could last a horrendous 16 hours, six days a week. Child labour was rampant. Okay, we complain about an 8 hour day, five days a week. Most people actually work only 7-1/2 and we take lunch.
Eight hours’ labour, eight hours’ recreation, eight hours’ rest
1817: Robert Owen, Welsh Social Reformer pushed for eight hours’ labour, eight hours’ recreation, eight hours’ rest. And no child labour.
2015: A better world, one in which (particularly in our part of the world) we should count our blessings and thank those incredible forward-thinking social reformers who believed that down time was a necessity, not a luxury. It’s something to think about while we’re enjoying our ‘down time’ on future Labour Days.
We hope you enjoyed your Labour Day weekend!
Thanks to Wiki for the research!
by Miriam Hara | Sep 1, 2015 | Agency, Business Success, Communications, Latest, Management, Marketing, Problem Solving
What is common sense? How important is it in business?
In business, I believe knowledge and experience make for common sense. If you don’t have both, you’re working from opinion. Common sense is a way of thinking, based on what you know for sure.
You might have heard your grandmother say: “that girl is full of common sense.” She meant it as a compliment. The “she” grandma was referring to was a highly practical gal, or in today’s speak, someone who exercised good sense and sound judgement that consistently led to sound outcomes. Chances are this gal was working from what she knew for sure.
It’s called common sense because, supposedly, it’s common to all of us.
It’s called common sense because, supposedly, it’s common to all of us. That’s debatable, since we all do things that don’t make any sense. We spend too much, text while driving, drive over the speed limit, eat a second piece of cheesecake even though we’re on a diet, procrastinate on a project, delay backing up our phone or PC and ignore our doctor’s advice. More than likely, as most of us are doing these things, we know they don’t make sense, but we throw caution to the wind and do them anyway. (Just for fun, take the quiz at the end of this blog if you want to to test your common sense.)
Despite what we might think, common sense is not necessarily linked to a high IQ.
Every day we hear something, read something or see something, that doesn’t make common sense. Politics can be a minefield of questionable sense. Government decisions on how our money should be spent are no different. (For an eye opener, on common sense gone MIA (Missing in Action), check out the 2015 17th Annual Teddy Government waste award winners) It’s the same in business. Business leaders regularly exercise good judgement as well as poor judgement; decisions rooted in common sense or resulting from the lack of it. Despite what we might think, common sense is not necessarily linked to a high IQ.
Not all people with common sense are forward thinkers.
In business we use common sense daily, to prioritize. It’s our way of connecting the dots to business preservation. Business thinkers who connect the dots can be forward thinkers, the surest route to business success. That doesn’t mean all forward thinkers have common sense. And not all people with common sense are forward thinkers.
In business you must constantly assess situations. Common sense helps out here too. It allows us to avoid stressful situations. When we are in an unavoidable situation, we can use common sense to negotiate a way out. The more experience I have, the more common sense I accumulate. Was I born with the inclination for common sense? I repeat: I think it’s learned.
Remember Einstein’s sage advice?
A person with common sense also learns from mistakes. Remember Einstein’s sage advice? “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” In business, as in life, if we don’t learn from our mistakes we’re liable to make them again. Common sense encourages us to look around and see what’s happening beyond our own business world. We can also learn from the mistakes as well as the successes of others, a common sense learning approach that works well.
Most common sense people have learned the art of removing themselves from a situation in order to look at it objectively.
Common sense allows us to assess the value of moving forward and double check the move with our intuition — a gut feeling that is based on our past business knowledge and experience — before we act. We’re able to see both the big picture and the details and assess how the details could help or hinder the outcome. Yes, we value and take into account the (knowledgeable) opinions of business others, but we don’t allow your own sound judgement to be clouded by their perceptions. Most common sense people have learned the art of removing themselves from a situation in order to look at it objectively.
You’ve heard of street smarts. There are business smarts too. They’re centered on developing a plan, understanding the weaknesses of the plan and setting up contingencies. Business common sense, based on knowledge and experience (and that dose of intuition), allows us to clearly and objectively assess every business course of action.
There’s a downside to common sense
There’s a downside to common sense in business and we need to guard against it. We must never become too pragmatic. Good business benefits from a healthy dose of intuition and once in a while, a leap of faith. Both might seem at odds with common sense, but they’re really not. Case in point; we started 3H in the middle of a recession!
Got a comical example of common sense missing in action, send it to me?
Grandma would roll her eyes at this one! But in today’s world, there’s an internet answer for everything: How to Develop Common Sense: 8 Steps (with pictures)
Just for fun, see if you have common sense and take the quiz on Quiznatic
A little more serious from Forbes:
10 Uncommon, Common Sense Commandments for Life and Business
by Miriam Hara | Aug 28, 2015 | Advertising, Agency, Business Success, Communications, Content, Interactive, Latest, Management, Marketing, Social Media
In life, we need a plan. To create rich content, we need a plan.
There’s a lot of buzz around content and content creation. For those new to content and content creation, it can get confusing. What is content? In a nutshell: content = information. Rich content = great information.
I’ll give you an example of what’s meant by content (information). As an ad agency, there is:
- The content (information) our clients hire us to create using a variety of vehicles: billboard ads, print campaigns, outdoor advertising, videos (including YouTube videos), TV spots, radio spots, advertorials, brochures, packaging, websites, Social Media, etc. … you get the idea.
- Then, there’s the content (information) we create for the agency: our internal marketing and advertising. This could be news and views delivered via our website, blogs, tweets, Facebook posts, pins on Pinterest, Instagram, posts on LinkedIn and on business-to-business sites, etc.
Rich Content – What’s its job?
Content’s job is to add value and provide insight. To do this, it must be engaging. To be engaging, it must be informative and interesting (i.e. ‘rich’). To be effective, it must be targeted. This is important. 3H’s content reach is wide-ranging and eclectic. We speak to our clients, to large corporations, small businesses, executives and non-executives, the business-to-business market, people in the creative field and students (particularly those in the arts and communication). A content piece may not (and likely, will not) resonate with all of these people, all of the time. So at 3H, we vary the content regularly, to make sure there’s something for everyone. And we’re strategic with our content. We put it in places where the people we want to see it, will see it.
Who? What? When? Where? Why? And How?
A helpful way to plan for engaging content creation is to think the way a news editor or journalist thinks when developing a piece. Answer the four “W” questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? And answer the ‘H’ question: How?
Who?
Define your target market(s) — the people you want to speak to, the ones you want to engage with your content.
What?
What do we want to say to our audience? This will also help establish a tone for your content and a voice for your organization. Your business is unique; tone and voice help get that across.
When?
When will we reach our audience? Plan to reach out regularly, in the same places, so that not only do they expect you, they search you out. Appear sporadically and you’ll lose your audience. Be flexible and adaptable: if you notice your audience gravitating to new places (and with the pace of technology, this happens regularly) — be there for them.
Take advantage of established media events, things such as Earth Day, Labour Day, Heart Month, Diabetes Month, Valentine’s Day, etc. If your business is geared toward any of these things, piggy back your content on the media excitement.
Every business experiences an ebb and flow. Make the most of slower times to come up with new ideas for content.
Create events, unique ones that belong only to you. Then wrap content around these events. Content is about engaging your audience. Give them a reason to get excited, to celebrate and to connect with you.
Where?
Where will we reach our audience? Where do they hang out? If you’re not sure, do a little research.
Why?
Why do we want to create rich content? Sounds pretty basic, I know, but it’s important. Why do you?
As you plan moves along, the “why” should stick around. You’ve implemented a plan, but don’t set it and forget it. Review. Regularly. How is your content being received? This leads to important answers to questions, such as: “Why is this type of content working well for us, but this other type isn’t?” The success of your content is measurable. For example, you can measure the progress of your Social Media efforts with metrics (The 5 Easy Steps to Measure Your Social Media Campaign). You can measure response to your website Five Keys to Success for Measuring Your Website.
You can measure it by the comments and feedback you’re getting. If you’re never getting any feedback, start asking why?
A good plan has legs
A good plan has legs, it evolves; it can take you to new places with new insights so that your content consistently delivers value. Gives your audience a reason to keep coming back.
A good plan needs a good team
Content creation should not be the sole job of the content creator(s). I’ve said this before: Everyone in a company can and should have input. It makes for a much richer, collaborative and enjoyable experience and ultimately, content will benefit, in quality and quantity.
HOW?
How will you do it? It’s all about fiber …
- Meaty and rich content.
- Make it regular.
Add value! Provide Insight!
If you don’t feel comfortable or confident enough to create your own content, hire a content creator. It really is that important!
STICK TO THE PLAN!
(If it’s a good plan.) If the plan’s not working, find out why and fix it. Then … STICK TO THE PLAN!
Want to delve deeper into Content Creation? Download our free eBook: Content Creation Understood. 21 short snappy insights (we call them biz-isms) that will help you wrap your head around creating great content.
by Miriam Hara | Aug 12, 2015 | Advertising, Agency, Business Success, Communications, Creative, Latest, Management, Marketing
Is the concept of ‘value add’ or ‘value added’ overused? Perhaps it’s more correct to ask, is it misused? Has ‘value added’ become like the tipping issue? Many of us tip automatically, whether it’s deserved or not. Has the term ‘value add’ become interchangeable with just doing a good job, or simply meeting expectations, not exceeding them? What happened to going above and beyond, every time that you can? To me, that’s value added.
The retail landscape is rife with ‘value adds’
The retail landscape is rife with ‘value adds’. Think about extended warranties. You purchase a new refrigerator. You wanted value for your money, so you likely paid for the brand name as well as the fridge’s features and benefits. Brands that have been around for a while, proved their worth, built a following, have intrinsic value. But as you’re buying that brand name fridge, the salesperson encourages you to purchase an extended warranty beyond the standard one-year warranty — a warranty that will protect you — and one you’ll have to pay for. Where’s the value in that?
What is that saying about the product? Shouldn’t you be able to expect that the refrigerator will work for you a heck of a lot longer than one year? And if it’s not going to, then shouldn’t the manufacturer promote an offer to fix anything that does go wrong in the 13th month after you bought it, and fix it for free. That would be a true value added proposition! Same thing goes for a car purchase and the extended warranties that go along with those purchases. Fundamentally, these types of things are not adding real value, they’re just up-selling and increasing the profitability of “you”. I believe I should be able to expect that most high-ticket items that I purchase are going to last a while; that they’re going to meet my expectation of performance, without me having to buy protection in case they don’t.
‘Value added’, from a business owner’s point of view, is having my vendors go beyond… which make them partners… not vendors.
‘Value added’, from my business owner point of view, is having my vendors go beyond. It’s having their service and their staff perform well beyond my expectations, not just meet my expectations. I hired them to meet my expectations. And I’m ecstatic when they exceed them! In other words… you got the business, now keep it by impressing.
In terms of my clients, value added doesn’t mean giving them great creative. They expect great creative. Why else do you go to an advertising agency? It doesn’t mean delivering on time, that’s an expectation from the outset. It doesn’t mean delivering results. That’s expected too.
‘Value added’ happens when we anticipate what the client needs before they need it.
Value added happens when we anticipate what the client needs before they need it. It’s when we nudge them by showing them there’s a better way. It’s by surprising them with things that they didn’t expect; things that help and delight them. Value added is exceeding beyond what our clients expect, and giving them a reason to keep coming back. It’s making them feel good about working with us because not only are we delivering on their expectation, we are adding value to the service and valuing them as clients, by exceeding their pre-conceived expectations. At its core, value added should be about building relationships.
Jump! How High? That’s not value added.
Jump! How high? That’s not value added. Leap as high as I can for my clients before they ask me to jump… now that’s adding value.
What is your idea of ‘value added’ in your ‘world’? I’d be interested to hear!
#ValueAdded #SharedWisdom #ExceedBeyond
by Miriam Hara | Aug 4, 2015 | Advertising, Agency, Business Success, Deadline, Latest, Management, Marketing
Time is of the essence!
More than any other decade, business is running at the speed of light, which makes the efficient use of time ultimately the most important element to control. When I first entered the advertising business, the industry was notoriously known for its fast pace and deadlines. Contrary to corporate marketing departments, who albeit were also working at a faster pace than other departments in the same organization, advertising agencies owned the “RUSH” space. By owning that space, agency people often worked longer hours, weekends, evenings, around the clock to make an impending deadline. I can sincerely say, our industry no longer holds the monopoly on time. No matter what business you’re in today, time is of the essence!
All bets are off on personal time, downtime; any time is the time to work or check off one more item on the list of tasks to do and things to accomplish.
It goes without saying that the team around you, your colleagues, your support staff and every one in between plays a role in you efficiently managing your time and maintaining control over projects, launches and plans.
As a team member, or player or even potential wannabe team member, how does one add value to the department, the job, and ultimately the boss. Here’s a few of my thoughts:
1) When deadlines are looming and there just isn’t enough time, don’t tell me what you can’t do, tell me what you can do. Only then can a secondary plan of action emerge.
2) If there is an issue, and there are often issues with any project, don’t just come in and report the problem, without having all the facts. If the facts aren’t clear, you can’t work on a solution. Or better yet, come in with a solution – that would wow any manager.
3) Don’t say you can do something, then not; only to say you didn’t have the time. That only means you haven’t made the time. And that only means one of two things. 1) You felt it wasn’t important enough to get it off your list and 2) You didn’t plan or allot time to getting it done in a timely manner. Either way, it’s not good.
4) When tasks come your way, no matter how menial you perceive them to be, don’t just “do”. It’s the small things that shout the loudest in making impressions. So don’t just take direction, and do it; understand the need and ultimately the ‘why’ of what is being asked, so you can add value.
5) For all new business development managers, or client engagement managers, or any permutation thereof, if you’re successful in getting a meeting to present your organization’s services, don’t provide no more than what can be found on your website. That’s a waste of time, for both of us – and it’s also a missed opportunity.
And last but not least…
6) For all of you trying to break into any industry; don’t send in a resume for a job that you’re not qualified for. Wasting my time by having me read it only to find out that you’re not qualified for it – that only frustrates me. If you want to apply, then by all means do, but do something different; something that will provide me with a perspective of who and what you are about. Sending in a resume that you don’t have any qualifications for, without any explanation or counter claim, isn’t going to cut it – Honest.
by Miriam Hara | Jul 20, 2015 | Advertising, Agency, Creative, Latest, Management
To understand why I need what I need in a new hire, you have to understand the business. [inlinetweet prefix=””Do what you love.” – Steve Jobs” tweeter=”” suffix=”#NewHireWishList #SharedWisdom”]The advertising business isn’t just a job, it’s a way of life.[/inlinetweet] Take it from me, it’s like no other business in the world. It’s not a tap you turn on and off. You don’t (in fact, you can’t) turn on at 8:30 a.m. and turn off at 4:30 p.m., particularly if you’re leading a team. I think people who are really good at what they do (in any industry) are always thinking about what they do: how they can do it better; how they can do it differently for better results; how they can streamline the process to get where they’re going more effectively and yes, get there faster. They’re always thinking about “ideas” and marketing and advertising is all about ideas.
A platitude that’s a bit overused maybe, but there’s still plenty of truth in it: “Work smarter, not harder”
Work smarter, not harder: I want people who really believe that. You’ve seen the posters. But there’s plenty of truth in those four little words.
I never know what will spark the idea, or when it will come, I just trust, from experience, that it will come. I want that characteristic in a new hire.
It’s a Saturday morning, my business hat is off. It’s summer, I might be having a coffee on a patio, at the farmer’s market, anywhere; but I’m probably thinking about a new client, a client presentation, or an idea for a new campaign. It’s the middle of the week, I could be in an airport, a cab, at a restaurant, or just taking a walk down by the lake with my husband after dinner. Maybe I’m in the middle of a presentation for clients, totally focused and an idea pops up, completely unrelated to what I’m doing. Everywhere I am, anything can spark an idea. This might sound like I never stop working and in a way, I don’t.
It’s partly the business and partly me. [inlinetweet prefix=”” tweeter=”” suffix=”-Miriam Hara, CCO, 3H #ExceedBeyond #SharedWisdom”]I’m still excited about what I do, even after 27 years.[/inlinetweet] I still get up in the morning passionate about our projects. It’s not that I’m always consciously thinking about work, it’s that I can’t help not thinking about it. I want people around me like that.
The business is not just me – I rely on my team. Most of them have been with 3H a long time. All of them have passion. And I want people with passion. I need them:
7 THINGS I ABSOLUTELY NEED IN A NEW CREATIVE HIRE
- Passion for the industry and the creative process.
- The desire to win!
- Willingness to learn and the ability to wear many hats.
- Someone who adds value to the process, who is flexible and won’t freeze when things go wrong, because in our business, like in life, something always does!
- Someone who isn’t afraid of ‘working without a net’; meaning that it’s okay if they don’t know the total background and details of a job, they run with the things and know it will work it out and they’ll eventually catch on. Being okay with not knowing is really important!
- Someone who is thick skinned and doesn’t take things too personally.
- No overblown egos. Confidence is what I want and it’s not the same thing. Egos make life difficult for everyone else. Strangely, it’s the kind of business where ego doesn’t belong, although we don’t think of the advertising and marketing business that way. Ego is insignificant to clients — it would be troublesome. They hire you because they already know you’re good at what you do.
There’s a number 8, but the heading says 7 so I’ll just say that for number 8 a sense of humour is hugely important. I want someone who finds things funny, can see humour where it’s sometimes hard to see it. There’s more to hiring the right person. Things that maybe you don’t often think about when you’re hiring; quirky characteristics that can enrich company culture on a day to day basis. (I’ll talk about them in an upcoming blog.)
It’s such an important aspect of business, finding the right people because it affects so many aspects of the business.
Send me your thoughts on what you look for in a new hire. #NewHireWishList #SharedWisdom #ExceedBeyond
