Date: January 2016

Marketing Eye is a fairly interesting place to work. We are disruptive by design, and have a flat organisational structure. This means that employees are empowered to make decisions, work with clients they love and choose their own colleagues.

We've all been employees at some time in our life and many of us, no matter how good we think we are as people, have made a mistake or two in the roles we have been employed in. It's human, and expected. 

What is interesting though, is that some people never learn the lesson. As employers we all hope that they do it all when they are young, and then move on to taking a more mature approach to things, especially if they want to get ahead in their careers.

The challenges of being an employee are many, but mostly, it's about life in general. People spend so much time at work, they have to love it, and get the most out of the situation. It has to be part of a greater plan.

My first employer was a perfectionist

When I was younger, I remember one of my first employers was a perfectionist, and it was hard to always be 'perfect' at everything I did. But I learned not to make the same mistake twice and always listen, take notes and check my work before handing it in. At the time, I was terrified of him, but respected him because of his talent and the fact that he did some really smart things and ran a business with no University Degree, or backing. Just an inate business capability, creativity and a desire to do everything 'perfectly'. He also had a philosophy that everyone must stop for morning tea and afternoon tea regardless and sit together and chat about anything other than work.

I was paid $12,000 per year

It challenges you as an employee to live up to these expectations, but it has set me up for life and for that I am grateful. I also hold this employer in the highest regard. I was paid $12,000 per year, and after a few months, he put it up to $14,000 per year. I wanted to come to work earlier, and work later, but my immediate supervisor was against this, and it's funny, as I am that same person today with my staff. I don't want for them to work long hours. I want for them to live life.

You could sleep your way to the top

Other employers taught me different things; working in big corporations particularly in the media I learned that politics is everything, and back then, you possibly could sleep your way to the top (sad but true). I never did and never have, but it was possible back then - less so now. Another employer taught me the importance of good family values and treating everyone like they are a member of your family. Being there when things are tough, and allowing stars to shine. They also taught me that there are some people that you should just let go - and see what they come up with. They did that to me, and it's amazing what I achieved and how proud of that work I am today. I am still in contact with them and still part of the family. Something I cherish.

Then there was the opportunist employer, who at the time I was grateful for giving me an opportunity, but found that values are more important. I left only because I needed to stay on the career path of marketing and the role was too PR related. He saw an opportunity in the not-for-profit space and took it.

I didn't quite respect him

The last one that really touched me and helped shape me was someone I didn't quite respect, but learned that you should take risks and networking is everything. What I loved about that job was the fact that I was able to meet some of the most powerful and influential people in the world, and travel with them promoting an industry. The lack of respect only comes from my own moral compass, but I do believe that it is important to appreciate what these people give us in knowledge and insight. He taught me that age doesn't matter when it comes to jobs. He had a 21 year old run a magazine straight from University. He also taught me that some people just have ability to hire the right people, and he certainly did that. Everyone who worked there was ambitious and went on to become serious players in their careers.

Standout employees make others sometimes feel insecure

My very last big role before starting my own business taught me what it is like to work in an environment where you stand out, but that makes other's feel insecure. How to manage that, I did not know at the time, but I watch for that in my team now and make sure that they navigate that path in a way that brings out the best in everyone.

Working for someone is a privilege, and even though I am saying that as an employer, I think many young people forget that. Owners of small businesses in particular have a lot of stress and have to think about things you would never have considered. Paying payroll and ensuring that there are enough clients to sustain a business is just part of it. But it's also HR, accounting, marketing, legal and leadership. There is so much to think of. Why I say that it is a privilege is because whether you like it or not, they make sure that every week you get your salary, your super is paid and you get 4 weeks annual leave, 10 days minimum sick leave, and 10 days or so that are public holidays. That's a lot for FREE, and I know employees don't see it that way, but at the end of the day, this takes a huge chunk out of the year and productivity.

I am grateful

As an employer, I am grateful. I have given myself the opportunity to have the dream job, but with everything that is good, there is always challenges that bring you back to reality. 

Today's team of people that work at Marketing Eye are amazing. I am lucky. Anyone who has ever left, meant to leave. We only live once and as long as we do so with integrity and compassion, it's a life worth living.

I'm the person who is always at the office at 7am. 

My office in Sydney is all the more special at that time of day as I look at the harbour, soak in the constant flow of trains going through and watch the cars flow to a point where they stop, as traffic becomes jammed as everyone rushes to work at the same time.

I'm in Sydney and the weather is phenomenal, the harbour is drawing me in, and the team is so busy that I think that they are going to burst at some stage today - but somehow, they never do.

Instead, they step it up, take control, become better organised and push boundaries.

How does that happen?

Today I am angry. I rarely experience this emotion, but I am really, really angry. We have lost yet another great person in the world, and it appears that every single day I hear the news of someone else passing, either at their own hands or through illness, let alone what happens through terrorism and war.

Why? Why do people we love and cherish have to go? Why can't they stay? Why do they need to go when you are so unprepared to say goodbye?

I can't pretend to understand. I don't. I won't. 

When the clock strikes midnight on 31st December, we all take a moment to reflect, whether we like it or not. Many of us do so with a few too many champagnes under our belt.

Many of us make new year's resolutions - mostly ones that last a few days and are soon forgotten. 

But there is one that often creates change, and that is the desire to have a new job, change direction and do something that is more fulfilling.

What a great start to the year! We have a team that is totally pumped and excited about what the future holds for the company, and I have just come back from a few days looking into the operations of the Vanad Group of companies in the Netherlands.

It's amazing what some companies can do in 10 short years, but more importantly, how they empower their people to produce outstanding results year-on-year, completely on-track to the company's overall mission.

When you have travelled the world as much as me, there is one thing that you know is always going to be a given – that hotels are a must.

Now, if you must stay in a hotel, then you usually either want your normal comforts or you look for something different to what you already have at home. Something better, sometimes something just different.