As you probably know, at the Nurture Change Business Retreat in Fiji in November (less than two months to go!) we will be having a nightly “5 @ 5”, which is basically 5 business questions/topics discussed at 5pm, no doubt over a cocktail or two.
This is an invaluable experience where attendees can put their business questions/issues/dilemmas forward to a panel of experts and hear their responses. Their answers and insights could literally change your business. And of course it won’t just be your one question – you’ll get to listen to the questions of other attendees, which may also be relevant to your business situation. There could literally be 15 of your biggest business dilemmas answered over these 5 days – wahoo! Imagine what that could do to your business and bottom line!
One of our awesome business panellists is Wendy Thompson, owner of Socialites, an award-winning digital agency. What she doesn’t know about social media and how to make it work for your business isn’t worth knowing!
I spoke to Wendy recently for an item in the Sunday Star Times. You can read that below. I would implore you to think about Fiji – I’m sure the five days around like-minded business people will hold some valuable lessons for you and your business. It will be your best investment this year. Book here to secure your spot.
Ignore the social media channel at your peril, says Wendy.
Wendy Thompson’s business is a leading social media marketing agency that helps businesses leverage their social media and online presence. Anything you need to know about “social” – Wendy will know it! Her clients include Spark, House of Travel, Icebreaker and Mitre 10. Which is why when we saw she’d signed up to come along to the Nurture Change Business Retreat in Fiji, we promptly asked her to be on the “5 at 5” Q and A business panel. This is where people attending the retreat are able to ask any business question of the panel of successful leaders. Wendy will gladly share her social media thought leadership with you!
Ahead of the retreat I asked her some questions so she can share her thoughts on how to be successful in business:
Q: Who is a leader that you learnt something incredibly valuable from and what was the lesson?
A: Nike’s “Just Do It” motto really resonated with me from a young age for some reason. Since then I haven’t tended to put off till tomorrow what can be done today and I think that’s a key trait of successful business people. And a hot tip? When I’m doing something I really don’t want to do, I consider it a gift to my future self!
Another lesson I learnt was from a fellow entrepreneur I have huge respect for. He once told me he evaluates his daily to-do against whether it will matter in a year… I do this too now and this has made me immeasurably more efficient and made it much easier to stay focused on the long-term vision.
Q: What lesson in business do you try to pass on to others?
A: Attitude is everything.
Things won’t always go to plan. In life you will be let down, things outside of your control will disrupt your best-laid plans and, most annoying of all, good things will happen to bad people and vice versa. You can’t change the facts but you can change your attitude and choose how you will react. This is incredibly powerful.
Whatever happens, when things are fantastic or terrible, know your values and really live them. For example, if integrity, loyalty and grace are important to you then dig deep and live those fully every day. It makes you a strong and authentic person.
My other small but important tip for entrepreneurs is to make sure you stop every now and then and celebrate the wins. Often we are wired to be on to the next cool thing so we don’t naturally take time to stop and look back, but I’ve learnt it’s really important. You deserve it and it’s very important for your team.
Q: Who do you think is a great innovator (individual or company) and why?
A: Working in the tech space I’d have to say Alphabet aka Google. They really live their brand promise of ‘think different’ at every level, from the way they structure jobs (e.g. 20 percent of employee time is to be spent on non-work projects) through to their restructure of their company to make Google just one part of the business.
Alphabet takes really big world-affecting challenges and solves them by looking at them in completely new ways. From driver-less cars to water systems, this company is dedicated to making the world a better place. I find this very inspirational and I’m honored to be in this industry with them.
Q: What has been your biggest learning in business to date and why?
A: Trust your gut. There have been times when I’ve ignored my gut and it’s always ended badly. If your gut is saying no but your head is saying yes then at least build in a contingency plan.
Q: If you were 21 years old again and could do any career you wanted, what would you be and why?
A: Honestly I’m exactly where I want to be, doing what I love to do and excited about all the opportunities ahead – and I couldn’t have foreseen at 21 that this was going to be a good industry to get into. When I was 21 the internet was brand new and cellphones were very rare – and neither were that useful, ha ha!
I am exceptionally optimistic about the power of humankind using technology and human connection to do some amazing things and I intend on being a big part of that. Yep, world peace and fixing the environment are on the list.
Q: What are you most excited about in attending the Nurture Change Business Retreat in Fiji?
A: It’s five full-immersion days of business inspiration and connecting with other visionaries – I can’t wait to see what I come away with and what it will do for my business thinking. I’m also really looking forward to talking with other like-minded business-owners… and it would be remiss of me to not mention the sunshine and daiquiris, of course!
Wendy Thompson will be an expert on our “5 at 5” business panel at the Nurture Change Business Retreat in Fiji, November 11-15. See www.nurturechange.com for a full list of speakers and further information on the business retreat. Don’t miss out – book your spot now.
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