Yep it’s that time again. We’re looking to hire someone new. It’s kind of like a weird version of christmas (the same anticipation of what you’ll get under the tree, with the added bonus of having to pay for it yourself) if Christmas came with an inflated tax bill and a need for an extra computer.

The new position could be full-time or could be a shorter contract (with the intention of full-time) – it just depends on the person and the situation.

But yeah, we’re looking for someone new and exciting to join our team. This is a more junior position suitable for someone at the start of their career (or is looking for a change) who is looking for an amazing opportunity. Someone who wants to learn and develop, to challenge themselves and grow. Someone who wants to be in a dynamic environment and really contribute to our success.

As I’ve said before, I’m not really one for job applications, CVs and interviews. It’s just not me. But to be fair to everyone, I thought I’d take a moment to list out what we’re (sort of) looking for and why you’d want to work with us. It’s not an exhaustive list, but it should give you a good idea of whether you’d like it here.

What’s it like working here?

Busy. Exciting. Fluid. Curious. Challenging. Fun.

We are a growing company. We all have to be a bit of an all-rounder. Some days we’ll be working on launching a new product and other days we’ll be talking to franchisees down in London on how they can drive new sales in their region. It changes. You need to be flexible. You need to look ahead. You need to be quick and be precise.

This is a fun company. We work hard when we need to and there can be long days and long nights. We also have fun. There’s a lot of banter. There is a lot of curiosity. We get to know our clients. We get to meet new friends.

Every week is different. Every project is different. We make a make a big impact on our clients, and it’s a big responsibility. It’s also a big privilege. We get to see the fruits of our labour played out every week.

What type of skills will you need?

Yes I know. I said right from the start that you’ll need to be a bit of an all-rounder. And that’s true. We are a small company. We don’t have room for people who can’t accomplish a lot of different tasks. I’m also looking for someone who will fit into the company dynamic – we are a young, growing, creative, ambitious company.

But there are skills we need:

• Curiosity and creativity- we are a creative company. We develop marketing strategies for businesses and we do it really well. I want someone who will be curious and creative. Someone who wants to learn a new way of working and will bring a strong creative outlook to the business. Equally, someone who is willing to make suggestion; bring their ideas and their perspectives; open and anxious to improve the processes we already have in place.
• Communication skills – this really should be obvious, but we are a marketing company and it’s essential that you have good communication skills. You’ll be working directly with clients, creatives and our strategic partners, and  when you do, you represent the company (and me personally).
• Responsibility – We’re all busy. We have a lot on the go. We’re going to be relying on you and we don’t want to be let down. We’ll give you as much support as we possibly can, but you will need to step up your game and take responsibility for things. It’s an awesome chance to prove it to yourself and to us.
• Know how to use a bloody computer – Seriously this should also be a no-brainer. You’ll be doing research, you’ll be writing, you’ll be working. If you can’t use a computer (preferably a MAC) then you probably shouldn’t apply.

Why work for Designate?

Well, first off, there is a salary and room to move up. As we grow, so will you. But I’m not really interested in hiring someone who is only in it for a 9-5 pay check. This is a growing company. I want someone who wants to play a big role in an exciting business. Someone who wants to make an impact and see the real value in the contribution they make. As we grow and spread our wings, we’ll be taking you along with us. There is a lot of scope to develop your role and I’m always happy to help my staff develop.

In short, I prefer to work with someone who wants to take responsibility, who wants to be passionate about where they work, who wants to try new things and who wants to make a difference to my company and our clients.

What I can promise in return is a fun working environment, an exciting and challenging opportunity to learn and my full support.

If this sounds about right to you, or you feel you know someone who fills the bill, drop me a line:

@jordanfleming

Jordan@thedesignategroup.com

Every time I log into my LinkedIn account it sits there. A stark reminder that I haven’t written in this blog for ages. I have to admit, it’s getting on my nerves.

It really hasn’t been that long. It just feels that way. December was a write off – lots of running around, lots of evenings out, and then I (as tradition seems to dictate) got ill in the last week of work. Time slipped further and further away.

But I’m back now. It’s a new year. I love this time. So many possibilities.

I’ll write more over the course of the next week, but for now I just wanted to send out a big happy new year. I can’t wait to get stuck into 2012.

-j

I’m very pleased to have finally launched our Franchise Marketing System to the world.

The Franchise Marketing System is unique in the industry. Honest:

1. Sector Input
   We’ve developed it with direct input from franchisors, franchisees and a whole host of franchise professionals. There has been a lot of expertise, experience and input from across the entire sector. We’ve spent a few years talking to everyone from lawyers and accountants to individual franchisees in order to get as wide a perspective as possible. We like being thorough in our work. It makes us feel a lot better.
2. Tried, Tested, Sorted
   Before we launched this system to the wider market, we wanted to shake down any niggling problems – you know, kick the tyres…that sort of thing. We’re pleased to say the system held up and did exactly what we said it would: bring a rigorously structured marketing approach to the entire franchise network – from head office right down to individual franchisee.
3. It’s Hands On
   We’ve been developing and implementing marketing strategies for companies for over five years. We’ve gathered a lot of experience in that time. One of the things we knew was crucial was our ability to work hands-on with each franchisee on a monthly basis. That’s right. We work with each franchisee directly. Every month. No exception. We visit each franchisee at their location on a regular basis, and our team is there to help them drive their local marketing forward.
4. The Price is Right
   Why spend a lot of money on hiring staff when you can bring it into your company in a much more cost-effective way? Our Franchise Marketing System has the answer – we charge you based on the number of franchisees you have. It’s as simple as that. For most sizes of franchise, the monthly investment per franchisee is only £250+VAT. £250 a month to get hands-on local marketing support. That’s not even a question.

So take a look at the new website (it’s new, so it may still need some work) and feel free to send us some feedback. If you’re a franchise owner, drop us a line and we can chat about how we can make a big impact to your franchise community.

- Jordan

What’s it like working here?

Busy. Exciting. Fluid.

This is a growing company. We all have to be a bit of an all-rounder. Some days we’ll be working on launching a new product and other days we’ll be talking to franchisees down in London on how they can drive new sales in their region. It changes. You need to be flexible. You need to look ahead. You need to be quick and be precise.

This is a fun company. We work hard when we need to and there can be long days and long nights. We also have fun. There’s a lot of banter. There is a lot of curiosity. We get to know our clients. We get to meet new friends.

Every week is different. Every project is different. We make a make a big impact on our clients, and it’s a big responsibility. It’s also a big privilege. We get to see the fruits of our labour played out every week.

What type of skills will you need?

Yes I know. I said right from the start that you’ll need to be a bit of an all-rounder. And that’s true. We are a small company. We don’t have room for people who can’t accomplish a lot of different tasks. I’m also looking for someone who will fit into the company dynamic – we are a young, growing, creative, ambitious company.

But there are skills we need:

• Account/Project Management – we deal with our clients on a monthly basis. We work long-term with each of our clients, which means that there are always projects to manage, clients to speak with, and research to be done. At present we are currently developing a new brand, helping to develop a new product, launching a new customer loyalty scheme and developing new marketing materials. All of these have multiple tasks and milestones to be hit. We sit in the middle, and we are the ones responsible for making sure it all gets done.
• Responsibility – I travel a lot for the company. I’m out and about creating new business opportunities and meeting with new people. You will have to be able to be responsible and be able to work on your own at times. I need someone I can rely on to get the work done on time and correctly.
• Curiosity and creativity- we are a creative company. We develop marketing strategies for businesses and we do it really well. I want someone who will be curious and creative. Someone who wants to learn a new way of working and will bring a strong creative outlook to the business. Equally, someone who is willing to make suggestion; bring their ideas and their perspectives; open and anxious to improve the processes we already have in place.
• Communication skills – this really should be obvious, but we are a marketing company and it’s essential that you have good communication skills. You’ll be working directly with clients, creatives and our strategic partners, and  when you do, you represent the company (and me personally).

Why work for Designate?

Well, first off, there is a salary and room to move up. As we grow, so will you. But I’m not really interested in hiring someone who is only in it for a 9-5 pay check. This is a growing company. I want someone who wants to play a big role in an exciting business. Someone who wants to make an impact and see the real value in the contribution they make. As we grow and spread our wings, we’ll be taking you along with us. There is a lot of scope to develop your role and I’m always happy to help my staff develop.

In short, I prefer to work with someone who wants to take responsibility, who wants to be passionate about where they work, who wants to try new things and who wants to make a difference to my company and our clients.

What I can promise in return is a fun working environment, an exciting and challenging opportunity to learn and my full support.

If this sounds about right to you, or you feel you know someone who fills the bill, drop me a line:

@jordanfleming

Jordan@thedesignategroup.com

In a lot of ways, these last couple of weeks have been a really weird mix.

On the one hand, I’ve been excitedly looking forwards to upcoming projects and new opportunities. I’m looking forward to new clients, anticipating new adventures and genuinely feeling as confident and optimistic as I have for a long time. I’ve worked hard to grow the company that I want to lead, and I genuinely think that it’s been a success.

On the other hand, it’s been a bit of a period of reflection. It’s not always fun to look back on mistakes I’ve made, challenges that proved too great for me and disappointments that I have been hit with each step of the way. And let’s be honest: it’s my company and most of the problems we have experienced came directly from me.

There are a lot of transitions we make in life. Some are forced on us – try as we might we can’t quite master time – whilst others we come to gradually. Some are the result of external pressures and some are ones we bring to ourselves. Over the past five years, I’ve been forced (or have I been forcing myself?) to make a number of transitions.

From musician to businessman. From starting a business to running a business.

(and that’s just to name two)

Every couple of months I will be speaking to someone who doesn’t run their own business but really really wants to. Our conversation will inevitably run towards that subject, and I’m almost always asked:

“What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned starting your own business?”

I have different answers to this question depending on how trite I’m feeling on the day. They range from the mundane (‘Cashflow, Cashflow, Cashflow’) to the pretentious (‘You never really stop learning’). As I said, depending on my general mood, and the attractiveness of the person who asks me, I’ll chose an answer on the spot.

Today, on the other hand, I’ll ask it of myself.

What have I learned over the past five years?

1. Surround yourself with people you trust, and trust them
   As much as I hate to admit it, and as much as I can be an obnoxious prick at times, I’m a people person and I always have been. I can get along with more or less anyone and I can normally start up a pretty easy rapport right away. I didn’t know it when I started, but this is probably one of the biggest reasons we’re still here.

   Every networking group I’ve ever been to bangs on about how ‘people do business with people’. It’s a bit of a cliche. It’s also very true. Over the past five years, I have surrounded my business, across the globe, with people whom I trust. These are people I can trust with my business, with my clients and with my reputation. These are the people who refer me business, the people I bring in to my clients, and the people who, when the chits are against you, are there to help pull you through.

   My network is the reason I’m here, and I value it enormously.

2. Look to the stars, but keep your feet on the ground
   I’m not someone who settles. I never have been. Looking back, almost every decision I have made over the past five (ten?) years has been based on following my passions, my gut instincts and my heart. That has lead me down some pretty dicey territory, but it’s also made my life incredibly fulfilling.

   The other thing it has done is lead me into trouble. The trouble starts when I take my feet off of the ground.

   In business, that’s normally about the mundane logistics. Managing staff, paying bills, tracking projects, setting targets. None of which is all that sexy is it? Unfortunately it’s all pretty fucking vital if you’re going to be able to pay the bills at the end of the month.

   The biggest thing I have learned over the past five years (and it’s something I’m still learning) is to dream big, to run big, to race big, but to plan small. You need to aggressively pursue the dream without letting the smaller details slip.

3. You have got to learn to let go
   Designate is my baby, but it’s also bigger than me now. It’s not just about me, and I’ve had to learn to let go. A couple of years ago I asked one of my best friend’s to join the company as a Director. That was an awesome thing and a really wonderful occasion, but it also meant that, for the first time, the company was more than me.

   Five years on and the company isn’t all about me. Yes it’s my company and yes I set the direction and the ethos behind it, but it’s much more than me. It’s the staff, the people we work with, our clients and our partners. Designate is an entity in its own right.

   And things don’t always work. Over the past five years I’ve had two major business disputes. That’s not too bad really. The first one was horrible and took a real personal toll on me. It hit me hard. It was a slap in the face. The second has been easier to deal with. But I have also learned I need to let go of it. It doesn’t matter who is right and who is wrong. We’re both right. We’re both wrong. What matters is how we behave, how we act, and how we keep our integrity in the situation. All the negative feelings and anger? Let it go.

So that’s it. Five years today and we’re celebrating on Friday night with a whisky tasting/party at the SMWS in Leith (if you are reading this and you fancy coming to the tasting or the drinks, drop me an email).

Five years and we’re still standing. Let’s see how I do after five whiskies, eh?

- j

For those who haven’t:

Initial thoughts: not effective way to change minds and convince people. Also not hugely impressed by their rationale.

On the other hands – props for starting with the kids!

- Jordan

Some are massively in-between.

Blogs are the new thing aren’t they? Everyone (make that EVERYONE!) has to have one. We all have to have a voice. We all have to put ourselves as experts in our field. We all have equally important (and equally valid) things to say.

Right?

I guess I have a bit of a sense of humour failure about a lot of this. I’m sick of hearing PR/Marketing/Social Media Gurus (what the hell is a guru, anyways? To my mind it’s just someone who is calling themselves a guru) bang on about Twitter and Facebook and Blogging this.

“You’ve got to be on Twitter. You’ve got to have a blog.”

95% of people I see who are ‘gurus’ in any of these fields are full of shit.

Marketing is Simple Stupid (or MiSS) isn’t really going to be my inspirational attempt at telling people how to do things. It isn’t going to be a long list of lectures about how this tactic or this tool is the thing you need (NEED, NEED!) to be using.

I work in this field and I’m a curious person by nature. I observe things, I question things and, from time to time, have brilliant ideas (now who’s a guru, right?). That’s what this is all about. My own little corner to martial my thoughts. Some good, some bad. Some with quite a few curse words in them.

(I f*cking promise)

- jordan

I’ve been putting together a panel of people I have worked with in the past (mostly people we bring in for our clients) who are experts in their fields. They’ve agreed to contribute to this blog on a (mostly) regular basis. The hope is that they can bring some of their specialist knowledge to all of us and stimulate some good discussion.

So far I’ve secured people for:

Sales
Design
SEO
Social Networking
PR

I’ll be looking to add to this list in the next month, so if you’re interested, drop me a line.

- jordan

Over time, I’ll keep this blog up-to-date with thoughts, hints, tricks, cool ideas and links to interesting sites.

It will evolve over time….so feel free to keep dropping by….

-j