All posts tagged Communication

Striving To Achieve: The Layer Cake

“You’re born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you’re up in the rarefied atmosphere and you’ve forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son.”

I have thought about the quote above for years and have repeated it many times when speaking in discussions about power, respect and success.

This got me thinking about what it is that we actually strive for…

Here is my analogy of Striving To Achieve in reference to The Layer Cake.

Why Am I Doing This?

“The art of good business is being a good middleman.”
On my About Page it says“I have come to realize that my desire to achieve is linked hand in hand with wanting to help others achieve.” That may sound pathetic and cheesy, but my last blog post had over 30 Twitter retweets, meaning it helped some of you enough or was a good enough of a read for you to share with your friends.

Anthony Robbins states in this video that there are six human needs to help us to find self-fulfilment on our journey:

  • We need Certainty
  • We need Uncertainty
  • We need Significance
  • We need to feel Connection & Love
  • We need to Grow
  • We need to Contribute Beyond Ourselves

Am I Getting Anywhere?

“I mean, it’s like selling anything: washing machines, handmade shoes, blow jobs. As long as you don’t take the piss, people will always come back for more.”

The feedback i have begun to receive from writing, has given me the motivation to continue to share the knowledge i have collated in the industry with the hope that it will help you on your journey. This is in fact my chance to ‘Contribute Beyond Myself’… and it is this that gives me the reason to continue trying to help others.

Bear in mind, i am no way an expert or a specialist (although thanks to those who have said i am lately).
I created this with an understanding that i wanted to lay the basic foundations so that:

  • I understand myself the journey i am taking.
  • I can share my knowledge with those that may find it useful… Sharing is caring and all that.
  • I am creating a personal archive to look back on.
  • I am striving for personal success.

Am I Heading In The Right Direction?

“Everyone wants to walk through a door marked “private.” Therefore, have a good reason to be affluent.”

Take a moment to think for a second about your plan. Have you laid your foundations or are you just going all guns blazing with no armour? Seriously… think about it.

Am I Willing To Do Anything To Reach My Goal?

” If you have to kill a person, never ever tell a living soul.”

The ladder to achievement is always based on taking a hefty amount of shit.
Remember Andy Dufresne swam through a tunnel of shit to come out clean on the other side. Confused who he is? Shame on you… Click here!

Am I Becoming Someone I Don’t Wanna Be?

“You know why people like you can’t leave this business? Because you make too much money for people like me.”

Some of you don’t mind taking shit all day (Pause), not like it’s a bad thing, as contentment is your own level of self-fulfilment. Others will take no shit and will spend their lives either hustling, bumming around or pretending to themselves that they are a success.
Well, whose gonna tell you differently eh?

Playing Your Part In The System

“It is vital that we work to a few golden rules. Always work in a small team. Keep a very low profile. Only deal with people who come recommended.”

So where do we find common ground for those that are on their way up trying to reach the next level?

I’ll give you my example. I work full time; i understand that for me to touch the sky, i have to be able to afford to fly. Money doesn’t grow on trees remember…

I answer to a series of people who can rain a storm of shit on me if they want, and regardless of how many people i know in the industry, how many followers i have on Twitter or how many projects i work on; i do need to be employed.

I know that success is a slow climb and by playing my part in the chain of command i am able to slowly piece together my journey to the top of the ladder.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

“But as some roman general once said: If you seek peace, plan for war.”

If you have an idea of what it is you want to become, make sure you have a plan of how you are going to reach it.

Make today become the first day of the rest of your life…

Be Proud of Yourself

“I’ve checked you out, son. You’re a smart lad. But you keep very, very bad company.”

There is no shame in working to raise collateral, it is down to you how you manage your finances and your time so that you can progress.
It is the weak that get locked in to an establishment so long that their dreams become non-existant and they become part of the office furniture.

Have a Plan… and Stick To It

Everyone knows those graduates that spend years at University pushing for that top end degree, then when they graduate they can’t find work. They finally manage to get a job in an industry irrelevant to their field and BAM… five years passes and what’s happened?

They have become a Customer Services Supervisor!

WAHEY………. SCORE! Enjoy paying that student loan back!

If you stick to a basic plan and are passionate about your dream, you will never get complacent with a dead end job as you will always know what you are capable of.

Note down where you see yourself in 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months.
Then break that down even further…

  • How are you going to get to your 3 month goal?
  • Who do you need to contact?
  • What do you need to set things up?
  • Do you need to raise any finances?

Well I’m honored. But for me this is all over. I’m getting out. What was true then is true now. Have a plan. Stick to it. So I’m sure you must have lots to discuss… but I have no business being here. I’ve got someone to meet. Adios, amigos.

The Endless Job Search – Help Luca!

This is a very nice blog right? I think so, but i’d be lying if i said it made any money.

While i love working on some exciting projects, freelancing and helping out others with advice and support so that they can connect the dots to achieve their dreams; i am searching for an opportunity that can provide a steady income and put me on that path for a prosperous career.

To date i have signed up to 15+ recruitment sites/agencies, sent out over 50 applications, with specifically designed covering letters and CV’s… but, i have had no success as yet.

So here is the question… Do you know anyone that can help me find a job?

What Kind of Job am I Looking for?

Over the last few years i have been involved in the Music/Entertainment Industry utilizing Digital Marketing and Social Media to create leads, expand on networks and generate return on investment for both my own ventures and my clients.

I am looking to expand on this by joining an Entertainment/Music/Digital Company or Agency that is specializes in or is interested in using Digital strategy to accomplish targets and goals.

What Experience do i have?

With experience of working with large brands, such as Orange, Sony Ericsson, Channel 4, Myspace, O2, Luminar and Comic Relief. I have managed Entertainment Events to a consumer market of over 100,000 people, generating company profits in excess of £250,000 and distributed online content and material to millions of people worldwide using strategic Social Media, SEO and Email Marketing techniques.

You can click on my Testimonials Page to see what some of these clients have said.

What are my Strengths?

My strengths are in understanding strategy and using whatever tools i have at my disposal to get the job done. I am a deep thinker and i plan everything i do within business so that i am always prepared for any turn of events.
The last few years i have developed strategies and tactics in and around Social Media; while i do not claim to be a ‘guru or expert’, i have the knowledge and experience to make and save any company money by expanding on the tools of the Internet.

What am i Passionate about?

I am passionate about ‘connecting people’. I know it sounds cliche, but i believe that one of the most important things in life, is to use what skills you have to help others. That is why i created this blog and it is why i assist so many creative people with direction and advise so that they can also connect the dots to find their success.

The motivation for what i do comes from a life within Music having spent the last ten years in the Music Industry at both education and professional level. Music is a Universal Language and one way or another it connects everybody… Just the same way Social Media does, that is why they go hand in hand.

What am i Willing to do?

I am a very enthusiastic person and can bring energy and passion to any job. I believe that a happy team creates a happy work environment and thus creates success in the workplace and ultimately a happy client.
I am willing to start at a low level position to grow through the ranks, learning the specifics of what the company/organization is built on.

I believe that due to my flexibility, strong work ethic and commitment, I can be a smart investment within the appropriate company or project. All you need to do is pick up the phone and ring me, pass my contacts onto someone you think may be interested or drop me an email/comment and i can assure you, you wont regret it.

To get hold of me:

Email: info@iamluca.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0) 7849 975 561
Twitter: @iAmLuca

For more information, i have a CV available upon request that will elaborate in depth on each of the points raised above.

I can also be available for an interview at any time. Thanks for reading and i hope to hear from someone soon!

Luca

Communication And The Importance of Meetings

What Do We Mean By ‘Communication’?

Upon a simple Google search of the term ‘Communication’ i found a barrage of articles about this topic. Communication is a fundamental part of any business. We spend our whole lives wrapped around modern technology making it easier to communicate, yet we seem to still find it difficult to keep track of our conversations, progress, tasks and deadlines.

Why Is This?

Most conversations sort of drift along; in business, this is wasteful; as a manager, i seek effective communication rather than general chit chat. To ensure an efficient and effective conversation, there are three considerations:

  • you must make your message understood
  • you must receive/understand the intended message sent to you
  • you should exert some control over the flow of the communication

I find that i spend most of my days in and out of meetings, with clients or with team members, i am hopping from meeting to meeting without any clarity or substance.

In any organization, “meetings” are a vital part of the organization of work and the flow of information. They act as a mechanism for gathering together resources from many sources and pooling then towards a common objective. They are disliked and mocked because they are usually futile, boring, time-wasting, dull, and inconvenient with nothing for most people to do except doodle while some opinionated has-been extols the virtues of his/her last great (misunderstood) idea.

Break The Mould

Your challenge is to break this mould and to make your meetings effective. As with every other managed activity, meetings should be planned beforehand, monitored during for effectiveness, and reviewed afterward for improving their management.

“A meeting is the ultimate form of managed conversation; as a manager, you can organize the information and structure of the meeting to support the effective communication of the participants.”

I love the quote above. “A meeting is the ultimate form of managed conversation.”
Such a powerful statement. So why do i chose to place myself in meeting after meeting, than just sit at home handling emails and organizing my schedule and tasks via my personal computer?

Other than getting me out the house and forcing me to jump into my Superman phonebooth to become the business warrior i am; nothing achieves a higher and more definitive rate of productivity than a face to face meeting with your team.

  • It allows you and your team to express opinions, problems and queries and clear them up without having to wait for your mail to refresh.
  • You can explain in depth your theories, practices, strategies and plans.
  • Most importantly it allows you to take time and understand each other, creating valuable group cohesion and work bonded relationships.

Take Action

While you may spend a lot of time organising meetings and attending meetings, it is ultimately down to you what you achieve from these meetings.