The Politics of Work

Why is the world of work sullied so much by politics? It's not just a case of doing a great job.  It's being seen to be doing a great job by the right people. If you don't shout and catch the attention of the right people your days may be numbered.

Being out of the work scene for half of this year I had forgotten about the games that you need to play in order to succeed.  Personally I think it's all a load of bull and why can't people appreciate what others do?  Is it that the world  of work has been sullied by the recession so everyone is fighting for their jobs, position and status. Actually, where I work is undergoing a major restructure so senior level people are jostling for position and one of the easiest ways to position yourself seems to be to stick the boot into marketing.  What do you do all day?  How come you can't do more? What are you doing for me?  There seems to be a never-ending list of what can be achieved by a very small, transient (most on 6 mth contracts if that) and in the main junior team.

Anyway, it's been a crazy few weeks where the real bones of the firm are starting to reveal themselves to me.  Now that my rose tinted glasses are starting to fade a tad, it's becoming apparent that actually where I work is not really any different to all of the other large firms that I have worked for.  People at the top who don't necessarily know what they are doing but are born sales people who use their silver tongued prowess to always come out on top.  To be honest if that is what the senior echelons of management are, I am not entirely convinced that it is for me.  I like delivering projects and getting on with delivering projects.

All I can do is take the next few months as they come and keep an open mind for whatever roles may appear on the horizon.

The Good and the Bad of Marketing

Being back in the world of work has inspired my mind again which is great.  I have to admit that with the in work/out of work shenanigans of the past few years my love for what I do was starting to wane.

In the past few days, I have seen some good marketing and some very very bad marketing. 

The Good

Lots of things have caught my eye of late including Google's Live Advent Calendar Campaign where a fully integrated campaign that culminates in you getting clues online and then heading to find a real door in town to win stuff. Geeennniiuuusss idea.  Properly creative and fun too which sits well with their brand positioning.

The Bad 

On the bus to boxing class the other day and passed through Brixton High Street.  So many payday loan companies have sprouted up these day with crazy interest rates that often equate to 1700%, a bad financial decision if ever there was one.  Looking at one of the shops which had a marketing ploy that was quite frankly sickening.  There was someone dressed up as Father Christmas giving out balloons to kids and inviting them into the grotto inside the money lending shop.  Parents therefore have no choice but to go in there as they're sneakily targeting kids.  Viewing that on the bus just turned my stomach as that is such a low way to ultimately try to encourage poor people to get into even more debt.  No doubt the instore Santa will be filling the kids heads with talk of what they want for Christmas and thus placing ridiculous pressure on parents who then feel obliged to find the money for the desired gifts.  And guess what, they just happen to be in a place where they can get that money.  The Government must clampdown on these operations soon. Currently,  they are booming as we are the 'want it now generation'.