8 Things that changed my life in 2022

Its NYE and that can mean only one thing.

Another 12 months has passed and as always, I take pen to paper to name the things have ‘changed my life’ this year. So here follows my 12th year in a run. Strap in and get ready.?

Just as a quick explanation for those of you who’ve not frequented these parts before - this is part gratitude journal, part reflection on the year gone by and part tongue in cheek product admiration. I should still say that every one of these products will still have changed my life, its just that they might not share the grandeur or cachet that the less material elements in this list share (such as my kids growing up!)

As always though I hope, that if these things have had a positive effect on my life, perhaps they could in yours.?

Here are the previous two years in order in case you’re interested in looking back:?

(’20 , ‘21 )

Onwards, to 2022.

And in no particular order:

1). I started playing Golf

If you follow me on the gram , you’ll already know that I’ve fallen in love with the game this year. I’m pretty competitive so the fact that every time I get on the course, I’m essentially in a competition with myself, it kinda works for me. I started about a year ago and had a number of lessons with the awesome Ryan at Exeter Golf and Country Club which I’ve been incredibly lucky to become a member of. In my first full year I got my handicap from 28+ down to 19.6. Next year’s goal is 16. In all seriousness, the game has also been great for business and my mental health. Businesswise I’ve spent time with people I’d never have met otherwise and when I’m feeling low mentally, getting out onto the beautiful course at Exeter (often alone) helps me unwind and think clearly. If you play and fancy a round, hit me up, I love playing with new people.?

2). A friend introduced me to a Massage Gun

OMG this thing is literally amazing! I’m no spring chicken, so a buzz on the massage gun around the chest, arms and legs after a four walk (*cough* game of golf) is an incredible way to recover. These things won’t take the jobs of massuses away, so don’t worry if you’re one of them reading this. They will however allow you some DIY massage in a way that leaves your aching muscles feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. I bought this one and couldn’t recommend it highly enough.?

3). I found the world of CBD Oil

If you want a whole post about why this stuff is amazing then you can read that here . Here is an abridged version - It chills you out (great for anyone with Anxiety), it gives you deeper sleep which in turn aids recovery and stress. Its not Cannabis, Its not dodgy in anyway. The Guys at FourFive , headed up by Ex-England Rugby player George Kruis are fricking awesome. I buy all my stuff there now and so should you. They even gave me my own code to give you guys 15% off - ‘BANKS15’. You’re welcome.

4). Oscar developed my love of watching sport

Obviously kids have moments that melt your heart every year but this one in particular has been very special for Oscar and I. You may know/have worked out that I’m sport crazy. If someone plays it, I’ll probably watch it. Until this year Oscar hadn’t really shown a huge interest in watching sport with me but all that changed in 2022. It started back in March with him really getting into the Masters Golf (four days I barely move from the sofa). He cheered on the eventual winner Scottie Scheffler (now his favourite player) despite Rory being close behind (ok let him off that - he’s only 7). We then watched Ronnie O’Sullivan win an epic 7th World Title against Judd Trump. A firm favourite in the Bank’s household already, Ronnie is now Oscar’s favourite player in that sport too. Later in the year he and I drove upto the Ageas Bowl to watch the England Cricket team play a T20 against South Africa. It was a lovely father-son bonding day although we did lose the game. His favourite English cricket player is now Jonny Bairstow who hit the highest number of runs that day (spot a pattern?). We drove back that evening listening to the women’s England football team winning the Euros. We screamed and shouted in elation at each other through the game. By the time we reached the men’s World Cup in November (which captures the attention of even non-sports fans) he was obsessed. We watched loads of games together and cried (him, not me) when England went out. It’s now December and that means one thing in the Banks household - The Darts. He’s loving the atmosphere at the Ally Pally each day and had decided that Peter Wright is his top pick despite the me supporting Gary Anderson. (Inserted note - By the time I pushed publish, they are both out!!!) Thank you Oscar for all the special sporting memories this year - I can’t wait to share the coming years with you, enjoying everything the sporting world has to offer (even if it does mean Mummy wants to move out sometimes!)

5). Optix became a Sky Adsmart partner

At Optix we’ve stayed clear of more traditional forms of advertising as they’ve simply not offered the attribution and targeting abilities the tools we have at our hands do. Thats all changing. Last year Sky AdSmart knocked on our door and asked us to become a partner. We shot our first video advert and it aired around the Christmas period in 2021 on both Sky and Virgin. Costing a lot less than you’d think, the ad was seen by around 600k people in households around our client's shops (based on postcodes and household affluence). Imagine having your advert playing during premier league game breaks or game of thrones re-runs! It’s all possible now without blowing your entire year’s marketing budget. If you want to find out more, drop me a line and I’ll get the team to set up a call with you.

6). Optix launched a podcast…again…this time properly

Oh I do love a good ‘pod'.

From the legend Tim Ferris, to more laid back or humorous ones like the RigBiz Podcast, they are a great way to while away the time when you’re out on a dog walk or driving to work in the morning. So when the team at Optix decided to start a regular weekly podcast I was fully supportive. Three of the team kicked it off and when I first listened, I was really impressed. It was amazing. The pod, named ‘more than digital marketing’ is one where the guys talk through issues of the week from the digital landscape. Recently there has been a lot of metaverse and twitter/musk chat as you’d expect. There is also a lot about new ad platforms, ways of improving your own digital marketing and so much more. It really is a great listen and as the presenters often change, it keeps it feeling fresh. I’m really proud of the guys for what they’ve achieved here. When I asked if I could make an appearance, I was told I could be the special guest on the 100th episode! Thanks guys!!! Despite that, make sure you give it a listen. ?

7). Your Digital Future was born.

The creation of another business . I just can’t help myself! To be fair this one has been in the making for years though, and now, quite a way through its first six months, its already proving to be one of the best ideas we’ve ever had. If you want to know more, check out the website and follow the LinkedIn page but in short, its a digital & marketing talent agency. So that means we find candidates for awesome jobs (yes we literally have a criteria for employers we want to work with). We put our candidates through tests we’ve devised to allow us to accurately assess their abilities and we give them, for free, access to hundreds of videos, training across the different digital marketing disciplines.

We also have a live training academy that is offered to our clients after they take on our candidates. This can be used to help fill the gaps in the candidate’s skill sets. It also shows an investment in them, so they are more likely to retain their new talent. We run the business in partnership with another business headed up by the awesome Rebecca Ridler and I’m VERY excited to see where this venture goes in the next few years.?If you need quality marketing candidates or you are one and you’re passively looking around for new opportunities, make sure you drop Bex a line this year.

8). A University leaver blew me away

Who said that Gen Z are snowflakes? Enter James Coto - James worked for me earlier this year certainly didn’t let that stereotype brush off on him. After watching a presentation I did at an Exeter Uni Marketing Society talk a few years ago, James took down my details and after a year off travelling and doing other bits, he got in touch and offered himself as an intern, basically saying he’d try anything to learn and get into the industry. He had no experience of marketing other than a personal interest. After a couple of months of working with me personally, I told my business partners, Rob and James that we needed to employ him…so we did. Everything James did in the year he was with us was exceptional. Everyone loved him and he turned his hand to everything, never complaining. After getting the itch for London life, James was able to land a job with one of the largest agencies in the UK. The experience he got with us was no doubt a large factor in this and without his get up and go, can-do attitude I don’t believe he’d be where he is now. James if you’re reading this, you know I’ll have you back in a heart beat. The West Country has a lot to offer pal ;)

So there you have it, another year, another list.

I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year Break and I look forward to seeing you in 2023.