Bon Voyage ??
Grass Roots Media
Helping rural businesses thrive online with social media, content & digital marketing—because we get rural! ????
And just like that, we're at Christmas and the end of 2022 is near. Where has this year gone?!
Personally, I have found this year very tough and I'm not sad to say goodbye to the back of 2022. I started my year with a 10-week sabbatical while I familiarised myself with the work of a winemaker. 13hr days for 4 weeks straight and hand-sorting 8 tonnes of grapes in one day really tested the mental and physical endurance of this Boss Lady. In July I was close to breaking point, wondering what more my year could throw at me and desperately in need of some help to find my direction. So, I hired a coach.?
This has really helped me identify areas in my business, and therefore my life, which were adding unnecessary strain to my mental capacity and areas which needed a little refinement through the use of some valuable tools.?
Fast-forward to December and have I got everything sorted? Heck no! Will I? Absolutely. This will take time, as we move from being a start-up to an established and growing business. That's a huge change in mind shift for me, one I have never dealt with before, meaning I am going to need all the tools in my tool shed, and all the helpers around me I can possibly muster. This does, however, make for a great 2023 ahead.?
As always, I am thankful for a team who has stood by my side and made this business what it is. Without their hard work and dedication, I know we wouldn't be able to deliver the level of service, zest and integrity we do, month in and month out. To my team - I thank you ????
Recently, I shared a word with them, which I feel epitomises the business and everything that surrounds it.
Meraki [may-rah-kee] - Greek
{adj} When you do something with soul, creativity, or love; putting a piece of yourself into what you do.
I've given the team an extended break this year, from 21 December to 16 January 2023. They deserve it and they're going to need all the energy they can muster because 2023 is going to be big!
From our #agvocates to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season. We'll catch you back here in February.?
Over and out.
~ Boss Lady
PS. Want a really cool OOO tool? Check out?Hubspot's Out Of Office Generator.
2022 Reflections
???Social Alchemist - Amber
2022 has finished just as quickly as it started.
In February my GRM journey began and it is a journey I didn't know I needed and one I am so glad I started. Filled with hustle, laughter, learning, and development along with a team of people that feel more like family than colleagues. So what did I take out of this year.....that there is more in me than I realise.
Twelve months of harnessing creativity, courageously stepping out of my comfort zone, connecting with an incredible community, and living with the greatest zest.
2022 thank you for all the lessons, 2023 I am ready.
????Social Composer - Amy
I literally hit the ground running at the start of 2022, and at times I've felt like a possum in the headlights! I love working with our incredible GRM team, and love how connected we all are despite being scattered all over NZ. Everyone is supportive and encouraging, we celebrate each other's?wins and offer support if needed too, and there's lots of fun and laughter.
I have learned SO much, and have been encouraged and pushed to step outside of my comfort zone. I've experienced personal and professional development aplenty, and have been privileged to have worked with some really awesome clients and learned about their organisations too.
??? ♀???G.I Ops - Anna
2022 has been a massive year.?It has extended me, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and given me many more tools I am grateful to now have in my toolbox. Having jumped into the driver's seat at GRM twice this year while Boss Lady was away from the business was a great opportunity. Never a dull moment... add in Covid, moving house, and packaging my youngest off to school, 2022 kept things interesting.
I am ever grateful for the team around me. It's a unique part of GRM that we continue to grow such an amazing team. It is an absolute pleasure to work alongside these amazing #agvocates and I can't wait to see what the next year brings for us all.
???Community Wrangler - Susie
Highlight:?Joining the GRM team and realising that sometimes you have to dive headfirst into the scary deep end to be able to enjoy the swim. ???? ♀?
Lowlight:?Dealing with a family health emergency overseas and realising how hard it is to be a world away from your loved ones. But thanks to an awesome support team in NZ I was able to fly back for a short visit and could take comfort in the fact that my work colleagues and NZ family had my back while I was away. ??????
Biggest regret:?Missing out on a whopper of a GRM Christmas party which 'I' hosted while being overseas. Apparently, my husband makes a good last-minute replacement in a wig. ??
Looking forward to:?Starting a full calendar year with the GRM #agvocates in 2023 and maybe one day seeing them all in the flesh at some stage ??
Bring on 2023!!
#agvocate success
On 6 December 2022, NZ Herefords ran their inaugural 'Milk the Meat' event in Kaihere, Waikato.?
This event was designed to inform dairy farmers how Hereford genetics can support the 'no bobby calf' policy and support profitability gains.?There was a good turnout of both farmers and industry, signaling enthusiasm for more events around the country.
Want to know more? Give them a follow on Facebook:?NZ Herefords or Instagram:?@nzherefords
Instagram really is trying its darndest to take down the other social platforms with their recent update a direct attack on Twitter.?
Some of their new features include:
Firstly, Notes. This is a 60-character text and emoji feature for you to share your thoughts in the moment. It stays around for 24hrs, just likes stories, and direct responses to your note arrive as DM's in your inbox. This is a direct dig at Twitter, designed to start conversations and give people a casual, spontaneous way to express themselves.?Have you used Notes yet??
Secondly, Group Profiles are an extension of group messages we all often use. Soon, you'll be able to create this new 'Group Profile' to share posts and stories to a dedicated, shared profile with friends. This means when you publish to this profile only the group members will see the content, not all your followers. This really is Instagram's answer to Facebook Groups and an extension of sorts to the 'Close Friends' setting for Stories.?How could you use this Group Profiles feature?
Thirdly, Candid Stories. 'Oh hey BeReal, remember us? The OG of in-the-moment stories. We're coming for you.' Candid Stories are a way for people to capture what they're doing right now in.the.moment, which is only visible to those who also share their own. You do this by either capturing a candid from your stories camera, the multi-author story at the top of the feed, or from the daily notification reminder (yup this has BeReal all over it!) It's also being tested over on Facebook stories.
There's a lot more Instagram is trialing to keep itself relevant and interesting. You can?find out more here.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about how?Grass Roots Media?can give your social media platforms a new lease on life, then?give us a squawk!?