Let's keep it real.

There is something about 2020 that has made me want to keep it real. Not the sparkling and shiny marketing reel but the real reel.

And as a marketer, the impulse to add spin is innate. Focusing on 'benefits' often leads to us avoiding the full, complete and real human experience.  In 2020 that full human experience collided for me. Personal and work. And for a time no work (but that is a whole other post)

So for this post, I wanted to share the real reel—the highlights of 2020 that made this year a turning point for me.

?? Working with a phenomenal brand as they pivoted towards their customer and a business they love even more as a result. It's been a privilege to work with the team at Louenhide. Their values and work ethic enabled them to pivot towards the importance of the brand and customer focus.

?? Working with a new brand that feels, so values aligned, it's like they were made for me. Bringing Mont Marte International into the on-demand CDO clients within Partners in Digital has been a highlight. Working with a brand who has a purpose which is to enable & empower creativity for everyone is an inspiring motivation to keep digging deep.

?? Having the opportunity to work as a strategic advisor to a brand and a team who are passionate about taking health to a sector I too am passionate about. Thanks to the Steggall Nutrition for welcoming me into the team. 

?? Working with the Brisbane Living Heritage Network as they work to build their story as the important ingredient to the identity of Brisbane as a city.

?? Launching the Unlock and Amplify program for leaders to help them commercialise and operationalise their complete value. A program that led to many friendships and collaborations.

?? Launching my personal brand as Your Digital Coach as I own the expertise I bring to the digital conversation after 2 decades and more than 200 digital projects.

?? Learning to pivot and not just be in service to someone else's pivot as I launched the digital Bootcamp for female-run micro-business owners. Being passionate about the need for more women in the digital conversation, this is so aligned to purpose; it's crazy to think it took me so long to do this. But the COVID and anxiety nudge did wonders.

?? And starting in a new board role with the team at Easy Weddings as we start the new year has me looking forward to the possibilities of 2021. 

?? Sharing my personal story for the first time at Space. A story I called my anxiety inspired pivot. Leaning into the fear and discomfort as I get more active sharing the stories that matter.

?? Owning my experience as an advisor who enables businesses to transform their approach to marketing as they deliver on the promise of customer centricity using digital as the framework for a much bigger conversion and one that is focused on the humans who are in the existing system. And knowing that this shift transforms the way we do business.

?? Bringing my whole human to the work I do. Including 'gratitude shares' in corporate workshops and bringing 'love' into the conversation around business and what we do as marketers.

?? Re-connecting with my boys as we spent time with each other and managed to keep loving each other despite the proximity.

?? Supporting my family as we move in new directions and face new challenges.

?? Committing to daily 'slow starts' as I take a more compassionate approach to my working day. And that included espresso, pilates and a dog walk.

What is your 2020 highlight real?

Hashtag #2020highlightreal as I would love to hear your story.