Why do you do what you do and how do you do it?

Why do you do what you do?

My name is Andrew Canning... some people know me as Andy, some friends call me Canning. I work for Simplify, as a Senior Resourcing Partner... which involves encouraging people to come and join our business, guiding them through their first interactions with us, and inspiring them, whilst hopefully setting a great first impression...

On LinkedIn, you might see me post about vacancies that we are hiring for, about our company generally, about important issues for the business, and for the wider world out there... I sometimes make videos too. How did I end up here?

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As people, we are built and conditioned by our lived experiences. Work plays a big part in this… and the most powerful work experiences, on reflection don’t feel like work.?

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In 2001, whilst at University, I started working part time at my favourite brand, Ted Baker. 19 year old me wasn’t confident, I wasn’t brave, I probably, like many 19 year olds, didn’t know ‘me’.

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At the time, the company had existed for almost 15 years and had 30+ stores and concessions in the UK. For me, the best part, for such an already established business, I didn’t feel like just a number! Everyone; the founders, directors, senior management were all on first name terms even with me who worked 20 hours a week on a concession in a department store. My opinions mattered, my voice was heard, my face was visible and for someone who in the grand scheme of things would have been just a peripheral cog in a large machine in any other business, Ted Baker had a way of making you feel like so much more! I helped to open new stores and concessions, I welcomed and inducTED new colleagues…

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I finished uni, left, got what many graduates would call a ‘proper job’, hated it, and re-applied to work for Ted Baker. I stayed for four more years. In the grand scheme of things, 7 years across 2 spells isn't that long in most cases for somewhere to have a profound influence on your life and career; but this did! I probably didn’t fully appreciate it for what it was at the time. Complacency on my part? Immaturity? Afterwards, I worked for two other retailers; I did ok, I achieved relatively senior level, important jobs, but it wasn’t the same. Looking back objectively, I probably wasn’t really cut out for retail in the long term, but I learned a lot about who I am today because of Ted.

?TAKEAWAYS:

Show interest in customers, colleagues, all people who you interact with. Observe, always observe and you’ll learn.?

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Talk! We’re all part of a journey. Whilst you are learning from and about others, they’re learning from and about you!

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Help people - be a friend, an inspiration, be useful, even if you don’t realise it.

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Be thankful, for what you’ve learned, the value of what you’ve experienced each day.

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Recent news has revealed that this once great brand is struggling. I don’t know the finer details, but I know that the inspirational team that founded and built this fantastic brand and company are no longer in place, and I’d assume this is a significant factor in the current state of play.

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The method of this story? Why am I sharing this??

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My job today has many facets, but to many, your first experience of working with me might be your first experience of Simplify

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I want you to be able to believe that you can join a company where you’ll be inspired, in the same way I was. I want you to feel like you matter, because you do! I want you to join us, and make our customers believe that they matter, because they do! I want you to know us, and I want us to know you. We can all learn from each other!?

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Work is such a big part of your life. Play a part in shaping your work, and let it shape you.?

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Even now, I always ask myself the question; would Ted do it that way?

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You know where to find me… ????

A number of people who helped me in this journey are on LinkedIn, and even if we may not have spoken in many years; Hi! … and thank you!