After a challenging 2019 - onwards and upwards in 2020!

blog 2019
Written By Andrew Ford

If you are on my email list you might have seen an email I wrote on how I had some unexpected ups and downs in 2019. 

I wrote it in a cafe on a Thursday when I chilling out waiting for the kids to finish school. It was actually supposed to be an email about some events I had coming up, but for some reason, this other blog poured out of me. Instead of promoting an event I wanted to be more honest and just talk about what was really going on. 

There was such a huge reaction to the blog, so I thought I would repost for those not on my list and encourage all of you out there to just be real in your messaging. If you have something to sell, sell it. If you want to share, share. I really think it's better that way. People will buy from you if you offer value, not because you 'convince' them in your crafty copy.

Anyhow, here is the post and I wish everyone a wonderful 2020!

Emailed Thursday 21st - 

"I haven't reached out for a while because, to be honest, it's been a tough year.

I started the year full of confidence as it was the year of the Pig and that's my Chinese astrology birth year! Time to shine, I thought, well as much as you can being a pig haha (we are optimistic and hardworking in case you didn't know...) 

 Work was looking great. I was starting an exciting new passion project BYOB Social Club and Social Star were going strong. Things were going to be awesome, so I thought...however, that wasn't to be. Sometimes life doesn't work out like that. 

You probably felt the same way at the start of 2019, confident & hopeful right.

 My challenges didn't come from work, they were all personal. Not to get too personal, but some of you would know of the sudden loss of my mum, and two good friends at the start of the year. To be honest it sent me into a bit of a tailspin. Grief is a tricky thing, you never know when it will rise up fill your eyes with tears, heart aching and knock the wind out of your sails for a day. 

But we get on with it. Aussies are stoic and good at 'she'll be right'. So I soldiered on. That's what we do.

I believe in looking for the lessons in everything and the challenge made me appreciate the little things in life more than I had before. Especially health, my two boys and close friends. I re-engaged with my business 'Why' to a much greater depth and really dug deep and sorted out whom I want to work with and how I can add the most value to the world. Life really is too short to not do what is your best value to the world.

I know I'm not alone in this. Through BYOB I have spoken to many of you that have faced similar challenges this year. We all have our personal sh*^t to deal with.

So what's next I hear you ask?

Well, I have many plans for 'the e-ttractionist in 2020', big ideas! If you want to keep on the journey with me, I will just tell you how it is. No tricky marketing, just life and business. 

With that in mind, here are a few things I'm running that may help you set yourself up for success in the new year:

Friday December 6th - BYOB Christmas Party! The last chance to connect and have a bit of fun with our gang. I really believe natural networking is where it's at for our type of business owners. It create more authentic opportunities. Grab a guest ticket here.

 Wednesday December 11th - Salami Smackdown! Our favourite wine confidence team are putting on a little event to match salami and Italian wines. I will be there so come along and have a bit of fun and learn more about wine. Tickets here. 

 Finally, I am working through Christmas before taking the kids away from January 5th to 16th. If you would value from a half-day 2020 Personal Brand Planning Workshop I have a few dates available. You can read more here or just send me an email.

My big focus right now is being more authentic and helpful to my tribe. Feel free to tell me when I'm not! 

I hope you will join me at one of our events or if these are not a fit for you, just connect for a coffee or chat. I'd like to hear from you :)

 All the best,

 Andrew Ford

P.S. be kind to your dreams, they are fragile and need nurturing. "

Andrew Ford
Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.
http://www.andrewford.com.au/
Previous

It's been a while...
Next

Do you need to protect your Intellectual Property for a start up?