In my opinion..

Before I sit down to write our blogs, I peruse the internet for other business blogs that offer some inspiration, insightfulness or interest to me, but that’s not always what I find.
I don’t feel in any way, like an ‘expert blogger’. I found myself in this role a little accidentally when our previous message merchant was away for 2 weeks and I nodded in compliance to the question, ‘Do you mind doing a few of her jobs for a bit?’ Not that I mind at all though. It’s a great way to channel my creativity, seeing as I’m rubbish at graphic design! However, I do feel that I’ve learnt a lot from writing these blogs though, and therefore my opinions are in a small part educated.
I personally do enjoy writing blogs, it means that I hear about aspects of the business that I wouldn’t usually be involved in, and it’s quite humbling to think that people would take time out of their day to read something that I’ve written, for pleasure, not because they’re grading it! As much as the blogs are a great tool for businesses, I’ve found it so important to keep the human element in it too. Blogs are not computer generated, and I feel that the most successful ones are the ones that sound personal. Pieces of writing that aren’t just a list of great things that the company has done or are going to do, but an insight into the atmosphere and feel of the business through the eyes and the character of someone actually living it. I think it’s more interesting that way, and I hope that’s the feeling you get when reading my blogs.

Have You Paid Your Pound?

Every year we take on the challenge of raising money for the National Blind Children’s Society with the help of a cuddly toy! As often as possible, we will try and raise money for charity. Rachel’s Kilimanjaro climb will now be sponsored for the local charity Leicester Link, and the cuddly toy debacle is something that we try to get better at each year but inevitably end up funding all by ourselves. This year was no different! It’s incredible how something so small can become such a ‘Mission Impossible’. All of us in the office downstairs made a promise to accost every single person who walked through the door. We would force them to pay their pound and have a guess at which one of the 50 cities on the sheet was the one that the toy was from (Taiwan was not an option!).
Once each city on the sheet had a name next to it we would send off the form on time, feeling triumphant at a job well done! Once again, that’s not what happened. After we had the deadline date extended 3 times and filled in the remaining 30 cities with our own money and names, we eventually posted a cheque for £55 to The National Blind Children’s Society, and the toy still has pride of place in the office. Unsurprisingly it was a member of The Phoenix Partners who won! Maybe we’ll do better next year.

Utterly Barkless!

It’s been a quiet week at The Phoenix Partners these last few days, and by quiet I mean only the volume level! Our sales people were out selling at the C & IT corporate Forum at Coworth Park, and our MD Rachel Hargrave was out on business in South Africa (it’s alright for some!). The usual abundance of furry four legged friends in the office was severely lacking. There was no-body trying and sit in someone’s lap while they ate lunch, or to protect us from the ‘evil’ delivery men who knocked on the door, or to shout at the window cleaner! We do miss them when they’re not here!
So despite the lower noise levels, our yearly Cannon Tuxedo event is just around the corner and the activity levels are HIGH! There are invitations being mailed, certificates are being framed and signs are being laminated. Its great working with a buzz around the office, it’s so energising to see people being busy!