“The Greatest Career Opportunity, Ever” by Steven Woodgate

“When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a seconds seems like an hour. That’s relativity.” And it’s often careers feel like this: the tough parts seem long and the good times appear to fly past.

This was something that I really struggled to understand in the world of work. The role ‘relativity’ plays is different for everyone; however, my biggest takeout of the Marketing Academy is that, now, I really understand it – thanks to a whole bunch of brilliant people.

The Marketing Academy has brought me the riches of guidance, experience and, most of all, reliable companions to share the journey of my career with. This is simply not one a one-year grab-all, but a long-term relationship, which you will refer to every small piece of advice as various points in your lifetime – you may even call it mindfulness.

Leadership is not about work and it is not a destination, it’s about the individual you are and what you can do to make an impact and difference to those around you – at work and at home.

By coming from a relatively working class family and achieving good grades at a lowly ranked university, I worked hard to achieve integrity and to show intention in the eyes of my bosses and peers. I was proactive; I was full of energy.  Consistently coming up with ideas and trying to be the heartbeat of the team, whether that was to head to the pub or agreeing to do extra work. However, there was something missing.

The Marketing Academy – especially a few of the mentors –  have taught and explained to me how to hone that energy to make a bigger splash and to bring people on the journey with me. To have a sense of purpose. To be the heartbeat that people follow and respect. My Marketing Academy coach and I speak much about gravitas and what it means. I’m starting to get it.

Leadership and understanding the actions you make on the people around you are fundamental to growing as a person.

The Marketing Academy may not be for everyone, but it gave me the opportunities that were not open to me before. It provided theory and practice in how to develop your career credentials, but more importantly it moved me from a person who was fighting to get to the top to someone who could put his boxing gloves down, and be more focused, more thorough and ultimately, more respected and make strides in the direction I wanted.

But above all, it taught me to celebrate the hour long of failure to enjoy the split second of success and to enjoy the journey just as much. And that’s “relativity”.

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