CXO Magazine Interviews Mellissah Smith, CEO, Marketing Eye

http://www.cxo.com.au/people/531725/qa-mellissah-smith-ceo-marketing-eye/

The Odds On Winning A Car At A Charity Function

Last Friday I was kindly invited by one of my best friends to attend the Long Rugby Breast Cancer Charity Lunch held at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney.

There are many things dear to my heart and breast cancer and the effects of it are one of them.

There have been many people over the years who have touched my life that have been diagnosed with Cancer and I have watched them and their families be effected by this heart wrenching disease.

To donate to a charity such as this is an honour and when I am invited to a charity lunch or function that requires me to donate, I am only too happy to oblige.

Lunches such as this are about giving to a good cause and also having a great time. I was at a table hosted by Sharon-Lee, the eyebrow guru, who is not only stunning outside but inside too. Her family has been affected by breast cancer and she kindly donated goods to the cause and encouraged her friends to attend. May I also add, her eyebrows were perfectly arched and plucked - much to the envy of the tables of women that surround our table. Who would have thought 10 years ago that an empire would be built on eyebrows?

Another person at my table, Michelle, was a successful investment banker and my close friend Sam, is a radio announcer and television presenter who has built a successful career. There are so many women out there that are successful, charitable and have so much to offer the world. Whilst I am not an advocate for Women's Awards as I do believe in equal billing, I do take time out to admire my female counterparts and applaud their successes.

There are so many amazingly talented women out there that to be able to spend an afternoon in their company is both invigorating and inspiring.

There were silent auctions and raffle tickets - all of which I participated in with vigour. Sam and I decided that we wanted to win the car to spend the proceeds on a girls holiday at Xmas, so we quickly departed with $500 to buy 6 tickets in the draw.

Sam was so sure that we would win that she was spending the money on everything from helicopter flights through to shopping sprees.

As they asked people to stay standing if their numbers were from 100 to 500, our excitement built. Then they asked to remain standing anyone between 100 and 200 - and all of a sudden I realised we were in for a chance! A sweat bead on my forehead started to trickle down the side of my perfectly made up face and I began to get nervous, then they called out a number ... and it wasn't mine! How many times have we all been in this predicament whereby we believe we are going to win something and the excitement mounts, only to be disappointed by the wrong number or name coming out? Some lucky young Irish man had won the car and they aren't even good a rugby! How does that happen?

Trying not to be too disappointed, I sat down and both Sam and I talked about what we could have done with the money for the next hour or so.

It was kind of like when I put in the lotto for the first time 2 weeks ago for the $96 million dollar draw. I had spent that money in my mind pretty fast that time too.

$90 million for charity, $6 million for my expenses for the rest of my life.

What else would one do with that sort of money?

The odds of winning anything is quite slim - particularly in my case. As always, it seems the same people win things over and over again. They are called 'just plain lucky!'

I on the other hand I am not so lucky. I have to work for everything I achieve and do - which really isn't so bad. I feel privileged that to date I have had good health, a loving family and the most interesting and diverse group of good friends one could ever hope for.

The odds of winning a car at a charity are 1000 to 1, but the odds of having a good life, are all about what you make of it.

I have a business that I am proud of, a career that has spanned 18 years and I care about those around me.

What more can I ask for?

www.marketingeye.com.au

Kelly Slater - The Brand

I have to declare, I am a wannabe surfer. I say wannabe because I don't go out and give it a go nearly as much as I should for someone who really wants to be able to surf some big waves.

I am clearly the amateur that is thrilled every time I catch a wave and ride it. Actually, thrilled is an understatement. I am jumping out of my pants every single time I catch a wave and stay on the board longer than 3 seconds.

The reason I am so eager to surf is that when I go out and watch people surf, they don't have a care in the world. All they think about is catching the next wave (and of course, making sure that there are no shark fins hanging around given the media over the last couple of months reporting so many shark attacks).

I want to be just like that.

With the Quicksilver Pro on at Rainbow Bay at the moment, I ventured down to join some friends to watch the pro's in action.

I wasn't disappointed. I saw Joel Parkinson put in a few great heats, even though he did not make the cut.

Then I saw the man everyone has been talking about. Yes, I have read gossip magazines that picture him with Cameron Diaz, Pam Anderson (what was he thinking?), Giselle to name a few. I have also watched him a couple of times on television and until recently thought was quite a hot looking man.

Well, nothing prepared me for seeing him live at the Quicksilver Pro. As he walked down the beach, about 500 people followed him just hoping for a glimpse. Kids raced into the water and tried to swim up to him and he politely acknowledged them with some high 5's and words of wisdom.

He is the waters version of a rock star. The 5000 strong crowd could not get enough of him. They were mesmerised by the sporting great who has won 9 world titles, more so than any other person.

Why I am writing about Kelly Slater is simple. He is a human brand that has an insane following. Insane!

I have been to every major sporting event that has hit Australian shores and yet I have never seen such a dedicated group of followers for just one man.

Now, he is not only on a mission to win his 10th world title, but also to sell a few boards through brand Kelly Slater.

Riding a radically short five foot four inch board even though he is going for the big ASP World Tour 10th win is a marketers dream. I bet after the weekend there was a sell-out of radically short boards because let's face it, every surfer wants to be just like Kelly Slater.

What a legend!

www.marketingeye.com.au

Marketing Eye Supports the Victorian Bushfire Appeal

Marketing Eye Supports the Victorian Bushfire Appeal

Melbourne, Australia, 10 February 2009: National marketing consultancy firm, Marketing Eye will support the Victorian Bushfire Appeal by giving 10% of the company’s new billings in the next two months to support victims who have lost lives and their homes.

Through the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal Fund, Marketing Eye’s contribution as a small business will provide valuable funds for those that have lost their homes and families in the worst bushfires Australia has ever seen.

“It is important that everyone supports this cause and even though it is difficult financial times, the reality is that there are people out there doing it tougher because of this disaster,” said Mellissah Smith, CEO, Marketing Eye.

“Whatever we can give, we will because people have lost their lives and don’t have homes to return to.

“We are urging our clients, staff and friends to dig deeply and not just think they should donate, but to take action and support the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal Fund.”
For more information you can contact Marketing Eye on 1300 300 080 and www.marketingeye.com.au or donate directly to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal fund on 1800 811 700 or visit www.redcross.org.au
About Marketing Eye

Marketing Eye was established in 2004 to assist small to medium sized businesses to grow through marketing. Providing companies with a marketing manager for a 12-month period, Marketing Eye gives businesses the opportunity to have the same resources as their larger counterparts, without the financial burden.

With in-house resources in web, film, design and public relations, Marketing Eye is a full-service agency with extensive expertise in working in the small to medium sized business market.

http://www.marketingeye.com.au