Brand + Business x Christine Moody*
2015 Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award recipient, Dr Catherine Ball captivated the audience at a recent Women in Finance event. As the keynote speaker, Catherine told us about her personal struggles and how, with ‘a little help from her friends’, she got to where she is today.
I have heard Catherine speak many times—even the day before this event. This presentation was different. It was so engaging and it got me thinking: we all need a little help from our friends, whether it’sto realise our personal or business challenges.
For Catherine, it was the friend who gave her a couch to sleep on or the friend who encouraged her to pursue her dreams, even when she felt like giving up. Sometimes, it was as simple as phoning someone when she needed help.
Throughout my career, I have had a lot of help from my friends. I have benefitted from having friends who are trusted advisors and who have given me the guidance that I needed. I’ve always known I wasn’t alone. Some people know they have helped me, but others don’t.
Seeking ‘a little help from friends’ is what every person and every business needs. However, in business, I think we sometimes forget to seek out—and accept—help from our friends.
Seeking ‘a little help from friends’ is what every person and every business needs.
Friends are trusted advisors. Whether they are on the inside or outside of your business, they will be there for you and help your organisation’s brand. They are the ones who stick with you through thick and thin. They are not afraid to tell you what they think—even if it risks the friendship.
Having experienced first-hand the importance of the right advice and guidance from ‘friends’, I knew I needed to give back a ‘little help’ to other designers. So I launched Designer Law School.
Designer Law School is an online education program, which highlights the basics of the law as it affects designers.It’s also a forum where designers can feel like they are talking to a friend who ‘gets it’ and sees all problems visually. Hopefully, designers will feel they are not struggling by themselves.
The initiative will benefit both designers and businesses working with designers. It will help businesses understand the value designers can add to a brand. Businesses need to know both the rewards and the risks of working with designers: they need to have the systems and processes in place to protect one of their most valuable assets—their brand’s identity. And they need to realise that designers are friends who are passionate about helping organisations leverage their strengths and communicate with clients and customers. (Designers are great at immersing themselves in a client’s business and walking through the products and services.)
In both our business and personal lives, true friends who will help are few and far between. They are gems that we need to look after.
*Christine Moody is one of Australia’s leading brand strategists and the founder brand management consultancy, Brand Audits. With more than 30 years’ professional experience, Christine has helped a diverse client base of local and international brands, including Gold Coast City Council, Hilton Hotels, and Wrigleys USA, to develop, protect and achieve brand differentiation. Her particular interest is personal brand audits to assist executives realise their full potential.
For more information: chris.moody@brandaudits.com.au or +61 419 888 468.
Photo credit: Brunch at Sarabeth’s NYC, which was organised by Author and Speaker, Dorie Clark (By Christine Moody, NYC, 2015).