Siobhan Meaker of Better Strategic Consultancy Ltd reflects on an exchange which made her change career path and has helped shape her work to this day.
I had a ten-year career in food and drink PR which kicked off at the start of the 21st century. I witnessed the demise of the posted press release, the dawn of digital pack shot photography and said cheerio to updating clients by feeding page after page through a fax machine.
Towards the end of this run, I was at a press dinner in a beautiful New England town sat next to a very well-regarded US restaurant critic. If you’re based in the UK, you’d be forgiven for calling to mind the image of someone hard-to-please and quick-to-criticise.
We’d swapped some pleasantries before I asked her about the least favourite restaurants she’d ever been to. I know, I was chasing the gossip but forgive me – I was young.
‘Oh no, I only write about the places I love,’ she said, chuckling. ‘If I didn’t enjoy it, why would I want to waste anymore thought on it?’
Her answer stopped me short. It was jaw-droppingly refreshing to hear that her take on the job was to only celebrate the places that brought her joy. It didn’t equate to the increasingly cynical world of media I was used to operating in at that time, and it sowed a seed in me about what I wanted more of in my life.
I left PR agency life the following year.
Her words often echo in my head if I find myself being frustrated by things. And, as I am now so fortunate to spend more and more of my time helping people unlock problems, access creativity and look to make things better, it’s really resonating again.
Now, I am not I’m a head-in-the-clouds dreamer who puts their fingers in their ears at the merest whisper of a disagreement. I’m pragmatic and I have lived through plenty of challenge in my personal and professional life. But if we want more good stuff in the world – if we truly want things to be better – then I think we need to start where it already is good and build from there.
As you look ahead, perhaps to the final six months of your financial year, let us help you build even better from what’s been so far. From strategy to creative ideas, we’re here to help you reach your goals.
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