Hyer’s Post

I’m a couple of weeks behind on this after taking a bit of time off, but learned a ton at ClubVMSA’s VisionWest and it was great to connect with so many fun, smart experts in our little industry. It’s always refreshing and energizing to spend time with folks who spend so much time thinking about the same things we do at HireArt. A few quick things that ended up top of mind as I left: 1. I thought Dawn Keeley, C.P.M., CCWP, David Gershman, and Julia Braun's roundtable was one of the standout discussions. The topic was "The Journey from Gen1 to MSP/VMS", but the meta conversation about the challenges internal Contingent Workforce teams sometimes run into creating organizational buy-in and motivating change was particularly insightful and interesting. Learned enough in those 45 minutes alone to justify the sticker price. More companies should give Contingent Workforce a seat at the table. 2. It’s (still) very clear that there’s a segment of companies — broadly the mid-market— that feels underserved by the traditional MSP/VMS stack. Very much appreciate Kobie Wagener, MSOD, SHRM-CP joining Nick Sedlet and I for that discussion. Turnout was amazing, and always reassuring to hear the market confirming some of our core hypotheses in real-time. Shoutout to Angela Westhead, CCWP and Arash Rad for their contributions, and Lisa Wayne, CCWP for speaking up for MSPs. Loved the discussion and came away more energized than ever to solve things for that segment of the market HireArt. 3. When you get 100 folks in the contingent workforce together, your bartender is gonna get a workout, it turns out. The bartender at The Ritz Half Moon Bay was the conference’s MVP. Hope we all tipped well. Looking forward to Miami Beach in February. Thanks to Jeannine Parise and Jim Coughlin for a great event. 

PERCEPTION VS. REALITY (a story of two parts) Part 1. I recently attended our final FutureProof Accelerator session on Foundervine's Amplify programme at Mission Kitchen. Delivered by James Newell of Clear Sales Message™ , we were given a fantastic lesson in how to effectively communicate our brands to consumers, retailers/buyers, and investors. Some invaluable (and often obvious) advice that we often forget, and can be put into practice almost immediately. One thing that stood out was how we should be selling the destination rather than the product. For example at Tastesmiths, we're not selling curry kits - we're selling the sense of satisfaction you get when you first cook a delicious and healthy curry at home. When you say "I made that", with a beaming smile on your face. Part 2. After the session, there was an interesting conversation between some of the founders on the programme about how the F&B world works. We're often told as founders about the importance of innovation and newness, but is this overrated in reality? We are all black and ethnic minority-led businesses, and the perception of the industry was around how it operates as either an 'old boys club' or a popularity contest amongst founders (Andrew Allen's recent posts about Syps comes to mind) rather than the quality of the product. Buyers and retailers are under pressure to primarily deliver sales rather than innovation or sustainability, so a safe option (based on a previous relationship or bankable celeb) can easily be justified. In an industry that is under-represented by black and ethnic minority figures in buying/senior positions, it feels like the battle is lost before it has even begun. I'm lucky to have a wide range of friends and colleagues in my network, across the F&B industry. I'd love to hear your views on whether this is perception/reality/both? Also, if I have made some incorrect assumptions, I'd be happy for you to correct me. #tastesmiths #realfood

🍂This season of gratitude is a BIG DEAL!🍂 Join us in celebrating this season of thanks with Carrie from the BIG DEAL team. She’s sharing what fills her heart with gratitude this year. #SeasonOfThanks #BIGDEALThankfulSeries #GratitudeInAction #BIGDEALCompany #BIGDEALEvents #BIGDEALMarketing #BIGDEALThanks #EventCompany #MarketingCompany #SmallBusinessMarketing

"Exciting news! 🚀 We're thrilled to launch our LinkedIn page to foster better engagement with our incredible partners. Stay tuned for updates, insights, and a closer look at the innovative journey we're embarking on together. Let's connect and amplify our success! #LaunchDay #PartnershipJourney #InnovationUnleashed"

Today is Innovation Day. I'm seeing a lot of posts that celebrate innovation. We should be promoting innovation and highlighting our successes. A lot of the "daily holidays" are fantastic for social media posts, pats on the backs, and making sure that we promote whatever it is. (I personally love Chocolate Day and Ice Cream Day!) To foster innovation I think that we should change what we celebrate. How many ideas did it take to have a successful innovation? If we only celebrate the victories, most people won't want to look like a failure so they won't take risks. Promote successful innovation through conversation and risk evaluation. I recommend we change the day (or add another) to “The best idea that didn’t work.” Throw a party or have a dinner. Without these, you typically don't get what you want. #takerisks #innovation #fostergrowth #victories #successformula #definefailure #ideas #ocs #officecoffee #pantry #coffee #micromarkets #unattendedretail #vending #consulting #mergersandacquisitions #orrinhuebner.com

Well said Orrin Huebner! We often celebrate the end product but what we should acknowledge is the process - a process that is sometimes ugly, messy and full of failures that lead to progressively improved iterations over time. Innovation is just as much about the end result as it is about the journey to get there. This is no different than appreciating the accumulation of practices, studying, game-planning, training and treatments that go into making a championship athletic team. Let's begin celebrating the process along with the failures along the way to show that absolute risk-aversion does not move the needle. To embrace innovation is to also embrace every blemish, struggle, idea, and lesson learned along the way.

🎉☕ Sip and Celebrate National Frappe Day! 🎈 From the city that never sleeps to the shores of California, frappes are a symbol of American coffee culture – a flavorful journey that transcends generations and preferences. 😍 But today, we're not just celebrating the delicious swirls of Cupcake Crème or the irresistible indulgence of Peanut Butter Cup. Today is about more than just coffee; it's about YOUR SUCCESS! 🚀 At OnSpot, we're raising our frappe-filled glasses to all you business visionaries out there. we're not just about serving coffee; we're about brewing success stories, one partnership at a time. If you're a business visionary looking to take your journey to the next level, look no further. Join hands with us, and let's brew some extraordinary success together! 💼🌟 Follow us for more! Visit our website at www.onspotglobal.com #NationalFrappeDay #YourSuccessOurPromise #onspot #onspotglobal #BusinessVisionaries #PartnershipForGrowth

Introducing this week's #WomensWins featuring Rosemarie Draghici and her view on what truly makes a 'win'. She shares: In a world where opening LinkedIn is more anxiety-provoking than inspiring, and comparison is at an all-time high, it becomes all too easy to lose our sense of self-worth and only focus on the "bigger" wins. Realistically, most of our "wins" revolve around getting out of bed on Monday morning to reach that 9 am lecture in rainy Manchester, or even just remembering to eat, get the rest we need, and leave the house. This does not mean that bigger wins should not be celebrated, but rather that we should also celebrate the small things we do every day. Consider the following: even if you stayed in bed, slept for four more hours, remembered to eat at 5 pm, and went back to bed to watch your favorite show -this is as valid as speaking at a massive conference or networking with CEOs. It does not mean this lifestyle is sustainable, but it is okay to take some time off for ourselves without feeling guilty. It's alright to have less going on, and it does not make you any less worthy. You are enough, even if you take a few days, weeks, or months to listen to your body and take care of yourself. Bigger wins might come along the way, but it's the small wins that give us the motivation to keep going. The constant pressure to be productive and the culture of achievement often lead to endless running and wanting more while forgetting to acknowledge both the small and big wins - they all count! Remember, in a world where every victory counts, your worth is never measured by the scale of your achievements. Let's celebrate every achievement, no matter how small, and remember that each step forward is worth celebrating. You are amazing, just as you are 🖤 Join us in sharing your experiences by filling out a Google form https://lnkd.in/dmpZqcdS Let's inspire each other through both small and big wins!

This was a fun piece I pulled together after multiple dinners with some of the West Coast's leading marketing and brand leaders. The conversations focused on the state of our economy and the trends shaping day-to-day brand and marketing decisions. The dialogue was honest and far reaching, and too good not to share. 2024, for many, is proving to be uncharted waters. Influences such as AI, return to the office, an election year, interest rates, and other trends are forcing marketers and their brands to think differently. #Branding #Simplicity #AI

🙏 A Simple Thank You 🙏 In the relentless pursuit of retaining top talent, we often get caught up in complex strategies. But here's the secret: a simple 'thank you' can be your ultimate competitive edge. Did you know that a staggering 82% of employees are happier when they receive recognition at work? And those who don't feel appreciated are twice as likely to walk away. So, how can you show your team that you value them? This month, Goomi’s clients are all about celebrating employees with chair massages, tasty cooking demonstrations, and festive holiday mocktail/cocktail parties. 🎉🍹" But if you're hungry for more ideas, just shoot us an email – we've got a treasure trove of creative ways to say 'thank you' to your amazing employees. Let's harness the power of gratitude together and create a workplace where everyone thrives. 🙌 #EmployeeEngagement #WorkplaceRecognition #GratitudeMatters"