Sometimes I think I have premature dementia (jokes aside, with our family genes it is a very real possibility!) As I go through my day I think of so many things to blog, but when I open my laptop most of them have long gone. The most frustrating thing is I can remember that I have forgotten things! Anyway there is one thing that I want to get off my chest, so I’ll go with that as blog topic of the day!

This morning I’ve been at a marketing event and I struggle to find a way to describe it. But I have left fully understanding why most people have a less than enthusiastic view towards ‘marketing’. My biggest pet hate is that a large proportion of people in marketing complain about other people having a bad opinion of marketing. Question. If you were really good at marketing how the hell did that happen? Surely one of the sectors most qualified to get people to say positive things about them is the marketing sector? But somewhere along the line a majority (not all) dropped a brain cell or two and forgot to actually market themselves and their profession. If people don’t understand what marketing is, or what you can do, then why would they see the value in it? As Homer Simpson would say “Doh!”

The other thing that peeved me was the presenter. First rule of presenting – never ever ever tell your audience what you about to say is “boring”. If they didn’t think it was boring before, they certainly will now. Also being condescending and generally horrible about other people isn’t the greatest strategy. The speaker this morning, talking about someone she claimed to “really like” because they are “really really lovely”, also commented in the same breath that she wanted to “slap them”! Why? Because of crimes against marketing. Pot. Kettle. Black.

Walking out of the session (I made my excuses to escape the free lunch, I’d had enough!) I realised that I had just been surrounded by a number of people who would happily stab you in the back and then wonder why the hell you weren’t their biggest fan!

What right to I have to rant? I have been in a marketing job two months. Obviously I am far too naïve to understand the evils of everyone who doesn’t like marketing. Except that’s trash. I know that if I end up with people resenting my employment then I’m the one to blame. I need to prove my worth. And the best way to do that is build relationships and work with everyone in the library. Not sit in a little marketing bubble and think I know best. I don’t!

“True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.” Socrates

Okay rant over. Sorry I will revert back to happy fluffy silly topics! Which brings me on to ‘Cake Friday’. I’m going to miss it this week. I’m currently on my way down to London for a long weekend. I’m doing research for my book tomorrow at Morden Hall Park. It’s a National Trust property and they always have yummy cakes so I will just have to celebrate ‘Cake Friday’ in their café!

For now it’s over and out. But I will back in a couple of days to fill you in on the weekend events. No ranting next time. I promise!