The Invisible Mentor

Learning from the challenges that others face can save us time and shorten the learning curve. Below is an interview I conducted over four years ago. I have posted it on The Invisible Mentor Blog because I know that some can learn from Neil Aitchison’s experience. Be sure to let me know what you think.

Interview With Neil Aitchison, Director of Marketing & Development, Drayton Entertainment

Avil Beckford: Describe a business challenge you had and how you resolved.

Neil Aitchison: Challenge – I have a background in broadcasting and theatre and I got a call to do a humour speech on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE or Mad Cow Disease) intergovernmental border issue. I had to tie my speech into that theme.

Resolution: I met with the group and I asked many questions, listened and took a lot of notes. I restructured my speech so that it would tie in with what my client wanted. I prepared as I went along.

Avil Beckford: What lessons did you learn in the process?

Neil Aitchison: Lessons Learned

• Listen hard
• Learning never stops
• Everyone has their own issues and concerns that they have to deal with
• There is always another hurdle to overcome

Formula For Success

Success is a gradual realization of worthwhile achievable goals. You have to risk failure, work toward long-term goals. Learning never stops. Take steady steps a day at a time and make small reasonable goals.

If you faced this challenge how would you have handled it? Would you have done anything differently from Neil? Whenever I begin a new project, I ask a lot of questions, and I reinterpret what I heard the client say to ensure that I understand the deliverables. This helps me to deliver what the client requires. How do you deliver what your clients require?

Excerpt Ambeck Edge July 2005

Related posts:

1. How do you deal with a client when the business is very subjective?

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