Paul Apostolis’ Post

It was Christmas time at the office—one of those moments everyone looks forward to. The holiday cheer was in the air, and Secret Santa was on the horizon. I’d just drawn my chit, and now the fun part began: finding the perfect gift for my teammate. But here's the thing: I had a packed schedule that day—meetings, calls, deadlines...you know the drill. So I thought to myself, “There’s got to be an easier way to get this done.” As I was walking to my next meeting, I passed a Blinkit hub and thought, Why not Blinkit? I pulled out my phone, opened the app, and within minutes, I was browsing through a bunch of great options. It was so easy! I quickly found the perfect gift, placed the order, and just like that, it was on its way. No stress, no rushing around—it was that simple. The whole experience really got me thinking. It taught me a few important lessons: 1. Technology is evolving to make things easier. It’s amazing how tech is constantly growing and making tasks like shopping easier than ever. Blinkit’s fast and simple process saved me time, allowing me to focus on what really matters. 2. It’s important to understand your teammate’s likes and dislikes. Taking the time to learn what your teammate enjoys helps you choose a gift that’s meaningful. When you know their preferences, you can make sure your gift truly resonates with them. It’s not just about picking something random—it’s about being thoughtful. 3. Creating a positive culture is key. When we support each other, celebrate together, and make things easier for one another, we create a positive environment. Small moments like this, where everything falls into place effortlessly, contribute to a culture of happiness and teamwork. In the end, it wasn’t just about the gift—it was about the experience of making someone's day without all the usual hassle. With a little bit of tech and a lot of thoughtfulness, we can make those moments truly special. Blinkit Albinder Dhindsa Deepinder Goyal

Next week, March 16th marks my 65th birthday. Throughout my life, I’ve had the privilege of travelling extensively and playing a significant role in developing many technologies that have become integral to our daily lives. It’s astonishing how quickly time has passed. Reflecting on the changes I’ve seen, originating from a Northern industrial town, the transformation is profound. We’ve moved from a world devoid of electronics, AI, PCs, productivity tools like Office 365, enterprise software, the cloud, the internet, Wi-Fi, mobile phones, GPS, mass storage, supersonic flight, and space exploration to one where these innovations are integral to our daily lives. Science fiction once painted a picture of the future that seemed distant, yet now, I find myself engaging with AI on my desktop, a testament to human ingenuity. Reality unfolds in both anticipated and surprising ways. While I couldn’t have predicted the emerging technologies, they have spawned new jobs, professions, and disciplines. However, on a social level, the promise of technology providing everyone with an opportunity for a better life has not been fully realized. The optimistic predictions of a three-day workweek and multiple careers contrast sharply with today’s debates over the merits of a four-day workweek. The rhetoric often misses the point, framing reduced work hours as either detrimental to capitalism or a sign of laziness rather than recognizing the potential for improved quality of life. Looking ahead, I envision a future where AI seamlessly integrates into our personal and business lives, handling tedious tasks and freeing us to engage more deeply with the world. This shift will allow us to be less reactive and more thoughtful, providing a foundation for making well-informed decisions. The four-day workweek is on the horizon and will likely become standard within five years. Embracing this change will be essential for businesses that aim to attract and retain top talent. Advances in “background technology” will drive productivity, enabling us to accomplish in four days what took five. Do I plan to take it easy or retire? Don’t be silly; I still have too much to do and achieve. I'm Andy Age hasn’t diminished my relevance; experience has only honed my expertise. Life has taught me through victories and defeats. As your fractional Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, I possess the proven ability to drive your business’s growth. Count on me as your reliable partner. Book here https://lnkd.in/emMjKSt5

Show your team gratitude with personalised thank-you cards that acknowledge their hard work and dedication. A small gesture of thanks can go a long way in building morale and fostering stronger connections. 🌟 Learn more about our corporate service options here (https://lnkd.in/dWtPJHjU) and make appreciation a part of your company culture!

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 Organizing a Customer Service Week celebration is a big job. But we’ve got everything you need to recognize and reward your service team. At CSWeek.com you’ll find: 1. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. There are sample agendas for on-site and remote events, tips for a successful celebration, templates for activities, and more. 2. 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Create a festive mood with balloons, posters, pennant strings, and more. Everything is coordinated for your event. 3. 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 & 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀. Dozens of fun and practical gifts to recognize and reward your team and to keep the Above & Beyond message in site throughout the year. 4. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀. From Save the Date Cards, to puzzles and games, to Virtual Backgrounds, our Ready to Use Materials are all available for download when you celebrate with CSWeek.com. 5. 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. When you order by July 12 you’ll save 10 - 20% on your order, no matter what you choose.

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Doing Things Differently - Take a risk Sometimes - getting your point across requires risks or sacrifices. In business and work there can be an expectation of behaving in a certain way (particularly in the legal profession). If we always play it safe and do the same old thing nothing changes. Before Movember started, I was asked to go on stage at the Playhouse for a serious panel discussion about Paying It Forward. It was a fantastic event organised by Lauren Farley. I felt privileged to be invited and wanted to make a good impression. BUT - I also wanted to promote Movember - and what better place than as an event about Corporate Social Responsibility. So just before I went on stage I popped on a false moustache. I think it threw the host of the panel group at first, but I got asked the first question to the panel - Why the Moustache? I was able to deliver my sales pitch for Movember. Later that week at the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce B2B event, I handed out a few false Moustaches and offered to send them in the post to anyone who wanted one. I wanted Movember to be inclusive - not just about the blokes. When we lose a great man to suicide or prostate cancer, women lose a dad, a grandad, a brother a son, a friend, a colleague, a mentor, a hero. I met Emma Smith for the first time at the B2B, had a quick chat and I asked if she would like a false moustache for Movember (as you do the first time you meet someone new). Emma confidently said - I'll do it. I remember some BD training from Bernard Savage a few years ago - When you met someone for the first time it is a great opportunity to make a lasting impression. Promise you are going to do something and then follow through on the promise. Well Emma has more than followed through in the video below - seriously I was blown away. How highly in terms of esteem do you think I hold Emma now in terms of fulfilling promises integrity and going above and beyond? That video made me smile so much ( especially the reference to her colleague Tash). At our event on 13 November - a serious event on Navigating Business Challenges - we put false moustaches on the table ( not normal for events at law firms) Guests took photos and posted them on LinkedIn to promote Movember - in my view it enhanced the event and didn't detract from it. Getting a message out can be fun. Having fun gets noticed. Doing the normal stuff wont get as much attention. Thank you to everyone who has worn a false moustache this month - I still have a few left to send out if you message me. Promoting Movember makes a difference - doing it as a team like Emma and her colleagues, is really powerful. Keep talking to people, checking in looking out for each other. Thanks to Jurgita Margelyte Mark Juniper Lisa Mills Trina Beare Claire Pitt Rachel Plane, BSc (Hons), CeMap David Thrower Beth Seager MCIPS Who is next to join the False moustache craze? What risks will you take to get your message out? Be fun - Be different!

I have some exciting NEWS 🥳 I am elated to share that two organisations have now become official Safe Space pledgers and it is emc3 and The Ops Nest have pledged to ensure their workplace and events are free from discrimination and harassment What does Safe Space mean? It means a commitment—a promise—to uphold a zero tolerance policy against Discrimination and Harassment in every facet of their operations. From reporting and support systems to ensuring accessibility, from marketing messaging to fostering a culture of safety and inclusivity—these organisations are leading the charge. ✅ With their pledge, any event hosted by emc3 or The Ops Nest is officially Safe Space approved by our team at Diversity Alliance and EventWell. And this is why I decided to create the Safe Space charter and pledge for the events industry to symbolise progress collective action to create change. 🔗 But we can't stop here. We need YOU. Pledge to be a Safe Space today. Click the link here https://buff.ly/3wOmo8u to join the movement, to stand up for what's right, and to create safer, more inclusive spaces for all NOTE: The charter and initiative is initially for companies that deliver their own internal events or deliver industry events rather than on behalf of clients - though of course we hope this will become a standard for any and all events delivered - but we need to get our own house in order as an industry first :) POLITE NOTE - to those that have signed the charter, we can't confirm your participation until you share the relevant docs 😉 #SafeSpace #DiversityAndInclusion #EventIndustry

✨ That’s a wrap on our June Town Hall! 🎉 Every month we gather in-person and virtually for our monthly town hall. As a global company, this is our opportunity to meet, talk about what’s working and what’s not, and share some wins and obstacles in our business. We started doing this a few years back and boy has it evolved! We’ve since introduced our monthly morale score – I’d like to do a separate post on this – but basically, it’s our most critical metric to tell us how our team feels about the culture. 😊 We also cover our Vision, Mission, and Values where we tell stories about how we’ve worked toward our goals, and what values we’ve applied to various situations. 🌍 We celebrate birthdays 🎂, anniversaries 🎉, high achievers 🏆, new starters 🙌, and all of our critical helpdesk stats like CSAT, turnaround times, attendance, and quality of service. 📊 I really can’t imagine running our company without this key meeting. It keeps us all on the same page and ready to charge forward into the next month. 🚀 Does your company have a Town Hall or something similar? 💬

"Happy World Administrators' Day! Today, we celebrate the unsung heroes of our organizations - the administrators who keep our offices running smoothly, our teams organized, and our operations efficient. To all the administrative professionals out there, thank you for your tireless efforts, attention to detail, and dedication to supporting your colleagues. Your work is the backbone of our success, and we appreciate everything you do! Let's take a moment to recognize and celebrate the amazing administrators in our networks. Share your appreciation and gratitude in the comments below! #WorldAdministratorsDay #AdminAppreciation #ThankYou"

🌟 Happy Client Service Week! 🌟 As we celebrate this week, I’ve been reflecting on the importance of exceptional client service—both as a client and a service provider. At the heart of every great service experience is a sense of belonging—knowing that the company you engage with is genuinely obsessed with understanding your needs and exceeding your expectations. When we, as service providers, put ourselves in our clients’ shoes, it transforms the way we approach service. It’s not just about delivering on promises; it’s about creating meaningful experiences that foster trust and loyalty. Here’s to going the extra mile for our clients—today and every day. Because great service means making people feel valued and truly seen. 🎯 #ClientServiceWeek #CustomerExcellence #ClientFirst #ExceptionalService #Belonging