As summer seems to be coming to a crashing, damp end, the exam results are in and a new term’s nearly upon us.
In a rare pause for reflection and in the spirit of transparency, we figured it was worth revisiting some of the things we set out at the beginning of the year to see how we’ve been doing….
Overall
Fun had doing our own thing…….immeasurable
Number of businesses we’ve worked with……11
Time spent with family and friends…….loads more than before
Projects done or underway……18
Games of tennis……at least 20
Work from referrals…..91%
Team runs…..2 including this one on the coastal path (mental windy day in Dorset)
Repeat business……72%
Football games gone to…..3
Top 3 clients…..80% of what we’ve done
Post-work drinks……lost count
Views on blog…..8,253 from 51 countries
Serious mistakes made…..a few
Briefs we’ve had and said no thanks……3
Trips to the seaside……1
Blog posts….24
Conversations with normal (non-marketing) folk…. About 100 days worth
Boardroom conversations….8
Money spent on marketing…..£0
Holidays taken….some crackers, but like Netflix we don’t count
Tom R
1. Develop more great ideas that help make clients more successful
Yup, got some really good missions going. Now in the fortunate position of working those through to make them happen….
2. Find some more people to work with who are as bright, brave and committed as Tom F
Very pleased to have welcomed Dan Burgess on board in July and on the look out for more talented folk to join the team
3. Do some stuff that makes some positive change for people and the environment
Definite tick in the box here and something we will be able to talk about in time…
4. Find a cool office
We’ve got a great space that overlooks a park and that’s a stone’s throw from the culinary delights of Borough Market and the fantastic El Vergel café – what’s not to like?
5. Build a cool web site
Nope. Not done yet, but as we speak, we’re briefing it in armed with our coloured crayons….
6. Play better tennis
Not sure if I’m playing any better (‘he is’, sic Ed) – enjoying it though
7. Do some technology work
Yep. Been doing some very interesting stuff launching next year. Watch this space
8. Make some great films for clients
Made a few. Learning a lot about what it takes to make great films – next step is to become more self-sufficient (would welcome any tips)
9. Help pipeline have more fans and followers
We’ve all been blogging and tweeting away – feels like we’ve found a few like-minded souls, got a conversation going and been getting at least a little attention???
10. Listen, learn and learn some more
Definitely yes – learnt tons since we started Pipeline about purpose, about doing business the right way and about helping clients transform their organisations
Tom F
1. Find some more fellow ‘jedi knights’ with as much insight as Tom R has to build our ‘A-team’
Yep, you heard from Dan already. We’re chuffed he’s joined us and are on the look-out for some more similarly brilliant purposeful people join the Pipeline Project this autumn
2. Make the work we’ve already started with lead clients create a big impact
Not bad, a lot of what we do is behind the scenes but our first two clients have made big progress in bringing their purpose more clearly into the market. More soon
3. Get a car client to help create the next generation of cars
Nope, not yet but we are looking at some very exciting opportunities with electric vehicles so we may still get into this before the years’ out
4. Fly a lot less
Yep, very proud of this. Have lost my gold card membership (a pointless badge to be honest), and only flown 3 times all year (all short-haul to either Zurich or Munich). Means I’ve spent loads more time at home with the kids, and long may this continue!
5. Beat Tom R at tennis, even if just once
Nope. Have taken a set, but nothing more. He’s playing with me. Must try harder (and maybe sneak in some private lessons…..)
5. Beat the big guys to get work, hopefully more than once
Not sure . To be honest, not really concerned anymore about who we compete against. I’m way more into why we do what we do and working on stuff that matters. Doing okay considering we’re just 3 people, so mustn’t grumble…..
6. Do the London marathon in 3hrs 30 or less and make some decent cash for charity
Aaargh. This became all consuming. Had to pull out of London with a nasty illness but didChester about 6 weeks later. Came close at just over 3hrs 45 mins and learnt a ton of stuff about distance running, and was proud to have raised over £3000 for NSPCC. Now we’ve got about 10 friends and family all signed up for the Cardiff Half Marathon in October, so all gearing up for that.
7. Build a brilliant network of like-minded partners who help clients and each other grow
This is coming together. We’ve found some great creatives, film-makers and agencies to help out on some of our missions including our friends Andy and Alec over at Splendid Communications, Tom at Cool Hill Productions, Tamar at Futureal, Laura at Laura Kidd, Molly and Rob at We All Need Words and Jim at Agitprop amongst others.
8. Run an event that creates something useful, and people have a laugh
Not yet, but got something cooking so watch this space in November
9. Decide which gaming console to have in our cool office
Nope. Gave up on this, prefer to get outside and run or play tennis.
10. Keep pushing the comfort zone, trying new stuff and seeing what happens
Absolutely. Have got way more into film, more into sustainable communities and cities, making our own content, way more into politics and have been exploring new ways to help people identify and act on purpose. Can’t stand still on this though, so hoping to learn more about all of this and more.
Wowsers, congrats guys that is a great mid-term report. Sounds like you’re having lots of fun.
Comment by MJ — August 27, 2010 @ 1:07 pm
Ha. Was fun thinking about all the stuff that’s happened and that we’re up to. Lots going on, bit mental but all good!Cheers for stopping by to read it, and let us know if you want to do a guest post at any point – maybe build on some of the themes we’ve been on about recently?
Comment by Tom Farrand — August 27, 2010 @ 3:55 pm
brilliant. You are awarded an ‘A’ for Awesome
Comment by john c — August 30, 2010 @ 9:47 am