CGM blog – Inspire 2015

11 Dec CGM blog – Inspire 2015

So what is Inspire 2015 all about?

Quite simply, to celebrate our first anniversary as an all round communications company, we want to offer inspiration to help get people fired up to make 2015 their best business year ever.

It is easy to make New Year’s resolutions, not quite so simple to make them happen. So we want to provide genuine inspiration, not fancy theory.

You see, we’re rooted in journalism. We’re suckers for a good stories. Tom Watt and I will often tell  people we’re storytellers, not authors. You can’t ignore the power of a fascinating real life story (and the privilege of telling it is often great too, by the way).

Better still, when it comes from someone, well, a bit like you and me with all our foibles and idiosyncrasies, not some hard-wired magnate, it is even more powerful. It comes from the heart. Its personal.

That’s why we’re assembling a stellar line up of speakers and features that will provide true inspiration.

So how are we going to do that?

For starters the ‘i’s’ will have it at Inspire 2015. Four of them, in fact – ideas, innovation, integrity and impetus.

Ideas – because we want successful people to reveal what is unique about them and their business and the thought process of how they got where they are today (and aspire to be in future).

Innovation – because while content is king (getting it right whatever it is that you do) the real power lies in creating something others haven’t done and/or packaging in it an inventive, imaginative way.

Integrity – because being ethical, credible and developing a great reputation will travel so much further than a shallow persona and sharp practices – and will make you feel better too.

Impetus – because, well, you’ve just got to get out there put some of this stuff into action!

Twelve months ago when we re-launched CGM, we staged our own showcase expo. Tom Watt spoke about ghost-writing David Beckham’s autobiography, Brendan McMahon revealed the process of behind brands developing their own identity and we had a great discussion about the value of ‘giving back’.

Stuart Clarke – the immensely talented sports photographer who has developed his own brand and niche and is no a key member of the CGM team – said: “We should do more of this.”

So here we are – Inspire  2015.

As for CGM – well, we’re looking forward to 2015 with our own plans: Inspire 2015 of course, the proper launch of CGM Publishing, our own Foundation, more Business Media Clubs (you can’t have too much of a good thing!), new bespoke and Executive Media Training courses, some fantastic events we’re providing media relations support for, sports author tours with Tom, Lance, Stuart and yours truly and our own unique sports events across the UK.

Why? Because we’re inspired… and hope you will able to join us for Inspire 2015 on January 22.

Chris Green is CGM’s managing director and a former author and broadcaster.