Mark Girton’s Post

As we kick off the last quarter of the year, the excitement of nearing the finish line starts to set in. I must admit, I love this time of year. It's a season filled with celebrations of the achievements we’ve worked so hard for: - Weddings are in full swing. - Graduates proudly walk across the stage. - People take intentional breaks from work. - Joy fills the air everywhere you look. But amidst all this, it’s just as important to celebrate 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 and the progress your brand has made this year. Whether you’ve: 1. Landed your dream job 2. Secured new clients 3. Attracted speaking opportunities 4. Networked with high-value connections or 5. Collaborated with your dream partners... Take a moment to reflect and celebrate those wins! And if you haven’t achieved some of these milestones yet, the beauty is, it’s not too late. Q4 still offers plenty of opportunities. You just need to make a decision to get intentional with your brand and put in the work. That’s where I come in. I can help you build an irresistible personal brand that attracts the opportunities you desire, whether you want to finish this year strong or set yourself up for an even bigger 2025. If you're ready and eager to make it happen, send me a DM with the subject line READY, and we’ll plan a call to map out the next steps. Let’s close the year with a bang! #Q4 #newmonth #newquarter #personalbranding #personalbrand #brandbuilding

Last year, I faced disappointment after being passed on for an opportunity I had really hoped for. At the time, it felt like a setback, but in hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise. This year, I’ve discovered something new about myself. I had the incredible opportunity to co-MC at a global conference, which never would have happened had things not unfolded the way they did. Grateful for the journey, the lessons learned, and the growth that comes from unexpected paths. Sometimes, what we see as missed opportunities are just stepping stones to something even greater. #GrowthMindset #Gratitude #Opportunities #PersonalGrowth

Decoding the Life I Chose (Or, at least, trying to) - Being an international student is like entering a new world, where you're the captain, the crew, and sometimes even the lifeboat. The tasks? Juggling job rejections like a pro, navigating unfamiliar systems, and still finding time to make sure there's food on the table (and caffeine in the cup)! I knew the journey would be tough, but what I didn’t expect was how tiring it can be to juggle everything. Between the “Thanks, but we’ve moved forward with other candidates” emails and the silent applause I get from myself for making it this far, it’s starting to feel like I’m playing a video game on expert mode. Every “Thanks, but no thanks” is like a new notch in my resilience belt. And it feels as though I’ve mastered the art of the “keep going” pep talk. We celebrate wins on here all the time, but let’s take a moment to recognize those of us just trying to make it through round after round of “not this time." We’re basically leveling up in silence, building our resilience stat one rejection at a time. And when the recognition finally shows up? Let’s just say it’s going to find us battle-tested, overqualified, and way ahead on our personal growth points. Until then, let’s keep going—because if life isn’t handing us applause, we’ll just create our own soundtrack :)

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reveals a concerning statistic: there are only 71 workers for every 100 jobs in the U.S. This trend is expected to continue through 2030, highlighting the ongoing need for a skilled workforce. To bridge this gap, developing relationships with future talent and equipping them with essential skills is crucial. Providing career-based learning opportunities in various fields such as information technology, data, engineering, sales, marketing, supply chain, truck driving, maintenance, and production is key to connecting students and recent graduates to our companies. Discover career experience, mentoring, apprenticeship, internship, co-op, and youth apprenticeship opportunities aimed at helping future talent learn, grow, and thrive in their careers. Empowering the next generation with the right skills and experiences is vital for a strong future workforce. Students and educators join us on November 7 for STEM Day to explore careers! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gtwBB6hA #WorkforceDevelopment #SkillsTraining #FutureTalent #CareerOpportunities

Recently, Aamir Khan shared an insightful thought on why he avoids attending awards shows, saying, "Time is a valuable thing; it should be spent wisely." This resonated with me deeply. We often find ourselves investing time and energy in situations or pursuits that, in retrospect, feel unworthy of our effort. I remember a phase in my life when I would exert significant effort to engage with people who showed no genuine interest in me. It was driven by a hope to land in a desired scenario or gain validation, but looking back, I realize how much it affected my self-respect and led to time wasted on futile pursuits. We've all had moments where we reflect on our past decisions and think, "I shouldn't have spent my time like that; it was such a waste." Whether it's chasing unreciprocated attention or engaging in activities that didn't bring us value, these experiences are learning opportunities. I’d love to hear your stories. Have you ever found yourself investing time and effort in something that, in hindsight, felt like a waste? How did you come to realize the importance of using your time wisely? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Let's learn from each other and make better choices with our most valuable resource: time. ⏳ #TimeManagement #PersonalGrowth #LifeLessons #SelfRespect #Wisdom #LinkedInforcreators #LinkedInFam

A golden ticket moment worth sharing! Recently, I received a Golden Ticket Award for performance at work – a recognition that truly warmed my heart. It’s my first formal award in my entire career, and as I reflect on this milestone, it feels significant, not just for the recognition itself, but because it brought back memories of a defining moment early in my career. Back in 2007, when I was working with a scientist, she gave a group of research assistants, including me, a challenging task: find a particular article on the internet based on a few vague keywords she remembered. To some, it might have seemed like a frustrating or impossible assignment. But for me, it was a challenge I loved. Hours passed, I skipped lunch, and I dove deep into searching. By evening, I had found three possibilities, but they weren’t quite right. Another hour of digging, and I found the exact one. When I sent it to her, she came over to my desk with those shining eyes, and I’ll never forget how she looked at me, impressed. Later that week, she took me to lunch and told me, “You should be in research. You’re a good researcher.” To this day, those words mean more to me than any award could ever. The feeling of being truly seen and appreciated, even in the smallest of moments, is something that sticks with you. Over the years, I stopped seeking external recognition. In the beginning, I thought those who received awards must be “better” performers, and they worked hard to earn such acknowledgments. But as time went on, I focused more on the work itself, learning that it’s not always about the recognition. People often say we work for money or status, but I disagree. At the core, we all want to feel appreciated – to know that our work matters and that it makes a difference. Today, this Golden Ticket Award with the kind words “Bindu breathes integrity” made me realize that it’s never too late to be recognized for your work, and that every stage of your career brings new opportunities to shine. No matter where you are in your journey, keep giving your best, because someone out there is paying attention – and you never know when that moment of true appreciation might come. “Recognition is not a reward for performance but a celebration of it.” #CareerJourney #Gratitude #WorkRecognition #Integrity #CareerGrowth #StayInspired

Its only a few days until I am on the plane to Cannes and while not my first time to Cannes , it will be my first time to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and the longest time away from my toddler. With that said, I will honor her by embracing her toddler values as I embark on this journey to ensure I make the most of this amazing opportunity. These are some fundamental learnings I have learned as a first-time mum from my toddler: 🚼 1. Take up space and own it: inspired by my toddler when she takes over our bed! Get comfortable being in places not necessarily made for me 🚼 Curiosity is key: As my toddler is fascinated with every new discovery such as watching the bees eat the nectar from a flower, I plan to approach Cannes with an open mind and curious spirit 🚼 Persistence pays off: Whether it's trying to blow her first bubble or put her shoes on the right foot, she teaches me the value of persistence and I will apply this same determination to networking, learning, and growing 🚼 Say hello to strangers: A simple hello and a smile can go a long way. Yes, I don't have the same level of cutest, but I will try and hope that it pays off anyway in building authentic connections (p.s. I don't encourage my child to engage with strangers)! 🚼 Celebrate the small wins: My toddler celebrates every time she achieves something new, so for me, whether that be a new connection, getting through the day (as I imagine it can at times be very overwhelming), not overdoing it on the rose or nailing a panel talk, I will celebrate! 😉 🚼 Live in the present and find joy in the journey: Amidst the excitement and hustle, my toddler reminds me to find joy in every moment. If I miss something off my carefully planned timetable and end up somewhere unplanned, I will embrace the journey and trust the process. Here is to an inspiring and insightful experience at Cannes. Let's go! #cannes #learninganddevelopment #inspired

“Thanks for making me feel so welcome here!” said Fie when we first met 20 months ago. It was in fact only my 3rd day at BTS, and apparently her 1st year… though also her 1st time visiting our 🇸🇬 office and seeing the larger team in-person. Meeting everyone must have been surreal and novel to us both. I remembered ourselves laughing heartily over the irony of her comment. Fancy the newbie “welcoming” someone who’s spent a longer time! But somehow, we vibed pretty well and our friendship took off. ☺️ I’d later get to know that Fie’s as committed and seriously-proactive at work, as much as she’s bubbly and funnily-crazy in our social exchanges. 🦸🏽♀️ She’s one of the many BTS (Behind-The-Scenes, too) superheroes we have in our Project Enablement function. Coming from a smaller set-up previously, I didn’t have dedicated teams focused on learning journey support for clients. I had to be super hands-on to manage everything. Guess that’s why we clicked work-style wise? We always knew to pre-empt what each other needed… and she’s not afraid to kick my a** if I’m somehow missing out or lagging behind in something 🙈 I’m writing this because people sometimes forget to express (enough) gratitude + recognition for those who may not be in glitzy, shiny roles. I’ve had many share the same sentiment, and even more so in sales-focused orgs. Let us remember to seek the balance between taking care of the biz and taking care of our teams. Those in support roles are the ones who work tirelessly, often unnoticed in the background to make things go-glow-grow the way they can. This mid-week, who might you reach out to and share your words of #appreciation? 📸: Reunion in Malaysia 🇲🇾 for us, almost 6 months since we last hung out..! Thanks Faridah M. M. Akram :) #lifework #consulting #facilitation #coaching #StrategyMadePersonal

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗲: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗜𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 No one knows your past experiences as well as you do. Only you understand the full breadth of the work you have done throughout your professional life. As you transition to the next stage of your career, make sure to pack all of that valuable experience with you. Don’t leave it behind or bury it too deep to access. You are so much more than people at work might see. Carry all the experiences you have gained over the years, even if not all of it applies to your current role. That’s okay; seek opportunities, even outside of work, where you can put that experience to good use, perhaps in a volunteer capacity. Let me give you my example: I held leadership roles in the early stages of my career. However, as I had major shifts in my personal life with getting married and having kids, I decided to step back professionally and focus more on my personal life, taking on an individual contributor role. Not many people knew the extent of my leadership experience, but I remain the same person with that rich history. Just because I’m not using all of that experience now doesn’t mean it’s any less valuable. I took up a leadership role in a volunteer capacity with Toastmasters as soon as the opportunity arose to leverage my previous leadership experience and build further on it. People won’t always remember everything on your CV. They see you in the role you are in now. But if you want to excel in your career, don’t forget the valuable experience you have gained in the past. Carry it with you. Always be on the lookout for ways to leverage that experience and contribute in meaningful ways. Not only will it show people at work that you’re more than your current role, but it will also open doors to future opportunities. Take advantage of any chance, even volunteer opportunities, to contribute and keep your skills sharp. That way, you’re ready to go when you need those skills again. True power isn’t about becoming big; it’s about realising how big you’ve already become. #success#successmindset#professionalgrowth#professionaldevelopment#successtips#successful#professionalexperience

As a job seeker, I tend to be quite skeptical of companies that place heavy emphasis on showcasing awards and ceremonies without putting in the effort to highlight their core values and the value of their products or services. While accolades can be impressive, I believe they should not overshadow the true drivers of a company’s success—its mission, values, and the tangible benefits its products bring to the market. These are the fundamental aspects that sustain a business and foster long-term growth, far beyond the recognition or accolades it may receive. For me, it's crucial to see a clear alignment between a company’s values, its product offerings, and how these are communicated, as they are the true breadwinners of the company. I believe they have their own reasons to do so as they have been in the industries longer than I do haha. What your opinion on these??