Ole January 2016

JANUARY 2016 ALSO INSIDE: Breaking Bad ’s Jonathan Banks | Chocolatey pick-me-ups

AGAINST THE CLOCK How to increase productivity in the workplace and avoid falling victim to the lure of daily distractions

CONTENTS NOTICE BOARD

J A N 16 For those with a love of all things festive, January can seem like a pretty bleak month as it stretches out before us. Not only are we struggling to see our toes after one too many pigs in blankets, but the Christmas tree has definitely seen better days and we still haven’t sent out that thank-you card to Great-Aunt Glenda.

But here at Ole towers, we’re of the mindset that the glass-half-empty approach just won’t do, and we’ve decided to turn things around by putting a more positive spin on proceedings. Part of why January always seems so tough is because of the unrealistic expectations we heap on ourselves as the memory of Christmas fades.

First it’s a week-long detox, then a month-long booze ban and before we know it we’ve signed up to a halfmarathon on the other side of the country without even checking whether our trainers – or jogging trousers – still fit.

However, in the spirit of new beginnings we’ve decided to help you on your way by offering our top tips for sticking to resolutions when it matters. Read on to find out how to turn that frown upside down and make January a month to remember for all the right reasons.

Elsewhere in this issue we’ll be looking at increasing workplace productivity, glamming up in time for spring and hearing from one PA who’s determined to make the best first impression in 2016. See you in February!

Editor Jess Pike

editor

senior account manager

assistant editor

designer

publisher

circulation

jessica.pike@intelligentmedia.co.uk

hayley.zimak@intelligentmedia.co.uk

vicki.baloch@intelligentmedia.co.uk

matthew.moore@intelligentmedia.co.uk

sarah.chivers@intelligentmedia.co.uk

natalia.johnston@intelligentmedia.co.uk

UPDATE Flight nightmares, Twitter warnings and the cheapest grub in London SAY WHAT?!

Lazy layabouts and office bullies

ON THE JOB JOB NEWS The latest career news of choice STICKING TO YOUR RESOLUTIONS What does it take to stick to your guns and why do some of us always fall at the first hurdle?

PRODUCTIVE TIME-KEEPERS How to increase productivity and avoid falling victim to the lure of ever-present daily distractions 60 SECONDS WITH… Breaking Bad actor Jonathan Banks

LUNCH BREAK BREAKTIME Catch up with the latest reviews and recipes OFFICE CATWALK Blow away the cobwebs with these glamorous threads OLE LOVES Treat yourself to a January pick-me-up with these heavenly chocolate delights AND ONE MORE THING… Making a better impression in 2016

r u o f o 4 l l a t c e l l Co

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There are four members of our family to collect, and they are sure to make cute companions for you on your desk!

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FLIGHT NIGHTMARE FOR FAMILY OF FIVE

It was a rocky start to one family’s holiday when they endured an 11-hour, 550-mile taxi ride costing £1,800.

Fort-eight year-old Roy Ferguson told The Sun that he, his wife, two teenage children and his 80-year-old mother-in-law had to be driven through the night from Aberdeen to Gatwick after British Airways (BA) overbooked their connecting flight.

They had been due to fly from Aberdeen to Heathrow and then drive to Gatwick to catch a charter flight to Greece. However, they missed their first flight because British Airways overbooked their plane, forcing them to undertake this stressful marathon of a journey.

Roy said of his family’s unexpected start to the holiday: “The last passengers boarded the aircraft and we were told we would not be getting on the flight, and to go back upstairs to the check-in desk and our bags would be returned to us.

“After lots of phoning around, it was established that the only way of BA getting us to London in time for our flight from Gatwick was by arranging a taxi. We made it to Gatwick with 30 minutes to spare. Exhausted, stressed, extremely sore and stiff, very unhappy with BA, but we made it.”

British Airways has responded with an apology: “We are very sorry our customer and his family were unable to travel on the flight they had booked and for the frustration and inconvenience this caused them.”

The company has offered Roy and his family compensation and to cover the cost of the taxi.

TWITTER ISSUES WARNING TO USERS A warning to Twitter users – your account may have been hacked by ‘state-sponsored actors’.

In an email sent to a number of tweeters, the social media giant warned that hackers may have been trying to obtain personal information from users, according to wired.co.uk.

‘As a precaution, we are alerting you that your Twitter account is one of a small group of accounts that may have been targeted by state-sponsored actors,’ an email sent to Twitter users said, according to a post by the non-profit organisation Coldhak.

It reads: ‘We believe that these actors (possibly associated with a government) may have been trying to obtain information such as email addresses, IP addresses, and/or phone numbers.’

The warning from Twitter is believed to be the first time the social media website has warned of possible hacking from governments. It follows similar announcements from both Facebook and Google saying they will warn users when governments attempt to hack into users’ accounts.

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IN BRIEF Lunch for a pound (or two) SPONSORED

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Talk about bang for your buck! A café in central London, Cat Fix, is living up to its logo: ‘Eat fresh, pay less.’

Owner Joe Kaye, who sells all food and drinks for £1, says the inspiration came from similar shops in Israel and New Zealand.

Customers can buy half a sandwich rather than a whole one, and seem to like the smaller portions, saying you can mix and match and try more than one thing.

The Grinch who stole Christmas…trees Police are on the lookout for thieves who stole 190 Christmas trees in Manchester. Thirty-three year-old Saqib Shabbir, owner of Khawaja Brothers Mini Market in Chorlton, has been providing trees to the community for almost a decade.

The Guardian reported that the thieves were caught on CCTV, making off with about £6,000 worth of trees.

We give you our pick of the top comedy viral videos this month. Click on the text below and enjoy. Tweet us your top videos @olemagazine

GONE VIRAL

Breakdance proposal surprises girlfriend

Naughty dog’s green giveaway

Little boy battles hiccups

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T A H W S AY

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P U S H E D TO T H E L I M I T

CULTURE OF BULLYING

Help! I’m at breaking point with lazy colleagues who aren’t pulling their weight for an upcoming board pitch. At first I gave them the benefit of the doubt, but over the past few weeks they’ve been spending our prep time browsing the Internet. How can I give them a kick up the backside and make sure they do their bit for the pitch?

Maria Webber, Leeds

Over the last few months a colleague of mine has reported that he’s being bullied in the office. Insults have been hurled, digs have been made and right now he’s feeling very down about his position at the company. How do I go about handling the situation and helping him deal with some very unpleasant senior managers?

Emily Porter, Wigan

You shouldn’t need to prompt your colleagues into helping you – presumably their performance during the pitch will be monitored and assessed by your managers. Regardless, it’s worth taking them aside for a quiet word and reminding them that their efforts will be noted by the powers that be. Tell them that you’re onto them and that you’re not afraid to report their behaviour to their manager. Be assertive and vocal – tough love can work wonders and is sure to encourage them to start pulling their weight.

There should already be safeguards in place to help avoid cases of bullying. However, you should speak to your colleague in private and gather details about what’s happened. It’s important to understand what has been said and where it’s taken place, and identify who’s at fault. Evidence is crucial and the last thing anyone wants is false accusations being thrown around the office. Report this to your general manager and discuss the best course of action by speaking to the culprit or seeking external advice.

caption competition

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This month’s picture

Last month’s winner: Louise Saffin, Oxford It turns out there’s only one way to clean your teenage son when he’s been out partying all weekend

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Win £10 worth of M&S vouchers! Email your captions to editor@olemagazine.co.uk

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on the job

JOB NEWS RAIL FARES TO RISE

BY AVERAGE OF 1.1% Britain’s rail passengers now pay an e extra 1.1% thanks to a rise in averag uary fares that came in to effect on 2 Jan 2016.

According to the BBC, the Rail st Delivery Group said it was the smalle annual rise for six years.

Regulated fares, which include re season tickets, are capped at no mo than July’s RPI inflation rate of one up per cent. Unregulated fares can go like. by as much as the train companies RDG chief Paul Plummer said: “We to know that nobody likes to pay more rk.” travel by train, especially to get to wo He added that money from fares now costs. almost covers rail’s daily operating “This allows government to focus ter its funding on building a bigger, bet ing network when the railway is becom increasingly important at driving s, economic growth, underpinning job .” and connecting friends and families

ONE IN 10 BELIEVE THEY’LL NEVER RETIRE Nearly one in 10 adults believes the y will never retire, while a further one in eight expects to be aged between 71 and 80-years-old when they do, accord ing to new research.

A joint study by Co-op Funeralca re and Co-op Legal Services found tha t nine per cent of adults believe their wo rking lives will never end, while a furthe r 12% expect to be between the ages of 71 and 80 when they retire, according to the Express and Star.

Women were found to be more like ly than men to put off retirement, the findings also suggested.

Further research, carried out specifically among people aged ove r 50, found that one in five (21%) said they had chosen to work for longer becaus e they liked their job.

But financial concerns were also a key reason for delaying retirement am ong the over 50s, with 22% saying they nee ded to keep working due to a lack of retirement funds.

For 11% of over 50s, retirement wa s not an option due to having debts to pay off, while seven per cent still had mortgage repayments to fulfil.

on the job

UK STATE PENSION ‘ONE OF WORST IN WORLD’ The UK state pension has been revealed to be one of the worst in the world with countries such as Mexico and Chile yielding a worse pension scheme, The Independent has reported.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the report revealed that average earners without a private pension will end up with the third worst income equivalent when they retire, while high earners will end up with the worst.

Its figures reveal that UK workers would get around 16% of what they had been earning as a wage if they rely on the state pension, although that will rise to 22% when the new state pension is introduced next April. Basic pensions are equal to 20.5% of average earnings across OECD countries, with a high of 40% in New Zealand.

“The analysis makes embarrassing reading for the politicians who have been responsible for the UK’s pensions over the past 25 years,” said pensions expert Tom McPhail of Hargreaves Lansdown.

“The state pension was in steady decline for years and even now, is improving for lower earners but average pay-outs will not be rising.”

PRINTERS ‘ SECRETLY SENDING Y OUR INFORMATI ON TO GOVERNME NT’ Every time you print o ut a docum your printe ent r is secretly informing o you to the n governmen t, according the Metro. to Electronics blog EEVBlo g said: “Did you kn ow that you r colour laser printe r is secretly p rinting a forensic co de on every o ne of your printouts s o the govern m ent can track it?

Sounds like a nut job co nspiracy theory, but it’s true! Ye ll o w dots that are invisible to the nake d eye are printed all o ver your pa g e that have the printer serial numb e r and time and date en coded with in them.”

The “dots” are a US go v ernment measure, d esigned so s u rv eillance agencies ca n track peo p le from printouts.

THEY SAID “We know that nobody likes to pay more to travel by train, especially to get to work” RDG chief Paul Plummer

on the job

F I V E W AY S TO MAKE RESOLUTIONS STICK

on the job

Famously hard to stick to, New Year’s resolutions can make even the strongest of characters question their willpower. But why give up before you’ve even started? HAYLEY ZIMAK explores what it takes to stick to your guns and looks at why some of us frequently fall at the first hurdle.

W

e’ve all been there – stuffed and bloated following the holiday rush but ambitious and ready to go by the end of December. Motivated, determined and all set for a fresh year and a brand new you. But… the gym’s probably closed on January 1st... and it’s just too chilly for a quick jog around the block.

Whether it’s maintaining a healthier diet, quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol or becoming better at money management, there are ways to follow through for the year ahead – as long as you can get through the first 18-21 days (the amount of time it takes to form or break a habit). It’s all about re-wiring your brain; habitual behaviour is created by thinking patterns and if you can maintain your resolve for just three weeks, experts say you have a much higher chance of success.

SEEK SUPPORT We all know someone who just Facebooks way too much – either clogging up your news feed with healthy recipes for weight loss, or repeatedly announcing that they’re finally going to volunteer at the local animal shelter. Your eyes may roll as you scroll down but more often than not, there’s a thread of supportive, encouraging comments beneath their post. You don’t have to be as public about your plans as these social media extroverts, but it might help to confide in your partner or a close friend about aims and objectives for the year ahead. Chances are, they’ll be happy with whatever transformation you’re trying to achieve – and will be able to offer encouragement to keep you on track. People who feel supported often find it easier to stick to their plan – extra encouragement is always appreciated.

BE REALISTIC Don’t set an unattainable goal for yourself – you’ll only feel discouraged when you don’t lose four pounds in three days and will wind up eating the entire box of chocolates instead of the low-calorie snacks that now fill the kitchen cupboards.

Set yourself an achievable goal. Smokers, can you have five cigarettes a day instead of 10 and gradually phase them out by the end of the month? If you’ve always wanted to learn something new – like Spanish – set a reasonable target for yourself. Sit down with your language book or audio recording twice a week instead of trying to practise phrases like ‘una cerveza por favor’ every single day.

RECOGNISE CHANGE If you can now run faster or further than you could a week ago that’s something to feel good about. If you’ve been making conscious decisions to pack a healthy and nutritious lunch rather than stopping off at the nearest Greggs – well, that’s a really positive change. Struggling with anger management but able to keep your cool despite a 45-minute commute turning into a two-hour M25 rush hour nightmare? You deserve a medal! Further research conducted by the University of Hertfordshire shows that 78% of people didn’t stick to their resolutions because they focused too heavily on the chance of failure.

Recognise what you’ve done well and celebrate the small victories – you’ll be less likely to give up if you maintain a positive, can-do attitude.

LIMIT YOURSELF Speaking of ‘one beer please’ – if your main priority is cutting back on alcohol you might well find that reduced consumption leads to reduced spending (give yourself a double pat on the back). However, it’s important not to put too much pressure on yourself by making more than one or two major changes at once – remember, you do have the whole year ahead. According to Professor Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, people are more successful when they make a commitment to just one resolution at a time.

“Recognise what you’ve done well and celebrate the small victories”

TREAT YOURSELF This can be tricky as the vice we’re trying to overcome might be the one we want most. Instead of indulging in dessert if you’ve lost a bit of weight, treat yourself to trousers that are a size smaller than the rest in your closet. A hearty ‘cheers’ may be in order if you’ve cut back on drinking… but celebrating with a glass of wine can easily turn into two or three (or a bottle).

Instead, take in a show or play that you’ve wanted to see – or buy yourself something nice. You’ve definitely earned it!

So, there are my five top tips to help you make positive and healthy change in 2016 – and if you’re not quite there yet don’t despair – there’s always next year!

on the job

e v i t c u d o r P s r e p e e k e m ti

on the job

CAMERON KILMISTER offers his tips on how to increase productivity in the office and avoid falling victim to the lure of ever-present daily distractions

U

tilising your time efficiently is something that can prove troublesome for many of us whilst at work. By taking your foot off the pedal, deadlines can pile up and productivity can suffer. I’m no stranger to this, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say that the feeling of falling behind is stomachchurningly stressful. Anxiety sets in and sooner or later your keyboard becomes drenched in sweat as those ill-fated deadlines creep up. But, in a busy working environment, you can only address these issues on your own.

TRACK AND IDENTIFY HOW MUCH TIME YOU’RE SPENDING ON TASKS Time management is a skill that the majority of 21st century workers claim to have mastered. However a study conducted by This vs That in 2013 undoes all our assumptions; it found that only 17% of employees could accurately estimate how much time they’d spent on tasks without looking at the clock.

By investing in timesaving apps that can easily work on your computer and phone, you’ll reduce the risk of being caught out as the minutes and hours tick away.

Rescue Time is a good example; this app will update you on much time you spend on daily tasks, including social media, email and word processing.

CREATE ‘TO-DO’ LISTS Instead of scrolling through text messages before your shift starts, take a more productive approach to proceedings by outlining your plan for the day. Creating to-do lists can help you prioritise and track tasks as the day moves forward. Whatever you’re method for list-making, be it digital or paper, it’s sure to help you monitor what tasks have been completed, and gives you the satisfying opportunity to cross them off once the day is done.

TAKE REGULAR BREAKS This may sound counterintuitive but scientific research has found that a brief rest can enhance focus.

Psychologists Atsunori Ariga and Alejandro Llera found that taking short breaks from long tasks can help employees maintain high performance levels, whereas those who work without breaks are more likely to see their productivity levels decline. Concentration is the vital ingredient here, so don’t tire yourself out by working without a break. Sometimes a quick coffee and a stroll around the staff room can work wonders.

SET SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINES Believe it or not, a manageable level of stress can enhance an individual’s focus at work. If you have open-ended tasks to be getting on with set staggered deadlines that work for you, and stick to them, and as deadlines approach, use your stress as a driver for success. You may be surprised by just how efficient you become.

QUIT MULTITASKING Many of us work under the assumption that multitasking is essential for increased efficiency, but this isn’t necessarily the case. A study conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) back in 2006 found that individuals who attempted to complete several tasks at once lost time and productivity as a result. Instead of falling into this pitfall, make a habit of committing to a single task before moving onto the next. Entangling yourself in a web of multiple deadlines will lead to a sloppy performance and harm overall productivity levels as a result.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR COMMUTE Instead of crushing the candy or browsing your Facebook feed, use your commute to crack out some emails, create a to-do list or brainstorm a plan for the tasks ahead.

TUNE OUT DISTRACTIONS The dark side of modern technology is that it’s all too tempting to check personal emails, social media and text messages whilst at work. In order to combat the problem, make sure you turn off all notifications at 9am and instead build in time to check emails and messages at lunch.

WORK IN 90-MINUTE INTERVALS To stay on top of deadlines many individuals work in intervals and, according to studies, this yields promising results. Research conducted by Florida State University in 2013 found that elite performers – athletes and musicians – who work in intervals of no more than 90 minutes are far more productive than those who work for longer lengths of time. The study also found that top performers tend to work no more than 4.5 hours per day. If it can work for the creative thinkers, it can definitely work for you!

MINIMISE INTERRUPTIONS A colleague popping over to your desk for a chat may seem innocuous, but even the briefest of interruptions can cause a drop in efficiency. If you feel the need to really get stuff done, then you’re probably more likely to be coming in early and working late. Instead, figure out how you can work smarter (not harder) to avoid the stress building up.

on the job

6 0 S ECONDS WITH…

J O N AT H A N B A N K S Breaking Bad actor JONATHAN BANKS tells us about his new film Watercolor Postcards and his joy at getting the opportunity to reprise the role of Mike in the critically-acclaimed Better Call Saul Tell us about your childhood.

Q1

Q2

I’ll give you an example of the way I was raised; I was raised by a single mother who, if there was a flower trying to raise its head up through the sidewalk, would always point it out to me. I learnt from her to take joy from the simple things and appreciate how lucky we are.

Your new film Watercolor Postcards tells the story of a young girl who, following the death of her mother, comes to rely on the local townsfolk.

Among them is your character, the local bartender and general purveyor of wisdom. Did you apply your own experience of being a father to the role?

I’m a father of four and I would imagine at this stage there’s a lot of instinct involved just from life lived that transfers itself. You know, you try to be kind. You try to be kind to a child.

Q3

Breaking Bad has recently been inaugurated in Washington DC’s Smithsonian Museum. Tell us more.

We have the hazmat suits, some crystal meth and a whole display about Breaking Bad. The slang term (or the nickname) for the Smithsonian Museum, which is magnificent, is ‘the nation’s attic’, so we’re in there with I Love Lucy. I’m just thrilled because I grew up in Washington.

How do you feel about reprising your role in Better Call Saul?

Q4

I wanted to go back and do Better Call Saul because Mike’s story hadn’t been completely told. You get to go back and reveal how Mike lost his soul and the terrible things that have happened to him, so, yes, I was thrilled to reprise that character.

How do you feel still being offered roles like this?

Q5

I’m lucky. Wildly lucky.

Watercolor Postcards is out now on DVD courtesy of Simply Media

lunch break

BREAKTIME mid-week dining WEIRD WORLD

MOOD-BOOSTING I N S TA G R A M Next time you scroll down your Instagram feed, be prepared to feel a surge of happiness; according to new research looking at certain images could give you a mood boost.

In a survey carried out by Swedish interior design company Photowall, 61% of UK adults said that looking at Instagram made them feel happier.

The images that most appealed to people related to travel (17%), animals (14%) and nature (12%), meaning sandy beaches, cute kittens and lush forests could very well be the perfect antidote to a gloomy day.

It was telling that the survey found that selfies weren’t particularly appealing, with only six per cent of people admitting they enjoyed these images.

The study also found that nearly a third (31%) of users look at the social network in the morning, providing them with a small dose of happiness to begin the day. People were more likely to look at nature scenes (24%), followed by humour (20%) and travel destinations (11%), in the morning.

CHICKEN WITH ROASTED GARLIC

Serves: 4 Prep: 30 minutes METHOD  2 heads garlic, separated into cloves, unpeeled  1 bunch rosemary  2 blood oranges, cut into wedges  1 large chicken, around 2.5kg  100g butter, sliced  Half a bottle of cava.

METHOD Preheat the oven to 150°C and sprinkle some rosemary, garlic and blood orange on the roasting tin.

Insert the remaining orange and rosemary into the cavity of the chicken and slide slices of the butter underneath the skin. Place the chicken breast side-up on top of the garlic in the roasting tin. Pour over half a bottle of cava, cover the tin with foil and roast for one and a half hours. After this, carefully remove the foil and turn the chicken upside down, basting it with the juices from the tin. Cook the chicken for a further 20 minutes to brown the underside, before turning the chicken back to its original position. Baste the chicken again and leave it to cook until it’s browned all over.

Once cooked, remove it from the tin and leave to rest in a warm place. Carve the chicken into generous portions and serve with the gravy to your guests!

lunch break

T R E AT Y O U R S E L F LISTEN TO THIS

Marvel’s Jessica Jones – Netflix Jessica Jones is not a story about superheroes using their powers to wage deadly war. Instead, Marvel’s latest superhero saga turns that cliché on its head and instead presents a rapesurvivor’s tale through the eyes of the titular main character.

There’s nothing quite like a dark dystopian take on the Marvel franchise, and David Tennant’s performance as the menacing Kilgrave is outstanding. Kristen Ritter owns the role of Jessica with a dark, gritty and jaw-droppingly entertaining performance guaranteed to leave you on the edge of your sofa.

Hymns – Bloc Party (January 2016) When Bloc Party unleashed their experimental sound across the radio waves back in 2005, the four-piece ensemble brought something new to British music. Merging electronic ambience with classic rock, Bloc Party rose to fame by producing tracks that became pop-culture hits.

Now the band has returned following a prolonged hiatus, stronger than ever. Hymns, their fifth studio album, brings together a range of tracks that will become instant favourites for fans and newcomers alike. Songs such as The Love Within, The Good News, Exes and Eden set the stage for a highly anticipated album that will get your blood pumping and your fingers tapping.

C E L E B R AT E T H I S

Photo: steven h for Flickr

Photo: alien_artifact for Flickr

WATCH THIS

BOOK THIS

BURNS NIGHT A cultural tradition celebrated by many across the UK, there’s nothing quite like honouring the life of Scotland’s national bard. Suppers can range from informal gatherings with friends to formal meals hosted at nearby pubs and restaurants.

Whether your eager to be ‘piped’ by traditional music, join in with the Selkirk Grace or witness the three-stage ceremony of haggis, Burns Night offers cultural entertainment and a hearty meal to see you through the festivities, rounded off with a rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

SPAGHETTI HOUSE Should you venture into the heart of London one evening this month you’ll no doubt stumble upon Spaghetti House, a family-run restaurant that delivers the best of Italian cuisine in a friendly and vibrant setting. Once you’ve been seated, indulge your taste buds with the tagliatelle al salmone and a glass of merlot delle venezie – a wine highly recommended by the waiter. We’d recommend rounding off the evening with a piping hot cup of Sicilian coffee and a slice of roast pear and ricotta cake. Fantastico!

Monday 25 January

24 Cranbourn Street, London, WC2H 7AB

lunch break

LOVES The holidays may be over but that’s no reason to stop indulging yourself with these sweet treats!

1 Champagne Charlie jolly ginger, Biscuiteers Baking, £6.00 2 Cherry & almond loaf tin, White Stuff, £9.95

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3 Strawberries & Cream 200g, Lindor, £4.59 4 Chocolate teapot fondue, Cuckooland.com, £19.95 5 Classic Champagne Truffles, Hotel Chocolat, £11.00 6 Curry And Chips Milk Chocolate Bar, notonthehighstreet.com, £4.50

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lunch break

O F F I C E C AT W A L K Make 2016 your best year yet… get ready to sparkle and shine.

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WOMEN MEN 1 High heels, Dune London, £79.00 2 Gold sequin mini dress, Missy Empire, £35.00 3 Rochelle Humes lazer cut kimono, Very, £49 4 Leather trousers, Bonprix, £34.99 5 Silver embellished clutch, Primark, €12

1 Brown leather shoes, TK Maxx, £39.99 2 Navy twill cotton shirt, British Home Stores, £22.00 3 Scarf, Next, £20.00

lunch break

AND ONE MORE THING ...

N E W Y E A R , N E W S TA R T

For many, the New Year brings with it all sorts of possibilities. For Manchester-based PA Carol Harding, it provides the perfect platform to make a fresh impression at the office

T Carol Harding PA

Did you agree with the columnist?

Think you can do better?

Email us with your ‘And one more thing’ of approx. 300 words to editor@olemagazine.co.uk

he first month of the New Year is an opportunity to plan out what one hopes to accomplish over the coming year. Across the country people will pledge to uphold a single resolution for the year, and this year I shall be joining them. Now I never usually make resolutions and I understand why they’re often viewed with cynicism. But I feel this is as good a time as any to lay out my goals for 2016, given how the previous year ended.

Towards the end of 2015 my performance at work declined and, as a result, tensions built up across the office. You’d be right to assume I’d been slacking off because, in all honesty, I had! Christmas was fast approaching and I sat at my desk tirelessly counting down the days until I could see family and friends and be back enjoying the comforts of home. My selfish distractions fractured my already tense relationships with colleagues, and as I return to the office, I worry that my reputation has been negatively affected.

To make sure this doesn’t happen again I’ve channelled the spirit of resolution to set myself key goals for the forthcoming year. Instead of moping over my insecurities, I’m more focused on cutting out the distractions, timing my deadlines and reaching out to colleagues. From the moment I sit down at my desk, I’m determined to seal my phone away in the filing cabinet. When tasks are handed down to me I’ll see them through from start to finish. Distractions that have hampered my progress for far too long shall be exorcised from my psyche once and for all.

But I must be patient; I know personal goals like these won’t be achieved in a day. All I hope is that I don’t become known as the black sheep of the office because of past misdemeanours. This year, I’ll be making sure the New Year definitely signifies a new start – so wish me luck!

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And an ‘own label’ package, where all Olé branding is removed and replaced with your own branding.

For more information on how we can make Olé work for you, contact account manager Matthew Moore on 020 7288 6833 or matthew.moore@intelligentmedia.co.uk

www.olemagazine.co.uk

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