Purple Patch Blog

Engagement, retention and development - a true story

A farewell letter from talent toolbox customer services manager Alex Thomson who is returning home to Australia in May.

I remember my first day at learnpurple (lp) very well. The day before Australia had just lost the Ashes to England and everyone was walking around with a big grin on their face - except me!

Continue reading Comments (3) 18 May 2009

Personal development - beating the challenge

Mary Jane Flanagan on personal challenges and how to succeed.

As a trainer and therefore someone who constantly challenges others, every year (perhaps through sheer lunacy), I decide to give myself a difficult personal challenge. It's always something that takes me completely outside my comfort zone. This usually means some kind or exercise or physical activity - as I am most comfortable in front of Grey's Anatomy with a glass of wine and my good friends Green and Black.

It started in a relatively modest way a few years ago with 'Race for Life'(Cancer Research UK challenge). This might sounds quite tame to those seasoned athletes out there. However as I could barely even run to the end of the garden it was one small step for female kind and one large stitch ridden leap for me. Filled with the euphoria of completing in a reasonable time and warmed by the adulation of husbands, friends and family the following year I decided to go even further.

Continue reading Comments (2) 5 May 2009

All Spit and not a lot of Polish

Helen Flint - Business Development Director

The Apprentice always makes for compelling viewing, great entertainment value and an insight into the vagaries of human (or not so human) behaviour. Having worked in hospitality for a number of years, I was very much looking forward to the episode about catering services. I was more than intrigued to see how the new apprentices would deal with the challenge set; which, on the face of it, turned out to be rather badly!

Hopefully the challenge demonstrated that throwing an event and producing a few sandwiches or canapes, isn't quite as easy you might think. Both teams certainly made a meal of it (no pun intended).

Continue reading Comments (1) 20 April 2009

Creating a buzz

Jane Sunley - Managing Director

No one who witnessed the funeral of Jade goody on TV yesterday could fail to have been moved by the sheer emotion of it all. Maybe you were one of the thousands clapping and throwing flowers along on the way as the funeral corsage made its way from Jade's original home of Bermonsey to the church in Buckhurst Hill, Essex where the service was held. It was a poignant and grand affair, that could be likened to a state funeral. People had come from all over the world to pay their respects and one woman walked 17 miles to be there. Max Clifford, Jade's publicist, said he'd been giving 50-60 interviews a day to media from as far afield as Australia and even Saudi Arabia. As one of the flower tributes, in the shape of a jar of Marmite, so openly attested - you either loved or hated Jade. Whatever your feelings, you have to admit that this was a girl who certainly created a buzz.

Continue reading Comments (1) 14 April 2009

Leader of the pack

Jodi Goldman - Communications Manager

All I need to know about leadership I learnt from my dog.

I have recently become an absolute fan of 'The Dog Whisperer'. Cesar Millan, the dynamic Mexican who has taken America by storm and captured the hearts of dog lovers everywhere, has me fascinated. He is amazing. A true rags to riches story, starting with an illegal entry into America, followed by hard work, following his heart, his passion, making connections, persevering, doing a great job, and eventually making his way to the top (in American terms this means he was on the Oprah Winfrey show and worked with her beloved pets too - it doesn't get any higher than that).

Here is why I find him so interesting and why I think it's important for you: firstly, he is so charismatic. So direct. And honest. And so good at what he does; it's truly inspiring to watch someone doing what they are passionate about. And second, is his philosophy itself. Now, I know it's about dogs, and you might be wondering why I am talking about this here. His philosophy relates so much to us too, and management: no one understand the value of a leader or the responsibility of being a leader - like the leader of a 'pack' of dogs. No one understands the value of knowing your place within a 'pack' and how your actions affect the others in it, like a dog.

Continue reading Comments (3) 1 April 2009