Whether It Be Business Or Life Or A Bit of Both, Blaise Brosnan's New Book 'Jack' Is Just The Ticket!

MD, Eileen O'Connell at 'Jack' Book Launch

Speaking at the launch of Blaise Brosnan's new book 'Jack: Business Lessons from Life, Life Lessons from Business', Irish Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin commented "Blaise Brosnan is an amazing man. He speaks softly but with compelling wisdom; and he can communicate equally effectively with his eyes and facial expression. So too, I think, does Jack'

Blaise Brosnan, business mentor and trainer, has facilitated more than 2000 business people to stand back from the fuss of their day-to-day activity and decide how best to drive their business forward and achieve their objectives. In this, his 2nd book, he uses the life story of Jack and surrounding influences on him to give concrete advice that will benefit anyone in business.

Interactions is lucky enough to have benefited from Blaise's mentoring and training and was delighted to be at the launch.

Minister Howlin concluded by saying: 'Blaise Brosnan is a wise man. In his readable, clear and incisive book he shares his wisdom with us. We are better for the experience - if we choose to be.'

We'd love to hear your thoughts on the book!

The book is available from bookshops, Amazon and on Kindle.

Going For Growth Forum 2011 - Interactions Joins The Team!

Pictured here are Eileen O'Connell (MD of Interactions), Carmel Grogan (Craft Cuts), Frances Keane (Personally Speaking) and Lulu O'Sullivan (GiftsDirect)

Taking the step to realign, adapt and forge ahead has become the new mantra for many Irish companies today. Having worked in European market research and behaviour change for than 20 years, Interactions is not one to rest on their laurels. Managing Director, Eileen O'Connell has been taking part in Going for Growth, a 6-month programme for women entrepreneurs focused on growth.  

Interactions Ltd is in the current Going for Growth cycle with lead entrepreneur Lulu O'Sullivan of GiftsDirect.ie. The Going for Growth National Forum (28-29th March 2011) was attended by sixty women entrepreneurs - who between them have a turnover of €42 million and employ almost 500 people - and who together with lead entrepreneurs and experts are now focusing on how they can further grow their businesses. 

Funded by the European Social Fund, Enterprise Ireland and the Equality for Women Measure, Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, this vital and proactive network aims to boost Ireland's service and product competitiveness both at home and abroad.

Key Social Marketing Trends from the World Social Marketing Conference

Key Scial Marketing Findings f

Just over a month go, Interactions took part in  the 2 day World Social  Marketing Conference. Held in Citywest Hotel, it was attended  by more than 500 international delegates working in social marketing, behavioural change, strategic communications, community engagement and policy development. Even the Dalai Lama was spotted milling about in the hotel foyer on the last day - adding to the feeling of positivity & goodwill already in abundance. 

For Interactions, as leading market research and behaviour change experts here in Ireland & Europe, it was a great opportunity to hear and share knowledge with other leading international thinkers and practitioners and adapt it to our work. Between giving 3 presentations, chatting to delegates at our stand and attending more than 20 other presentations, it was a whirlwind of knowledge transfer. 

Presentations & Workshops given by Interactions included: 

Get It Right 1st Time: Behaviour Change Communications: EU's Sustainable Transport CIVITAS MIMOSA - Managing Director, Eileen O'Connell

Market Research Using Personal Construct Psychology Theory - Director John Porter

Branding Workshop on Sustainable Transport - The Interactions Team  
 Summary of Key Points: To help keep you up to date on the latest international findings on

To help you keep up to date on the latest international trends on behaviour change & social marketing, we've compiled for you a quick summary from the event:

• The new UK government adopts an Inside-Out Approach to Behaviour Change - Starting with Front Line Assets Staff & Policy. The cash strapped UK government aims to maximise social marketing effectiveness by integrating it first within their organisation via policy and staff rather than purely as an add-on communication strategy at the end. They are in the process of formulating staff social market research, communications guidelines and communications training to harness the ambassador role of policy and staff (nurses, doctors, bus drivers) to effect behavioural change on its target audience.

• Go Beyond Differences & Share Knowledge with groups to leverage power & open doors.

• Engage & Empower Communities, giving them the skills to help themselves for the long-term.

• Social Marketing Partnership is now seen as the new framework to replace Sponsorship, allowing for all parties to reap better results from a delineated and agreed set of shared and non-shared objectives that resonates with target audience. Intermediate bodies are to play a greater role in brokering and evaluating agreements to ensure longevity of relationship. 

• Ethical Codes specific for each communication campaign are increasingly required by companies to cope with the unexpected and inevitable crisis management scenarios that occur when carrying out communications, most notably when it comes to social media.

• Need to always think 3 dimensionally when it comes to target audiences.

• Make Friends in Unusual Places.

• Information Technology most notably the Internet has the largest and most positive impact on the following groups: low income, uneducated and women.