Drum roll please… there’s a new kid on the block and he’s ready to take your corporate wellness game to the next level.
Moving Mindz is thrilled to introduce our new sales lead, Adam Gifford. Adam has more than 16 years’ experience in sales under his belt and brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. Here we learn a bit more about Adam, his background, hobbies and goals for 2021.
What’s your professional background?
I started out doing a trade as a tool maker and CNC programmer, did some further studies in robotics and while I was studying, I took up a job in sales.
I found that I had a bit of a flair in influencing people. I was a bit different to your average salesperson and that just worked for me.
From there, I decided that sales was a career I wanted to pursue. I moved on to a business information company that provided corporate training and business information, and then to another company that provided various procurement solutions called Reed Information Services. I was there for five years.
I developed a new way of selling the product and started hitting targets that weren’t getting hit previously. Eventually I was promoted to team leader, then sales manager. We grew the team from a couple of people to 12 and rose the bar in terms of expectations and results. Much of this success was due to bringing together a team that were diverse but all united toward a common goal. Having a bit of fun while we worked was also a big part of that. As they say, “happy employees are productive employees”.
Eventually I moved on to a media publishing start-up. I changed the way they operated in terms of the sales and lead-generation cycle and was eventually promoted to team leader, then head of new business development. The company sent me to Canada for 18 months to work with the Canadian team, whilst also managing the Australian team remotely. At one point I managed people on three continents. During my time there I focused on developing a winning culture and supportive environment. This enabled me to hone the skills of their existing team and introduce new business processes with little resistance.
When I returned to Australia, I took on a freelance project that was meant to be copywriting and marketing, but because of my sales background I ended up doing sales full-time for six months. I guess you could say “you can take the boy out of the country but not the country out of the boy”, or something to that effect.
From there, I moved on to Exhibition and Trade Fairs. I started out as a sales consultant, and then again became sales manager. Whilst there, I never missed a target and achieved double-digit growth, year on year. A significant achievement for well-established shows. I put forward a whole bunch of new event ideas, enhanced the visitor show experience and was a key player in increasing profit and turnover.
Why did you move into sales?
I’d always liked communicating with people, and I really enjoyed influencing and changing minds.
What do you love about your work?
I like helping people. Nothing is more satisfying than having a customer who was initially resistant eventually thank you. I really enjoy prospecting and learning about companies (but also people) – the research side of things – and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the thrill of closing a sale.
How do you feel about joining Moving Mindz?
Very excited. I’m sure we’ll do great things together.
Hobbies outside of work?
Fitness, creative writing, archery and share trading. My hobbies are diverse and do vary over time, but I always try to have a least three. One to make you healthy, one to make you money, and one to stimulate my mind.
Favourite TV show?
NCIS: Los Angeles
Favourite book?
‘Tomorrow, When the War Began’ by John Marsden.
If you could spend a day in the life of someone, who would it be?
Nikola Tesla. For his creative mind.
Secret vice?
Chocolate ☺
Goals for 2021?
1. Take Moving Mindz to the next level.
2. Have a positive impact on the planet and those who inhabit it.
Like to know more about Moving Mindz?
Moving Mindz is a fun corporate wellness challenge that’s designed to help employees stay connected, be active and make positive lifestyle improvements to enhance their mental health and wellbeing.
Designed by leading academics from around the globe, the program encompasses mindfulness, gratitude, sleep, nutrition, laughter, connection, resilience and movement.
We take surveys before and after the program in order to measure changes in participants’ mental and physical health, then we report those findings to the client (all de-identified).
If you would like to see how Moving Mindz can make a difference to your organisation, get in touch with Adam on 0452 070 811 or come to adam.gifford@movingmindz.co.