Monthly Archives: March 2011

Sleep is Optional…

My MCNI journey so far has been; well, nuts!

I have been lucky enough to have been thrust into the fast-paced world of marketing, and loving every second of it. My only problem is, I am in the final semester of my BA in Broadcast Journalism, which I am studying for at the University of Leeds.

My days are blurring into each other. Weekends no longer exist. I feel guilty for indulging in the odd Channel Four documentary which I previously would kid myself was legitimate course research! Juggling my desperation for a first class honors degree with my determination to succeed in marketing will almost certainly bring about a grey hair or two.

You may wonder, ‘why do you bother?’ and I’ll tell you why.

I’m a woman with a point to prove. I’m actively fighting against stereotypes associated with the working-class background I was born into. Opportunities haven’t been handed to me on a plate; I’ve worked for them and I’m determined for them to pay off in the long run.

I’ve been lucky enough to meet two very kind entrepreneurs who don’t treat me with any stigma or prejudice; they judge me on the quality of work I produce and my attitude towards the job. They do not discriminate (positively or negatively) based on my social class.

I’ve been introduced into a new world, and I’m loving every second of it. The main lesson I’ve learned, however, is that the luxury of sleep is no longer applicable to my life! Oh well, plenty of time for that when you’re dead I guess…

Help! Celebrities Wanted!

Ellie Heatherill is one exceptionally bright young girl. She had the smarts to convince Dylan Thwaites and David Pollock that her idea for a smartphone application was one worth pursuing, and won the highly competitive Sefton Education Business Partnership Apps Competition.

Below, is her first blog entry as part of the MCNI team:

“Until two hours ago I was just a typical fifteen-year-old schoolgirl with a big dream. Two hours ago that changed. Why? Because I won The Sefton Education Business Partnership Apps Competition.

So what does that mean? Well, there was a competition in Liverpool for school kids to design new applications for smart phones. May Contain Nuts Inc. would then develop the app and we’d then receive some of the profits, as well as learning about business and entrepreneurship. I was fortunate enough to win this competition!

My dream could become a reality. It still hasn’t sunk in… But, and it is a BIG but- for my app to succeed, I need celebrities who are willing to feature in my app. My application idea is a unique combination of fun challenges with a contemporary twist: it blends celebrities and games- two key aspects of modern culture.

The game makes extensive use of all the iphone/ipod’s features, unlike any other game out there. Not only does the game test physical skills and dexterity, but it also involves problem solving and general knowledge.

Another unique feature is the fact that there is a charitable aspect as a percentage of the profits would be donated to a charity chosen by each celebrity.  Any celebrity who would be willing to take on my challenge would be a great role model for millions of teenagers like me. I really hope people would love playing my game and if they know that less fortunate people are benefiting from this, surely that is a good thing.

I live in a world where I’m surrounded by images of celebrities. But my problem is this: how can I make contact with any celebrities who could make my dream come true as well as helping their chosen charity?

Dreams can come true. Even for ‘a typical fifteen year old school girl’. I learned that tonight!”

Ellie Heatherill