Find A Way, Not An Excuse

Brendan Doyle is a great example of somebody who is determined and resourceful. During the Covid-19 lockdown, he used what was around him to replicate his local gym while training for a competition in a sport called Skeleton. This is a very interesting sport where Brendan races down an ice track head first and hitting speeds of over 145kph. Brendan has competed at World Championships and European Championships and is focused on qualifying for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Brendan came across my radar when he shared a tweet with an image showing how he was using his wheelie bins from The City Bin Co. as a support prop while weight lifting.

A tweet showing Brendan training outside his home using the bins!

I reached out to Brendan to find out about the sport and what are the things that keep him focused.

Brendan shared three tips with me that can be applied to any task, dream, or situation.

1. The one mantra that Brendan sticks to in his training and in his life is: Find a way, not an excuse.
2. He focuses only on what he has to do today. There is dreaming and doing. He is doing with passion what needs to be done in the moment.
3. Whatever you are doing, own it. Do it because you love it and believe you can do it. That outlook will see you get to the end goal.

Brendan said he always focused on what he has to do today. He has his big picture goal. He knows what he needs to do to achieve it and focuses only on the present moment.  When his gym closed he had to get creative and use what he could. So, he uses everything from wheelie bins, the wall, and the car to mimic movements he would practice in the gym.

Another World Champion is The City Bin Co.’s own Gary Manogue. Gary is a two-time Super Welterweight Kickboxing Champion, and he shares a similar outlook to Brendan. He focuses on the task at hand, one which can change the results for the better. Gary prepared for his World Championship fights with a fitness regime that involved an eight kilometre run every morning, a work-out in the gym every evening, and in between, he was working for The City Bin Co. He said this gave him an edge over his competitors as working on the bin truck is a very physical job, from pulling and pushing bins to lifting bags and throwing them in the back of the bin lorry.

Flyer showing Gary Manogue’s route to success!

As with Brendan, Gary turned his dream into reality by hard work, determination, and being in the present to get the task done. When I asked Gary for a takeaway tip for winning, he replied, ‘It’s all about showing up every day. Show up and do everything you can to win’.

Working From Home, Part 2: Every Impression Counts On A Video Conference Meeting

A video meeting is such a simple communication tool. However, I have seen shared images and short clips of video calls that have gone wrong, from people taking the laptop to the bathroom thinking the camera was switched off to family members wandering in the background in their pyjamas (or less).

WFH3

Most people over the past few months have used video conferencing tools in their workplace. It may be that you have used Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meetup, WhatsApp, or Facebook’s Video Rooms. I must admit, when we started back in March doing our sales team video meetings via Microsoft Teams it was a little uncomfortable, not because it was anything negative, but simply because it was new. The software itself was easy to use and very intuitive. The awkward thing at the beginning was being on camera all of the time. At first, when we had our meetings there was a real mix of visuals with some colleagues choosing not to switch on their camera, some with their camera focused on the side of their faces and others where we could only see the top or bottom half of their head. Some had poor lighting quality and others were very far away. In early May, The City Bin Co. Sales Team and department managers participated in a video training course for best practices in video calls presented by Kim Slade from Touch Video Academy. Kim shared some simple skills and tips for having more professional video etiquette and increasing confidence while attending online video meetings. The difference in our video meetings before and after the session with Kim was striking. It was worlds apart. For me, there were three noticeable changes:

Camera positioning: Everybody now has their camera on and has it positioned at eye level. I bought an adjustable laptop stand on Amazon that raised my laptop to the appropriate height. Some people used a stack of books to get the camera where it needed to be. A secondary plus in having the screen and camera at eye level was that I was sitting up correctly in my chair giving me a more supportive sitting position. Now when the team is attending an online meeting, we are all at eye level and it feels more natural. We all look like we could host the Evening News!

Good Lighting: Another learning is lighting. Before, I used to sit with a window behind me. This created a very dark image on the screen for others. Now I sit in front of a window which gives great natural light. One of my colleagues uses a lamp that gives the same effect. When you have good lighting on your face you can be seen clearly.

Microphones Manners: I use a Jabra Evolve 65 headset as it has noise cancelling technology built-in. This is very handy as my wife and children are going about their daily lives too. At the end of the day, the kids must be able to play and I have to make sure that the customers have a great experience. Also, using the microphone mute button is so important to everybody on the call when somebody else is speaking.

The one thing that does give me a laugh on video meetings is the numerous times a day I hear ‘You’re on mute!’ or “Sorry, go ahead, no, you go ahead!”

Although there were some online moments posted around the world of meetings with people caught in embarrassing situations while attending their work meetings, personally and thankfully, I haven’t experienced them. Simple guidelines such as the above can help to keep both the communication and the video professional.

To summarise, keep the camera at eye level, get the lighting right so people can see you, and use the mute and unmute button. Also, I suggest you find a quiet space to sit, shut the door, and make sure you have an uncluttered plain background. You want the other person on the call focused on you and what you’re saying and not distracted by all of the things that you have in the background. You have to think of a video meeting as you would a professional face-to-face meeting and conduct yourself as you would if you were present with the people in the same room. The same first impression counts and, on video, every impression counts, particularly when it can be recorded and shared.

Working From Home – The New Normal

Over the first half of 2020, there have been major changes for so many people, for example adjusting to changes in the workplace due to Covid19. All over the world many people have lost their jobs or been laid off. Others have had to move their workplace from an office environment to their home.

Citybin HQ, Oranmore, Galway

In mid-March, I received a call to say we must all work from home. While my colleagues, who are very much on the frontline, continued to make sure The City Bin Co. customers’ continued to receive an amazing bin collection and skip hire service, there were fast changes implemented for the team at our HQ and our Dublin Office. The City Bin Co. HQ has always been open-plan, where up to 40 people work side-by-side. We also have a super canteen for having a chat and coffee. Now three months into what is called the ‘new normal’, the office team is fully remote, working from home and continues to support the frontline heroes collecting the bins daily.

Personally, I have always loved the idea of working remotely. I felt there could be freedom that would allow me to do good work from anywhere in the world. Little did I know that anywhere would be the spare bedroom at home! The reality is that working from home comes with some adjustments. The main areas that are notably positive for me are my new commute, my new office, my lunch breaks, and the new communication tools. Just to keep it balanced, there are new distractions too.

The new commute

Working from home has brought a new set of advantages as well as disadvantages. At first, I was very productive but as the months went on I would have days where I lacked motivation. As my family space and workspace are one, I now deal with this by making sure I go for a short walk before and after work. This signals both the start and the end of my work time and the beginning of family time.  I pretend it’s my commute to work, and mentally that’s exactly what it is.  This has lifted my spirits and gotten me refocused.

Some of teams ‘Work From Home’ desks

The new office  

I have cut out the daily drive which saves on time and petrol. Nowadays, my commute is a 5-second commute from the kitchen to the spare room when I get back from my walk.  I have converted the corner by the window into my home office. Some of my colleagues don’t have the luxury of a spare room and make do with the kitchen counter or any other quiet spot they can find in their abode.

Lunches and breaks

I have better lunches as I am with my family and we are cooking at home. Before, I would pop out to get a takeaway or something fast, eat it quickly and then head back to the office. I was also snacking in-between meals. Now lunch is a really enjoyable part of the day, where I am sitting down with my family and eating very healthy food. This is a good switch off from the work environment, although I also miss the ‘in-person’ meetings and face to face interactions with colleagues and customers that would happen over lunch.

The new tools 

I never thought I would find myself on so many webinars and video meetings. I have become accustomed to video conferencing for meetings with customers and colleagues. What was once an awkward communication tool is now very familiar and effective.

We have also had to get used to video conferencing for our internal meetings and our Sales Team relies on them for their sales meetings. The great thing is meetings happen on time and there are no traffic jams en route!

The new distractions

I never thought in a million years that my kids would be interrupting a work meeting to ask me to play a game or help them with their schoolwork. Or be simply checking in on me to have a look at what I am doing, but the reality is that this is the new distraction. Before it might have been a quick coffee chat with a colleague, now it’s the kids. It’s also great that they see what Daddy actually does at work. Customers and colleagues also get to see a bit about the ‘real me’, not just the ‘work me’.

I count myself as one of the lucky ones able to work and support a service that is essential. No matter where I do my work, the most important thing is that I get to be part of a team that is working together remotely to make sure a job is done well and the service goes smoothly. The change to remote working happened fast and, although in the beginning, I was anxious and unsure of how it would pan out, the truth is that in times of change we adapt.

Each new day using new tools or working from a new environment we gain confidence and it builds us as individuals and as a team.

Explorations in Learning…

The Explore Programme is a 6-week initiative to improve participation in lifelong learning in the Irish workforce.

The aim of this course is to provide new opportunities for the existing workforce particularly in the area of digital skills, health and wellbeing, and in developing individual skills.

The City Bin Co. piloted this learning opportunity with a selection of our frontline heroes in Galway and has been delighted to collaborate with GRETB (Mervue). We enrolled 16 of our frontline workers, drivers, helpers, yard workers, and sales team members on this training initiative. All participants were provided with a digital device as part of the course and have received GRETB tuition using the device in order to research and create a series of experiential work-based projects on some aspect of their daily role. We look forward to rolling this out in Dublin in 2020.

Examples of the projects include ‘different types of waste’, our new service ‘CityJunk’, ‘Safe working environment practices’, ‘defensive driving’, and ‘health & safety at work’. In addition to tuition from GRETB, our management team was on hand to mentor and support participants in preparing for their end of course presentation of projects.

The course culminated with some individual presentations on their chosen topics to the GRETB team and colleagues from The City Bin Co. The quality of the work was really fantastic and detailed, and many of us came away with a new appreciation of some of the important tasks and checks that keep us on the road every day.

Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Invests in The City Bin Co.

Dublin, Ireland – Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI), the private equity fund established by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group, has agreed to make an investment in The City Bin Co., an award-winning waste management company. The investment, terms of which are not being disclosed, is expected to be completed in the coming months.

The City Bin Co. was co-founded by Gene Browne in 1997 to bring a customer-centric approach to the waste management industry. Today the company is a leading provider of waste management services in both Dublin and Galway City, serving in excess of 80,000 household and commercial customers. Unlike traditional waste operators, The City Bin Co. solely focuses on source segregated waste collection from residential households and commercial businesses. The company’s core strategic focus is customer service and The City Bin Co.’s investment in people and its reputation for service excellence are renowned. The relentless pursuit of customer service excellence has delivered industry-leading customer retention rates and exceptional customer satisfaction as measured by Net Promoter Score (NPS). Approximately 150 people are employed by the company across its operations.

Gene Browne will remain as CEO of the company and the existing management team, including Niall Killilea, Managing Director, and Louise Niemann, Chief Financial Officer, will continue to lead the company. Ian Daly, Director, Cardinal Capital Group, Esmond Greene, Director, The Carlyle Group, and Jonathan Cosgrave, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group will join the board of directors of The City Bin Co. upon completion of the investment.

Gene Browne, the CEO, The City Bin Co., said: “The City Bin Co. has grown consistently in a very competitive market through our customer-focused business model. This approach has served us very well and truly differentiated the company. We’re delighted to partner with a fund of the pedigree, experience, and resources of CCI as we prepare for our next stage of growth. Our focus will remain on setting the standard for customer service across the waste management industry and delivering exceptional value for money to our business and household clients”.

Esmond Greene, Director, The Carlyle Group, said: “The City Bin Co. investment is CCI’s eleventh in the Irish market and we are delighted to partner with a business which has an unrivaled reputation for customer service, strong brand recognition and an experienced management team that has overseen a doubling in size of the business over the past 5 years. The fragmented waste management services market provides a significant opportunity to service growing household and business demand for professional waste management services through continued investment and via acquisitions, and we look forward to supporting the company’s continued expansion and to growing the 80,000+ customer base”.

Ian Daly, the Director, Cardinal Capital Group, said: “Managing waste is a critical part of any household or commercial customer’s budget and The City Bin Co.’s service and technology proposition enables it to employ the most effective and sustainable methods in processing more than 100,000 tonnes of black, green and brown waste every year. The Irish waste market is continually evolving and CCI’s focus is always to grow the companies it invests in. We and management have a collective ambition to double the size of the business over the next 5 – 6 years through a combination of organic and acquisitive growth.”

CCI has been an active growth investor in Ireland since 2014. The City Bin Co. is the fund’s eleventh investment and CCI continues to explore other investment opportunities across the Irish market. Current CCI investments include The AA Ireland, Sports Surgery Clinic, Carroll Cuisine, Learning Pool and McCauley Pharmacy Group. CCI previously invested in Lily O’Brien’s and General Secure Logistics Services (GSLS). During April 2019, CCI announced the sale of Payzone to a joint venture company established by AIB plc and First Data Corporation.

CCI’s investment in The City Bin Co. is subject to approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).

The City Bin Co. – New Sustainability Partner to Connacht Rugby

Connacht Rugby and The City Bin Co. are delighted to announce a three-year official partnership which will see The City Bin Co. take on the role of Sustainability Partner to Connacht Rugby.

The City Bin Co. has over two decades of experience in waste management and innovation and now brings this knowledge to an organization keen to place a greater emphasis on sustainability both on and off the field.

Announcing the new partnership, Head of Commercial and Marketing at Connacht Rugby Brian Mahony said: “This partnership is much more than a traditional partnership. We are committed to reducing the amount of single-use plastics and waste going into landfills and The City Bin Co.’s expertise in the field of sustainability is central to making this happen. Both Connacht Rugby and The City Bin Co. have their roots in the province and we see this as a natural partnership, to provide ongoing guidance and education not only to the team and supporters but also to the next generation of green ambassadors.”

Commenting on the exciting new partnership, Gene Browne, CEO, The City Bin Co. added: “We are excited to come on board with Connacht Rugby as Sustainability Partner for the next three years. Connacht Rugby has a long tradition and presence in local communities with a very devoted and growing fan base, but are also very aware of the legacy they want to create for the future, which is what makes the partnership such an excellent fit for us. Through various initiatives and activations, we will bring awareness in a way that is directly aligned with Connacht Rugby’s community-driven purpose.

We look forward to supporting the continued success of Connacht Rugby in the seasons ahead.”

Your old plastic bottle … reborn as a towel, bag or swimsuit

First, it was “bags for life”, chunky doormats and, more recently, clothing such as fleeces, swimwear, and pack-away macs. Now towels made from recycled plastic bottles are to go on sale in the UK for the first time in August – the latest initiative in the war against single-use plastics and the result of a technological breakthrough that has produced a fabric deemed soft and fluffy enough to use on human skin.

The new range of eco-friendly bath towels will go on sale online and at 18 branches of John Lewis in the last week of August, after nearly two years of extensive testing and work with suppliers. The polyester from the recycled plastic bottles accounts for 35% of their content, while the rest is regenerated cotton.

The bath towel is made from about 10 one-liter plastic bottles, and John Lewis says that the use of recycled rather than virgin cotton will save about five tonnes of fabric from going to landfill each year.

“It took 18 months to develop these towels with our supplier,” said Zoe Brady, John Lewis’s towel buyer. “Initially, it was hard to create the soft, luxurious feeling we wanted from recycled materials but we got there in the end. The recycled polyester makes these towels quick-drying, and the cotton means they’re highly absorbent, too.”

‘Skip Ahoy’ at Salthill Raft Race 2018

Well done to our team at the first Salthill Raft Race in aid of RNLI. ‘Skip Ahoy’ did us proud!

Eimhin Killilea & Sean Deveney were in charge of the build (which kept the sea out perfectly!) and Eimhin was joined by Louise Niemann, David O’Hanlon & Ray McDonnell as crew.

Despite being pipped for third place, ‘Skip Ahoy’ performed well for its first outing. Here’s to next year’s race!

365 Unpacked

Born in Lille in 1979, Antoine Repessé is a self-taught photographer. While working initially in public institutions, in 2012 he started freelancing. He joins the photo agency Lightmotiv where he produces for major press agencies including Le Monde, Elle, Marianne, L’Express, Géo, Causette. At the end of 2015 he leaves the agency to join the collective Views Co.

He embarked on personal projects around photojournalism inspired from socio-political issues. His travels from Lille to Romania, resulting in the production of “Bienvenue chez les Roms”, to India, and Mali with the NGO Acauped take him to further horizons.

His latest project, “365 Unpacked” is the result of all of the above. The questioning of a major society issue: the production of waste on a daily basis.

The City Bin Co. named EBA National Champions

The City Bin Co. has been named a National Champion for Ireland in The European Business Awards, sponsored by RSM; Europe’s largest business competition set up to celebrate business excellence and best practice in the European business community.

The Awards, now in its 10th year, is supported by business leaders, academics and political representatives from across Europe, and this year engaged with over 33,000 businesses from 34 countries. The City Bin Co. has been chosen after the first phase of judging by an independent panel. They were evaluated on the core EBA values of innovation, ethics and success and will now go through to the second stage of the competition, which includes a video and a public vote.

Gene Browne, CEO of The City Bin Co. on hearing the news, said “We’re very proud to be once again selected to represent Ireland as a National Champion. The European Business Awards is widely recognised as the showcase for Europe’s most dynamic companies and we are proud to be recognised at this level.”

Adrian Tripp, CEO of the European Business Awards said: “Congratulations to The City Bin Co. who have been selected to represent their country as National Champions. They are central to the success of Europe’s strong business community, and have shown the core principles we look for of innovation, ethics and success.”

The next round requires the National Champions to make a presentation video, telling their unique story and explaining their business success. The Awards’ independent judges will award the best of this group the ‘Ruban d’Honneur’ status and the selected companies will then go on to the Gala Final in 2017.

Separately, in a two stage public vote, the videos will be hosted on the European Business Awards website, and the company who receives the most votes in their country will become the ‘National Public Champion’. Last year over 227,000 votes were cast as companies were supported globally by their clients, staff and peers, as well as the general public. Lead sponsor RSM, the sixth largest network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms worldwide has supported the European Business Awards since its inception.

The Awards’ core purpose is to support the development of a stronger and more successful business community throughout Europe. Additional sponsors and partners of the Awards include UK Trade and Investment, ELITE and PR Newswire. In the 2015/16 competition, all EU member markets were represented plus Turkey, Norway, Switzerland, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Their combined revenue exceeded €1.2 trillion employing over 2.5 million people.

For further information about the winners, visit European Business Awards and RSM.