A week in the life... Connor Thomas

Connor Thomas, marketing manager at Hebburn-based ITC Service, provides an insight into his typical working week, highlighting how he balances commercial sector demands with life outside the office.

Monday: What gets you motivated for the start of the working week?

I’m obsessed with learning, and what fires me up about this role is how fast everything moves. 

If you’re not turning up ready for your preconceptions to be smashed to pieces, you’re in the wrong job.

That’s what keeps me motivated.

I don’t need a Monday boost; motivation is part of who I am because this role is relentless, unpredictable and full of chances to grow, push yourself and prove you can keep up.

Tuesday: The diary is full of meetings and commitments – how do you balance such responsibilities with productivity?

Creation before administration – I believe creative work deserves your best energy, so I tackle those tasks first and leave admin for later.

I try to group meetings into one day where possible, especially client-facing ones, so I can focus on follow-up work on other days. 

In those meetings, I aim for a great conversation and let technology handle transcription and follow-up tasks, so I can review later without distraction.

Context switching slows me down, so I group tasks by category to stay in the right mindset.

Wednesday: Halfway there – how do you stay focused and re-energise yourself for the days to come?

I have far too many hobbies – my biggest flaw is that I get passionate about everything! 

Music, specifically guitar, is my midweek reset; it helps me break up the week and recharge. 

Playing or listening gives me the same clarity as those classic ‘shower thoughts’. 

I’m terrible at sitting still, so music is my way of processing the week and keeping my head sharp.

Thursday: The weekend draws closer – how do you remain on top of your to-do list as the end of the week gets nearer?

I’ve learned to accept that at the start of every week, about 30 per cent of what I plan simply won’t get done. And that’s okay. 

In marketing, it’s normal to drop ideas or change direction on the fly. 

Even great ideas sometimes just need to be parked.

It’s not easy when you want to do everything and your brain is sprinting ahead to the next big thing, but that’s the job. Flexibility is key. 

I’m a big believer in ‘do dates,’ rather than due dates.

With a busy mind, due dates trick you into thinking you’ve got all the time in the world – right up until you suddenly don’t.  

‘Do dates’ help me avoid the inevitable deadline panic. 

Friday: The last day – how do you approach Fridays, and how do you unwind over the weekend?

Fridays are my recap and reset days, the point in the week where I take stock, clear the decks and make sure I’ve moved things forward. 

My aim is to hit about 70 per cent of what I planned, which makes the weekend feel earned.

Most weekends aren’t exactly restful either; they’re usually a different kind of busy because of my work as a musician. 

I don’t slow down too much, but I enjoy that balance.

It keeps life interesting and sets me up for the week ahead. 

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