Chairman’s Business Networking Blog Tuesday 28th January 2014
Following virtually a 100% strike rate on visitor conversion from those who attended last week’s meeting we were 21 members in number together with Paul Lefever an electrician visiting us for the first time.
Commiserations and congratulations to those who managed to turn up after a severe touch of the Montezuma’s apparently picked up at last week’s meeting; it just shows how you should watch who you kiss or shake hands with!! A problem particularly for people who attend orgies or go to networking meetings.
As you hopefully become regular readers of this Blog, you will find we always try and put a cheerful spin on everything and the thought that 11 or so of us have had that much needed boost to the New Year diet would appear to be a positive that can be taken from the whole sorry affair.
Because of our wealth of new members the decision was taken to provide educational offerings rather than the 10 minute presentation. That coupled with Nige Kirby’s Education Slot at the beginning of the meeting perhaps created a slight information overload but, as they say, no gain without pain.
The Business Card Box went round the table and came back burgeoning with cards from all of you. Later we had a referrals round that produced 18 referrals which was a good effort from such a newly constituted group.
One thought for your consideration and comment to this Blog arose from Nige Kirby’s Ed Slot. He referred use the expression “… go up the pub…”. Now as a man who does not go beyond Romford he probably sees the world beginning at Romford and going upwards. Now me, I always feel that I “…go down the pub…”. Your thoughts please ladies and gentlemen.
So we hit the 60 second round. One or two little gems arose.
Richard Willis who was promoting marketing “off line” referred amongst other things to “lapsed” customers. Beware of those who regard their business as something of a religion. Stuart Mence the MD at the Gold Club revealed that there was a dog buried under the 18th green. A prelude no doubt to the 19th where you can get a hair of the dog.
Mark Heath, our French Polisher revealed amongst other things that he travels abroad in connection with his work. You would think that a commission in France would be a bit like taking coals to Newcastle.
Brian Painter spared you anything blood curdlingly descriptive regarding the effects of smoking. This was simply to lull you all into a false sense of security. Beware of his contribution next week…don’t say you have not been warned!
Nige Kirby is always keen to warn of referrals that will not work for him in additional to anything South of Romford. Really small jobs that take him some distance, clearly are uneconomic. His example was to simply fix a tap. Your challenge guys to find him a job where he can fix several taps.
Adam Hotson, the holder of the Oscar finally awarded this week’s prize to Iain Martin well done Iain.
There followed an Educational 10 minute slot and you all did remarkably well to appear interested, if not fascinated throughout. I am afraid you will get more of the same next week but then business as usual.
It is normal practice, following the 10 minute presentation, that when the referrals and testimonials round takes place the 10 minute presenter acts as “runner” in passing round the referrals and thanks for the money slips. In the absence of a 10 minute speaker we had perhaps the most appropriate volunteer Mark Waller. It needed the Taxi Driver to accurately deliver the relevant bits of paper to all the new faces. It was a fine effort in navigation. Well done Mark.
To all new members I hope you enjoyed your first full meeting. Please feel free to add your comments either to the content of this Blog, in particular the direction that you normally take when you go to the pub or generally in relation to the meeting.
I look forward to seeing you all next week.
Good meeting, welcome again to the new members, looking forward to working with you all. If there are any education subjects you would like me to talk about please let me know..Nige
I agree – another great meeting and so good to see all the new members back in force. I reckon what’d be great for an education slot would be “the anatomy of a 60 second presentation”, i.e. what all of the new members should be trying to say each week?
Very successful meeting. with so many new members. As experienced networkers will know, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Super meeting and well worth the early start…..though I do feel guilty being able to leave home at 6.25am! Very good point by Scott…..it isnt always that easy to say what you need to in 60 seconds! Looking forward to meeting everyone again next week and getting to know everyone better
In agreement as a great meeting. As I am new to networking then a great idea as to what to include in the 60 second round as I am sure I am not getting the full message across. Also for all new members it may be a good idea to expand on the content for the 10 minute slot in order to make the most of the opportunity. Look forward to meeting everyone and providing referrals to the group. So far this week all good re healthwise after last weeks extreme dieting. As for the comment I personally ‘go to the pub’
Great meeting, and welcome to all the new members. Look forward to seeing you all next week.
I’m confident that the Billericay group will soon be vying with its big brother in Brentwood regarding membership numbers, referrals and business generated. There’s already a good comeraderie developing. Looking forward to next week.
Welcome and well done to everybody at the Billericay meeting. It certainly looks like a lively group and I wish you every success. I look forward to meeting some of you in the near future
Thanks Aidan for your humerous blog… and sadly I was one of the 11 affected by the dreaded bug that spread the group; thankfully this hasn’t put me off and I’m raring to go and looking forward to next week (even having to get up at silly-o’clock)
Thank you to all in the group who have made me feel very welcome and I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and what they do so we can really push those referrals into business!
Pleased to inform you that we’ve already turned a referral from last week into an order!
Good luck to everyone for 2014!