Chairman’s Blog – Business Networking Meeting Thursday 14th February
24 present – 23 members and 1 guest, Chris Holmes of AD2000 Services Limited.
Slightly lower than usual attendance brought about perhaps by absent members stealing some Valentines Day duvet time. I think all of those who attended the meeting would agree that we discovered something that was better than sex………….well almost!!
I will do my best to try and sustain the aforementioned myth by describing the excitement of the meeting as best I can.
The Education Slot was well presented by Terry Maylin who illustrated the importance of communication in our day to day business lives. It was a well focused short presentation which helps demonstrate the value, gained from Lowry, different contributors from time to time in this section of the meeting.
In keeping with Valentines Day the theme for the 60 seconds was why we love our business. Examples of the infatuation various of the members had with their business stretched from Chris Sadler’s motor bike that makes him the mobile photographer he is, but on a morning when he had to travel through the rain he found himself with a leaking crotch. Alan Shaw loved designing things and declared at the end of his 60 seconds that he loved us all. Claire Greenslade produced a cap and declared a passion rather than a love for her business. Everybody usefully changed places and sat in a different part of the meeting than usual. Graham Thurston said that he must love his business because he has been at it for 46 years. He declared himself on the dark side (of the table that is) for the first time. John Probert is starting to believe his company’s statistics by suggesting that the thing that his customers love most is their bill. Oh dear……… Scott Griffiths loves getting in to the skin of his Clients and his first thought was working for funeral directors. To be fair his preference apparently was a Client who sold lingerie. Neil Lewer loves working with wood and Michael Adelizzi would love us to come and see the kitchens that he has on show at his premises and has invited us to bring our families along. Do we bring our food and cook it there was the question that the 60 second round would not allow us all to ask.
The prize for the most confused message this week probably should go to Brian Painter who told us of a woman who brought her 14 year old daughter to him….not a good start!! but it all became clear when he explained that she had a fear of doing double somersaults. This is a fear that most of us could perhaps live with, but this young girl was, of course, a gymnast. Perhaps it was Valentines Day that induced an excess of information from our Pilgrim with a final declaration at the end of his 60 seconds that he did not wear pyjamas. Sanity was restored by the award of the Oscar to Richard Reed who clearly loves his job, but also was very clear as to the Clients that he was looking for this week.
The Power Group round has started for this month and Paul Booth reported on the Professions Group meeting that had 1 guest and produced 10 in attendance. Whilst this did not exactly set our blood rushing the 10 minute spot was occupied by Howard Bullock whose biography described him as “The Office Eye Candy” and that one of his pastimes is diving. Someone was heard to remark that this perhaps explained his wonderful physique. He chose to deliver his 10 minutes by sinking his Adonis like frame into an easy chain and explaining financial matters to us as if we were all sat round the fire side. As always his 10 minutes was an accomplished performance and when he finished we all declared that we had loved it.
On a more practical level, what many of us really loved was the amount of business that we recorded this week – £52,896.00. That coupled with 29 referrals passed meant that as a reduced meeting we were certainly punching above our weight.
Our guest departed with a Membership Application Form so all in all our Valentines Day meeting whilst perhaps not quite soaring to the giddy heights of first love was all in all very satisfying.
Next week is our second anniversary meeting – no excuses for non-attendance. Let’s have a full turn out and celebrate another successful year drawing to a close.
In the absence of anything important to add, I would like to suggest that in Howard’s next 10 minutes, he wears his full diving regalia.
have I got a surprise for you all next week…. Actually it’s not a surprise ‘cos I’m going to tell you now!
I’ve just requested that we have Fried Eggs instead of Scrambled. Ooh I am so excited!!!!!!! Don’t every say that I don’t celebrate birthday parties properly.
Also, on a more serious note, Aidan Squire, Kevin Brooks and I will be playing a round of golf at 9:30 following our meeting. There is one additional space in our tee-time so if you are interested in joining us please let me know.
I’m already in the dog house for sneaking out in the wee small hours without wishing my good lady a Happy Valentines Day. Heaven alone knows what will happen if she discovers that the meeting is in anyway sex related, let alone better than sex.
Good meeting as always and great figures for business passed – just what we want to see.
I hope we have a full house for our second birthday. Who could resist the prospect of winning a prize AND having a Scott’s egg!
If the mention of a fried egg doesnt get a full attandance next week nothing will !! Good meeting, great figures.
Slushy valentines lay ins??!
Chance would have been a fine thing what the giant tonsils I had Thursday morning.
Although those scrambled eggs in bed would have gone down a treat.
See you all next week 😉
I’d be happy to Paul only I fear such a sight would make the ladies (& some of the gentlemen) swoon!
Sorry……………….. I think I should have written “vomit!”
We now need a vigorous debate on fried eggs.
1. Fresh organic eggs
2. Fried in a mixture of good olive oil and butter
3. Yolk still runny … but whites just done
4. served on rye toast [Village Bakery Russian is a good choice] … or a nice rustic crusty toast
Yum!
You cant have a fried egg without a good dollop of sauce which reminds me did you hear the one about the red sauce chasing the brown sauce – He couldnt Ketch-up .
Another full -on meeting very enjoyable and a fantastic amount of business passed.
Hi – Thank you to all members of the EBF for your warm welcome over my two visits. I think the format of the meeting’s are just right and the opportunities are endless. I’m sure over the next few meets I’ll understand what you all bring to the table and utilise this information whilst i conduct my own client meeting’s whilst maximising the referrals i can bring to the forum. Once again a big thank you to all. Chris