Chairman’s Business Networking Blog Tuesday 1st October 2013.
Apologies for absence from Rosemary Cleave and absences of Stewart Oldham and Jason Nortey threatened to have us substantially down on numbers but 2 guests arrived, Neil Dobson of “Chips Away” and Perry Greenhill, a printer, made up a compliment of 10.
The Ed Slot was delivered in true style by Nige Kirby, who concentrated this week on the value of 1-2-1 meetings. In describing where they could be held he included the expression, “up the pub”. Now I tend to consider any visit to a hostelry as to going, “down the pub”. Perhaps Nigel’s pubs are always half full where as mine are invariably half empty . Your own views on the appropriate expression and the respective uses of “up” and “down” in relation to any other location would be welcome.
Nigel also won the Oscar last week and therefore was the judge and jury for this weeks 60 second round.
Robert Mayes suggested we should have an electrical test at our homes once a year. Nigel Kirby declared himself “not the cheapest plumber in the world” and Anne Clarke told of a successful ladies lunch organised by Redwood Clarke. Apparently Redwood Clarke are planning another event and “lads lunch” was one of the suggestions from the floor, treated with some distain it must be said.
Brian Painter told of an actor who had stage fright that dated back to when he was 5 years old in a school play when he played a sheep. When he had to deliver his lines shouted out “woof” rather than “baah”. Now that’s not just forgetting your lines. Its saying the wrong lines. Anyway, said thespian was duly regressed and has never forgotten his lines again. In “grownup” acting saying the wrong lines is often called improvisation; so the cure was not necessarily effective, but the man’s confidence was restored. Brian also kept us up to date with his heavy weight boxer who had also lost confidence and he apparently has recently won a fight. The next time you want to “stick one” on a neighbour or unpleasant acquaintance get over to Brian’s place and get your head straight first.
Scott Griffiths vied with Nige Kirby for the expression of the day “…there are a lot of monkeys out there…”. With this information in mind I will try and get one to attend as a visitor in one of the coming meetings to save me the embarrassment of having to wear a dress.
Jim Henshaw was slightly coy. Apparently he has a new product coming out shortly… but he would not tell us what it was. It was therefore something of a relief to have the simple message from Adam Hotson that he was available to Statutory Audits.
Synergy teams were referred to during the course of the meeting. I repeated the invitation for members of the Billericay group to attend Synergy Team meetings of the Brentwood Group in order to get an insight as to how they operate and to enable us to be ready to form our own teams when numbers increase.
Perry our visiting printer declared himself ready to attend next week and with the promise of referrals in the pipeline hopefully, he may maintain the enthusiasm he expressed to join. Let us hope that New Member November in October will produce an increased group that is ready to split up into synergy teams in the very near future.
In the 10 minute lot you were all “treated”, and I use this term loosely, to an analysis by yours truly of the role Restrictive Covenants can play in employment contracts. If any of you are slightest bit interested to review my 10 minute presentation the Quality HR website carries a Blog with the detail which also shows up on the EBF website.
Finally in the announcement section of the meeting, I extended to you all an invitation to attend with partners the EBF Christmas Dinner being arranged by the Brentwood Group at Tarrantino’s in Brentwood. It takes place on the evening Saturday 21st December 2013 . An email will come round which please answer with a yes or no and numbers if the answer is yes so that we can complete our preparations for the booking.
I will also re-circulate my email of last week giving you details of the Synergy Team meetings.
I look forward to seeing you all together with guests next week
I learned from our Chairman’s 10 min presentation that I would have a very difficult job in sacking myself without being taken to court. That reminds me of the time when just before Christmas I went out and had a few too many. A policeman asked me what was going on as I teetered from the pub. “I’ve been to a Christmas Party”, I said. “And where are the other workers?” he said. “I’m shelf himployed,” I said.
Now the vexed question about “up” or “down” the pub. Even more puzzling is when driving and you reduce speed, do slow down or slow up? Where is Confuscious when you need him?
I totally agree brian,up or down, we’re I live the pub is up the road
I have such a terrible sense of direction it doesn’t matter if I go up or down the pub, as long as I get there!
Me – coy, never………….I bet you say that to all the boys!