Chairman’s blog Thursday 11th August 2022

20 members and one visitor presented themselves attired in anticipation of a sweltering 30 degrees. At 6:30 in the morning it was of course cool but very bright. Mike Rogers arrived, partook of pre meeting bonhomie and then departed for an early meeting that had been sprung on him. Everyone else was there for the duration.

The Performance League

It is early in the month and just ahead of a cluster of others I emerged as the current leader.

Education Presentation from Toby Acton

When Toby Acton is not ‘deep diving’ or harvesting ‘low hanging fruit’ he contemplates whether his contacts look at the ‘big picture’ or view in a more detailed way problems that confront them. I knew there would be a word or words for it and there is. It’s called ‘the hierarchy of ideas’. And he felt it was important that we recognised in people who we are, for example selling to, which category they fall into and whether you have to ‘chunk up’ or ‘chunk down’. Two more phrases for the lexicon.

His presentation was both amusing and informative.

New Member Induction & Existing Member Renewal

Terry Maylin reported a 1-2-1 he has had with Allison Bean who is still available for referrals despite her current restricted circumstances.

The 60 Second Round

This week I had the pleasure of being the current Oscar holder, therefore this week’s Adjudicator.

First up was John Freeman who amongst other things confirmed that he had been hanging doors and building ramps. He built one of the latter for me and I have one of the former waiting for him to do.

Kieran Peaty is looking for new builds and given what he currently has on his books he will not have any geographic problems with their location. He was very precise and clear over his target referral group. Similarly James Humphries was equally specific looking for scaffolders and roofers amongst others, who get their hands dirty in what they do. He has had one of each this week and was able to cross reference the Ed slot as one was a ‘big picture’ man and the other more micro focus.

Toby Acton did not disappoint following his subtly jargoned Ed slot. To be further added to my lexicon was his declaration that he is not sector ‘agnostic’ or geographically ‘agnostic’. If Kieran Peaty had followed Toby I’m sure he would have used ‘agnostic’ in the geographic sense. It is close to a  religious prognostication when Terry Maylin advocates mediation to his clients as a prelude to court action. He is currently applying this to a building dispute. Mediation is a tool of the solicitor litigator. Website designers have a sales tool that is known as an e-mail signature. Don’t expect me to explain it to you, contact Scott Griffiths and get him to introduce you to it.

Brian Painter had good news for a client of his, namely that said client did not have a fear of flying even though he thought he did. Similar feelings of panic apparently associated themselves in his client’s mind with going into lifts and going on trains which established the bad news, his problem was claustrophobia. No problem for our Pilgrim however, whatever the problem he will cure it

This week Jane Malyon rhymes with rapscallion which makes a change. Apparently  afternoon tea week Is fast approaching  and she has he an event on the 17th September 2022 to celebrate it.

So far as the Oscar award was concerned, this week there were two that particularly caught my eye. Mike Hickson gave us some memorable dates. 1981 saw the first PC, 1985 saw the introduction of windows and 1989 the World Wide Web. Pride of place however was 1993 when he first set up his business. He then was able to supply services that dealt with matters appertaining to items 1,2 and 3 above. He was only pipped to the post by Ben Golding who by way of tribute to Olivia Newton John sang about some of the benefits of Utility Warehouse. Because he’s good at it, it sounded great as well as amusing. Congratulations Ben.

Meeting Secretaries Report

It was as if Scott Griffiths was giving a presentation on behalf of Mike Skinner’s attesting to his skills as a photographer but, his point was the members need to make sure they have a photograph on the members page of the website. There are some who have been members for some time who as yet do not smile out at us when we go to that particular page. Get on to Mike to get your photograph done or even, in the case of members with existing photographs, to get it touched up. I believe that is the technical term.

Synergy Team Report

Paul Booth’s finance team meeting on Tuesday afternoon was well attended and confined itself to reviewing the potential visitors that can be approached in relation to our September guest fest.

10-minute presentation by Paul Booth

Following on from the synergy team report Paul Booth gave us an illustrated run through personal taxation. He introduced the unlikely Mr and Mrs Ted. Unlikely because they were stuffed furry animals and because Mrs Ted was in fact a rabbit. This unlikely cross species union however received good sound advice from Paul as to how the self-employed teddy bear could reconstruct his electricians business model to benefit from his doe eyed wife’s clerical skills. Don’t expect me to explain the financial intricacies that were presented to the Teds. Just consult or refer for a consultation anyone in a similar situation to Paul. They do not have to be stuffed, be animals, or sit uncomfortably on a chair together. Great presentation!

Referrals and Testimonials

The Naughty Corner produced for us 100% attendance and they kicked the round off. Good business was done and the following Referral Reality Check confirmed the effectiveness of last week’s round.

Speakers Prize

Brian Painter was selected as the beneficiary of a rather blushing prosecco which if suitably chilled should help stave off the effects of the hot weather.