There were twenty of us again and this week. I thought I might refer you to the member Signing in Sheet and the choices of breakfast preferred by the Members. Sausage on brown was the most popular with 7 members making this choice. Toast on brown mustered 4 with sausage on white numbering 3. Two members had bacon on its own and three had bacon either on white or brown. What is the point of these statistical ruminations you might ask? Well, it shows a healthy leaning towards brown bread. The white bread was limited to a bacon sandwich for Ben Golding who also doesn’t eat his crusts! Most revealing statistic however is the politeness of Toby Acton and Matt Barry who made their requests followed by the word please! Next week I would like few more pleases….. Please! Congratulations to Toby and Matt
Further matters of note were that we had a visitor, Andy O’Neill. If he joins he will fit in well as his choice of sandwich was the majority, sausage on brown.
Apologies for the reference to matters culinary but I felt I should set the tone for a meeting that was going to have resident chef, Neil Bellham as it’s 10 minute presenter. I also thought I might bore you all to the extent that you then hungrily dive into the rest of the blog that contains the important issues that were the subject of the meeting.
The Performance League
Scott Griffiths was upbeat over what proved to be the longest February (5 Thursdays) since records began and we were rewarded with everyone scoring well in the performance league; with Scott Griffiths in 3rd place with 299 points, Toby Acton with 341 points and once again top of the tree, Matt Barry with 351 points
Education Presentation
Ben Golding gave us a demonstration of Chinese whispers. The whispered message was finally given to Tina Walker. It travelled the length of one side of the meeting and finished up with Jane Malyon. As expected it was a different message at the end than it had been at the beginning. The illustration was to highlight the importance of giving a clear message as we explain what referrals we are looking to get from our fellow members. What work do you want? who can you be introduced to? And how do you present your requirements? Members were commendably polite in observing the illustration and were rewarded with what is in fact a very sensible message.
The 60 Second Round
Howard Bullock was our adjudicator for the week and given yesterday’s budget announcements, as a financial advisor expectations were high. We were not disappointed. There is a new British ISA that tops your ISA limits for contribution per annum by £5000 . It is however limited to UK companies and you clearly need financial advice if you are going to contemplate extending your ISA investment this year. Paul Booth was spared the shoulder massage this week. Probably encouraged by his politeness in ordering his breakfast, Toby Acton was the recipient of Howard’s manipulation. His recent shoulder injury apparently was not helped by this exercise but who knows….. If it were repeated regularly it might do the trick and Howard could contemplate taking the physiotherapist chair in addition to financial advice.
James Humphreys declared his ongoing interest in burly men and women. Scaffolders and the like should make sure that their policies accurately reflect the risks that they need covering. That’s what brokers are for!
As an exercise in following the education presentation’s suggestions Terry Maylin was clear that he was looking for landlord and tenant work on behalf of landlords introduced either by landlords or their letting agents so that he can make sure that the appropriate notices are served correctly in anticipation of proceedings for possession. You couldn’t have got clearer than that!
Leann Reason was also very much on message. With the current obsession with our mental health she quite properly pointed out that the interiors of our homes can impact upon our mental health. Don’t have clutter and have a properly laid out room. Sitting in my office as I am this morning writing my blog I get it! Tidying up will take place after I have met my deadline for publishing.
Dave Roberts had also obviously listened to the education slot. He was very specific in pointing out that the referrals he was looking for this week should be concentrated on his ability to provide testing and reports relating to your electrics.
Blake Hammond at least seems to think things are warming up and if he is right you should be looking at his camping gear as an investment in carefree summer pursuits at weekends. Fellow airsoft competitor Scott Griffiths contented himself with warning of the importance of security for our e-mail traffic. Keep the ******** out of your inbox with sensibly constructed passwords.
Ben Golding was in celebratory mood, his company having reached the 1,000,000 customer mark.
By now we were ready for Howard Bullock’s deliberations which finished up rewarding Toby Acton for his tolerance of the neck massage by awarding him the Oscar for clarifying that a business plan need not be a thick tome but could be on one page and looking no further than the next 12 months dealing with basics.
This weeks statistics and points of note
A time for celebration in relation to the success of February as a business month. Interesting facts and statistics included £100,000 worth of business passed in the month, 63 referrals and today’s total was 10 £1000 worth of business passed and 63 referrals. Not bad eh!
10-minute presentation by Neil Bellham
Neil Bellum entertained us with a very sure-footed gallop through what they do, how they do it, and the various problems faced by the caterer who caters for big events both in this country and abroad. Interest also centred around his involvement as a youth with the Wide Awake Club. He even had the Mallett to prove it. It also took no encouragement for him to administer the mallet to naughty corner occupants Howard Bullock and Paul Booth. Not only was it entertaining but it also made clear exactly what he does and how he does it. Don’t be afraid to refer him for relatively small events at the weekends, Particularly out of season
Sounds like a good meeting! Sorry to have missed it and Neil’s presentation! See you all next week
Loved the Mallet’s Mallet this morning, and the whole meeting was full of positivity. Really enjoyed it.
My apologies to Toby!!!
No harm done 😀
The game of mallets mallet just goes to show what a fun bunch we are and the referral numbers go to show what a professional bunch we can be!!
A fun ed slot provided by Ben and an really interesting 10 minutes from Neil. Its more of a military operation than a catering company but his description of what he makes had us all salivating this morning.
A great meeting and worth the very early morning!
Great meeting. Mallet’s Mallet was brilliant. Neil the ten minutes was so enlightening. Going to try your air fry pizza idea. Nice to see a new face this week. Looking forward to next weeks meeting
Sorry to have unavoidably missed the meeting and Neil’s presentation. An old illustration of Ben’s ed slot is the story from the war that started “send reinforcements we are going to advance” It arrived at HQ as “send three and four pence we are going to a dance!”
The Mallet was the hero – just need someone with a mullet and it would be the perfect combo
Such a great lively meeting this morning!! Neal did an awesome 10 minute presentation and the Mallet’s Mallet demonstration was hilarious!!
Think I need to treat myself to an air fryer!!
Neil’s presentation was full of energy, flowed without notes and fascinated us all in equal measure. He also played the Mallet game brilliantly! Business also flowed and it was a great meeting – with the addition of a visitor too. Great stuff x
Another early Thursday morning but what a great meeting, great ed slot Ben, and a brilliant 10 minutes from Neil and the fun mallet game. Great to see another visitor let’s hope he joins our fabulous group. Have a great weekend and see you all next Thursday.
Well done Neil loved the Mallet’s mallet prop, a great lively meeting!
Fantastic interesting and fun 10 mins from Neil and a fun Ed Slot from Ben Ben too!