This week we were treated to three visitors one of which was a truly inspirational guest speaker who is shortly to row around the circumference of the UK. That’s 1800 miles!
Otherwise lots of fun in todays meeting and some great new business opportunities shared too.
Education Presentation
This was presented by Howard Bullock who advocated being “in your flow” when conducting business.
The basic message was that if you stay in your comfort zone and outsource other matters you will be more productive and more effective.
The 60 Second Round
This week I found it difficult to spot a theme. Stuart Smallcombe and Matt Barry, who were recently returned from holiday where they had met up and even managed to persuade someone to take a photograph of them, both seemed slightly shell shocked. Stuart Smallcombe told of a massive project, a new school which sounded like a modern day borstal, now that is a massive project. Matt Barry said he had lots of things going on but really found it difficult to remember who he was, let alone what they were….was this the sign of premature ageing.
Of our more senior members who are also members of the School of Whimsy one of their number, Nick Cooke, was missing, but in his absence Alan Shaw rose to his feet and once again declared that he designed buildings. This departure from the usual Whimsical approach was quickly followed by an explanation which involved a hotel in Walton, that he had recently visited a design show and that this had been very good.It was not entirely clear why it was very good but he travelled up to London in the evening to attend. It was clearly more inspirational than tiring as he was there before us. Brian Painter also did his bit by telling of a lady who suffered from claustrophobia. Her sister was getting married in Dubai and she would have to fly. He went on to describe various members of her family who were all disapproving that she might not be turning up all threatening to disown her. Not only did that sound like a blessing but it might even resolve the claustrophobia. Brian promised to keep us updated.
The Naughty Table was back to its naughty self with all the regular suspects sat round hoping for something disruptive. They all told of naughty things they had been up to. Howard Bullock had been rationalising an array of pensions. Dean Caldon had been giving advice on investment properties and Alan Moller had been giving free overviews of property for people buying. He asserted (not for the first time) that you “..,you can’t polish a turd…”. The implication was that his free evaluation of a property would enable a prospective purchaser to decide whether the prospective premises could be polished or not. Mike Rogers followed David Plumley who had been telling of curmudgeonly annoyances. It was a natural follow on…..Mr Rogers did however slightly veer towards the Whimsical when he said he was looking for first time buyers to be, presumably someone who was not looking to buy at the moment…he has been behaving rather strangely of late.
As if to lend her support to the Naughty Table Carmen Jane explained her pleasure in taking portrait photographs and finally demonstrated this by producing a portrait photograph of the chief rabble rouser Howard Bullock, looking to all intents and purposes master of all he surveyed which of course he is.
Best of the rest was Jo Eastwood with a magnum of an Australian brew know as “the Chocolate Block”
At a price of £54,00 more than one of us exclaimed ”…strewth…”.
If Stuart Smallcombe and Matt Barry seemed somewhat affected by their recent holiday the same could also be said of Terry Maylin who wanted to go a stage further than his customary giving to debtors a good kicking. Having been away at a location near the coast he is now talking about water boarding…not surfing. It puts a whole new meaning to businessmen trying to “keep their heads above water”.
Lee Scarff was the most sensible pointing out that if we are proposing not to use our boilers during the summer we might consider a service at an early stage rather than waiting for the boiler to break down when it is switched on after the winter.
It was finally Scott Griffiths who earned the Oscar by claiming that he has been tracking pixels. A sort of IT equivalent of being off with the fairies. It is apparently the way that you get in front of your audience. Stuart Smallcombe was so impressed that he awarded him the Oscar.
Before he did however we were treated to a bit of magic from one of our guests. Robert Newson produced his cards and a trick that enabled him to guess “the seven of hearts”. Please come back.
This weeks statistics and points of note
23 members present
3 visitors: John Freeman for his last visit; next week he will be a member. First time visitor Robert Newson bringing a little magic to the meeting and Laura Try guest speaker due to row round Britain in June.
Current leader in the performance league: Paul Booth.
25 referrals passed
10 minute guest speaker – Laura Try
Laura Try was introduced to the group as a guest speaker by Steve Roach and she stunned us all with a presentation that fully illustrated her strength both mentally and phisically. She has to raise another £5,000 for her row around the British Isles. She thinks will take about 56 days during which time she will have no access to any of Michael Adelizzi’s very comfortable toilets. 56 days sitting on a bucket being tossed around by the Irish Sea and the North Sea puts her efforts into context. To a person were we inpressed and a dimpled pint beer glass was filled after her presentation to the tune of £237.00. We hope she will come back and see us when she has completed her feat of endurance.
Fabulous meeting again everyone and what an inspiration Laura is, great 10 minutes from her and I wish her the very best of luck with the challenge ahead. see you next week.
Row, row, row your business gently round the UK. Nice to be back (sort of!). BTW Scott, I think I found one of your missing pixels…
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Brilliant, thanks Matt. Was it the Google pixel or the Facebook pixel, as both of them fell off my hand as I sat down?
Google. I’ve just found the Facebook one though…
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could I have them both back then please. Maybe put them in the post?
they’re mine now!
I am going to take of the internet
mmmmmwwwwahahahahahah!!
A really enjoyable meeting. Good to see another new member joining us (John the Handyman). Also great to catch-up with my old school buddy Robert Newson. He’s got a business thats designed perfectly for a 60 second presentation!
Lets hope that next weeks meeting attracts lots of visitors and we can build an even more effective networking group.
Thanks Laura for making me feel completely inadequate!
What do I do? I mean what DO I do?
What to I contribute?
What am I for?
I’m rubbish! RUBBISH!!!
Anyway. Good luck & all that!
It must almost be time for the Annual Bare leg athong isn’t it ?
Great, lively meeting
Excellent to have such a positive visiting speaker
Hi Guys & Gals, it was a genuine pleasure to meet a young person who, I must say, I relate to in many ways, I wish her the very best with her endeavours, well done Laura!
Also, I would just like to thank the group, for accepting me into it, the very 1st meeting I attended, joining was my intention, and hoped to become a member, the potential shone out.
I sore straight away that the group works for each of its members, and I truly look forward to becoming a more integrated part of the group, not only to gain business, (I thank you all for your enquiries to date) but to bring you all business too!
I genuinely look forward to getting to know you all much better.
Thankyou ALL
great meeting – I’ve missed you guys & gals…sort of?…
Great meeting and i agree what an inspiration Laura is… puts my piddling fund raising efforts to shame… Welcome to John and hopefully get to know more about his business as time goes on and looking forward to a great open meeting next week!
I cant agree with that Terry. Your efforts to raise money are fantastic and no doubt gratefully received. Why don’t you ask Laura if you can attach your bike to the boat and you could add some pedal power. Well done mate.
This was a really enjoyable meeting and what a relief to get away from the naughty table into a much more refined group. Robert was excellent I wish him all the best in his new business, its handy that John has joined and Laura was inspiring. I left with a smile on my face. Thanks everyone.
It was a meeting with a buzz! Good luck, Laura, don’t catch any crabs! Looking forward to a bumper attendance next week, bet there won’t be enough roof to swing a pixel
Scott – I think you need to house your pixel family in pixel farm. I hear it is very easy to make one using an old lemonade bottle. gravel and sand.
Yet another excellent meeting, a real buzz about it. New member on board, great 60 seconds, inspirational guest speaker (and good luck Laura) what’s not to like about EBF.
Looking forward to our visitors day next week on 27th April.