Brentwood EBF Business Networking Blog

Chairman’s Business Networking Blog Thursday 14th November 2013.

26 in all including Jeni Pritchard for the last time as a visitor and Mark Reynolds of Group Trader Network Limited.

A good turnout heralded a fitting send off for Jason Nortey, attending his last meeting before moving to pastures new. I start the Blog by referring to him even though his send off was a presentation immediately before the Referrals Round. It was a great meeting befitting a farewell to someone who has been one of our best members over the last few years and fitting tributes were paid to him during the Referrals Round. Amongst other things he was presented with an Oscar to remember us by.

I said the meeting was a fitting tribute to Jason. This was true in all aspects of the meeting.

The Education Slot

This was delivered by Marcelle Saad, fresh from her 4 week sojourn in South Africa. She referred to businesses where your word was your bond and likened this to the referral marketing that we are all involved in. She emphasised the importance of asklng yourself whether you can deliver on your promises made in your 60 seconds, reflecting on whether you have indeed delivered in recent commissions received through referrals, and making sure you do not overstate what you are able to do. It is interesting to have different members deliver the Education Slot. It produces a difference perspective. It was a good piece well delivered.

The 60 second round

Again this lived up to all the expectations we have of the 60 second round. The predicted upturn in the economy by the Bank of England prompted Howard Bullock, Mike Rogers and Dean Caldon to emphasise the effect that upturn is having on investments, mortgages, and the lettings market respectively. Mike Rogers produced the slightly tongue twisting description of a lending product “…Fees Free Five Year Fixed… “.

Graham Wright is back with us with his bionic hip. So enthusiastic was he that he stood up to deliver his 60 second when Graham Thurston was called. Not having been to EBF for some weeks he has clearly got out of the habit of not being the only person called Graham in a room at any one time. It was nice to see our bionic man moving freely and in a pain free way.

Alan Shaw did his profession proud. He told of a slightly bizarre commission to build a continuous stair case up a tower. No doubt he drew inspiration from his stint as the RIBA rep. at an Anglia University open day where it would appear he stifled over enthusiasm by students wishing to take up the Architectural Profession.

Kevin Radford was very pleased with himself, having arranged underpinning insurance in under an hour and half, as was Richard Reed, telling of a substantial price reduction that he obtained for a customer. He also told of a really good deal, five nights in a hotel in Dubai with sea view for 999. Any suggestions as to what 999 means or indeed what currency it might be in? Anyway, it’s apparently a good deal!! Brian Painter was even more pleased with himself having received a complimentary email from one of his clients who had been suffering bullying at work. Sensibly, instead of coming to see a lawyer, she went to see him. She now apparently sings his praises from the roof tops. Richard Reed should be arranging a holiday for her in Muslim country where such singing would pass unnoticed.

To Tina Walker, the award of the quote of the meeting…”the price of freedom is only a phone call away“.

Just to show I was listening; the topaz is a semi precious stone and is not only the stone for November but also for 14th and 19th Wedding Anniversaries. It comes in many colours from Blue to Gold and is found in the USA, Mexico and Brazil. You can find them as big as a football. When they are that size, you presumably wear them round your ankle. Marcelle always provides lots of information, which is also true of Michael Adelizzi who gave us a walk through his shop. Ian Buckley also gave us a quick breakdown of what they did and the work that he was looking for. For this clear explanation he was awarded the Oscar by Nick Cooke, who not only has 20/20 vision as a result of his recent eye surgery but also looks well groomed and clean following work carried out to his shower by Michael Adelizzi. If anybody doubted the power of EBF…

Synergy Team Meeting

Paul Booth reported on the Finance/Professions Synergy Team Meeting on Tuesday 12th October. This very successful meeting had apparently three interesting occurrences.

1. The Ivory Rooms, where we meet, was serving new caramel muffins which were “exceedingly good”.

2. I managed to stay awake until 5 minutes from the end of the meeting when sheer boredom overtook me.

Can anyone remember what the third thing was that Paul mentioned. Please give your answers in your comments to this Blog.

The 10 Minute Presentation

It was Kim Redwood Lee’s turn to deliver the 10 minute presentation. She risked the projector and gave us a good run down of the business, its development and current personnel. Well presented and a helpful guide to assist us in looking for referrals.

Another question for you all to answer in your Comments. Kim stated that there was someone that she had never had an argument with nor had a bad thought about. Was this:

1. Her husband to be
2. One of her daughters
3. Her business partner Anne Clarke.

The Referrals and Testimonials Round

As stated above, the referrals and testimonial round was preceded by presentations to Jason and quite rightly the testimonial part of the referrals and testimonial round provided considerable accolade from all members for his contribution to the group.

If part of the referrals round was a farewell to Jason the other part was also outstanding, namely the referrals and business passed figures

There were 34 referrals and a total of £95,480 of recorded business. Last month was a record month for business recorded, being in excess of £140,000. We appear to have reached this figure after only 2 weeks. No doubt Scott will remind us of the precise figure so far this month, a great effort.

Announcements

Inevitably the meeting ran late. In the announcements section Scott confirm that the 19th December Meeting will contain a Secret Santa section. You all bring a present suitably wrapped to the value of approximately £10 and non-alcoholic, this gift also should not be gender specific. If as a result of the aforementioned description there are those of you who have no ideas, consult your wives, partners or anybody else who gets involved in buying presents that are non alcoholic. This wrapped present will be distributed during the festivities of that immediately pre Christmas meeting where we will also be treated to Brian Painters quiz. Yes you know, the one where you argue about the question as much as the answer.

Terry Maylin also announced the fact that the Christmas Dinner has now been booked and requested all £10 per person deposits to be paid to Paul Booth. He will also be sending round the menu so we can pre book and indeed in due course pre pay so that all is left on the night will be to pay for the drink. How well organised is that ?!

Finally, after having accolades quite rightly heaped upon him and farewells having been given to Jason may I also take this opportunity of welcoming Jeni Pritchard who is to be his replacement. We all look forward to welcoming you to the next meeting when you will be flying solo.