Chairman’s Business Networking Blog Thursday 21st July 2016.
A slightly cooler morning than yesterday’s scorcher brought out members in plenty. 24 in attendance and 1 second time visitor Paul Durrant.
Whenever the meeting has 22-25 people there is a buzz that is missing otherwise. It also brought out the usual summertime sartorial successes. There were shorts a plenty. Main protagonists for the battle for the classiest shorts were Richard Reed, Steve Roach, Scott Griffiths and Howard Bullock. Although Howard Bullock is a practised bare legger, pride of place must go to Scott with a rather nicely tailored checked pair. I was proud to sit next to him.
Opening act of the meeting following breakfast was to award Alan Shaw his certificate for winning the Good Egg Award. He almost did not get up to the front because he was collecting up plates. His willingness to turn his hands to scullery duties is one of the reasons he was such a popular winner. He was not wearing shorts. He was wearing what has now become his customary white hunter outfit. Last week’s other white hunters were missing but Jill Willis ought to be very careful with her leopard skin attire. If ever Alan Shaw was to turn up with a 12 bore to illustrate as prop she should run for cover.
Jill Willis, safe for the moment, presented the Ed Slot and emphasised the importance of member testimonials and how these can used to good effect. She also suggested that the first Thursday of September be Testimonial day and we review testimonials we could have made and make them available on that day for all the various members who have done a good job for us or our contacts over the previous months. I suggest you all start looking things out now.
There were 1 or 2 props floating around during the 60 second round. David Plumley produced a Naz which could store 4 hard drives. From a sartorial point of view he should be complimented on his pouch worn with rust coloured trousers. Jo Eastwood produced crisps for all of us which, once you had salted them were really nice. I am not sure that was the point but never mind.
What of the School of Whimsy this week.
Alan Shaw was on message but had some curious projects; houses at Chanells Golf Club, a beauty Parlour, the garage I told you about last week that is to be converted into a house and problems he has had with a room in a roof. He cautioned patience, which is what you really needed to take in the various bits of information that he was throwing out as us. He was not helped by the air conditioning unit that was making us pleasantly cool but creating a steady noise that we had to shout above.
Nick Cooke continued his series of breaking down what he does. Last week he referred to steel beams….. yes that’s right, not to stealing beams but steel beams. Well this week, whilst such steel beams can form an essential part of structural repairs and he reminded us that he administers structural repair contracts. If you do not think this is very uplifting, then his partner in Whimsy,Brian Painter had a sad tale of a lady who came to see him with her mother and managed to smile twice and laugh once. Apparently this was unusual, so unusual that she told her psychiatrist about it and he told her to have nothing to do with hypnotherapists including our Pilgrim. The one thing that Brian can do is make you laugh and smile and more than once or twice… …very strange!
The Naughty Corner did not live up to its reputation. Stuart Smallcombe was very on message, he outlined the 3 basic parts to what he can supply: 1. Telephone Lines to the building, 2. Cabling to the specific locations in the building, 3. Telephones.
Howard Bullock was not much better. He was helping a client with early retirement to generate further income. He was looking for anyone who has had an unexpected windfall. Oh yes I forgot to mention, his client was a fireman taking early retirement. I assume that this was with a bad back which is how most of the firemen that I have known over the years have come to retire early.
Things brightened up a bit when Michael Adelizzi told about his team that worked on installing bathrooms. He reeled off the names and people and who worked with who. As there were 5, there was one poor guy, I think his name was Lee, who worked on his own. He was awarded the Oscar in recognition of the slickness of the roll call that he presented in describing the various members of the team.
No 60 second round would be complete without Richard Reed who is producing good a quality cruise over both Christmas and New Year. The problem with going on a cruise for Christmas is that although you are getting away from friends and family you finish up having to celebrate Christmas with people you do not know, a lot of whom will be geriatric and the rest will have personal problems that make them want to escape from the Country over Christmas or New Year. Don’t let me put you off however. His 3 City stay in Italy at less than £500.00 per head sounds well worth looking at.
Our 10 minute presentation was slightly different this week. David Plumley helped advance recruitment by handing out leaflets that he had collected of various trades and businesses looking for clients and customers. Let’s see if we can follow these up, send out some electronic invites and entice various unsuspecting business owners through our doors. As he handed out the leaflets he talked about “pump primers” ….the idea is you might have to suck or blow to get something going. I think it was a metaphor or some sort but I have to say it left me more puzzled than primed.
We then had a referrals and testimonials round when 25 referrals were passed. This was only 1 referral per member but it just go to show how the more of us there are the more opportunities there are for referrals and business wthout any exceptional effort by any one individual.
Finally, as I mentioned earlier in this Blog, our Pilgrim can make you laugh and certainly make you smile. He has in his guise as social secretary something interesting lined up for us all that involves rooms somewhere in Southend. Keep your eye open for his email which will no doubt make it clearer.
I look forward to seeing you all next week.
First commenter! great meeting and thanks for all the referrals. see you after my hols.
I’d like you to now address me as Matty Barry please. It’s official – it’s my new EBF name! (well accordingly to me sparkly new name badge!)
I’m delighted that it was such a great meeting as it offset the shock of seeing Brian walk in half-naked (i.e. without a tie)!
Excellent reply Matty Barry welcome to the blog! Great meeting despite (or in spite) of no 10 minute speaker…dont forget to send out those invites that David found for you all to do!
Don’t forget Google reviews folks, and Facebook!
Great meeting always learn something else that I should be doing for my business thanks guys ???
Let’s be optimistic that the new approach will bring in quality visitors. Anybody have an ad posted by an inventor?
I’m sure that I saw an ad from a Psychiatrist who was looking for a hypnotherapist somewhere … I’ll pass it onto Brian.
Well done to Jill and Scott for their tremendous effort in getting the new training modules ready for us, module no. 2 is winging its way to Michael right this minute 🙂