Chairman’s Business Networking Blog, Thursday 21st August 2014.
Once again our ranks were depleted by the holiday season but we mustered 17 including Alex Pink who is with us for the last time as a visitor.
Nonetheless the sun was shining, there had been good networking before the breakfast. This week we had an Ed Slot delivered by Terry Maylin who gave us a welcome reminder of not only the importance of the 60 second round, particularly when coupled with regular attendance, but also pointers on presentation which we should bear in mind.
With Terry’s presentation ringing in our ears we launched into the 60 second round.
Alan Shaw, back from a holiday which could have been a safari wasn’t, sported a beige suit, appeared somewhat refreshed, and launched into tales of bed and breakfast in Norfolk, a swimming pool filtered by reeds and a plea for clients looking for design and/or refurbishment.
Dean Caldon was back and decided on a prop, actually 2 props being 2 serviettes. One folded up to make a building and the other folded to make the roof. The real thing ( a house that is) is his stock in trade and this week he focused, as required by Terry in the Ed Slot, on the service he provided to landlords when letting. The same prop then passed down the table and Neal Lewer illustrated to what he puts his furniture into and Kevin Radford borrowed the same rather overworked prop to show amongst other things what he insured. He did treat us to a little rhyme however with his characters Jack and Jill who were suffering travel trauma.
Talking about travel, Richard Reed pointed out that he had business cards with 9 different scenes. I thought he would go on to offer a prize for those who collected all 9 or at least an indication that there was an album available for them, but no such thing.
Although he had not been on his holidays, Michael Adelizzi had ventured to Burnham on Crouch to tile a hallway and a dining room…he does get about!
No 60 seconds is complete without Brian Painters offering. This week by way of explanation, he illustrated how powerful our brain was by explaining that the sub conscious looked after us. Helping us to create a scab if we are bleeding and other various benefits to make sure we survive adverse incidents during our lives. The saying of the meeting came from him…”if your bits stop working, you die!!”
Certain contributions were puzzling. Alex Pink referred to premiums, freemiums and the funnel effect. I feel he will be a member I can rely on in future for material for this Blog.
Scott Griffiths deservedly won the Oscar by using himself as a prop. His 60 second started with him hiding under the table and finished up with him standing on his chair…something about visibility or lack of it when presenting yourself to the world.
I think the 60 second round could be have been described a lively.
The 10 minute presentation was given by Gary Waskett on behalf of Anthony Batty and was particularly interesting when he gave us details of his early career. There was the exotic, porcelain and shipwrecks. There was good news/bad news in that he was a manager for Barclays having responsibility for several branches (the good news) and was based in… (Harlow), yes you got it, the bad news. He then went on to precisely clarify the roles Anthony Battty could fill and this will hopefully result in a few more referrals winging his way. Anthony Batty does business with some of us on a regular basis anyway but if the rest of us could look out for accountants for example who could make referrals, this was the essence of his message.
A very confident and well presented presentation.
Given the low numbers business passed figures stood up for this week; 14 referrals and £9,032.00 worth if business written.
A message to those of you who are still on holiday, I hope you have had a relaxed time. Please ensure that you turn up bright eyed and bushy tailed next week.
Holiday season def. taking it’s toll – and most are nothing to do with me!! Inspired use of impromptu prop by Dean but lost out to the resident bard yet again, harsh.
Glad my education slot prompted some thought about your 60 seconds shame more of you were not there to hear it…
lets have a really busy buzzing meeting this week. looking forward to it!
A productive networking group and a great use of time on an early Thursday morning!