Such a glorious morning deserved a great turnout and it got exactly what it deserved. At one time there were 25 souls present; 22 Members, repeat visitors and about to joint Members, Colin O’Connor and Sarah Bell and former Member Quiller Hawkins. And what, you might ask, became of the Banana Bunch. Well this week it numbered 10 and the accolade of Top Banana went to Colin O’Connor who produced his banana in the form of banana loaf. Congratulations to all who made the effort.
The Performance League
Howard Bullock is way out front with over 300 points. He leads the field in what has also been an excellent month for business recorded given the lockdown, namely £40,000, a great effort by everyone.
Education Presentation
It was Matt Barry who produced this week’s intellectual encouragement. He produced a slide show to illustrate the need and importance of keeping in touch with your clients and customers. “Be human” “give it the personal touch” and be willing to offer an ear to those struggling. Keep your employees in the loop and stay positive. Because he appeared on our screens we knew that he was not “Sniffing a line” so he must have had a runny nose but we all stayed positive.
The 60 Second Round
Senior Member of the Banana Bunch, Vincent Goode was awarding the Oscar so he went first and told us he had been producing court bundles for solicitor.
David Plumley was with us and business is creeping back up.
Matt Barry illustrated his current contract with Brentwood Council, getting over the message of social distancing as things start opening up… slowly
Toby Acton thinks we will be ok in Q3 and that it will be a “game changer”. Once we had all worked out what “Q” was it all made sense…..
Things remain frustrating for Richard Reed but a conversation with a client with depressive tendencies cheered him up no end, whilst Brian Painter has frustratingly chasing leads to no effect.
Social distancing as offices open will produce an “in” for Stuart Smallcombe. Simon Essex 60 seconds was totally disrupted by his dog not being able to hold it in. It apparently threw up just as Simon was about to address us which led Paul Dulieu to exclaim against the current political “dogs dinner” of mixed advice and example coming from our leaders. Epigram of the week “do quickly what you will have to do eventually”. Dean Caldon seems to have taken up this challenge he has just sold three houses with a fourth in prospect.
John Freeman has been doing repairs. First of all to a deckchair and next to a shed.
Paul Booth has been signing up new online business, beware of the start-up requirements. Tina Walker has signed up a couple of new clients.
Terry Maylin in holiday mood was sitting in the garden but last week served a Statutory Demand and a Notice.
Allan Moller spoke to us from his van whilst John Hammond did not.
Scott Griffiths and Mason Edwards are both bracing themselves for the influx of business, Mason with regard to deep cleans and Scott with regard to his clients updating their websites with things such as blog posts.
Nick Cooke is going to look at a house in Grays. He will be so socially distanced that he will need to use binoculars. This obviously tickled the Mayor of Gants Hill who promptly awarded him the Oscar.
10-minute presentation by Nick Cooke
Nick Cooke, not content with possessing a banana; not content with winning the Oscar produced a thoughtful and careful presentation of his business. Highlights included the following insights:
- Its an inspection not a survey
- I look at trees and drains
- Its mostly small and low key
- Removing walls and putting beans over the gap
Four important stages in a structural engineers life…. as well as looking at houses through binoculars that have suffered fire damage (the houses that is). An excellent presentation.
A fantastic meeting, as always.
Another great meeting and great ed slot Matt and Nick great 10 minute presentation. See you all on Thursday. Enjoy the sunshine.
Great meeting and 10 minutes from Nick, very encouraging to see some prospective visitors looking at joining up, great work team. Enjoy your week and see you all this Thursday!
Well done all for another technically efficient virtual meeting. Looking forward to Q5, if there is one…
A very relaxed and calm 10 minutes from Nick Cooke and altogether excellent meeting , great to see our guests who will hopefully be members soon and nice to see an old face even if he cannot join as his category is taken.
Excellent meeting, we’ve got quite good at these now haven’t we.
A great meeting. I did rewatch it and realised how much I was sniffing and although I have been engrossed with the TV series ‘White Lines’ – I can assure the good law-abiding folk of EBF that no mirrors, credit cards or gum rubbing were used in the production of this week’s Ed slot!
Great meeting as usual very interesting 10 minutes presentation and education slot
Good meeting, good blog, worth waiting for.
Our virtual meetings are the best organised and most professionally “managed” by the attendees of any that I attend – well done folks.
Yet another well attended meeting with pending new members afoot also. Welld done to Nick on his 10mts and also to Matt for his “Ed. Slot”. However Matt’s sniffing and his very lengthy attempt at a denial of the possible causes for it actually show far too much Knowledge of the thing to which he refers raises some significant doubt.