We had missed a week and consequently it was darker, it was colder than our memories of the last meeting. Nonetheless, it was nice to get our teeth around sausage sandwiches, bacon sandwiches and granola again. 16 of us appeared apparently refreshed from the brief break. We also had the benefit of a visitor which always makes for a lively meeting.
Performance League
An unusual end to the month saw Stuart Smallcombe putting in his half yearly details of monies received and thereby being ahead of Terry Malin 290 points, Paul Booth 234 points and Paul Corrigan on 227 points.
Education Slot
Toby Acton gave a well thought out and typical business coach presentation which wasn’t any less useful for that. In business we should always look towards the end product when we try and sell ourselves and what we do. The illustration is the business that sells drills. Drills make holes, holes allow you to put a screw in the wall and the screw in the wall permits you to hang a picture on it. If you are selling drills, you are facilitating the hanging of pictures on walls and making them look nice. He also illustrated how it could apply to other businesses and professions and as always did it at speed.
60-Second Presentation Round
Catherine Foley was in the chair this week judging the Oscar. Her complaint was that AI was useless in helping her plan her tutoring of Paradise Lost. It even managed to make up some new verses. In John Milton’s case it was something of the blind leading the blind, but he just did it better.
Toby Acton effectively tagged his 60 seconds onto his Ed Slots. As a mentor his intention is always to focus his mentees.
Stuart Smallcombe, like a good nutritionist, has been introducing fibre to Brentwood and Shenfield High Streets.
Matt Barry picked up on Toby’s Ed Slot by emphasising that his marketing was equally focused on getting his clients to look at the big picture, deal with the big moments and successfully promote your product and your business. Clara Downton was less upbeat about the prospects for mortgagees going forward in the present climate but do not despair. It’s always worth talking to her and trying to get a solution in a very quiet market.
Whilst on the subject of the big picture, Scott Griffiths sees it as central to the production of a website that gives an idea of how effective the services are that are being offered. Case studies help provide this focus.
Whereas several of us were looking at the big picture lake Hammond has been creating little widgets I’m allowing you to see what’s going on in your own home when you’re not there.
Terry Maylin has been involved in a court case where a company was trying to enforce a guarantee against a director without having used a proper format or a proper approach to getting the guarantee finalised. It is a warning to all of us. Single owner limited companies should be a source of concern for anyone wanting to set up a proper trading relationship with them. Personal guarantees from directors should be regarded as essential. TM Law can help with this.
Dave Roberts has been made aware of the onset of winter. Garden lighting and security lighting have dominated his week.
Catherine Foley gave the award of the Oscar due consideration and make the award Terry Maylin for what was a salutary warning to all of us in business.
Meeting Secretaries Report
A dozen or so referrals kicked us off for the month with a good number for business recorded namely £23,000
Today we have a visitor invited by David Rose. He is a builder and is interested in joining. Fingers crossed by David for his standing this month in the performance league.
10-Minute Presentation by John Hammond
John Hammond produced a very effective presentation using the television to illustrate all the various systems that he can produce from CCTV to alarm systems of various sorts. It was good to see his products in context which helps support his regular calls for referrals on the basis that he gets it right first time. Hopefully, we’re all now much more aware of how we can help him.
Referrals and testimonials
A solid round that showed business passing effectively between the members. We are now officially into the run up to Christmas. So let’s all gird up our loins for the challenge!
A very thoughtful education slot from Toby, and an interesting 10 minute presentation from John Hammond- Also great to see a visitor who has expressed an interest in joining.
Excellent presentation from John this morning showing why JMH is the only business to go to for all your security needs.
Toby’s Ed slot was great and will definitely influence my next 60 seconds! (Hopefully not because it will be full of holes)
So sorry I missed your 10 minutes John. Hope you all had a great meeting and looking forward to seeing you all next week.