tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33614612008836850102024-02-07T05:29:41.094+00:00Blogs for Small BusinessesJust some thoughts for SME owners, business colleagues and stakeholder partners and for anyone wanting to get involved with the small business community...lets talk business!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-72923722376417140342014-06-16T11:49:00.001+01:002014-06-16T11:52:24.378+01:00I'm Boring......Employ ME!<br />
<br />
Ok, that really cool, must-have job has been published, or someone’s given you the nod for a job that’s right up your street. <br />
<br />
You rush home, dig out your standard CV, update a few bits and bang out a cover letter and then fingers crossed; you wait for the call/email/homing pigeon to reel you in for an interview. <br />
<br />
But I’m the employer; I’ve just read your CV and trashed it instantly! Jeez, that was boring! It was one of 163 CV’s full of all the cliché’s I’d expected and just didn’t stand out! <br />
<br />
Why? Well, quite frankly I don’t want to employ a boring person. I want to enjoy my time at work and work with someone who’s been there, done it, bought the tee shirt, lost the tee shirt and/or created his own. <br />
<br />
I don’t want to read a CV created from a John Bull printing set (although that would be quite creative….smudgy, but creative!) and I don’t really care about how many O ‘levels you did 20/30/40 years ago! <br />
<br />
I want someone with pizzazz (spell checker didn’t like that word!) and someone who can tell me their story and why I should work with them. <br />
<br />
Even accountants can be cool. Some IT geeks can be fun and some filing clerks have been on a journey. <br />
<br />
If that’s true, then why send me some something that doesn’t reflect that journey! <br />
<br />
I don’t really care if you’ve got an Oxbridge triple first in Turtle Anatomy, Iron Age Philosophy and the History of French Basket Weaving during the Siege of Provence in 1638. <br />
<br />
I do care if you can string a few words together, have tried, failed, tried again, succeeded and can show some blimmin' personality!<br />
<br />
I do care if you’ve proven to me you know what you’re doing through stories of ownership, team building, growth success and personal resilience.<br />
<br />
And I do care if you know how to relax properly after work and balance your home lives with your work life…are you not human!? <br />
<br />
Don’t write a CV like it’s a painful, formatted legal document. <br />
<br />
Write it like it’s your OBE application! If you’re not funny, don’t try to be. If you’re not good at numbers, be honest and tell us. <br />
<br />
We employers will expect you to be everything you said you’d be on your CV and in your cover letter so don’t try and bullshit us! (I’ve fallen for this and it took nearly a year to get rid of someone!) <br />
<br />
I know of kids who spend hour’s on-line filling in e-applications to banks, consulting firms and professional service organisations only to be rejected instantly…but are then encouraged to re-apply for other vacancies in the same mob!<br />
<br />
OMG! How painful, demoralising and depressing! <br />
<br />
Get your covering letter into a format that looks, feels and tastes different! (NB I do draw the line at the use of perfumed paper or pop-up books….to a point!)and wing it over to the CEO of the organisation. <br />
<br />
And don’t do the ‘it’s-my-application-so-nobody-else-can-read-it” thing. <br />
<br />
Draft it up, send it to friends and family and other colleagues (if you’re really brave) and get them to read it and feed it back honestly. <br />
<br />
If they’re genuinely impressed (NB Your Mum WILL be, your Dad WON’T be and brother or sister will be completely and utterly brutally honest!), then you’ve sold it to normal people who know you well enough and will believe or disbelieve in everything you’ve said. And then send it to the boss and unless it’s completely ineligible, he or she may just move yours nearer the top of the pile….just don’t disappoint then at interview! <br />
<br />
©Mark Kass June 2014 Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-33856379424695960112013-10-21T18:31:00.000+01:002013-10-21T18:31:49.992+01:00Sorry Starbucks, but businesses can save money by opening more offices!<div id="nrelate_related_0-api_call" style="display: none;">
<iframe frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<div class="main-container" id="container">
<div id="content">
<div class="single-post">
<div class="entry">
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Water cooler talk is great; for catching up on gossip; for checking out the latest outfits; for spreading the word about the coolest party to go to on Saturday but how does that earn you money or build relationships and networks that will pay your wages?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Quite frankly it won’t! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Getting out into the field, meeting clients, customers and staff will though so how do you persuade your boss to let you out more? Loitering in Starbucks, Costa and Prêt is really starting to upset those boys especially when you buy only one coffee and a raisin swirl and stay there for four hours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">But renting a professional hot desk, a day-office, a meeting room or co-working spaces nearer your clients will make you more productive….and you’ll probably get free coffee (not sure about the swirly raisin things though).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsx3FGlHtd7Fg43X2NNtIqf8-_HyqejOSxuZuNSYP8B7gRN_mT5KF6bBKf6hXipTtMm9Hp4f-hzkIFNKnAf3sGjcdcRlYhJPLu3WX1IOIfizvstFlcoPPTz2PjJfzUl-czppJMQZY5vnFY/s1600/BEC+COOL+PICTURE.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsx3FGlHtd7Fg43X2NNtIqf8-_HyqejOSxuZuNSYP8B7gRN_mT5KF6bBKf6hXipTtMm9Hp4f-hzkIFNKnAf3sGjcdcRlYhJPLu3WX1IOIfizvstFlcoPPTz2PjJfzUl-czppJMQZY5vnFY/s320/BEC+COOL+PICTURE.png" width="278" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">You’ll stop traipsing into your glass tower on Canary Wharf or schlepping everyone into the City just for a meeting or to pick-up emails, post and gossip and actually be where your people want you…..with <span style="text-decoration: underline;">them</span>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Where do you go though? Yep, there’s the big global serviced office brands but if you want real choice, try your local independent </span><a href="http://www.barkingenterprisecentre.co.uk/" rel="external" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">enterprise centre,</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"> business hub and flexible workspaces. Professional receptionists, cool buildings, that welcoming hotelly-kinda-feeling is more often than not, a welcome change for everyone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">These buildings are flexible in the way you work with them and they don’t cost a fortune and when they do their numbers, your CEO and CFO’s will see they’ll save tons of money off the FM budget and those ridiculous NNDR bills by downsizing from the big and often empty corporate HQ meeting spaces and getting business done where it really matters…..out in the field with the suppliers, customer and local colleagues.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">And if you really want to make a difference, how about investing in a block of local phone numbers, getting calls answered in your company name 24/7/365 and without the huge overhead of a bank of secretaries, admin support bod salaries or call centres. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Tie in your Enterprise Centre rental options with a bespoke virtual reception service and BOOOM! an explosive change to the dynamics of your business OVERNIGHT!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">And of course all this saves time on travel, is very “Green” and in a way, gives your businesses more “branch” offices to work out of……See, told you. You CAN save money by opening more offices!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-76945748841420768782013-05-01T23:40:00.000+01:002013-05-02T00:14:17.393+01:00Start-ups in East London & Tech City....is laying your paws on the cash that easy??<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tech, Tech, Tec, that’s all we hear nowadays about
start-ups. “We want the next Facebook to come out of the UK” say the politico’s
and their spin doctors. Millions of pounds of investment are being channelled into
Silicon Roundabout. Shoreditch has become the new Soho and shops and buildings
you couldn’t buy 5 years ago are now prime real estate with seven figure price
tags. (for any marketing men reading this, please note Silicon Roundabout is not
round and not made from silicon....unlike some people I know!)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">Surely there’s gold in them thar hills? East London
meets the City so there must be heaps of cash flying around? Well yes there is
! Venture Capital, Angel investment, CrowdFunding...if you’ve got a great
technology business, then the men with the cash will invest. But is it that
easy?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Quite frankly, No !<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">To lay your paws on investment is still a traumatic
experience. It’s not the kind of trauma you’d get trawling the high street
banks and being put through the ringer there. The relentless form filling, call
centres the other end of the Country and a bank manager who looks like he’s just
left Sixth Form. This is a more sophisticated process but nevertheless
traumatic. But it’s a good trauma. It’s one that will make or break your entrepreneurial
spirit. It’s necessary and in the end it’s valuable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’ve all been through some due diligence in the past. Finance checks,
double credit checks, check checks, DNA, urine, blood sampling, triple checks, MI6
interrogations and Torquemada’s thumbscrews. And if you haven’t you should. It’s
painful, its harsh but it’s realistic and more important makes sure you know your
own ear from your elbow of your own business. You don’t want to sit there in-front
of an investor without knowing ALL the answers, do you? </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">Sitting next to me in a coffee shop in Shoreditch typing
this, there’s a bunch of scruffy boffin types (who probably went to school with
the Bank Manager I referred to earlier) going through a term sheet prior to
investment for thier new flange-sprocket widget saving mobile phone API
((WTF??). This bunch of 20-something’s sounded like they we’re just about to
get their hands on £300,000 worth of investment. They’ve been on an “Accelerator”
programme and were now ready for their pitch to the money men.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is the way forward. Getting yourself ready for
fundraising round is more than just form filling. It’s all about presentation. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">Remember this rule, the Rule of seven....</span></span>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Piss-Poor Preparation Produces Piss Poor Presentations”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">Know your numbers, know the ins-and-outs of a ducks
arse about your business and make sure the guy you pitch to likes you and your
team. Within 20 seconds of standing up and doing your pitch, they’d have made their
mind up about you......be a CEO and surround yourself with boffins that know
more than you and will coach you to make you look good !<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So what will investors be looking for?....have a
look at this long, boring and probably rather daunting list........<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">RISK vs. REWARDS</span></b><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have
you evaluated the total risk of loss on this investment, including the
liability that may be attached when your initial investment is depleted? Could
you be legally bound to put up more money in the future, and if so, have you factored
this additional investment in your total outlay?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
the project involves development of a new product, process or other technical
innovation, is there independent confirmation that it works?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have
all the regulatory requirements have been met?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
the business is operating at the moment is it losing money? If so, have you
accounted for the burn rate?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
know how much my investment will be diluted as a result of the founders getting
an interest for their sweat equity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have
the entrepreneurs invested an appropriate amount of cash in the project to
ensure that there is an equal footing from your investment?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do
you know the level of involvement that is expected from you? If so, have you
factored this in with your current schedule and is this feasible for you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
you intend to be on the board of directors, would you be entitled to
representation?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do
you fully understand the legal structure of the investment?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Will
some or all of your investment be secured by assets in the company?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is
there adequate insurance in place for assets, key personnel and directors?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are
all tax filings (income tax, payroll, etc.) Up to date and have these filings
and related assessments been reviewed?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
the investment proposal is for an established trading company and is VAT
registered, have you requested to look at all of the quarterly VAT returns
filed, so you are not retrospectively liable?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">EVALUATING THE PEOPLE</span></b><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do
you know and trust the people making pitch to you. If not, perhaps confirming
the entrepreneur’s reputation with credible third parties may be a wise
precaution to take.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have
you carried out history checks on the key implementers of the business plan?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
you are investing in an established trading business have you requested a copy of
the key terms of employment, contractual and salary agreements for the key
personnel?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Checks
on current stakeholders, officers and directors and key professionals to the
project?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Has
your Solicitor conducted corporate and personal searches on those involved in
the opportunity?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: yellow;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt; text-indent: 1.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">OPPORTUNITY EVALUATION</span></b><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have
you calculated your probable return of investment (ROI)?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How
long has this opportunity been on the market?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What
is the payback period for the investment?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have
you discussed the entrepreneur’s investment proposal with other angel
investors?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have
you discussed the concept with other Angel Investors?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="BOOTPRINT.png" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:202.5pt;margin-top:-40.6pt;width:103.5pt;
height:153pt;rotation:1330276fd;z-index:-2;visibility:visible;
mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;
mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;
mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;
mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text'
wrapcoords="3423 2534 2640 3544 2463 6988 4706 10708 7962 13278 11186 20061 12417 21021 16383 21226 17572 20541 19231 19574 20191 19024 20525 16038 19471 15529 19440 13878 17906 13652 12887 14887 17405 12268 19304 9212 17238 7899 15360 4800 11906 2075 11739 1609 7597 946 6031 1016 3423 2534">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MKass\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.png"
o:title="BOOTPRINT"/>
<w:wrap type="tight"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is
the financial plan, assumptions and turnover projections reasonable, factoring
in Gross profit and Net Profit? If not or you are unsure, Venture Giant will
always recommend the plan been reviewed by independent professional advisors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have
you looked over all of the expenses, including breaking down labour costs?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is
the entrepreneur’s marketing plan realistic? Have you seen it? If not, why?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do
you understand when the business is expected to become profitable?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have
you calculated when you would be able to expect return on investment in
interest or dividends?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How and when will you get your capital back?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you are purchasing equity, what type are you
purchasing (common shares, preferred shares) and have you spoken with your
Accountant/Tax advisor in terms of the potential Tax benefits/downfalls?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are there warrants or share options attached?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 5pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are you purchasing debt? If so, is it classed as
subordinate debt or Convertible debt?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">And this just touches the surface.....I’ve seen “Deal
Bibles” of 20+ rammed solid A4 lever arch folders that address Due Diligence.
Get this wrong and good-bye investment or worst still, 18 months down the line,
good-bye cool business!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A big cry-out here from me... Get in touch and GET
SOME HELP....you <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CAN’T do it on your
own! We caring, sharing professionals can help you and make a big difference. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">One of our accelerator boot camps cover all of this
stuff and more...HR, Marketing, Strategic <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>& ops planning nyada nyada nyada.... (NB Other
Mentors, coaches, advisors, counsellors are of course available!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="BOOTPRINT.png" style='position:absolute;margin-left:-24pt;margin-top:11.65pt;
width:82.5pt;height:153pt;z-index:-3;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;
mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;
mso-position-vertical-relative:text' wrapcoords="9425 635 7069 1482 4713 3388 3535 7412 4713 12918 10604 14188 5891 15247 5105 17576 7069 20965 8247 21176 12567 21176 12960 21176 13353 20965 16102 19482 15709 17576 15709 17576 14924 14824 12175 14188 16102 11647 16102 10800 17280 7624 16887 3600 13745 1271 12175 635 9425 635">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MKass\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"
o:title="BOOTPRINT"/>
<w:wrap type="tight"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><!--[endif]--></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">Is it worth it? Yep and those young-bloods from the coffee shop will by
the time I’ve pressed the “publish” button, have 300,000 very good reasons to
agree with me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">Talk soon?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><span style="color: white;"> </span></span><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-85556432386342232762013-04-28T15:44:00.002+01:002013-04-28T15:52:13.040+01:00My Personal Olympic Legacy - A Third Less of the Man I Used to Be !!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Today is Major Personal Milestone Day !....let me tell you why</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My birthday falls on New Years Eve. Every Year</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Clearly everyone around the World celebrates my Mum& Dad's perfecting timing. Parties, fireworks, champagne corks popping all over the world..... just for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But each year my New Year resolution vows are the same. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">MUST. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">LOSE. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">WEIGHT.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was my 50th Birthday in 2011 and what with the Olympic & Paralympics on our front door, my 25th Wedding Anniversary & the twins 18th Birthday, it was personal challenge time and time to make 2012 a really life changing year for me and my family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So I vowed to lose 20.12% of my body weight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Since birth, I've piled it on, taken it off, piled it back on again, rising to a horrendous 24 stone 10lbs (if you're reading this in the US of A that's 333lbs or elsewhere in Europe a massive 152 kilos!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOjXP8ExIMy6hLq3sCTX8Y-u6HXo2P9yOaGeYfX81tU25DODZuYJ_18yRGQPb86HRpK6LTA8UODMs0_MvjLoalj20VTXGiQLgcySiQUNwFW5dqJyBkbkcEXsR_m0cPj8R9-IQKR_ERriH/s1600/MK+Head+&+Shoulders+Jan+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOjXP8ExIMy6hLq3sCTX8Y-u6HXo2P9yOaGeYfX81tU25DODZuYJ_18yRGQPb86HRpK6LTA8UODMs0_MvjLoalj20VTXGiQLgcySiQUNwFW5dqJyBkbkcEXsR_m0cPj8R9-IQKR_ERriH/s1600/MK+Head+&+Shoulders+Jan+12.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Today I got on the scales and after what has been a truly incredible journey, overcoming personal demons and private hell , I've sailed past my 20.12% target to hit an 235lbs/16st 10lbs/102kg...............<strong>a massive loss of 33% !</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And its not just the numbers that make me feel great. I FEEL great in myself</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm exercising without pain, I'm walking for fun & breathing so much better...my asthma seems to have gone too!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've taken up jogging (only a far as the local police station as they have the nearest defibrillator!) and can RUN (yes, RUN!) up hills and I've just got back on a bike. ( that hurts, but I'll suffer and see how that goes!!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I remember running up a single flight of stairs at work, getting the sweats and the flock of ravens in my visual field and thinking of all places I DON'T WANT TO DIE IN BARKING...it would look really crap on the death certificate (Notes for Editors: if I have do have to die prematurely & I'm not proposing this at all, then dying underwater scuba diving in the Cayman Islands is preferred mode of exit and would be happy to be sent there on expenses to check out some potential locations!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Everyone's gob smacked when they see me. I look SO different. Have a look at my profile picture on this blog and compare it to the one above or check-out my Facebook page and you'll see me in my purple and poppy Games Maker outfit......I look like a flippin' Spacehopper! Even my wife didn't recognise me in the gym the other day! (some husbands reading this are now really jealous!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Some folks are apprehensive about asking. I think they think I've been ill. Others are envious but all ask the big question "How?????"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My only answer to everyone is based on Nike's slogan.......</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>J.F.D.I</strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(You'll have spotted that I've added one more word to their words of wisdom.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You have to take a step back and look at the options; regenerate or die !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Everyone reading this can do it. It's not just hard, its nigh-on impossible...but it <u>is</u> totally do-able!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Visualise your goals and visualise what will happen if you don't make the changes. DON'T RUN AWAY from it. Make that commitment.....and stick to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You'll need the support of a great team around you (and big huge hug for Mrs K & the Kids who have been so incredibly supportive throughout this journey) as you'll need to overcome hurdles and barriers that you won't be able to get over on your own. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You've got to think about the long-game and not just the here-and-now and you got to take the bull-by-the-horn and stick to your guns.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Moreover, you've got to learn as many clichéd motivational phrases as possible and apply them to your own life and to your business life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I may be 33% lighter physically, but its inspired me to make a more heavyweight approach to the way I do stuff</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When it comes down to it , if you REALLY want to do something, <strong><em>JFDI</em></strong>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0East London20.774191370626244 -127.265625-4.7478431293737557 -168.574219 46.296225870626245 -85.957031tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-55915964898055934772013-04-21T16:53:00.000+01:002013-04-21T16:53:06.766+01:00A funny thing happened on the way from the Forum !<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As usual, I was colour coordinated. Dark suit. White shirt. Orange silk tie with matching orange London 2012 Olympic pin proudly displayed on my left lapel. Around 10:30pm, I eventually got on to a very crowded tube train coming back from yet another networking forum in London's Oxford Street; a good night, plenty of free wine and canapés and I'm thinking to myself, " and they call this work?" I had also managed to get a fresh copy of the <em>Evening Standard</em> to read <em>and</em> find a seat so I was rather looking forward to sitting down for an hour as I made the trek east along the Central line to Kass Towers.<br /><br />Deeply engrossed in my newspaper, reading about the outrageous and escalating price of Dublin Bay prawns in London and the South East, I glimpsed the next batch of commuters squeezing into my carriage like cows jammed into an abattoir truck. How lucky am I, I thought, that it wasn't me standing pressed nose-to-armpit against this very sweaty, large American lady this evening.<br /><br />And then I started to hear angels sing. My focus tunneled & narrowed in to reveal this vision of God-sent beauty now on the same train as me. Right next to me. Totally gorgeous. I could have sworn this vision was now calling me "Mark! Mark! Yes you want me, yes me, I'm yours if you want me". I started staring, longer, harder and more intently and I felt my jaw starting to gape, my lips drying up and tongue getting thicker by the second...surely this is what <em>love</em> is?<br /><br />At every glance, the calling got stronger and the vision was now glowing among a mass of bodies like a shaft of sunlight streaking through a dark clouded sky. I knew right there and then that we needed to be together. My ears filled with the sound of my own pounding heart. My breath shallowed and the butterflies in my tummy started their internal synchronized swim. At last I had seen my heart's desire. And then I heard the words...<br /><br /><span class="wf_caption" style="display: inline-block;"><img alt="Orange London_2012_logo_pin" height="550" src="http://www.insidethegames.biz/images/2012/07/Orange_London_2012_logo_pin.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" /><em><span style="clear: both; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 5px; text-align: center; width: 540px;">Mark makes sure his pins colour coordinate with his ties for work</span></em></span><br /><br />"Oi! Olympic Bloke! Why are you staring at my wife's chest?" As if someone had flipped the off button on my iPod in the middle of the full 3 minute guitar solo from Hotel California, the angels suddenly stopped singing, the pounding in my ears disappeared and I gulped audibly as I came back to reality. This rather burly Neanderthal City-type was now inches away from my face, breath stinking of late night booze and oniony-kebabs and my vision of beauty had now changed into an angry thug of Bethnal Green, waving his garlic sauce-tainted and somewhat accusing fingers at me. "I er, wasn't staring at her er, chest", I spluttered. "Oh yeh? he yelled. "Certainly looked like it to me from 'ere, mate," he barked.<br /><br />I quickly glanced at the aforementioned chest, which was rather voluminous and oozing from a blouse like billowing lava globules emanating from Mount Etna. "I was though, staring at what's <em>on</em> her chest.....that gorgeous looking pin badge!"<br /><br />You know that moment when the Sheriff bursts into the bar full of baddies in Dodge City and the whole place falls silent? Well that is what happened next. For what seemed like an age, the whole carriage fell silent, waiting for the sound of my nose to be broken by a thug bloke.<br /><br />Silence was broken instead by Ms Etnachest, who cackled with a laugh that could turn milk into yoghurt, "Wha'?? You mean this fing?" she yelped, pulling on her shiny silver Cisco 2012 sponsors pin - my vision of beauty.<br /><br /><span class="wf_caption" style="display: inline-block;"><img alt="Cisco 2012_sponsor_pin" height="550" src="http://www.insidethegames.biz/images/2012/07/Cisco_2012_sponsor_pin.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" /><em><span style="clear: both; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 5px; text-align: center; width: 540px;">Cisco 2012 sponsor pin, manufactured by Honav </span></em></span><br /><br />"You wan' it, Fatboy...whadda I get in return then??"<br /><br />Thug bloke was now rolling up his sleeves and warming up on the ropes ready to rearrange my face if my answer wasn't what he wanted to hear. Immediately I thought a sensible answer might be more appropriate as opposed to one of my usual Oscar Wilde-like witty retorts.<br /><br />"We could swap?" I suggested," my orange badge for your silver one?"<br /><br />By now, the whole carriage was engrossed in this deal. I've been involved in some pretty hefty, multi-million pound negotiations with some of the toughest lawyers, bankers and venture capitalist in the world in the same room and at the same table but it was never as tense as this.<br /><br />Following a sharp and audible intake of breath from our fellow travelers, the tube fell silent again only to be swiftly broken by Etnachest.<br /><br />"Awright then babe, a deal ! I love the colour. Dat orange is the same colour as the chilli sauce stain on his two 'undred quid shirt and 'as him an me 'ad such a great night together tonight, I'll swap your orange one for this shiny thing I found on the floor of the boozer this evening"<br /><br />Oh my goodness! I thought. How someone could treat such a thing of beauty with such little respect? (I am of course referring to the pin on this occasion).<br /><br /><span class="wf_caption" style="display: inline-block;"><img alt="Olympic pins_hat_collection" height="367" src="http://insidethegames.biz/images/2012/07/Olympic_pins_hat_collection.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" /><em><span style="clear: both; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 5px; text-align: center; width: 540px;">Pin collecting is considered the biggest spectator sport at the London 2012 Games</span></em></span><br /><br />The deal was done, the thug bloke rolled down his sleeves and in my mind, my nose reset itself. The moments of fear passed and Thugbloke and Etnachest got off at Stratford mumbling things like "fat geezers always make you larf", "a geek what collects fings" "weirdo", "punch 'is lights out" etc. etc.<br /><br />The tube train rattled its way further towards the Far East where I get off rather chuffed with myself and with what remains my favourite pin so far. When I got home, I de-kebabed it , removing traces of all grease, chilli sauce and bits of onion and lamb and added it to my now fast-growing collection of sponsors pins where it takes pride of place in my London 2012 shrine.<br /><br />For those reading this and about to get into the whole pin-thing, here are my Top 11 hints and tips for fellow pin collectors:<br /><br />1 Staring at chests of people is hazardous to health<br /><br />2 Beware men smelling of kebabs<br /><br />3 Check everywhere for collectable pins...I now spend a lot of time on all fours in pubs, clubs and other public places<br /><br />4 Gentle banter is far better than doing stuff that may end up with your nose 20 centimeters wider than it was at the start of the day<br /><br />5 Don't just check pins for validity, check for stray pieces of someone else's supper<br /><br />6 Beware women who anatomically demonstrate plate tectonics and the formation of natural mountain ranges<br /><br />7 Maybe consider stamp collecting, snorkeling or storm chasing as a hobby<br /><br />8 Always carry a 2012 Orange logo pin when eating kebabs just in case of spillage and a selection of others for spontaneous trading moments<br /><br />9 Travelling by tube is a great way to see pins...why bother with the internet or pin trader meetings<br /><br />10 Be very nice and appreciative to our finest, nicest and most generous London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games suppliers and sponsors such as Coca Cola, Samsung, Panasonic, Rio Tinto, Eurostar, Aggreko, Westfield, Heineken, Adidas, British Airways, ATOS, McDonalds, G4S, Airwave, Honav, BBC, Channel 4, Dow who may want to get in touch with the author and send boxes full of pins for trading and collecting because you mention them in blogs on world-class Games related websites......thanks guys we love all your products and services!<br /><br />11 See Hint #1<br /><br /><em><strong>Mark Kass is an entrepreneur and a Director of an East London business support agency. He is a vocal ambassador for SMEs representing small businesses in consultations with LOCOG, the ODA (Olympic Delivery Authority), OPLC (Olympic Park Legacy Company) and the East London Boroughs. Now an avid fan of the Games, Mark showed no interest in sport until his East London "manor" pitched and won the rights to host the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He's a passionate advocate of the global opportunities the Games brings for SME's of all sizes and wants to see more people become entrepreneurs in East London and beyond. To follow him on Twitter click <a href="https://twitter.com/markkass" target="_blank">here</a>. </strong></em></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-30262077306910937932013-04-21T16:42:00.000+01:002013-04-21T16:42:02.143+01:00The Morning After the NIght Before...... <br />
<div class="tools">
<div class="date">
</div>
<!-- AddThis Button END --> </div>
Wow! What a summer!<br /><br />It's nearly two months since they blew out the flame at the London 2012 Paralympic Games...and I'm still shattered!<br /><br />Not content with being a Games Maker at the Para's, seeing a load of incredible, perception shattering world class sport and occasionally squeezing in some of the day job, I was honoured to have been one of a handful of pin collectors who volunteered to work in the Coca Cola Pin Trading Centre on the Olympic Park and in Hyde Park.<br /><br />It is amazing where a hobby can take you. When I first started collecting pins, I never dreamed I would be trading the things at the London Games but I'm certainly glad I did.<br /><br />I met people from all over the world, from all walks of life, of all ages and with varying degrees of knowledge about pins from the "what the hell is this pin trading thing all about?" brigade to the "I've been collecting for the last 30 years!" mob. Amazing. Inspirational. Humbling...I'm running out of words to describe what we went through.<br /><br />There were a couple of weird moments though:<br /><br />• The young American kid who was insistent he could trade food for pins....I'm not sure his request for a rarer-than-hens-teeth Opening Ceremony pin was worth trading for a tuna, cucumber and mayo baguette.....but after six hours of cattle trading pins for pins, it was rather tempting!<br /><br />And:<br /><br />• The wheelchair bound Paralympic Team Coach from an Eastern European country who kept his stock of pin swaps in his hollowed out leg...I did do some of my best trades with him and he did some of the best "haven't got a leg to stand on" jokes I've heard in a long time.<br /><br /><span class="wf_caption" style="display: inline-block;"><img alt="quiet london_post_games_31-10-12" height="308" src="http://www.insidethegames.biz/images/2012/10/quiet_london_post_games_31-10-12.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" /><em><span style="clear: both; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 5px; text-align: center; width: 540px;">London felt almost post-apocalyptic following the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games</span></em></span><br /><br />But the most surreal moment was waking up on the Monday morning of September 10 and walking through Stratford at 8am on my way into work.<br /><br />Compared with the weeks before where a semi-permanent heaving mass of global human ants clamoured around station entrances, in shops and in bars and cafes, walking through the shopping centre that morning felt almost post-apocalyptic. It was morgue-like. Deathly quiet apart from the occasional trundling of an athlete's baggage being wheeled across the mall en route to some exotic country far away. The occasional throb and buzz of the floor polishing buffers removing last night's chewing gum, trainer scuffs and pretzel squishings. We've all witnessed this. The morning after the night before. That Wedding. That Bar Mitzvah. That 18th Birthday. The incredible high followed by that flat, hangover kinda feel. Very weird. Very surreal.<br /><br />Then something inside me snapped. I couldn't cope with this. I needed my Games-time high again. I needed just one more shot of something exciting. Where do you get this the morning after the night before? It wasn't something a double espresso would resolve, nor a Bloody Mary cocktail or even some illegal narcotic. I need to be part of the Games again. So I went home!<br /><br />I took off my boring suit and tie, dumped the brief case in the lounge and ran upstairs to put on my purple and poppy coloured superhero suit. My Games Maker uniform. But even that felt incomplete. I needed to grab my pin trading lanyard and only then I could jump on the Tube to the West End to join the Athletes Parade. Only then would I be able to put closure on the whole thing. Having one last trade and wearing the outfit that quite frankly made me look like a pregnant purple Space Hopper would sort me out. Not quite.<br /><br /><span class="wf_caption" style="display: inline-block;"><img alt="athletes parade" height="302" src="http://www.insidethegames.biz/images/2012/10/athletes_parade.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" /><em><span style="clear: both; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 5px; text-align: center; width: 540px;">Attending the Athletes Parade in London felt good to be part of something so historical</span></em></span><br /><br />It was an incredible event. Screaming, crowd jostling, smiles, laughter, policemen wearing the foam fingers. I couldn't see any athletes 'cos of the other million people in Trafalgar Square all with the same sense of the morning after the night before but it felt good to be part of something historical.<br /><br />Hysterically I got the urge to trade and started accosting a variety of people who I thought might be in the mood for a trade. But it wasn't until I got back on the Tube that I did a good trade with a very sombre Aussie dude who loved my orange logo pin and was prepared to swap it for a Dow Pin I hadn't managed to secure. Result!<br /><br />And this only went and fired up my pin trading urge once again. So I fired up Twitter, email, Facebook, LinkedIn on my smartphone and made sure I got myself along to the next pin trading meeting in Stratford two weeks later<br /><br />Ahhhh! This was just what the doctor ordered. A wet Saturday in the Railway Tavern was where it all started for me and it was great to be back. I saw some cool collections, some new pins and merchandise that I'd never seen before and did some great trades on the day but better still got to catch-up with fellow traders to rekindle some Games-time stories.<br /><br /><span class="wf_caption" style="display: inline-block;"><img alt="Mark Kass_being_interviewed" height="329" src="http://www.insidethegames.biz/images/2012/10/Mark_Kass_being_interviewed.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" /><em><span style="clear: both; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 5px; text-align: center; width: 540px;">A pin trading meeting was just what the doctor ordered to cure the post-London 2012 blues</span></em></span><br /><br />Once again, it was brilliantly organised (thanks, Paul), best ever attendance and we people had travelled for miles specifically to get there. Sylvia the student who'd travelled down by train from Edinburgh, some guys from Leicester, another form Ipswich and two from another country I couldn't even pronounce, made it a great day. There were even some others who didn't come to trade. They just wanted the power of the Games to wash over them just one more time.<br /><br />It was indeed a well-deserved shot-in-the-arm and has still left me still wanting more. I shan't complain though as I suppose that's my legacy from the Games...and not a bad one to have!<br /><br /><em><strong>Mark Kass is an entrepreneur and a Director of an East London business support agency. He is a vocal ambassador for SMEs representing small businesses in consultations with LOCOG, the ODA (Olympic Delivery Authority), OPLC (Olympic Park Legacy Company) and the East London Boroughs. Now an avid fan of the Games, Mark showed no interest in sport until his East London "manor" pitched and won the rights to host the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He's a passionate advocate of the global opportunities the Games brings for SME's of all sizes and wants to see more people become entrepreneurs in East London and beyond. To follow him on Twitter click <a href="https://twitter.com/markkass" target="_blank">here</a>.</strong></em> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-67903192609185515302012-03-25T14:29:00.000+01:002012-03-25T14:29:05.539+01:00Olympic pins, so much more than just a brand story<div class="articleinfo"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When I first stepped into the East End boozer in a quiet corner of Stratford just before Christmas, it felt like I'd become an extra in the background of a Guy Ritchie movie. Men were huddled in a corner whispering, planning, plotting and growling – it was plain to see that plenty of deals were being cobbled together.<br />
<br />
But they weren't haggling over the price of second-hand cars or planning the next "blag". They were laying down the foundations of what's going to become London's number one spectator sport during the Olympic Games: pin trading.<br />
<br />
It was my first "meet" and it was a little surreal to say the least. When the Guy Ritchie crew joined a mixed bag of 20 or so grown men and women: bags, cases, boards, ring binders and pockets stuffed full of an amazing array of Olympic and Paralympic Games lapel badges and pins flew open. It all went crazy with old and new pins being swapped and traded like I've only ever seen before in the street markets of far off lands.<br />
<br />
It was a little scary as I could feel the need to get stuck in building up and, dare I say it, it felt a bit "geeky" being a part of this. Quite ironic really, that the venue of the meet was in a great little pub called the Railway Tavern since I felt I was among the train spotters of the merchandising world!<br />
<br />
Having spent the afternoon in the company of some of the friendliest, most knowledgeable and totally dedicated people I've ever come across, I got home, researched this phenomenon and realised that this was just the beginning of something big that was about to burst into our East End lives. Clearly, it's big business too, so I decided to delve further.<br />
<br />
Those in the know say that as you step off the plane in an Olympic Host City, you fail to notice the glitz and glamour of countless lapel badges or pins displayed on shirts, caps, scarves, waistcoats, lanyards, towels and sashes. Worn by everyone from officials, guides, the media and shopkeepers, everyone and, in particular, the vast armies of "pinheads" are keen to show off their collections and maybe swap one of theirs for something of yours.<br />
<br />
The reasons for pins being commissioned to represent all-things-Olympic are limitless, but the phenomenal range produced by sponsors, corporate partners and official commercial providers shows what big business commercial association with the Games is. But pins weren't originally designed to show off brands or promote the Games; they were originally sold to fund the Olympiad.<br />
<br />
The 1912 Games in Stockholm saw the first commercially available pins on sale (before Stockholm, they were cardboard discs and only worn by officials and the IOC (International Olympic Committees)) and as pin trading grew in popularity, it did so unprecedentedly so that by the infamous Berlin Games of 1936, over a million pins had been sold to raise funds.<br />
</span><a class="thumbnail highslide" href="http://www.insidethegames.biz/images/2012/03/Pin_Head_16_March_.jpg"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img alt="Pin Head_16_March_" height="356" src="http://www.insidethegames.biz/images/stories/thumbnails/images-2012-03-Pin_Head_16_March_-550x356.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Pin trading continued to grow and supported a huge Olympic memorabilia and merchandising industry. By the time the Los Angeles Olympics came along, an estimated 17 million pins were being traded on street corners, in cafes and in dedicated, but as yet unofficial pin trading areas, across the Host City. Such was the size of the industry, vast numbers of counterfeit pins started to emerge in an attempt to cash in on the rise of pin mania.<br />
<br />
Realising the huge potential for pin collecting, the 1988 Calgary Olympics saw the first official pin trading centre established on-site, headed up by one of the world's best known brands and principal global Olympic Worldwide Sponsors, Coca Cola.<br />
<br />
But Coke didn't just take over a pub conservatory, put up a few posters and invite in a few traders. They created the first ever purpose built and fully branded Olympic pin trading centre drawing in crowds of more than 17,000 new and potential pinheads of the world to gather and trade on one site and another a few miles away on a university campus that attracted another 5,000 daily visits.<br />
<br />
The 1992 Winter Games at Albertville in France attracted more than a third of a million collectors who traded more than 1.2 million pins from 6,000 square foot dedicated tent backed up by a fleet of "pinmobiles" and a double-decker bus that travelled the roads of France to capture the spirit (and, of course, the revenue opportunities) of pin mania. Barcelona saw half a million dedicated traders, but in 1996 the pin epidemic had gone totally bonkers with 1.5 million traders on-site and three million pins changing hands at two centres in 40,000 square foot of converted freight warehousing in Atlanta. At the Sydney Games in 2000, Coca Cola started trading six months before the Games in temporary kiosks replacing it with an iconic, 12,000 square foot purpose built centre in the shape of a bright red illuminated Coke bottle laying on its side.<br />
<br />
Hand-in-hand with the trading and dealing among collectors, a global business has grown out of pin trading. Coke and other merchandise providers have sold millions of pins that generate significant revenues and shamelessly promote their brands. Coke run brand focussed "activation" spectator events alongside these remarkable pin centres and LOCOG (The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) stands to generate huge sums from the sales of tens of thousands of official pins, all of which are channelled back into paying for the running of both the Olympic and Paralympics.<br />
<br />
A couple of the "Pin Gurus" at Coca Cola, who are now resident here in the UK until after the Games, told me that for the first time since their involvement in event licensing, they would be channelling all proceeds from sales of Coke pins at London 2012 to the official Olympic charity. They wouldn't divulge targets, but I suspect they're expecting a significant donation to be made.<br />
</span><a class="thumbnail highslide" href="http://www.insidethegames.biz/images/2012/03/Coke_badge_2012_16_March_.jpg"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img alt="Coke badge_2012_16_March_" height="542" src="http://www.insidethegames.biz/images/stories/thumbnails/images-2012-03-Coke_badge_2012_16_March_-550x542.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is an incredible move on the part of Coke and represents their true commitment to investing in creating a sustainable Olympic movement for the future as well as solidifying their own brand story.<br />
<br />
When the Games end, collectors will take home their London 2012 Coca-Cola pins and proudly display them in kitchens, dens, lounges and studies across the globe. Some will get bored of them and stick them in a cupboard for the grandkids, but if they consider giving them away, it's a near 100% dead-cert that none will give them away for nothing.<br />
<br />
Some rare pins are trading on eBay at nearly £4,000 each (NB: beware of fakes)! But for those thinking they might flog them off to the highest bidder then "good luck" as most will have little or no commercial value after the flame's blown out.<br />
<br />
Coke will, of course, be rather chuffed to think that trading and selling went on post-Games as any deal done around the Coke name provides them yet another brand-strengthening story and creates yet more long-lasting impressions of the Coke name. And this is exactly why event licensing, product merchandising and sponsorship activation is so powerful for sponsors.<br />
<br />
Coke – the new owners of Innocent Smoothies brand who will soon be activating their London 2012 sponsorship programme – have made a really bold move in the corporate social responsibility arena. Perhaps this generous community investment will attract even more new pin heads and underpin Coke's growing global corporate commitment to giving something back to its customer base.<br />
<br />
Although I'm not CEO of a major global brand, I now get pin trading and the concept of business giving back. I strongly suggest everyone in the business world gets it too. There will always be fans of your brand and they can do no wrong if you don't. Think about clever ways of promoting your brand story and aligning yourselves with your local community... wouldn't it be good to get your fans talking about <em>your business</em> in their local pub?<br />
<br />
</span><em><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Mark Kass is an entrepreneur and a Director of an East London business support agency. He is a vocal ambassador for SMEs representing small businesses in consultations with LOCOG, the ODA (Olympic Delivery Authority), OPLC (Olympic Park Legacy Company) and the East London Boroughs. Now an avid fan of the Games, Mark showed no interest in sport until his East London "manor" pitched and won the rights to host the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He's a passionate advocate of the global opportunities the Games brings for SME's of all sizes and wants to see more people become entrepreneurs in East London and beyond. To follow him on Twitter click </span><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/markkass" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">.</span></strong></em>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-84892361258563590742011-09-24T00:43:00.000+01:002011-09-24T10:40:48.743+01:00OMG ! Not Another Social Network! - GOOGLE+ Now Live !<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Shheeeshh !!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've only just got used to Twitter, well and truly sorted with LinkedIn (I think!), battling on with learning how to use Flikr and my new Facebook Page's just about to go live and then those boffins at Google decide to luanch yet another social network site....the catchily titled GOOGLE+ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Having started to play with Google+ I think this is going to be another internet biggie and a pretty cool, mega-opportunity for SMEntreprenuers around the globe. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On first use, Google+ feels like an a la carte version of Google fried up with a less geeky version of Twitter and a not-so-businessy LinkedIn. You invite, friends, colleagues, peers and interesting people into your Circles and you can listen, learn, read & takepart in very specific conversations.....and with multiple Circles on stream you can be involved in as many or as few conversations as you want.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Love that Circles idea Nice one GoogleGeeks! This is cool b</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">espoke networking. Keeps people in when you want them in and out when you don't and what a brilliant way of meeting up, collaborating and info swapping with like-minded business-types</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, how wi</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">ll it help SME's?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I get invites everyday to BNI breakfasts, Chamber of Commerce lunches, FSB meetings, and a plethora of Business Club dinners and awards. All very nice but somewhat time-consuming. Google+ can to an extent replace these events from a networking point of view. With G+ (yikes sorry about the abbreviation), you limit the networking to people you want to, you start chatting with who you want to and you don't have to eat another calorie-filled traingular sarnie, a deep fried prawn or some flattened chicken -on a stick kebaby thing !</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Google+ either lets you share your stuff with everyone or with those only in your select Circles. For example, you go to a conference and meet a bunch of purple squirrel importers and you'd like to understand thier sector in more detail, you group them into one of your Circles and you chat, share, collaborate only with them, without the world and his dog reading it and sticking thier oars in. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">However, if you want to grow your connections and want to encourage people to stick thier oar in and understand & measure reaction to your purple squirrel importing aspirations market then you stay public ! </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Simples ! (or the squirrel alternative)</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So what makes it different from Facebook, Linkedin etc?? Quite simply, its open to the world. Facebook and LinkedIn are "closed networks" that rely on exclusive invites, "likes" and specific requests to hook-up. Being linked to the Great God Google and its global domination of the search engine world, means that our presence in G+ is now well and truly open for all.....is that a good thing or a bad thing...time will tell.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Google+ is in Beta mode for the time being....but not for long so I strongly reccommend you get into bed now with this remarkable and perfectly sensible online tool. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Get in early, start sharing, makeing new connections because it won't be long till the whole world goes Google+ Ga Ga!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: black;">Register yourself today at </span><a href="https://plus.google.com/"><span style="color: black;">https://plus.<b>google</b>.com</span></a><span style="color: black;"> and lets chat soon !!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-29063011144146575352011-08-20T16:42:00.000+01:002011-08-20T16:42:36.930+01:00Probably the Best Building in London!!Had an amazing opportunity to go inside the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games Aquatics Centre on the Olympic Park and to be honest, words fail me !<br />
<br />
Check out these amazing photos I took instead <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markkass/sets/72157627231595643/"><span style="background-color: cyan;"><strong>http://www.flickr.com/photos/markkass/sets/72157627231595643/</strong></span></a><br />
<br />
I've been a fan of this from Day One and it never fails to impress !!!!<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-76892441097326868992011-08-20T16:37:00.001+01:002011-08-22T11:16:34.112+01:00Olympic Test Events: Testing The Ultimate Business Start-up !!At school I was one of the three fat guys who came last in the cross county, was never picked for the football and even asked not to cut up the oranges at half-time..................in case I ate them all ! As a result, I ended up hating sport. Watching it, reading about it, participating in it. When friends came over for dinner and the men went in the lounge to watch Match of the Day, I tended to stay in the kitchen with the Yummie Mummies......somebody's got to keep an eye on them ....and the food!!<br />
<br />
Weirdly, this all seems to have changed since I started to get behind London's Bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and over the last week has culminated in me going to not one but three Olympic Test Events: The Beach Volleyball, The Basketball and The BMX (thats a lot of B's !) (photos coming soon !!!)<br />
<br />
Not one for sport (I'm bulit for comfort, not speed!), I have to confess a sudden realisation that this sports buisness is a good thing; it crosses borders and boundaries, it encourages healthier lifestyles and in the case of the London Games, it becomes a huge catalyst for physical AND for social change.<br />
<br />
The most amazing, iconic sporting venues have sprung up in what was until 6 years ago, a largely forgotten part of London and the creation of the most incredible construction site to date, has helped create thousand of job opportunities, enabled many SME's to win some great contracts....big and small and spurred on many people to thing about starting up new businesses or taking up new careers.<br />
<br />
But this is just the beginning of the London 2012 business plan. As all entrepreneurs should know, you need to test the product on the market place before going global. You need to iron out the glitches, hiccups, creases. Three simple words apply<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">PLAN -DO - REVIEW</div><br />
And so far what I've witnessed this week covers the first two. Reflecting on whats gone well, what hasn't etc is critical to the success. These test events aren't just about showing off and getting some column-inches in the press. They about finding out where the people, the products, the process and ultimately the proceeds will need to be fine tuned.<br />
<br />
Heads will be put together from the thinkers and doers and hopefully the punters will be asked for feedback. <br />
<br />
And the punters MUST feature heavily in this. Why was the sound so poor at the basketball?. What was the response to the poor weather at the Beach Volleyball? Did we need a more dynamic presenter at the Beach Volleyball? Where we the ambassadors & volunteers? How simple and easy was the security? What about the vegetarian food options in the kiosks? <br />
<br />
Listening & learning from the end users is just as important as a talk with the boffins so you MUST make sure they get a say in the Test Event feedback......its like stopping a family in the street to test out that new smoothie you've devised or giving people access to a test website before you press the "go-live" button<br />
<br />
And don't forget.....there's no such thing as negative feedback!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-90682131554465204142011-04-24T22:30:00.000+01:002011-04-24T22:30:45.538+01:00Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-58392836720008476282011-03-27T11:39:00.000+01:002011-03-27T11:39:18.497+01:00Student Debt or Self Employment?I love my kids! <br />
<br />
Twins. One boy, One Girl.<br />
<br />
But its getting expensive. At 17+ they're both learning to drive. Car insurance is criminal. I could fund a coup in a small country for what that's costing us. Food lasts as long as it takes to unpack from Morrisons and cash has a whislestop in my wallet en route into thiers.<br />
<br />
But we've got to make a serious decision now. <br />
<br />
Just about to sit down to do our Census form ( a real family bonding moment!) and Number One Son suggests that if my two are about to decide thier futures at university, they will be paying for this for the rest of thier lives as they rack up student debt into obscene, 5 figure sums.<br />
<br />
So we do the maths. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Assumptions:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Daughter - 3 year Psychology Degree</div><div style="text-align: center;">Son- 7 Year Medical Degree </div><div style="text-align: center;">Total Studying Years = 10 years</div><div style="text-align: center;">Me & Mrs K - Joint Income (TBA)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Current Fees : £9000 per annum </div><div style="text-align: center;">Excludes Subsistence (Accommodation, Food, other stuff so assume (each) - £4k per annum</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TOTAL COST TO KASS HOUSE PER ANNUM = £13000</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">10 YEARS @£13000 </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">= £130,000 !!!!!</span></u></strong></div><br />
<br />
Wow ! Could this be invested elsewhere? Could the kids leave school now, borrow this amount and start-up a new business? <br />
<br />
If they were to become entrepreneurs now, in three years time they could have a solid income stream instead of the prospect of no jobs or jobs with rubbish salaries in an industry they don't want to be in.<br />
<br />
They could though, be adding to the economy by paying tax pounds into the Revenue, employing tax paying staff, skilling-up staff to make thier business and UKplc more competitive. They could realistically pay back thier loan.<br />
<br />
Its a huge dilemma and one that provokes interesting debate. We'd support thier decision to do what they want to do and we definitely won't deny them that life-changing experience of going to Uni ..............but I think I know what I would do.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-18821957265999197512011-03-14T14:42:00.000+00:002011-03-14T14:42:39.119+00:00Entrepreneurial Designs are a Bright IdeaTaken from my London2012 BLog - 3rd December 2010 - <a href="http://www.london2012.com/">http://www.london2012.com/</a><br />
<br />
Your basic light fitting is quite boring… it probably hangs from the ceiling, has a bulb or two, some twiddly wires and very often, a switch in the wall. But not on the Olympic Park!<br />
<br />
<br />
While visiting the Handball Arena, memories of kids' TV programmes that used toilet rolls, washing up liquid bottles, tin foil and 'sticky backed plastic' to make stuff came flooding back. I was amazed to see the boffins on the 2012 Design team (clearly fans of the same TV programmes) have come up with a completely brilliant, dead cheap and totally green approach to lighting the venue... the natural solar daylight tube!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54Fu9rK5L-mGr7KotgLlP6ZhKqi8xIEQ1OZIzG8aLztSAgQw1onA6qIMC4uGXvwbQKcFAhGhvtOpVEzc4TXuLR91noC7tZc6V1DF66olYlehiIcnAbQd0GeCIfZ3rYWSXDzuKgSvbIM12/s1600/handball-arena-light-pipes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54Fu9rK5L-mGr7KotgLlP6ZhKqi8xIEQ1OZIzG8aLztSAgQw1onA6qIMC4uGXvwbQKcFAhGhvtOpVEzc4TXuLR91noC7tZc6V1DF66olYlehiIcnAbQd0GeCIfZ3rYWSXDzuKgSvbIM12/s320/handball-arena-light-pipes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Eighty-eight of these pierce the roof of this amazingly simple but totally flexible new sports space. With each solar tube consisting of a small dome of Perspex on the roof, some highly polished aluminium tubes, frosted plastic and some gravity defying ceiling fixings, they light the Arena perfectly… it is really amazing as raw untouched British sunlight just before dusk illuminates this vast space!<br />
<br />
The Handball Arena will revert into an incredible community legacy venue after the Games with opportunities for everyone to use it. Provision has been made for music, school, sports and other entertainment uses, making this probably one of the most entrepreneurial spaces on the Park. <br />
<br />
If you need an extra couple of thousand seats, then look behind the wall panels and wheel them out! If you want the place to look full without filling the place, check out the multicoloured seating that gives the impression of more 'bums on seats', if you need it as a movie theatre, a conference hall or a massive wedding, then this space will accommodate it! No stone has gone unturned in making this place something really special.<br />
<br />
The handball Arena is a big box building that's 90x40m and is clad in copper plate. The copper won't go green like on other buildings, but will retain their shine and their elegance well into legacy, creating yet another iconic building for 2012... and beyond.<br />
<br />
Too me, this is one of the best legacy examples on the Park and it's been designed to have a life of over 25 years without damaging the environment. This is the way businesses need to think and work when considering the Games and the benefits they may bring. <br />
<br />
So, how can your business use the Games to help your business grow? Well, there are still the contract opportunities available on competefor.com and the market intelligence that brings. Use this as a great source to find out 'who's-contracting what' and try and get involved. <br />
<br />
And don't forget, from mid-2012 (not long now!), the world's journalists and news gurus will start descending on London and will be looking for those stories that will be make the papers before the athletes take to the tracks. <br />
<br />
The media will be looking for quirky local news that will tell the story of London, cool shops and people with interesting stories. Start upping your game in delivering incredible customer service and start investing some time and perhaps some money in your shops, offices and websites to make them look slick and inviting, to attract new and retain old customers!<br />
Typically, small businesses think for the short term but if you act like the boffins on the Handball Arena and start thinking outside the box, you too can do some amazing things now that will help your business last for a long, long time.<br />
<br />
It's now or never when it comes to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, so... on your marks, get set, go!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-22413341157264683222011-03-14T14:33:00.000+00:002011-03-14T14:43:56.230+00:00OPEN for business... 2012 and beyondFrom my London 2012 Blog - 27 Mar 2009- <a href="http://www.london2012.com/">http://www.london2012.com/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
I recently visited a small factory owner in Hackney Wick. He’s been there for years and does what most of us do. Drives into work, puts the kettle on, answers some emails, shuffles some papers, puts the kettle on again, talks about what was on telly last night and then picks up with the job in hand from where he left off yesterday. <br />
<br />
He asked me to pop down and have a chat about how he can get involved in this 'London 2012 thing' as he’s heard there might be some opportunities for his firm to get involved with. We talked about coping with the credit crunch, how he needs to make sure he stays on top of his cashflow so we had a look at CompeteFor (the chosen website for the publication of London 2012-related contract opportunities), the relative simplicity of getting a presence on it and how it’s likely this will flag up some of the opportunities he’s looking for. After a quick tour of his factory, I asked 'what’s through that door?' 'That’s the back door and its been about a year since I went out there,' he said. <br />
<br />
I’ve never seen someone’s jaw actually drop open like I did that day! When he opened the rusty door, much to his astonishment, he discovered he was just a few metres away from the Olympic Stadium site. We were both stunned by this majestic building virtually within touching distance and literally just a stones throw across the River Lea. 'Wow, I had no idea I was THAT close to the London 2012 Games, he said 'and now I feel I’m part of it and that the Games are only three years away, I’ve really got to get involved!' <br />
<br />
Later that week, as part of the Olympic Park Engagement Network (OPEN), I joined about 50 local residents, school teachers, sports volunteers and business owners on our second meeting in six months for an incredible tour of the Stadium. <br />
<br />
From the outside, even if it's only a few feet away across a river, you don’t appreciate the sheer size of the Stadium. Eighty thousand seats is a lot of bodies and almost all the space has been given up to accommodate the spectators. Two things immediately stuck: <br />
<br />
1. There are a lot of toilets going into this building! <br />
<br />
2. There are huge number of cranes on site (including a really fantastic mega-crane that lifts the roof supports in place). <br />
<br />
When I asked how long it takes to fit one of these huge, white tubular steel supports in place, we were told it only takes a couple of hours. Last week it took me two hours to put a bookcase together... and I’ve still got bits left over... I suppose that’s why I’m not in the construction business! <br />
<br />
We then had the honour of standing the middle of the Stadium site by what’s going to be the finishing line of the 100m track. This is probably the only time in my life I’ll ever cross a sprint line but I did feel inspired to get a bit fitter and have now started another diet! <br />
<br />
It’s really clever the way the Stadium has been designed. Long-term proposals for the Stadium are that 70 per cent of the seats will be removed to leave a smaller facility in place, and when we spoke to some of the construction managers, one of them got quite saddened by this... 'I like to build stuff', she said 'and it pains me to think about taking it all apart again after all this hard work'. <br />
<br />
Looking up from the track, I did feel a bit like Russell Crowe in Gladiator (but without the tigers); the thought of 80,000 people screaming for their favourite athletes, the fantastic Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the unique opportunities to see Olympians and Paralympians virtually on my front doorstep competing in the bowl of this amphitheatre-style Stadium really got the goose-pimples up and, I have to admit, a lump to my throat. I want my kids to see this... I’m convinced it WILL inspire them! <br />
<br />
Discussions later that evening focused on the long-term legacy proposals for the Park. Tom Russell, Director of What-Happens-Afterwards left everyone in no doubt that this is a world-class urban regeneration programme that will not only work for the existing and the new communities in the area but for the whole of east London and the fringes around it. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lVYwiIcrhglZXQIhqLm9lKq6SoM9pSBstbYCWG9XQPeWaOyP9mTbRefU8EhKSNjjpTdb8R_hZJj4zxkVInMHHeu2agrKl9qEFPgUvoAVU5jLnnCvod6HmDS655nYLoNGeAJKSmI2dHhw/s1600/markQ%2526A+davidhiggins.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lVYwiIcrhglZXQIhqLm9lKq6SoM9pSBstbYCWG9XQPeWaOyP9mTbRefU8EhKSNjjpTdb8R_hZJj4zxkVInMHHeu2agrKl9qEFPgUvoAVU5jLnnCvod6HmDS655nYLoNGeAJKSmI2dHhw/s320/markQ%2526A+davidhiggins.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><br />
From a small business perspective, it is clear that we’ve got to 'watch this space'. To some, CompeteFor has been a bit premature. Business owners have been fired up and enthused by the prospect of the opportunities that would come out of the project... but quite frankly, the ball hasn’t really started to roll yet. <br />
Most of the big stuff’s already procured and most of that seemingly construction-related; only now are we starting to see the roll-out of the business opportunities that smaller businesses can get involved with from LOCOG - the London 2012 Organising Committee, the privately funded company responsible for staging the Games. <br />
<br />
The factory owner at Hackney Wick is now really gearing up! He’s passionate about making sure he’s got it right and that the support mechanisms out there help keep him on track. He’s changing the way he works, keeping a close watch on his core business needs and doing his best to ensure he and his business have the skills, the capacity and the capability to do business between now and 2012... and beyond. <br />
All I needed to do was to open his eyes to what was literally going in his own back yard and to help him understand that he needs to be getting himself ready now to ensure he’s well and truly 'open for business' in the future. <br />
<br />
Find out more about London 2012 business opportunities via the London 2012 Business Network <a href="http://www.londonbusinessnetwork.co.uk/">http://www.londonbusinessnetwork.co.uk/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-10593479518396969332011-03-14T14:29:00.000+00:002011-03-14T14:45:03.334+00:00Inspiring entrepreneurs...building foundations and structure for future success!Reproduced from my London 2012 Blog Entry - 4 Aug 2008 <a href="http://www.london.com/">http://www.london.com/</a><br />
<br />
Almost every day I drive around east London and when I see that blue fence everywhere I go, I imagine the Olympic Park is going to be huge. But this week, I finally got to see what was going on, on the inside... and what an amazing experience it was! <br />
<br />
I was fortunate to be asked to join in on an Olympic Park Engagement Network (OPEN) event and, after an eye-opening coach tour, we were invited into the ODA’s on-site project offices to talk to the team responsible for what is quite frankly the biggest construction project on the smallest site. We heard presentations from David Higgins (ODA Chief Exec and our tour guide!) and Howard Shiplee (Head of Construction and man in charge!) followed by a Q&A forum on how construction work on the Park is affecting the local community. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyjHfUCzohUJPjcRWug8Q-XDPqZKTNkq-89YE3Q85unx25_lnDwCbkBdxmgCqk8MagL7Oh55IOB364Je5m3Def39jdWpbPK1xRVFsqFs3ziJGbLjJQzy9krUa7NWsCXPWME2zdJBr_p5X/s1600/markbuilding+site.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyjHfUCzohUJPjcRWug8Q-XDPqZKTNkq-89YE3Q85unx25_lnDwCbkBdxmgCqk8MagL7Oh55IOB364Je5m3Def39jdWpbPK1xRVFsqFs3ziJGbLjJQzy9krUa7NWsCXPWME2zdJBr_p5X/s320/markbuilding+site.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
There was some great feedback from residents, local schoolteachers, council officers and religious leaders alike and David Higgins and Howard Shiplee(supported by other key lead colleagues on the construction and procurement team) promised to take back some of the concerns of the residents. This included things like improving pedestrian access into the Olympic Park from places like Victoria Park and Wick Lane, the legacy of some of the venues, especially the BMX track, and the ODA’s commitment to local labour and local business opportunities for local people. <br />
<br />
As someone who works closely with local residents in not just the Host Boroughs but across the whole of east London, this subject is something quite close to my heart and it was good hear commitments from the ODA’s Delivery Partner and from colleagues from the new Employment and Skills team that now the major contracts have been tendered and commenced, there are likely to be hundreds of smaller opportunities for business contracts and thousands more job opportunities over the next four years. <br />
<br />
I explained how the original Games Bid was won promoting 'inspiration' and that from the minute the announcement was made, phones started ringing asking 'how can I get involved' or 'how can I pick up a contract?' and that my biggest job is managing expectations of those entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs keen to become London 2012 businesses! <br />
<br />
The London 2012 Games has really fired the imagination of the business community not just in east London but across the whole of the UK. There are local and national programmes already in place to help people turn their business ideas into reality and the easiest way to get involved is to register and publish their business profile on the London 2012 Business Network.<br />
<br />
As the ODA enters the foundation-structure-fit out phase of the 'big build', small businesses across the UK should be doing the same. <br />
Look at the foundations of the business, make sure they’re well planned and well budgeted and once that’s done, ensure structures and systems are in place before launching on the final fit-out, telling the world why they’re the best... sound familiar?<br />
<br />
Read London 2012's community commitments on <a href="http://www.london2012.com/">http://www.london2012.com/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-19937259769886455132011-03-14T14:01:00.000+00:002011-03-14T14:09:58.297+00:00A new Piece of London - The Olympic Village<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDZRgO9o_B5L4-XCQQRHet5kpV6ikQDw5Nsn23TnRmA6QeoKjwkdYfiGhjFHS94sJBAXPTOenjrlFVkb6rI2gUGRweewz_QpLx1pqSLBZJIYQLMSnBdlDycWlk1HSms33tMQZDSlOvLBg/s1600/IMG-20110302-00023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDZRgO9o_B5L4-XCQQRHet5kpV6ikQDw5Nsn23TnRmA6QeoKjwkdYfiGhjFHS94sJBAXPTOenjrlFVkb6rI2gUGRweewz_QpLx1pqSLBZJIYQLMSnBdlDycWlk1HSms33tMQZDSlOvLBg/s320/IMG-20110302-00023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
When they call it a "village" it really doesn't do it justice. Images of a ducks round a pond, old ladies on bikes visiting the community post office and the populus all wearing tweed & green wellies are completely shot to pieces when you see the new Olympic Village.<br />
<br />
Built to house the 17000 ( yep, 17000!) athletes for the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games in London's East End, the sheer density of development, the look'n'feel of the place and the proximity of it to Stratford, Leyton and Paris (just two hours away) is just mind-blowing.<br />
<br />
Looking a bit like the Greenwich Millennium Village on the Greenwich Penninsular (next door to the O2), this is going to be one amazing new piece of London.<br />
<br />
Immediately after the Games have finished in Sept 2012, the athletes flats will start to be converted into a range of proper flats from single occupancies to 3/4 person homes. (The Athletes Quarters won't have kitchens as they're encouraged to eat together outside of thier own rooms and "bond" with the rest of thier squads).<br />
<br />
Built in the style of the greenspace squares you'll find in Hackney and in Mayfair, each block will become a community in its own right but they won't be isolated from each other. Cafes and Shops will be built into the developments and these will all be connected by local pathways and connections to bring people together.<br />
<br />
As we all know most dense housing developments will create pressures on existing local school, health & recreational services....but not this one. A new school, the Chobham Academy (see pic above) and a new NHS "Polyclinic" are to open pretty soon and with the amazing parklands of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the shopping of Westfield's Stratford City all literally in your back garden, this is going to be one helluva place to live.<br />
<br />
The the thrill of becoming one of the "founding fathers" of this new piece of London, makes it a very tempting investment opportunity and its unique vibrancy/throb/pulse will ensure this is THE real legacy from London's Olympic & Paralaympic Games in 2012.<br />
<br />
But don't get too excited yet! we won't be able to buy one of these properties until probably 2015.......So let's start saving !<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXW1plOgOfSSn78khzEZXAgcGg3sVcBGq0zKATk2EULnKg9MtAID8S-JCvlW2hD3cDmUIiTEgA34vcIaJKHIum-owTdvwhEmWwWOUhIkHgDfvyIUJZ241OxetgVEV-dUyygKnPyLDxcyV/s1600/IMG-20110302-00025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXW1plOgOfSSn78khzEZXAgcGg3sVcBGq0zKATk2EULnKg9MtAID8S-JCvlW2hD3cDmUIiTEgA34vcIaJKHIum-owTdvwhEmWwWOUhIkHgDfvyIUJZ241OxetgVEV-dUyygKnPyLDxcyV/s320/IMG-20110302-00025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-27831619125262137812010-01-22T18:28:00.000+00:002010-01-22T18:28:59.747+00:00The right Climate<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Whether or not you weather the weather……..</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Just what we needed, eh? Tonnes of snow, temperatures plummeting below freezing and chaos on the roads, trains and pavements!</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Not only do we have to wear some of the more ridiculous items from our wardrobes to keep warm on our way to work, when we get there, there are other, more serious issues to deal with.</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>As a result of climate change, the weather is going to have a major impact on our businesses all year round, some positive and some positive.</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>It will depend on what your business is all about, where it is based, who your customers are, who your suppliers are and the type and condition of the premises your business is located in.</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Sadly, the cost to business of this years “cold snap” is estimated to be around £700m across the UK so far and as a direct result of combination of the recession and the weather around 2000 businesses are expected to go bust by Easter this.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Temperatures will continue to rise in the summer and fall in the winter and we’re told to expect more and more rain throughout the year. So the likelihood is that you’ll need to start preparing for property damage and business disruption from the extreme weather conditions from now on.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Floods, high winds, very high temperatures and even hailstones will affect the way businesses operate so you will need to start thinking about the impacts now.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Energy costs will rocket as heaters stay on longer on or cooling is needed and even if this doesn’t effect you directly, it may have a major impact on your suppliers and end up costing you more which in turn gets passed on to your customers</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Climate change may also affect the economy, which in turn could affect your business through increased taxes, more red tape and political changes</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>So, what can I do…………</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em> Within your business plan, you need to think about the impact that climate change will have on your business. </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em> Look for the positive impacts such as new opportunities as well as the negatives, impacts such as rising costs, changes in customers' buying habits and risks.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em> think about how climate change will affect your supply chain and your customers.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em> Plan and review your solutions….what will the impact be on introducing new systems, procedures, physical changes BEFORE you initiate them. Remember, your business needs to be operating smoothly and profitably so to make sure your business is financially sustainable, do your research first!</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em> Make sure your changes are adaptable. Will any changes you make now be able to cope with more climate change in the future?</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em> Make sure you can afford to make the changes. Some of these will have costs attached to them and you’ll need to make sure you have the cash to do it. If not, what changes will you have to make and what other costs can you cut to help you pay for your changes</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em> Get EVERYONE on your team to understand how to manage risk and deal with issues as they arise</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em> Don’t get complacent and think you’re safer than anyone else!</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>The more entrepreneurial of you out there though will of course be looking for the ways to make money out of climate change, but again its imperative that you plan these things in advance. If you don’t have a business plan, then give us a call ASASP and we’ll help you pull one together!</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>I’m off to thaw out now and book a holiday somewhere hot (but I’ll be taking my thermals with me just in case!!!)</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em></em></span><br />
<br />
<em></em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em></em>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-58542706105753252572010-01-06T15:25:00.000+00:002010-01-06T15:25:49.097+00:00THE NEW YEAR’S KEY TO SUCCESS !I remember in the days before the X-Box, the Computer and mobile phones, if there was nothing worth watching, then I’d nip up to my bedroom and get all creative by building a huge robot that would save the human race from destruction by some as yet undiscovered alien life form or if I was really bored, design and build the car or house or train of the future from the deep dark recesses of my mind.<br />
<br />
Those were the days….. the days when instead of being spoon-fed by the interactive technology we have today, you’d have to use your imagination and become creative. Innovative.<br />
<br />
Back in the late1940’s (er, no I’m not that old!), as the world was coming out of the turmoil of World War Two another world domination plan started to come out of Denmark. Nope, not bacon and not butter but a small plastic block with lumps on it. The LEGO brick.<br />
<br />
Over the next few years, LEGO encouraged new ideas and followed new trends to become one the world’s biggest selling products (440 billion bricks sold since 1949) and now 400 million people will play with LEGO this year and there are on average 62 LEGO pieces for every person on Earth. If you lay the bricks sold this year end-to-end, they’d go round the equator five times and by selling 306 million tyres every year, LEGO has become the world largest tyre manufacturer! <br />
<br />
“So Mark, why are you telling me all this?” I hear you yell. “What’s this got to do with business in Barking & Dagenham?” Well, there’s to angles to this. Innovation & Survival.<br />
<br />
As we hopefully start to pull through what was quite frankly one of the most scary years in business the world has ever seen, businesses need to be looking at how they can kick-starting their businesses again to enable them to survive.<br />
<br />
According to Wikipedia, the definition of innovation is “a new way of doing something or "new stuff that is made useful" ” and I actively encourage ALL businesses to start re-thinking in this way. This is a blank-sheet-of paper opportunity for businesses of all sizes to re-think their master plan’s and start strategising on how to grow their businesses over the coming months.<br />
<br />
Equally, 2010 presents a fantastic opportunity for anyone considering going-it alone and starting up a new business. Thinking about new stuff leads to new business creation and ultimately creates more jobs! Exactly we need !<br />
<br />
At BDSBC we’ll more than just listen to your ideas. If some of the people you’ve spoken to about your business idea think you’re completely bonkers, then come and talk to us ! We listen to every idea and wherever possible, help turn it into a reality. We’re totally open and brutally honest and if we agree with some of your friends then believe me we’ll certainly tell you if we think you are bonkers but what we really want to here from you about exciting new ways to do “stuff”. Not just things that do stuff well but things that do stuff better!<br />
<br />
Money is going to be tight. Banks will still be cautious about lending, the public sector will be cutting budgets left, right and centre and we’ll have an interesting election battle in the spring to contend with. But to me, that creates a really exciting challenge, and to the entrepreneurs of Barking & Dagenham a REAL opportunity !<br />
<br />
Start talking to potential customers about what they need from you that’s different. What do you do that could help them? How can you work with them to create an innovative solution?<br />
<br />
Six, eight-stud LEGO bricks can be combined in 915 million different ways and as the expression goes, there’s more than one way to skin a cat….so put your thinking caps on, disappear into your bedrooms or boardrooms and start thinking about how many ways you can do stuff better. 2010 is a great opportunity, so (and no apologies for this)..don’t LEGO (“let go”, get it ?!)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-10067916748591399112010-01-06T15:20:00.000+00:002010-01-06T15:20:32.740+00:00I am a child of the 60’s (which probably accounts for a lot of things!) and I can remember by Dad telling me all about how he toiled to become a Chef through learning the hard way. You know, the way Dads tend to go on…By working his way up through the ranks. Blood, sweat and tears, my boy, a real hard graft, doing something called an apprenticeship.<br />
<br />
<br />
Now, apprenticeships are back, are easier than ever for employers to manage and easy to sign up for.<br />
<br />
The Council has committed over the next couple of years to take on 750 new apprentices and so have many other businesses in B&D.<br />
<br />
But, I hear you ask, what’s in it for me and my business?<br />
<br />
Do I need to take on a kid to work in my business?<br />
<br />
Firstly, let’s burst that bubble of perception about apprentices. They’re not all spotty sixteen year olds on building sites, making tea, schlepping bricks and cleaning out the loos. Nowadays, you can take on an apprentice up to the age of 51 ! So you can take on real people with real life skills, knowledge of the real world and often those with a real need to work.<br />
<br />
But I’m not in construction….what apprentice can I take on?<br />
<br />
I said its not just about building sites! Apprenticeships are designed by employers for employers and are tailor-made for each sector so the likelihood is when you can take someone on, they’ll work alongside you, learn the ropes the way you want them to and get relevant job-related skills that you know will add value to your business.<br />
<br />
OK so what industries suit apprentices?<br />
<br />
Pretty much all industries. Anything from retailing to catering. From Healthcare to IT and from farming to engineering<br />
<br />
All sound simple so far, but what’s it going to cost me?<br />
<br />
All you agree to is to employ your apprentice for a minimum of one year, pay no less than the minimum wage for four days per week and agree to send your new colleague to study one day a week to hone their newly-developing skills. As I said before, the courses have been designed by employers for employers so they aimed at the right level for the right people.<br />
<br />
So what will they be studying?<br />
<br />
Your commitment to taking on an apprentice will allow them to gain new nationally recognised qualification in the subject you think is relevant. <br />
<br />
What else will I need to do that will impact on my business?<br />
<br />
Just be supportive ! Your apprentice is keen to learn! They’ll have some work to do whilst their on-the-job and you’ll need to let their learning supervisors visit them at work on a regular basis but other than that, its pretty much like employing any other person. <br />
<br />
Am I going to be forced to take on someone I don’t like as an apprentice? <br />
<br />
Essentially, the apprentice is your member of staff and employed by you to do the things you want them to do. All prospective apprentices are pre-screened to make sure they’re fit for work and you’re given a selection of candidates to interview before you take on your apprentice. Its your businesses so its your decision !<br />
<br />
OK, I think you’ve sold it to me ! So how do I get an apprentice?<br />
<br />
First thing to do is call in and see us here at the Barking & Dagenham Small Business Centre. Book an appointment for one of our free business reviews to make sure you’ve got all bases covered regarding your business plan and your business strategy for the future. We’ll let you have some info packs and then put you in touch with some real specialists in apprenticeships who will tell you how it works in more detail than we could !<br />
<br />
Now is a probably the best time to sign up for an apprentice. By committing to developing the skills of your colleagues, you must make sure your business is ready to leap ahead of the competition when the economic climate starts to get better. And the best way to do that is to invest in your team TODAY !Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-49588225274386318162010-01-06T15:16:00.000+00:002010-01-06T15:16:43.600+00:00Growing Skills for Growing BusinessesYes, I know. There’s a recession on. So EVERY newspaper, radio station, TV channel and website keeps telling me. Save here. Cut there. In this column, I too have been banging on about keeping costs down…blah, blah, blah!<br />
<br />
<br />
Alongside marketing, the other thing I wouldn’t cut back on though is keeping good colleagues and getting them ready for that eventful day when we’re told that now recession is officially over.<br />
<br />
Far too often, one of the first things to go during cut-backs is the training budget. Sending colleagues off on expensive training courses and keeping that extra pair of hands off the shop-floor is a no-no if you’ve cut colleagues numbers to the bone. But it doesn’t have to be like that. <br />
<br />
I’m a firm believer in making sure a business looks after its people. And I don’t just mean its customers. After your own family, the people that work in the business are probably the most important people in your lives. They’re the ones generating YOUR cash, keeping YOUR customers happy, presenting the public face of YOUR company. But ask yourself one really important question……are my colleagues really happy?<br />
<br />
Keeping them happy doesn’t just mean paying them more cash. More often than not it’s about recognising the good work they’ve done, having regular, two-way conversations with them either in short team meetings or on longer one-to-one basis makes it a comfortable way to review their performance and progress and helps fine tune the business. At BDSBC, we have a team meeting every Friday morning (with the obligatory cakes and doughnuts, of course!) and every week we fine-tune the way we do stuff to make sure we work smarter and not harder; that the way we work is better for us, better for our colleagues at HQ and more importantly, better for you, our valued clients. <br />
<br />
Often from these meetings, individual issues are picked up that need a bit of extra one-to-one coaching so we try our hardest to sort these immediately to make all our lives a lot easier and coming to work more enjoyable!<br />
<br />
My working week is pretty long and I probably spend more time with my staff than I do with my own family during that week (sometimes a relief as I do have teenage twins at home !), so I want to make sure that I have fun at work and I enjoy what I do. Working with clients to help them start-up, survive and grow during the current climate is very challenging and often very intense so it’s comforting to know that during some of the “downtime” you have at work, you’re working with happy colleagues.<br />
<br />
Happy colleagues are often more driven colleagues and as a result they hopefully become more profitable for you. Investing time and effort in the colleagues you value, brings value so consider how you could train and develop these colleagues to make a real difference in your business. <br />
<br />
If you are going to send colleagues on training course though, make sure they’re relevant to your business. There no point in sending someone off on a bookkeeping course if their marketing specialists. Any money invested in training has to be just that….an investment. It must bring you a return.<br />
<br />
Nowadays, there are some very good bite-sized courses available at your local colleges of Further or Adult Education and its definitely worth checking them out to see what they can offer. Train to Gain, the Governments FREE skills development programme is also worth checking out. Every day, nearly 1.5 million people go to work without the skills they need to do their jobs well. Train to Gain can help you invest in skills, giving your colleagues the ability, confidence and motivation to deliver real business results. <br />
<br />
And there’s another thing, while business is a little quieter, thing about how you can invest in yourself. We can all become a bit complacent at work but remember, think about investing in the people working ON the business and not just IN it. Who do I mean? Why YOU of course !!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-11593248605657667002010-01-06T15:15:00.000+00:002010-01-06T15:15:10.644+00:00Putting Something BackIt really hurts typing this week’s blog. Fingers, arms, neck, back, legs. In fact everything hurts. Why?.....because I just did my bit to get a bit more physically active and more involved in the sports side of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.<br />
<br />
Recently, I volunteered to be part of a team of businesses in a fantastic corporate sports challenge in East London. A range of businesses, big and small rocked up to a take part in this fantastic charity event …………………..& boy, am I suffering!<br />
<br />
You might be able to tell from the many chins you can see on my photo, I’m probably not used to doing this kind of thing. (I get exhausted running round my lounge looking for the remote for the TV), but this was something a bit different and a great opportunity to get some of the businesses I work with involved in something other than making money. <br />
<br />
As well as the positive economic benefits, there’s also the health benefit of keeping staff less deskbound and more active and this two-pronged approach went some way in showing how businesses can help meet some of the legacy objectives for the 2012 Games on a local level. On top of all this, this event was a great fundraiser for charity and we raised quite a sum from entry fees and donations.<br />
<br />
Persuading businesses to invest in anything at the moment is a real challenge during these difficult times, but those that do invest time and effort in putting something back into the communities they work in, get back a real sense of both corporate responsibility and corporate opportunity. <br />
<br />
Overall, it was a great event for everyone to get involved in, but as the anti-inflammatorys start to wear off, I really must go and sit in a hot tub and contemplate my next great sporting achievement!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-59581073293167550742010-01-06T15:13:00.001+00:002010-01-06T15:13:50.090+00:00A Halloween Prediction for YOUR business!<br />
<br />
<br />
As business owners in Barking & Dagenham, we’re brilliantly positioned to take advantage of something quite special happening just a few minutes up the A13 – The London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games!<br />
<br />
As well as six weeks of the most incredible world class sport & spectacular ceremonies, the whole world will turn its eyes our way for inspiration & innovation as this once in a lifetime opportunity comes to East London.<br />
<br />
“But we’re not going to get a piece of the action, its too big a thing for us !!” I hear you cry! How wrong you are !<br />
<br />
Yep, the main events will be happening in the fantastic Olympic Stadium, the breathtaking Aquatics Centre and the phenomenal Velodrome, but the behind the scenes exciting (and hopefully profitable!) stuff is going to happen further a-field and likely on our doorsteps. And yep, the huge contracts have already been awarded to get the big buildings ready but as we speak, the smaller but equally important contracts are trickling through…..and these are the ones that will suit many our businesses in Barking & Dagenham.<br />
<br />
The two organisations buying services from businesses, the ODA (the Olympic Delivery Authority) and LOCOG (the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games), have phenomenal spending power and are really keen to see a lot of this money spent at local levels. To help make this happen, they’ve developed a brilliant web based tool called CompeteFor where EVERY Olympic contract up for grabs is published openly and fairly and this makes them accessible for any local business. It takes only a few minutes to register and before you know it, you’re up there with the big boys pitching for some very interesting business opportunities. Have a look at www.london2012.com/business and register today.<br />
<br />
But, if you need help getting your business ready for 2012 (or indeed any other business opportunity), Barking & Dagenham’s FREE business support network is highly visible, very well established and will make sure you do what’s right for your business. <br />
<br />
Organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce, East London Business Place and Barking & Dagenham Enterprise are funded by the local authority for just that. To help your business survive and grow and get you ready for the opportunities just up on the horizon. Oh, and of course a shameless plug for my own organisation, the Barking & Dagenham Small Business Centre: we’re a great central point of contact for all things business, so pop into our office in Longbridge Road and if we can’t help you, we know someone who can !<br />
<br />
Halloween is not just an excuse to get yourself dressed up to scare the neighbours and the kids. You need to use it as an excuse to start dressing up your business for something much more exciting. <br />
<br />
In only 1000 days from the 31st October this year, the Olympic & Paralympic Games come to East London leaving you less than three years to get your business off its marks, on track for success and ultimately poised to go for gold.<br />
<br />
My prediction for Halloween is that I expect to hear “and the winner is, Barking & Dagenham!”…….and I’m not normally wrong!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-87752271516430311692010-01-06T15:11:00.000+00:002010-01-06T15:11:06.695+00:00Work that Room !! How do I do REAL Business Networking??<br />
<br />
<br />
Networking’s not just about throwing your business card in everybody’s face and asking for business. I think I’ve set this before in these pages that you’re not going to become a multi-millionaire by attending freebie lunches and printing a gazillion pretty business cards. And really, just how important is networking in the age of the Internet? <br />
<br />
Well actually, face-to-face networking is still here and used by many as their biggest source of revenue-generating activity. Now is the time to polish up your skills, say yes to a couple of those invites a month then go build yourself a VALUABLE & professional network of contacts! <br />
<br />
But before you do that….<br />
<br />
• Suck-it and see. Check-out an organisation before you pay out to join<br />
<br />
Contact the Chamber of Commerce. Find trade and professional associations in your industry or in industries you provide product or services for. Most professions and industries have trade bodies and associations. Google them. Weigh up all the options of joining these…join the one that will give you more “bang for your bucks” is always the best rule<br />
<br />
• Ignore what your Mum said and talk to strangers!<br />
<br />
You are here to make friends, so be nice. Smile. Shake hands. Ask about them. Be interested in what they are saying. Don’t swap cards unless there’s a real benefit for you….you’ll end up with a huge pile of cards that will just sit on your desk and jeopardise another rainforest!<br />
<br />
• If there’s a speaker, listen, learn and follow-up!<br />
<br />
See what you can pick up on that you can use. Perhaps a follow-up note to the with a thank you note to the organisation’s boss? When you send an email to some of the people you met, mentioning the event in your email. Consider sending a card through the post. A simple “It was great to meet you on Wednesday at the Chamber breakfast!” and, you can include your card!<br />
<br />
• Get your hands dirty! <br />
<br />
Go to meetings. Write articles for their blogs and newsletters, volunteer and help with fundraising or event planning. Ask one of their Chiefs how you can be of service to them. They will have plenty of ideas and love volunteers!<br />
<br />
• For goodness sake, talk to the other guests!<br />
<br />
Don’t sit with the same people over & over again. Mix it up, meet new people…you’re there to work, not socialise!<br />
<br />
• Mix and Match.<br />
<br />
Try other groups and events. You’ll probably meet a whole bunch of new people…..and they’ll use a different caterer so the food might be better !!!<br />
<br />
• Be patient!<br />
<br />
It can take time to see if a new contact might generate business for you. Some will become good friends and most will be new business acquaintances but don’t expect them to write you a cheque straight away. Speed-dating & Changing Table events are great because you have to fine-tume your story to make a real and instant impact. <br />
<br />
Most important thing to remember, people will make a decision about you within the few seconds of meeting you so make those seconds count! Golden Rule of Networking- Look Good, Talk Better!<br />
<br />
Next post……getting stuck in a lift with Sir Richard Branson!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-14055352664779940932010-01-06T15:07:00.000+00:002010-01-06T15:07:50.689+00:00Pre-recession, we had it quite good. Easy-to-get credit, customers “falling” through the door, flexibility on delivery times. And all this while just watching the money flow in. Not anymore. New customers are much harder to find, banks are really toughening up and now everyone wants their orders, right here & right now.<br />
<br />
<br />
Running a business today is all about keeping existing customers and not just about winning new ones. And this means focussing on trying to get it right every time. Delivering incredible customer service is of course essential, but now, over the next two years and, quite frankly for ever, it’s all about giving better customer service EVERY SINGLE DAY WITHOUT FAIL!<br />
<br />
Phrases like <br />
<br />
• The Customer is King.<br />
• If you make customers unhappy in the physical world, they might each tell 6 friends. If you make customers unhappy on the Internet, they can each tell 6,000 friends.<br />
• Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong. <br />
• The goal as a company is to have customer service that is not just the best, but legendary.<br />
• Mistakes are the portals of discovery.<br />
• Being on par in terms of price and quality only gets you into the game. Service wins the game.<br />
• Well done is better than well said.<br />
• In business you get what you want by giving other people what they want.<br />
• You’ll never have a product or price advantage again. They can be easily duplicated, but a strong customer service culture can’t be copied.<br />
• Although your customers won’t love you if you give bad service, your competitors will.<br />
• Customer service is not a department, it's an attitude!<br />
<br />
are, to many, tired, old fashioned and very clichéd, but to others and lets hope its the majority, these are the best rules you can live your business life to over the next two years….at least.<br />
<br />
But don’t just live by these rules. Improve on them and make a difference, everyday. <br />
<br />
As well as focussing on customer service, the businesses that survived the recession of the 90’s did so because <br />
<br />
They got the basics right - get a business plan & a realistic set of financial forecasts in place now and prepare yourself for the future<br />
<br />
They cut costs – get rid of unnecessary costs by streamlining processes & procedures & stripping out waste<br />
<br />
They carefully managed cash flow - ensure you don’t run out of cash by accurately recording incoming and outgoing costs.<br />
<br />
They spent on wisely on marketing - Take advantage of the recession by negotiating better deals in areas such as advertising where cost of space has dropped or allocate spend to setting up or improving a website……. customers need to hear about you!<br />
<br />
They stayed determined – there’s not only a need to work harder, but also smarter. Remember, If small business was easy then everyone would be doing it !<br />
<br />
They held onto existing customers - Rather than putting all efforts behind winning new business, which is more cost and time heavy, try to identify new business opportunities amongst existing customers to lead to successful organic growth and new revenue. <br />
<br />
They diversified their product and customer base - Look at ways to adapt or broaden the appeal of your business through new opportunities, re-looking at your way of working and adapting it for a different market. <br />
<br />
They delivered excellent customer service - With existing customers recognised as the lifeblood for small businesses during a period of downturn, delivering excellent customer service, being flexible and reliable to meet their requirements help keep current customers loyal as they tighten belts.<br />
<br />
And they invested in the right technology – Gone are the days of a salesman tramping the streets looking for leads and then going back to his office to answer his emails the next day. The technology is here, now and people expect quicker and more efficient responses to their enquiry…..almost immediately<br />
<br />
But remember, the last thing you want is “Death-by-Bad-Service”…..what you really need is “New Life, Everyday”….and, as the business owner, it’s down to you to make it happen!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361461200883685010.post-29754440656858932302010-01-06T15:05:00.000+00:002010-01-06T15:05:08.925+00:00Particularly important in today economic climate, every business owner, whether in small, medium or large firms (and that includes one-man/woman-band operations) needs to regular ly take time-out to review the way their business is performing. Take time out of the shop/office.factory and get soem valuable thinking time done without any distractions.<br />
<br />
<br />
When meeting clients invariably these are the top three FAQ's (frequently asked questions, for those who didn't know!) I'm asked<br />
<br />
<br />
1/. How do I get more customers?<br />
2/. Can I get a grant for my business?<br />
3/. If I'm profitable, why haven't I got any cash?<br />
<br />
<br />
1/. How do I get more customers?<br />
<br />
To get more customers, you need to do THREE things....Marketing, Marketing and more Marketing!....... and I don't just mean putting an ad in the paper or get some nice pretty leaflets done.<br />
<br />
Become an EVANAGELIST for your own business. Everywhere you go, everyone you talk to is likely to be a potential customer so tell them what you do, why you do it and why they need your services. Seek out sensible networking opportunities and "work the room"...don't just grab the free drinks and nibbles! Sit down and think about your business from a customers point of view, not just as an entrepreneur. <br />
<br />
Are you delivering INCREDIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, EVERYTIME? If not, why not? Don't be afraid to make changes and ask your customers what they want? If you're a shopkeeper, look at the shop from a customers perspective....do you have last years collection of dead wasps still in the window? Could you give the walls a re-paint? Change some floor tiles? <br />
<br />
If you've got a website, is it working for you? Is it just a boring brochure or can your clients interact with you? DO you use Facebook/Twitter/MySpace? Can you can get hold of a digital camcorder, to make your own promo video and put a link on your homepage to You Tube? The trick with any marketing materials is to keep it fresh - update prices, products, press releases and any other details your customers might need to know.<br />
<br />
2/. Can I get a grant for my business?<br />
<br />
Quite frankly, its not very likely! They tend to be specific and/or aimed at certain "themes" and at the moment. mostly environmental projects. The temptation for FREE MONEY is always great but the time taken up in writing up a pile of grant applications means its likely you'll take your eye off the ball of your core business and potentially lose other easier sales opportunities. The other thing to bear in mind is the low level of success rate you'll find if you do apply for a grant......its estimated that 1 in 20 grant applications are successful but all will take time, effort and resources.....BEWARE!<br />
<br />
3/. If I'm profitable, why haven't I got any cash?<br />
<br />
I know its a cliché but Cash IS King ! The only real reason we go into business is to move money from our customer’s bank accountant into our own bank accounts (whilst of course staying legal, decent, honest and truthful!) Cashflow management is exactly that ensuring that in the current climate, you’ll need to stay on top of your cash. Make sure you get paid on time and take on new customers only after you've assessed their risk to your business (use credit checks, proforma invoicing and take up references from others, if needs be). <br />
<br />
Slash costs to the bare bone....do you need to have a new car? Are you overstaffed? Are your staff working on the right things for your business or could you shift the team around to make some efficiencies in both cash savings and customer service? Are you overstocked?<br />
<br />
Make sure you price your goods properly. Cutting prices only cuts profit and make you work harder to cover your fixed costs. Consider what I've said in response to how do I get new customers? Could you add value to what you do by doing things better and giving your customers more bang for their bucks?<br />
<br />
Lots of things to take in, here but who said being a business owner was easy! The best piece of advice I can give is don't be afraid to talk to someone. ASK your advisors, customers and friends and family for open, honest and independent advice.<br />
<br />
As the other clichés says its good to talk, don't be an ostrich and bury your head in the sand and don't thing your problems will just go away. There's help out there for you so if it feels lonely and tough at the top, talk to friendly ear......you know it makes sense !<br />
<br />
Good luck!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132441717451867421noreply@blogger.com0