Billericay Business Networking Blog 8th October

Chairman’s Business Networking Blog Tuesday 8th October 2013.

A great turnout today, 15 in all with 6 guests. James Livingston and Jay Ettingel from H J J Facilities Services, Jim Shrubb, Town Crier and Toast Master, Sam Morgan Carpenter, Colin White from Recognition Express Promotional Goods Company and John Pickett of JCP Direct.

Congratulations to Jim Henshaw who introduced 3 of these guests and put the rest of us to shame although Nigel Kirby and Scott Griffiths each waded in one of the other guests. Let’s see if the rest of us can make a similar impact next week.

With an expectant audience the Ed Slot was delivered by Nige Kirby which dealt with Synergy Teams which, with additional members in the offing would be a realistic goal for us to achieve in the coming months. In the meantime the Brentwood Synergy Groups are open to you all. Please take advantage of this, I can testify to the usefulness and benefit in giving and receiving referrals.

The 60 seconds was once again kicked off by Robert Mayes who talked about the removal of chimney breasts. A sort of residential mastectomy which is perhaps more risky than the aforementioned treatment that might cause a house to fall down if not dealt with properly…maybe it’s not that dissimilar!!

And whilst we are on the subject of breasts, Jim Henshaw produced the rather startling statistic that breast cancer and prostate cancer, apparently the most common cancers to men and women respectively strike in an average age in Surrey of 82 and in Glasgow at 55. He will provide appropriate protection insurance for these unpleasant conditions but my own feeling is that cutting out deep fried Mars Bars would certainly help the Glasgow statistic.

Jason, immaculately dressed as always, sought to persuade us to be clutter free and how installing a mobile phone facility in your car can get rid of wires and ear pieces with hardly a wire in sight .

Nige Kirby claimed that he now had a member of staff who is clearly in the trainee capacity but it means that he is looking out for little jobs. His slogan could have been “no job too small”. Before the winter comes why not check those outside taps and see if they are leaking. It is in my interest that you all give Nigel Kirby lots of work in order to have his new employee up and running so that I can sell him an employment contract.

Scott was looking for websites big or small along with Stewart Oldham’s IT Service, appropriate for all sizes of business.

Just when the more squeamish of us thought that we had come out unscathed Brian Painter talked to us about IBS, yes you’ve got it, Irritable Bowel Syndrome. He described the symptoms, anything to do with farting always brings a smile to the British Male’s face and today was no exception. It took Adam Hotson to calm us down when he started talking about self-assessment tax returns, enough in itself to create the bowel pain that you could mistake for IBS.

After the members had finished their 60 seconds offering we had 5 presentations from our guests and needless to say our Town Crier/Toast Master could not avoid customary bellow that has to make you wonder what would happen if he became a member and gave a 60 seconds every week.

Not only did Brian Painter treat us to a graphic 60 seconds, we also had the pleasure of his 10 minute presentation. It was with measured delivery that he outlined the benefits of hypnotherapy, dispelled the apparent mysticism that lined hypnotherapy up with the dark arts, and went back to ancient Egypt, the 4th century BC Greeks the Romans and fortunately up to present date. He sent us out from the meeting with a phrase running in our ears which was destined to make for a slightly gloomy day as follows “…there is no such thing as a fear of flying but only a fear of death..” That of course is not strictly true if you fly Ryan Air. There are lots of things that you can be afraid of on one of those journey’s.

Finally I am very pleased to report what was a positive referrals and testimonials round that boasted 8 referrals.

One last reminder before I sign of, please let me know, one way or the other, as to whether you want to come to the Christmas Dinner at Tarrantino’s in Brentwood on the 21st December 2013. As explained at the meeting, I am as interested in “no” answers as “yes” answers, but obviously would like to see as many of you there as possible.