Billericay Business Networking Review 18th Nov.

Chairman’s Business Networking Blog, Tuesday 18th November 2014.

This week I report from the back benches. Ian Nicholson was in charge and ran a very good meeting.

The 12 members present were treated to a Hugo Heij special in the Ed Slot. He has us all draw the “ladder of loyalty” which categorised our customers and potential customers. Second from top of the ladder is “the advocate”, this is one who tells and sells other people your business. Top of the ladder the “raving fan”. The thing of course with EBF is that we should get ourselves into a position where we can be advocates and/ or raving fans of all of our fellow members.

We moved from Hugo to the 60 second round, who was first up …Hugo. He did only take 60 seconds this time. His Ed slot however continued to reverberate, at least with anyone whose foreshortened forename is Chris. Chris Vernon, Christine Arnold and Chris Adams all made direct reference to the ladder of loyalty. I wonder if this is because Christmas is coming? Robert Osborne mentioned this but everybody else had the decency to skirt round the C word.

Highlights of the rest:

Dr Deb explained how her skin products move from their application to the bloodstream in less than 20 seconds. The point is that her products are both pure safe and beneficial. As to the out of work actresses who out pout ”…..cos we’re worth it…” in such an irritating way, it is nice to know that all sorts of gunk will be in their blood stream in the time it takes us to watch them on the advert.

Brian Painter was talking driving problems. These varied from the learner driver who fell apart when he took the driving test, a lady who found roundabouts difficult and the lorry driver who could not go above 30 miles per hour. His ministrations meant that his first subject passed his test and another driver was put on the road, the lady now goes round and round and round roundabouts and the lorry driver now tailgates at 70 miles per hour. The dangers of smoking pale into insignificance…

Nigel Kirby told of the skills he is developing. He solved a problem for a customer after getting said customer to take a photograph of his airing cupboard. It’s a good job he’s and plumber and not a gynaecologist.

Pride of place this week however was Lewis Hackney who illustrated the importance of a good base. It’s nice to hear of a hospital in trouble for other than patient related problems – well done Lewis.

The 10 minute presentation was from Dr. Deb who has recently obtained committee approval to move the chair from Arbonne products to the Utility Warehouse. For those of you, who have an image of simply taking a chair into a large warehouse; please dispel this thought from your minds. She simply occupies the Utility Warehouse space in our group. She can continue to sell her Arbonne products unless or until a replacement member is found to fill that particular slot.

Anyway, her presentation was slick and professional sending through the television screen the benefits of the Utility Warehouse which several of us were able to endorse. I am sure she will do well with Utility Warehouse in our group and we should all be looking out for clients for her. Her presentation was enough to give us all confidence to go out and do that.

Thank to all of those who noticed that my Movember facial hair is now visible; particular thanks to Ian Nicholson for likening me to Willie Thorne. I will be relieved if there are several of you who don’t know who Willie Thorne is and for those of you that do, you may leap to my defence if you feel so inclined.

In Jim Henshaw’s absence I stood in for him as recruitment officer. May I remind you all to look actively for full contact details for; a general insurance broker, a car mechanic and a Health and Safety practitioner. Let us have these details available for next week so that Jim can get the search for new members well under way?

In the hope that we can attract a full turnout next week, Dr Deb will be taking the chair…. different one again!!!

Finally, best wishes to Ian Nicholson who will not be there next week but will be having his polyps seen to. I understand their removal should make a huge difference, as apparently he has very big polyps. Best of luck Ian;