Brentwood EBF Meeting Review 26th June

Chairman’s Business networking Blog Thursday 26th June 2014

18 members present with 2 visitors Mark Blackham from Hyundai, attending for the second time and Janice Bentley-Pearson a business adviser and first time visitor. The former has been approved by the Committee and we are hoping to get his membership sorted out for next week. The later expressed a clear wish to join us and we hope to see her next week.

David Plumley produced an Ed Slot that warned us of our overall demeanour in dealing with our clients, to be positive (no moaning) and to go the extra mile.

Kim Redwood-Lee should note going the extra mile refers to dealing with clients and not trips across the Sahara.

Marcelle Saad was first out of the blocks in the 60 second round, declaring the June birth stone to be the Pearl. In her presentation she produced the description of the week, the “bumpy and lumpy” Rock Pearl. In Brian Painter’s absence on holiday I am forced to take up his mantle and point out that, if a guy wants “rumpy pumpy” he should buy his gal a “bumpy lumpy”… sorry about that, but I fear that I have fallen under the influence of our resident hypnotherapist (please hurry back soon, all is forgiven!).

Tag lines abounded inspired by David Plumley’s triumph in remembering his own name, but total failure to remember his own tag line. Fortunately everybody was able to fill it in for him.

Inspired by the Ed Slot (“no moaning”) the old curmudgeon, Mike Rogers, was all up beat and extra mileish. Cheap fixed rates are disappearing fast. We should urge people to have “the best mortgage broker in the world” rush to see lots of people in the comfort and convenience of their own home.

Richard Reed was all upbeat and extra mileish. He finished off with a £789 for one week in a top Algarve Hotel offer. As my wife’s passport has still not returned from the rather belated application that I told you about last week, this was of no interest to me.

Terry Maylin was advising of ways around the expensive court system by enticing debtors into mediation after due consideration and consultation. He did not mention the other weapon in his armoury, amputation.

Paul Booth has been advising my well known client Lou Rolls, for a moment the Oscar was heading his way but two notable contributions came from Howard Bullock, resplendent in a bright green check shirt that would have graced any country dining table and Stuart Smallcombe brandishing his business card and explaining why a move to Tilbury was not all bad. He has a clever phone number (SIP)…can’t remember what those letters stand for but it’s up in the clouds and means you are stuck with your telephone number for life. Effectively, if you go the extra mile your telephone number is waiting for you at the end.

The best offering of the day however was from Kim-Redwood-Lee. I am always fascinated by the effect that the Sat Nav has on normal rational human beings, her description of a attempted visit to Braintree scuppered by the malevolence of her own Sat Nav produced a very appropriate metaphor for stepping back and seeing the overall picture; if you go the extra mile it should be at the time and place of your own choosing.

All in all an excellent 60 second round that was followed by the 10 minute presentation on behalf of TM Law. Modesty prevents me from mentioning my own role, Terry Maylin put together a good presentation of the services offered which hopefully clarified any uncertainties to the extent of the services he and I can offer.

The referrals and testimonials round I thought was better than usual. £19,600 worth of business passed and in excess of 20 referrals effectively brought to an end one of our better meetings.

Further good news is, as Scott Griffiths explained in the Meeting Secretary’s report; Vivienne Nwalema has been cleared to join us in Brentwood and hopefully will be in attendance next week as our resident courier and Gary Woskett from Anthony Batty will also be finally joining us for his first meeting as a member next week.

I am looking forward to next week already.