Business Networking Meeting Review – Essex Business Forum 30/08

Chairman’s Blog – Meeting Thursday 30^th August 2012

26 Members in attendance.

Howard Bullock delivered the Ed slot advocating working 50 minutes in every hour in order to keep yourself fresh during the day and maximise your work output.  I think he got the ratio about right but 10 minutes work and 50 minutes R & R is somehow more appealing.

From the initial networking, throughout the breakfast and the subsequent meeting Hugh Nicholas moved amongst us snapping happily.  This resulted in Marcelle spending most of the meeting hiding behind furniture brickwork and people.  He even gave up breakfast to create a photographic journey throughout a whole breakfast meeting. Thank you very much Hugh!  Whether our appreciation will be maintained as we view the many shots you took of us all remains to be seen.  We all understand about silk purses and sows ears but somehow photographic truth is not always palatable. I kept on thinking throughout the meeting that the whole photo shoot would have been much more interesting if Joan Jaggernauth had still been with us.

The 60 second round began with the admonitions from the chair of “no talking”, “speak up please” and “don’t pass things round”.  Hitherto rants from the chair are treated with commendable distain.  I am grateful to you all for breaking the mould, observing all recommendations and producing one of the best 60 second rounds that I can recall.  Everyone was listened to carefully and sure enough there were lots of little gems over and above those that Marcelle Saad recommends.

Jamie Nye became a member of the hands in pockets club carefully keeping his right hand warm whist gesticulating with his left.  Unfortunately this inspired Graham Thurston to take another leap backwards. Last week he had one hand in his pocket and this week he had both hands.  I must warn you that any other members trying to join this exclusive club will be exposed.

No such inactivity for Mike Rogers spare hand.  This was gainfully employed pointing to the spot on the side of his nose which I think was inspired by David Plumley’s reference to “ out dammed spot” from the “Scottish” play.  A new slimmed down Chris Smythe appeared fresh from his exertions of hanging wall paper for 10 weeks.  Maybe in his next 10 minutes he could give us a demonstration of wall papering wearing a leotard and moving to the music of Lou Baga?!

Distracted halfway through her 60 seconds Tina Walker “ lost it”, she was followed by Brian Painter who talked about a lady who had “lost it” – namely her ring.  Hypnosis enabled her to locate it but it also left her with a constant urge to say “Golly Gosh”.  That or Brian Painter just wanted the excuse to keep saying “Golly Gosh”.

We were all perhaps inspired to utter the same exclamation when Scott Griffiths declared that we are now well passed the million £ milestone for business recorded and that by the end of our second year there is a good possibility of our touching the two million milestone.  £12,500 was the business recorded this week with 24 referrals.  Watch out for the statistics next week that will confirm our performance for September which I hope is going to hit records levels.

Scott Griffiths was the 10 minute man and despite the badly performing projector he more than adequately demonstrated his professionalism.  His attempt was to show 50 hours of work in 8 minutes which somehow had a synergy with Howard Bullocks 50 minutes in one hour.  Scott’s turned out not to be possible – 10 minutes rather than 8;  Howards suggestion, whilst totally impractical did make me think “Golly Gosh”!!!

I do feel I am rambling slightly in this blog but one person who will not be rambling is Terry Maylin who is about to embark on his long distance cycle ride to Paris, best of luck Terry.  Hopefully Neil Lewer will have finished your daughters bed by the time you get back and he can perhaps design you a custom made saddle in oak.

Oh by the way, whilst on the subject of rambling  I won the Oscar this week with the liberal use of the letter “E”.   My mind is working round next week’s letter – (the letter “F”).   Suggestions will be gratefully appreciated and totally ignored.

See you all next week.