EBF Blog from 28th October 2021 at Hutton Cricket Club

Aidan Squire set the meeting off and we were passed the Performance League information which does indeed show a league of gentlemen in the lead (Paul, Matt and Scott). There’s an average of £1062 being passed in referrals too all setting a high benchmark. Indeed, to boost the group further (after the recent loss of Dean and Sarah B as members), there’s to be a VISITORS DAY on 18th November so we can be planning who to invite.

Education Presentation

The Education Slot was by our Vincent Goode who told me to record it as awesome. He mentioned referral keywords and the power of using ‘who do you know…’ in your 60 seconds. Indeed, sometimes being specific can result in a speedy and powerful connection being made, like the one Vince was able to make for Neil recently. Great stuff. Vince, I can’t quite read your writing here – are you telling me to say you did a sterling job? Of course you did!

The 60 Second Round

SIXTY SECONDS round – which, by a request from Toby Acton, was to have a nod to Halloween:

Mike Skinner told us his scary poem about a fear of leaving behind equipment when going to create Blackwater Media videos. Then he woke up and realised he had everything sorted like the professional he is!

Richard Reed of Prestige Holidays and Travel mentioned the horror of the Covid time of cancellations, postponements and refunds. The previous 18 months have represented a time of zero earnings with that horrible duck being broke by EBF comrades booking with him. Let’s aim to keep Richard busy with our holiday requests.

Tina Walker of Liberty Executive Services swears she has a broomstick that can sweep away those business cobwebs on piles of paperwork you’ve been putting off…! Fantastic.

Matt Barry of Blue Serif doesn’t believe in ghosts and ghouls but he does believe in Christmas especially as an opportunity to work with him on creating a marvellously creative and fun message for the season!

Simon Essex from The Greenhouse, Brentwood told us the scary and downright annoying story of the person who recently called in for care advice on a plant she bought at Wickes. Grrrr. We hope he turned her into a pumpkin.

Terry Maylin described a nightmare TM Law client enquiry from someone expecting debt recovery without providing any details, not even full names and addresses of those who need to pay up! Terry is great at many things except being a clairvoyant.

Jane Rhymes-with-Stallion of The English Cream Tea Company, crammed in every spooky-associated word possible, tomb it may concern. Her co doesn’t deliver devilled eggs but does send out hampers, gifts and boooos via couriers, not skelecopters or blood vessels.

Colin O’Connor of Blue Planet Consulting was able to show some nightmare scenarios in photos taken off a client’s website video. It clearly shows their workforce breaking major health and safety protocol and opens them up to being seriously prosecuted by the HSE. Apparently an accident doesn’t even have to happen before you can be slapped with £50,000 or more in fines. Now that is
frightening!

Vincent Goode of Speedprint told us about the C word. It turned out not to be caustic, corn on the cob or cuddle but of course reminded us to think ahead about our printed Christmas Cards. Cunning, clever and cute, Cince.

Nick Cooke of Nick Cooke and Associates came close to winning the Oscar with his tale of exploring a client’s loft space only to find a pile of dusty skeletal bones with a faded sign: winner of the 1978 Hide and Seek competition. The scary world of engineering and building consultancy! 😀

Toby Acton’s message as The Sales Masters Guild business coach was about the fear he sees in clients. This can be fear of success, fear of failure, fear of risk etc. He says the solution includes having a crystal clear business vision with defined milestones (not tombstones).

Alan Moller, our favourite electrician, can see the sale of his Southend property going through soon so just small ‘on the way home’ sparky jobs are his request for now.

Howard Bullock, the group’s financial adviser from Clear Financial Advice, was so grateful to Toby for his Halloween based theme this week. His 60 seconds mostly………..(tumbleweed)………. comprised……………………………………’we do pensions’.

Brian Painter of Pilgrim Hypnotherapy told us about a current client who has such great jealousy issues, it’s rather scary. We know it’s important to be green these days, but this lady is taking it toooooo far.

Aidan Squire of Quality HR reminds us that we can’t discriminate against Pagans or Witches in favour of mainstream religions.  Employers can fall foul if they commit such sorcery. Beware!

Neil Bellham of Any Event Catering and Chilli Republic sauces was proud to introduce his lad (Zachy-Boy) to us and thanked the group for its solidarity with him whilst he endures a real life nightmare currently. We’ve got your back Neil. x x

Paul Booth of Booth Associates was able to reassure that the Budget yesterday didn’t contain very much that was scary but warned against a potential howling rise in Capital Gains tax on a full moon.

Jane Malyon won the Oscar and she (uniquely perhaps) thinks Toby’s themed idea was a very good one! 😀

Q&A Session

After that the TEN MINUTES speaker was replaced by a Q and A SESSION as William Verner wasn’t there to present his words of wisdom. The questions included asking Richard for tips on where to go for last minute bargains and how to tell if you need to isolate on your return home.

Terry was asked about who might be responsible if an upstairs flat’s bathroom leaks into the flat below. Neil wanted a follow up from Brian about a client with a wandering eye (if you want to know, you should have been at the meeting!) and Aidan gave his opinion to Howard about a Bereaved Minor’s Trust. I assume it was a Minor and not a Miner by the way. Either route, it was a great use of the ten minutes and we all learned more about our fellow members’ expertise. Well done troops!

See you next week for the last session before we move to Calcott Hall Farm and meanwhile, thanks to Neil’s lovely team for today’s brekky-wekky. It wasn’t scary, it was yum and now is sitting in my tum! 😀

(Jane x x).