Nicholas Bate

Why We Love The Beatles 35 of 100

1961

The Beatles started getting regular gigs and so needed transport. The ‘roadie’ is invented and it is Neil Aspinall. In this pre-Epstein ‘make over’ period they use Hamburg stage craft: smoking and swearing as well as singing and playing. On The 9^th February the Beatles do their first gig at the Cavern. From April to June they return to Hamburg (The Top Ten Club) and while there, do a recording of My Bonnie/Ain’t She Sweet with Tony Sheridan and call themselves the  Beat Brothers before going back to Liverpool. The Mersey Beat paper is started and Beatles coverage interests Brian Epstein.

On the 9^th November one Brain Epstein listens in at a lunch-time Cavern session and is hooked. On 9^th December, The Beatles do their fist gig in the south: less than twenty teenagers turn up. On 10^th December the lads agreed Epstein’s contract and Epstein starts talking to Decca about a recording contract. Paul moves to Bass as neither John nor George want to do it.

“On Saturday 28^th October 1961. I was asked by a young boy for a record by a group called The Beatles…I wrote on my pad: “My Bonnie”. The Beatles. Check on Monday’…..Before I had time to check, two girls came into the store and they too asked for a disc by this group. This contrary to popular legend was the sum total of demand for their disc at the time….I started talking to people…." Brian Epstein, The Anthology

Meanwhile: January: USA breaks off diplomatic relations with Cuba; August: Berlin Wall is built; December: contraceptive Pill available on NHS.

The Decca session is arranged for 1 January 1962: will they or won’t they? Well, you know what happens. But The Beatles are not deterred: destiny has something else in mind. George Martin.

 

That's another reason we love The Beatles.

A reminder: 1960

15 Quick Wins 3

1.     Gym: correct technique.

2.     Choosing a present: re-play recent conversations you have had with them for an inspiration.

3.     Starbucks drinks: short, two-shot for the perfect ratio.

4.     Recession proofing your business: prove you are an investment not a cost.

5.     Cooking: get all the basics such as black pepper-corns, to hand.

6.     Personal Energy: use your body to get it used to providing energy for you.

7.     Reducing fuel bills: wear a jumper.

8.     Wondering what Life is all about: stare at the night sky.

9.     Needing inspiration:read the Apollo 8 moon mission.

10.  Get out of bed on time, promptly: use the alarm on your iPod

11.  Getting fewer e-mails: send fewer, far fewer.

12.  Protecting your job: become indispensable.

13.  Worrying less: help others.

14.  Discovering a new author: amazon.com/co.uk recommendations.

15.  Getting actions out of people: state the action you want.

15 Quick Wins 1

15 Quick Wins 2

In Tough Times, Five Brands to Study

Innocent Juice: notice how they create an honest, clear and friendly dialogue with their vital customers.

U-boat Watches: their uniqueness is their marketing. No advertising: just word of mouth.

McDonalds: they took the feed-back. They re-invented. They're stronger than ever.

Woolworths: here's what happens when your strategy is 'hope'.

Brand You: so what are you doing?

Advertisement

If you are looking for stocking fillas, here are two of my books which may be helpful. Both are good if you are looking for low-key gentle encouragers. Blackberry Fool is for those who are rapidly losing the ability to hold continuous attention to anything they do; maybe to you?!  101 is wide-ranging inspiration for achieving goals.

Hope that might help.

Power Question: 14 of 25

A powerful, focused question can get to the heart of the matter:
What are you reading?  What are you listening to? Who is mentoring/coaching you?

Arrange something today.

T S Eliot said:

'We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.'

Why We Love The Beatles 34 of 100

So, here we go. This is a tricky post; at the risk of raising the wrath, ire, shock and indignation of most Beatles fans and commentators, let me say up front: Yoko Ono did not break up the Beatles. The Beatles (in Dylan language) were a-breaking up, anyway.  So, you’d like to at least agree she was an accelerator/catalyst of the process? Nah-I don’t think so.

It’s the nature of us humans to look for a cause, a reason. A nice, big simple cause like ‘that frustrating woman’ Yoko Ono is an ideal one. But it doesn’t stack up. The Beatles broke up through 100% organic, natural causes: it’s known as growing up. Take a look at those first wonderful early pictures of the lads : you can hardly tell them apart. Matching cheeky grins on all of them.  They work as a group, think like a group and live as a group.  Fast forward a bit: different jackets, faces maturing. Fast forward again: different hair styles, partying separately. Fast forward once more:  different homes, lives, views: their own identities appearing. John was having a  slow but sure series of life crises, Paul had enough on his plate quite literally trying to keep the band on the road. George knew there was a deeper side to Life and Ringo wanted to enjoy his girl and his money.

No, Yoko didn’t break up the Beatles any more than Paul did; it may well have been Paul who got a couple more albums out of the -  by then - more than motley crew. The Beatles were evolving at light speed and a point came where lift-off was reached: they all wanted to go different ways. And for three of them that was not on the road. For Paul, that was the only place, he believed, where they could really be stretched. Yoko Ono probably saved Lennon from early burn up and self-destruction. Here he found another soul who thought as he did; who wasn’t with him just because he was a Beatle. No, there was no tragedy when John found Yoko and Yoko found John. No tragedy when the Beatles finally split: after all they have left us the most mind-boggling collection of gorgeous and incredible tracks. The only tragedy was when the world lost John a whole lot earlier than it need have done.

No: the incredible legacy is what's there to be remembered.

That's another reason we love The Beatles.

Fancy being Poet Laureate?

some details here.

Fifteen Quick Wins 2

1.     Selling: create difference (company times product times you).

2.     Fitness: walk plus take the stairs.

3.     Marketing: create a memorable, repeatable, positive experience.

4.     Romance: simplicity done well.

5.     Relationships: more give, less take.

6.     Great coffee: fresh beans, freshly ground.

7.     Customer Service: Listen. No, really listen.

8.     Sleep: return the bedroom to a sanctuary.

9.     Style: texture, not just colour.

10.  Creativity: get out of the office. Go to a museum/art gallery.

11.  Changing a negative culture: start at the top.

12.  Profitability: price for perception not for cost.

13.  Writing your non-fiction book: about what do you have passion?

14.  Reception: truly welcome the visitor.

15.  Time management: forget it: manage your choices.

Fifteen Quick Wins 1

Power Question: 13 of 25

A powerful, focused question can get to the heart of the matter:
What great business idea do you have? For an internal or external start-up? Or a re-invention of your current business? 

How could you take that idea further?