Nicholas Bate

100 Word Story

His 2CV bounced across the cobbles into the small market square. Shutters were closed in every direction, at all elevations. The mini-mart was shut until 330pm and the last of the market traders had long gone. Silence. In the corner of the square he glimpsed the flicker of a TV screen, high on a wall at the back of a bar. That’s where he headed to shelter from the sun. He walked in and as his eyes adjusted to the shade: un Ricard, s’il vous plait. He looked around; yep, this is where he would ‘go dark’ for a week.

14 Reasons For Reading Books

1. It is inspirational. A good book will take you out of a rut, help you re-focus and remind you that Life is OK.
2. It is a teacher. A great book can teach you so much, so quickly.
3. It is incredible value. A used book may just be a matter of £/$s and yet might save your business. Or health. Or both.
4. It's cooking compatible. You can read while the risotto comes together.
5. It heals. A book can take you into its own world which becomes your world. And you feel healed.
6. It gives knowledge. On which you can base fundamental decisions.
7. It's portable and unbreakable. Room to room. Home to Office. Home to Base Camp.
8. It's reassuring. To have a familiar book with you.
9. It's kinaesthetic. It simply feels solid and dependable.
10. It's travel compatible. You can take it any time, any place, anywhere.
11. It's a component of any great plan.
12. It's easy. No electricity. No added water,
13. It's small-chunks-of-time compatible. You can do it while waiting to see the dentist.
14. It's a characteristic of those who have changed the planet for the better.

France 3

Travelling south through France:

1. Stopped for an espresso (the serious consultant's beverage of choice) and against the cup was leaning a packet of illy zucchero extrafine: sugar with immediate solubility. That's how to create differentiation with a commodity product....
2. The hotel was the simplest, but dinner was superb. It usually is. The French love their food and make it a priority. And the world revolves around that fact: easy.
3. In Paris a little bit of French lands you in trouble, but beyond the Paris orbital, a little bit of French gets you a long ways and wins you lots of friends.

Don't Wait For 7

1. Perfect market conditions. If you have done all you can and you believe in it,  launch your new sandwich business and work hard at making it an awesome winner.
2. Approval. They're worried, they're jealous, they're daft. Or they are simply your Mum.  Take the risky job at half the salary if it's your passion. You're resourceful; it'll be fine.
3. 100% certainty in anything to do with relationships. What the heck, ask her out. She can only say no. Then you can leave it a week and ask her again.
4. The perfect title for your novel. Corner table Starbucks. Black americano. Laptop plugged in at the wall. Go: 2h's solid writing.
5. Smart Lycra Shorts. Get out jogging.
6. To win the Lotto. Get a Plan B: you're a very smart guy.
7. Tomorrow. Today's a lovely-fresh-start-kinda-day. 

He's Back...

the pond is re-stocked....the extension is being built...PNB sandwiches are on the menu...REAL.SMART.NOW.

Life is Unfair

with the consistently great Cultural Offering.

Real Security, Right Now. 25

1. Your ever-improving ‘hi-tech’ and ‘hi-touch’ skill-set;
2. Not just an MBA;
3. Your growing network of encouragers;
4. Not hanging out with debilitating office politicians;
5. Your self-belief;
6. Not just the length of your resume;
7. Your abundance mindset;
8. Not a copyright/trade-mark/no copying mentality;
9. Your reading;
10. Not the CNN ‘sound-bite’;
11. Your stretch;
12. Not fear avoidance;
13. Your passion;
14. Not cynicism;
15. Your astonishing value;
16. Not long hours;
17. Your goals;
18. Not just salary;
19. Your wisdom;
20. Not just pension plans;
21. Your youthful thinking;
22. Not just chronological age;
23. Your ooomph;
24. Not just job title.
25. That’s Real Security. Right Now.

ImmerseInA101

Take some time put: no Sales 101, Presenting101 nor Marketing101. Be Outrageous101; be Different101: pull on your BlueJeans101, feel amazing Freedom101 and a sense that you know all the Answers101 that you will ever need. So. WhatsToBeDone101? Are there TTD(ThingsToDo)101? Or maybe just Relax101? No Travel101. Boost your Creativity101? Release your Wellness101? Yep, be a Professional101 and grab some TimeToReflect101 knock off a few QuickWins101 and avoid any tedious OnGoingScenarioSituation101s. Are The Beatles101 on the iPod while you are Writing101? That’ll undoubtedly help with your Productivity101 and releasing your  sheer Genius101 and help you SolveAnyProblemYouMayHave101. Re-set your PersonalCompass101 and simply Re-invent101. Go on: BeFearless101.

A Reading List and a Half

with top author Steven Pressfield.

More Choice, Less Happy

Surely more choice makes us happier? More kinds of peanut butter at the supermarket? More ways of getting fit? More books to read? Not necessarily, as successive governments have found to their frustration....the more that's possible, the more we want; but given that we are time restrained, the more frustrated we can feel. Do less, achieve more. Experience less, feel happier.

Just a thought.