Nicholas Bate

100 Word Story

The car-park was pleasingly empty as her original version green Beetle rolled to a halt and she allowed the Pink Floyd track to finish. Emptying the final dregs of the short Americano dangerously perched in the make-shift cup-holder she grabbed scarf and hat and pushed out into the strong breeze tugging at the vehicle. The clouds were high, matching her mood; the wind racing, propelling her thinking as she strode out across the dunes.  The sea was down-right azure gorgeous: her senses were enlivened. How could today be anything less than a very good day: it wouldn’t. She knew it. 

Read, Learn and

also add to play-list. So much good stuff and especially top music tips with Eclecticity.

The Monday Morning Full-On Kit 7

Be ahead of the game. Ensure Monday is a winner with the:

1. I love Mondays poster.
2. How To Be Brilliant pocket guide.
3. The Rules of Life instant summary.
4. Ghandi quote: be the change you wish to see in the world.
5. 14 Rules for Radicals personal guide.
6. YouSayYouWantARevolution101 deep immersion.
7. Four letters written in capitals in biro on Monday's schedule: JFDI.

Seamless Saturday 25

1. Wishing,
2. hoping,
3. dreaming,
4. thinking.
5. Reflecting,
6. and writing.
7. Washing on.
8. Writing.
9. Cooking
10. and music.
11. Chatting
12. and messing.
13. Washing out and on the line.
14. Shopping
15. and talking...
16. no: discussing.
17. Cooking
18. and loads more music.
19. Walking
20. and photos of the church with the gorgeous Saxon tower.
21. Reading.
22. musing,
23. thinking,
24. loving
25. and dreaming.

Fearless Friendly Fanciful Friday 7.

1. A great play-list from a great blogger. For tougher times than many of us-for which we are grateful- have to face.
2. Thank your barista. And your team. And the Evening Standard guy. Sure 'it's their job', but appreciation is a great thing.
3. Tough times? This too will pass.
4. Decide to really look after yourself this week-end. Some of your stuff. Family time. Music. Cooking some decent food. Conversation and just hanging out.
5. Stay in the zone today. Martial arts like. Just don't let those overly melodramatic complainers get to you. Stay in the zone. Fearless; friendly.
6. Take that lunch-time walk. On your own. Dream a little. A bit fanciful. 2009: your plans have really come together. Shows what a little focus will do.
7. Fearless, friendly and just a bit fanciful Friday.

Seven Business Strategies you Can Borrow From The Beatles

1. They were not a group but a team. And actually a High Performance Team. That’s why they achieved so much. Most 'teams' in organisations are still groups i.e. they have not bonded, not gathered purpose nor established protocols: that’s why they often achieve so little.
2. John and Paul totally respected –loved- each other but were fiercely competitive hence the constant sparks of creativity which were much more difficult  to access once  they spent time away from each other. Your departments e.g. sales and marketing should be competitive  and they are. But they must respect each other, which often is not the case. Hence the missing spark of productivity.
3. The Beatles sold hope, but  in the form of music. You must sell hope, whether it is a drug that ensures eyes that are no longer sore, a greener lawn or a great education. Hope is what you sell. It's how it's  packaged that is key.
4. They gave us what we wanted: hope, but then gave it in a form that we needed: they helped us to grow up. You’ve got to help your customers grow up, in particular  take ownership e.g. for looking after their eyes properly, their lawns or shopping in a more environmentally sound manner.
5. The Beatles were good, in fact  really, really good because they practised.  Businesses still need to learn to rehearse. Until the skill is totally 100% wired in and there is no chance of ‘forgetting the words'. Despite the noise from the crowds.
6. It’s not that you don’t like Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. It’s just that you are not ready for it yet.  Keep flexing your product mix . Don’t stay safe. Sure, Across The Universe is a winner. But Maxwell brings some new potential customers into the fold.
7. The logo was incidental, the name a background discussion. The product was all. The critical message for all of us.

Selling Without Tears: 1-25: 18

18:  Ask More Questions. Ask about budget. Ask who decides. Find out exactly what they want. Find out what they need. Ask how they will decide. Ask about their time-scales. Check out the consequences of them not making a decision. Ask what the best way to communicate is, phone or e-mail. Ask what else they would like to know about you to give them total confidence in you as a supplier. Ask if -assuming the solution meets their needs-they will choose you. Yep, questions are power. Real power. Ask More Questions.

The Story So Far:

Thanks for The Very Kind Words

from the great Cultural Offering. Who can you encourage today?

Those Box-Set Blues: A Poem

• Dexter, 1
• 24, 7
• Grey’s, 3
• Potential or Paralysis?
• Entertainment or entrapment?
• Sopranos, 2
• Wire, 4
• Deadwood, 2
• Tonight or Tomorrow?
• Schedule or Shuffle?
• Oh, those box set blues.

Those Press-ups...

If you were there yesterday for Press-ups  7, Andrew from the University of Auckland Business School brought this cool site to my attention. No excuses, now.