One small leap for business...

As someone who doesn't 'do' heights the prospect of leaping off a balloon 24 miles above the cold and rather solid ground isn't my idea of fun.  In fact sometimes I think the reason I never made the 6 foot tall mark was the sheer determination of my inner self not to be heigh up rather than my genes.

So when Felix Baumgartner stood on the platform and lept I wasn't envious.  Or at least I shouldn't have been....

What Felix did in stunning hd action was something that everyone who has ever started a business has done.  You stood on the platform and lept.

I think that's why I was strangely drawn to that platform.  It brought to life the 'leap', that moment that separates the players from the wannanbees.  The moment that someone considers the risks and decides it's time to take the chance.

Speaking regularly with clients, friends, family and many many enterprising people I'm amazed at just how significant this 'leap' is.  Certainly not in an arrogant way, what I mean is that 'the leap' is what bonds fellow entrepreneurs together, that tacit understanding that means we don't need to speak about 'the leap'...we get on talking about everything else.  Yet for those who haven't taken 'the leap' it often takes on a huge amount more significance.

"You're so brave, I could never take the leap"
"I'd love to work for myself, but I just get scared of the leap" 
"I'm just not ready to take the leap just yet"

Just a couple of the lines that have been said to me in recent conversations.  Don't get me wrong, the little boost of self-esteem that I get whenever I hear these kind of lines is fantastic.  As it should be for all those brave souls that have taken the leap and set up businesses of all shapes and sizes.  The tacit understanding between us 'leapers' means we don't give ourselves the credit for just how significant such a step is.

And that is just the start of the business journey, which can feel like you've stepped off a 24 mile high balloon....Travelling at breakneck speed, not quite sure if you're heading in the right direction, not able to see or hear your instruments, you're visor misting up so you can't even enjoy the view or know when to push your shoot and hopefully the relief of making it to your goal in one piece.

But sometimes, even though the conditions aren't quite perfect, there comes a time you've just got to leap.

One special business lesson from Bubba Watson

On Sunday night UK time, American golfer Bubba Watson won the first major of the year, the US Masters and claimed one of the most recognisable pieces of sports clothing the green jacket. 

For non-golf buffs thinking of switching off at this point just hold on.  For those who prefer their movies, think of Bubba as Happy Gilmore, he hits the ball almost as far.  Bubba taught us all one of the most valuable lessons that anyone can learn in business.  Be that running one, or just playing your part in working within one.

Having finished the final round level with Louis Oosthuizen the two players went head to head on a sudden death play-off hole.  Having drawn the first hole, the players both hit horrible tee shots at the 2^nd play-off hole.  Oosthuizen got slightly luckier, his ball appearing in light rough with a decent chance of making the green on his 2^nd shot.  Bubba was in trouble, his ball landing well off the fairway in the trees with no direct sight to the green.  Oosthuizen 2^nd shot wasn’t great, but Bubba looked like he would need 2 shots to make the green.  Step forward Bubba who produced an amazing sliced shot that bent around the trees and landed on the green within feet of the hole. 

Thanks to that amazing shot he left himself 2 putts to claim the US Masters trophy and join legends of sport including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Faldo, Ballesteros and many more.

So what can we learn from Bubba, apart from believing that even the impossible is possible.
 
Well, Bubba never had golf lessons, he hasn’t got a textbook swing, and indeed he never changes a thing if he can help it.  There is no sports psychologist, no entourage of highly paid coaches and fitness trainers.  In fact when he first showed any inclination for the game of golf, his father just told him to go out, swing and do his own thing.

Here is a man who in his own way, and with his own methods has developed a way to succeed.  His golf swing, as unkempt as his hair, has led him to one of the biggest prizes in golf.  So what can we all learn from Bubba?

He’s a man who works hard every day determined to succeed and he’s done it in his own way.

B+ your Public Speaking

Public speaking.  Various studies have shown time and again that the majority of people are frightened of undertaking any kind of public speaking.  Understandably, people fear the whole process of standing up in front of a group of others and talking.  Yet sometimes get those same people in a group of friends, and they'll have no qualms holding court, often being witty, funny and entertaining. 

Even those people that don't speak even to a group of friends tell a fantastic story when one-on-one.  Put an audience in front of them, or make the 'speech' a formal occasion however and they go to pieces.  Public speaking is considered by so many to be an art form in itself.  Some of the worlds great orators past and present such as Winston Churchill and Steve Jobs are considered 'other worldly' because of the quality and polish of their public speaking skills.  However, it is possible for anyone to become a good public speaker, I should know. 

I probably got the kind of introduction to public speaking that many others would've loved. From a very early age my mum (a teacher) was keen on me learning the art of speaking to an audience, purely I should add, as a way of getting me past my innate shyness.

However, it probably wasn't until my Sixth Form and University days that I began to gain confidence in public speaking skills.  I'd often volunteer to be the person who did the presentation or make the announcement.  Though I did find this was frequently because I just wanted to keep the lesson / event moving and hated the kind of 'no you, no you' conversation that followed a request of 'Can I have a volunteer to go first'.

Public Speaking doesn't have to be a nightmare though.  Here's my 3 B's  of public speaking:

Brain

Your brain is a wonderful thing.  The creativity contained within it is amazing, well it is for nearly all moments apart from the public speaking moment.  Even before you've stood up your brain has switched into maximum negative imagination mode and you're running through hundreds of scenarios of what might go wrong.  Fly's down, fainting, falling over, accidentally swearing...to be honest its a wonder you're still sat there.  Sound familiar?  It doesn't need to be like this, it just requires a couple of basic techniques and you can overcome it.

1. Visualise a fabulous reaction at the end of your speech, concentrate on how delightful and fun it will be to share the knowledge you have
2. Be in the moment, you've practised so even if you think you can't remember it you can.  Concentrate on what you want to say...it quietens the brain's more 'creative' thoughts.

Get your brain working for you when you're public speaking and you're onto a winner.

Body

Your body and posture can make an instant difference to your speech.  Imagine an invisible piece of string running up your spine and out of the top of your head and give it an imaginary tug.  You'll feel your head up, shoulders relax and a straight back.  Not only does this give you an added air of authority to your audience, it will instantly make you feel confident. 
The old adage which is so true with public speaking is Look confident, feel confident and you'll be confident.
Now isn't the time to slouch in your seat or cower away, head up, shoulders back (and relaxed) and you're already winning!

Breathing

The human body cannot survive without oxygen for more than 3 minutes, yet in our haste to rattle through our speech we seem to forget that.  Breathing not only keeps you alive (seriously listen to me people), it also helps in two major ways.
Firstly maintaining your breathing at a regular rate will slowly calm you down and counteract the adrenalin that will be shooting through you as you prepare to speak.  It helps to give your conscious mind something else to concentrate on too (further distraction from the 'creative' thinking).  Secondly, if you've practised your speech correctly you'll have your natural breaks/breathing breaks.  Adding these gives your speech a fantastic flow allowing you to emphasise points and gives the whole thing a more natural rhythm.  It also gives your audience a chance to take in the speech without worrying for your health as you rattle through without taking a breath.

Three simple points, but three very effective B's to remember the next time you are speaking in public.

What a load of rubbish! Apprentice Series 7 Episode 6

Copper boilers, a builder that would put Del Boy to shame, and tears and tantrums, are there any more classic combinations for an Apprentice episode? Lord Sugar’s challenge of turning muck into brass (as long as it was copper) brought the first win for Team Logic and the loss of be-gloved Edna.

It was another task, as so many are, that was lost by Venture within the first throws. Zoe failed to see the merits in Susan’s spark of genius and was blown out of the water by a clever Logic move to not charge for waste removal and therefore win the three crucial commercial contracts. Less impressive was team Logics scout party led by Jedi Jim, the Norn Iron Obi Wan, and Tom berating hapless residents in their own homes in what must count as the most unlikely and scariest Rag and Bone combo since Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin popped to Alderaan for spare parts (Star Wars references for those not quite as sad as me!). In fact I’m still not sure why Jedi Jim felt he had to use the PA, surely he could’ve just used his powers to make them answer the door – he obviously didn’t want to show off.

Enough Star Wars references, this was waste wars and it did show with some hard physical graft, just what it takes some new businesses to get off the ground.

Unless you are lucky, in the early days of a business there is no one else to pack the rubbish, drive the van, do the negotiation, clean up after and then arrive home tired, hungry and dirty and have the bookkeeping and administration to do before a couple of hours sleep and doing it all over again. It may have been rubbish, but it could well have been any kind of business you’d like to mention.

Getting new businesses off the ground is a hard and often lonely task, and sometimes the rewards for a day of graft are as little as £6. It is these times that you really need the support of a network of colleagues, contacts, friends and mentors – as well as advisors and dare I say bankers (something that seems to be severely lacking for many at the moment). It is this network of people that every new business owner needs (indeed every owner/entrepreneur regardless of their business) and sometimes cannot find.

Back to the episode, and leading team Logic, Helen was clever enough to realise that the risky strategy of not charging could secure the contracts and win the task. Though it is worth pointing out this wouldn’t have worked as a long term business strategy, this was about winning an Apprentice task, and so needs must.

I’ve mentioned Helen in my previous blogs only once, and that is mainly due to the fact that up until this episode she has been anonymous. Her calm organisational skills certainly helped in leading Logic to the win, however it should be said that even with three commercial contracts they did only win by £6. So Helen’s skills really do still remain a mystery. On the other hand, the ‘flaky’ (as she has been described by her teammates) Susan yet again hit on a winning idea, but didn’t have the force of will to push against the increasingly bullish Zoe (who survived the boardroom again, largely due to Lord Sugars desire to oust Edna).

Where did this all leave us? The list of potential fits with Lord Sugar looks to be heading along the lines of that in my previous blog, and as we see more of the candidates personality, the easier it is to see just who Lord Sugar could work with.

I get the impression that Lord Sugar has already separated the copper boilers from the steel baths that scrapheap is about to get a lot fuller.


Star of the Week: Tom Pellereau I don't think there has been an Apprentice candidate more happy to win a task.


Got Lucky: Zoe Beresford.  Does Lord Sugar have a soft spot for feisty Zoe, or has her choice of final 3 saved her.

Heading for a Fall: Helen Lousie Milligan. More as a question of whether she believes her own hype after what was a £6 win.

For Twitter updates on The Apprentice don't forget to follow me @simonbrooke

What a Cloche! The Apprentice Series 7 Episode 3

Whilst wistfully imagining an outstanding spin-off show featuring Nick Hewer named 'The King and Eye (brows)', thoughts drifted towards Episode 3s lessons. Still, the thought of Lord Sugar’s erstwhile informer shopping for top hats with the King of Tonga proved understandably distracting.

Series 7 finally found it's rhythm in this episode with the perennial buying task that has previously brought us kosher chicken, 18th century magazines that are actually London cabbie revision guides and so many more classic Apprentice moments. Yet, each and every series the candidates make the same basic errors time and again. Thankfully it was an episode that also widened the candidate base and gave us a flavour of many more of this year’s intake.

The discount buying task always makes good TV, and you get the feeling that of all the tasks that are devised on The Apprentice, Lord Sugars hand was perhaps most firmly behind this one. As critics will point out, a strong and lasting business could not be built on the kind of rash (and particularly desperate) negotiating and often rudeness that punctuates this episode. However, one thing this episode does highlight is those candidates who think on their feet, are prepared to just get on with it and can negotiate. Three key attributes that Lord Sugar holds dear. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the top performers in this task over the last few series have either won the main prize or been close to it.

That’s why this episode may give us our first real hint at the potential winners. Lord Sugar will undoubtedly play a ‘silent partner’ brief within any business setup on the back of this series, and perhaps for the first time we got an idea of just what kind of person he thinks he needs to work with.

On paper, Gavin, a young man who successfully set up and runs opticians was a real contender. Yet in the heat of this task he crumbled.  Ok he had the more difficult team, but he was trumped the cool, calm and impressive Susan Ma. She certainly understood that time and quick and decisive decisions were key to this task. Fair enough, some of those decisions, such as which parts of London to do the cheapest shopping, were equally poor. Frankly anyone who has been subjected to those long, often fractious family monopoly games could’ve pointed her away from Mayfair for a Lord Sugar shopping trip.

Still thanks to Jedi Jim getting an extra £10 off an already impressive negotiation, Susan pulled in the win. She was perhaps the most impressive PM so far with a well organised team.  Even if their locations and negotiations were far from it. It goes to show just how important it is to understand the challenge, get organised and get on with it. Gavin’s biggest failing was ‘dithering’ which lead to his team being badly organised and unable to complete the task in time. He was very nearly saved by his teams selection of leads and negotiating skills in what was after all only an £8 victory.

Most of the time as leaders we don’t have the answers. But the best leaders are able to organise their teams effectively, assign roles and give people responsibility and accountability. In so doing, especially when decisions need to be made under pressure, the outcome often takes care of itself.

In the meantime I’m wondering just who else Nick Hewer goes shopping with...

Star of the Week: Jedi Jim as always, but a nod this time to Ellie Reed who was impressive.

Got Lucky: Natasha Scribbins - what she was doing phoning a competitor only she knows...
Heading for a Fall: Natasha Scribbins - ...and her negotiations of the sign when she absolutely had £20 to spend before settling on £80 and then claiming she could’ve got better, and she already has an enemy in Zoe...in fact it isn’t looking good for her.

For Twitter updates on The Apprentice don't forget to follow me @simonbrooke

Start Up Britain; Version 2.0?

Twitter went into overdrive yesterday with the launch of the Government-endorsed Start Up Britain.  As is often the case, the negative comments were many, with any backing coming with caveats.  But, do we need to look at this as a Apple style launch?  In other words, are we expecting the next 'version' to be bigger, better, with sparkling new features?

The first important point to mention is the distinction between Government-endorsed and Government-backed.  Though it would be fair to say that for the purpose of interested parties this became a question of semantics depending on how favourable either made it look.  After all, the Government-backed, BusinessLink organisation has been all but dropped as not fit for purpose.  Certainly Prime Minister Cameron is happy to have his (best thoughful and yet ambitious look into the distance) used on the site. (though whether we see him or any of his cabinet move swiftly into that distance after the somewhat negative reaction remains to be seen).

As a backer of any attempt to increase the level of enterprise in this great country of ours I was firmly behind this idea when I first heard of it.  Speaking in schools regularly I see the future Bransons, Bannatynes, Devey's sparkling with ideas and ambitions, but lacking the knowledge and mentors they need.  Certainly, if this is what a 'Start Up Britain' delivered then that would be fantastic.  Also not forgetting those older generations, many being forced for the first time to assess what it is they really want to achieve in life.  If 'Start Up Britain' catered as much for them in the same aspects, I would be the first in line to help.

However, what I saw, though certainly positive was one fundamental flaw, and one almighty PR disaster - both linked to the same aspect.

Now, I and many of my peers had frustrations with Businesslink in that any advice was impartial, but when you really needed someone to give you a straight solution (contact, recommendation etc) it was like a stasi-operation.  'Here's a list of potential suppliers for that' was a stock reply with sly pen movements hovering over (obviously) favoured ones (though without acknowledging whether said advisor had a reason for this).

However, Start Up Britain has no such qualms, delivering recommended advisors each with a sparkly 'discount' book for new prey - sorry entrepreneurs starting off.  This aspect of it worries me, particularly as this 'Start Up' vehicle is clearly pushing new entrepreneurs into the hands of big businesses.  Where are the SME's, the businesses that would truly benefit from a raft of new 'leads' (that after all is what they will become at the moment).

To make matters worse, and this is a PR disaster of the highest proportions, many of the links, for example one of the 'marketing' suppliers sends leads off to a large US 'bidding' site designed so US-based freelances can bid the lowest price to produce logos etc.  What were they thinking!!  And this is just one example.

Two massive errors in my view, but both rectifiable with a little re-think and the re-iteration of the fact this is for Britain.

So I applaud the thoughts, I salute the hard work and dedication of those talented individuals who didn't just think this, they made it happen, and I thank them in advance for what 'Start Up Britain' may become.

But I really do hope one of them will be stood on a stage in a black polo neck presenting the updated version to national acclaim.

Finding a Way

I applied for a job.

It isn't a recoil in horror moment, I promise.  Working on my businesses is still the best decision I've ever made and I'm still doing that, but this is different.

It was for a senior marketing role with my 2nd love Oldham Athletic.  A job I make no qualms about admiting was my 'dream' job 5 years ago.  I even went so far then as applying my cheekyness to arranging a meeting with the then Director of Marketing, Sean Jarvis to discover more from him about how he had made such a position, and how I could get into football marketing.  In a way I wasn't interested in general football marketing, I just had a burning ambition to be involved in my club.

Similarly, I don't mind admiting that my ambitions have changed on that front.  Certainly one of my dream goals is not just to have a marketing job with my club, but own it!  Ok, I'll rephrase that (I'm not that stupid), have a piece of it.  It may seem a silly goal, but for me it frames lots of smaller goals into a very exciting an tangible conclusion.

So why go for this job?  Well one thing I've realised over the past few years is that there are certain key things any business needs whether it is serving customers, providing a service, selling a box or playing football.  These are:

• A clear vision filled with positivity
• Clear effective communication with customers and staff (placing their needs at the heart of decision making)
• Innovative thinking
• Persistence

All seemingly simple things and so often missing or muddled.  And that it is a lack of those that I've noticed at Oldham since the owners known as TTA (The Three Amigos) came face to face with the stark reality of life at Oldham Athletic.  Over the last few years there has been a steady decline from within the club and that doesn't just apply on the pitch.  I should at this point point out that I have a great deal of admiration for TTA and indeed some of the staff within the club for what they have done and there has been plenty especially in terms of financial support.  They deserved more for the efforts they put in. But there is no doubting that so much concentration has been on 'old' methods of selling the club.

And that is where I can see so many possibilities.  As you all know I'm definately in the 'glass half full camp' and although you can't suddenly fill a stadium with clever marketing ideas (we are a cynical bunch us football fans when it comes to our own club), you can put the structure in place so that when the day comes when the on-field product flourishes, you are ready to maximise the off-field opportunities.  After all the success or failure on the pitch is fundamentally they key to any off-field successes.

Oh how I'd love to get into the club and just seeing what could be achieved.  After all for anyone out there willing to give it some investment the picture in many ways is quite an interesting one.  Certainly in terms of divisions the club could go lower.  But in terms of crowds in my opinion we're now pretty close to the bottom.  As the economy still struggles to recover, outside of the Premier Greed there is an increasing supply of out of work footballers, which will make lower wages a reality in the lower divisions eventually.  This again brings costs down.  Financially the club is fairly stable and certainly in no danger having cut its cloth accordingly over the past few years. In Paul Dickov, Oldham Athletic have a young, ambitious manager keen to mould a squad of young, hungry and talented individuals into a winning team.  A new stadium could be on the way, and there is an owner who wants to sell.  All these add up to a tasty looking investment for someone with deeper pockets than me.

So I applied to get in through that class door, it wasn't to go back to working life, it was to try and inject a little of the entrepreneurial spirit into a business that means so much to me.  A business that I want to see thriving even if that doesn't always translate to trophys and promotions.  A business that I want others to feel the way I do now 100 years in the future.

I didn't get it!  But that's ok, because the way I see it, it could be me making that decision in a few years time.

What a lucky shot: football and business opportunities

It's nearly football season time again. The time when every football fan in the country experiences a massive high of expectations in that last 10mins before kickoff.  A feeling only a relative handful will continue to feel for the remaining 9 months of the season.

For those of you who are not followers of our national sport you will be quite justified in dismissing the upcoming months as yet another year of pointless running around with a pigs bladder.  But there is no getting away from the fact that football as a sport, way of life and increasingly a business, is a key strand of our local and national pysche.

Take Burnley, many non-football fans in the town (of which there are very few) will point to the glorious industrial past, ringing singing tree and the beautiful pennines as major selling points.  But few will be able to argue that the town has been put back on the map of England in a major way by the promotion and season in the Premiership that filled the past year.  Even those businesses that didn't benefit directly from the increase in the football club's spending in the local economy will have seen the benefit that having a team in the Premier League with the eyes of the world focused upon it brings.

It is certainly a benefit that Blackpool will feel this coming season as they emulate Burnley by taking their turn in the 'big league'.  Without doubt it is an opportunity that must be taken, as an Oldham fan I can vouch for that.  Our town saw our Premier League opportunity come too early (before the big money really arrived) and despite 3 seasons in the top division our team now prepares to embark on it's 13th consecutive season in League One (or division 3 in old money).  As a club and a town Oldham didn't take the opportunity to maximise the chance they had, and that is really where a business lesson lies...maximising opportunities however big or small they may be.

Luck plays a part with all opportunities, and rather than declaring that luck has nothing to do with business I like to look on it another way.  Luck or LUCK really is all about maximising opportunities and how do you do that?  Well through LUCK:
L - Location, getting yourself out there and speaking to as many people as possible, mentioning your aims, your goals and your challenges and where you're looking for help.  Be on the field.
U - Understanding, know your chosen field as well as you can, who are the players, where are the opportunities
C - Contacts, speak to people, network (both in real-life and on social networking sites), draw up a list of the people you would really like to speak to and mention them to everyone you know...you've played the Kevin Bacon game right??
K - Knowledge, know your subject, be an expert, you don't need to be working in an industry for years to know about it, do your research.

Or to bring it back to football, Rooney worked hard on his skills and that enabled him to score 36 goals in total last season.  But he also used a big slice of LUCK...he knew where he would score most goals and got himself there. He worked in training on where the opportunities best arrived for him. He had some excellent teammates, and he knew exactly how he needed to strike the ball each and everytime in order to take advantage of the opportunities that came his way.  (World Cup aside of course!!!).

So increase your chances of scoring by using your own slice of luck, and take a leaf from Burnley and maximise the opportunities when they arrive.  And any time you get that feeling of complete optimisim in the 10 mins before kick off hold on to it...it will get you through those cold winter Tuesday nights at home to Gillingham.

Dragons Den; Inspirational business show or Takeshi's Castle in suits?

The new series of Dragon's Den flew back onto our screens and brought the usual mix of the wierd, the misguided and the tearful.  But how do we view Dragon's Den?  Is it an inspirational business show or is it just another ritual humiliation show in sharp suits (in most cases without the crash helmets...most cases!).

Dragon's Den actually originated in Japan, the land of Takeshi's Castle, a show who's format set the bar for more recent shows such as Wipeout.  It was first broadcast there in 2001 under the name Money Tigers, but first broacast in the UK in January 2005.  It is the UK format that has spread across the rest of the world.

But now entering it's 8th series, has the Dragon's Den programme changed, not in format or style, but in the minds of those viewing the programme?  Now we know the likes of Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne and Theo Paphitis, not just on screen but by the plethora of books, sites, blogs and programmes has the 'inspirational' story gone.  There were times in the last series when each of the characters lived up to their charactures...brilliantly spoofed by Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse.

There was a time when the Peter, Duncan, Theo, Deborah and James (et al) by their mere prescence and associated backstory would generate the kind of inspirational feelings that made the dream of running a successful business a reality.  Even those entering the den sparked the 'I could do that' feel, yet there were times in the first episode of the new series that you got the impression that 'good for TV' had taken over.  It almost lifted a veil.

The dragons, because of what they've achieved will alway be an inspiration as individuals, that isn't in question.  What is though is this, does the format create inspirational feelings to go out and start a business?  Sadly as a long time fan of the show I fear not. 

What we are left with is ritual humiliation on a par with watching Japanese gameshow contestants being pummelled by massive padded swings.  Sometimes it is eye-wateringly hilarious, and other times a strong feeling of pity just pervades everything.  A few forgotten numbers here or there and that's all that is required for the humiliation to begin.  Big Brother is ending because we've tired of watching people putting themselves up for similar humiliation, so is it time for a change in format or even putting the dragons back in their respective castles?

There was an exception to this general feeling that has been gathering momentum over the last few episodes.  Kirsty Henshaw gave a great demonstration on just how to inspire anyone to start a business.  Taking 2 (and a half) jobs to pursue her dream, fantastic.  A real inspiration, especially to women of all ages, much more so than any WAG or TV star.  But, Kirsty's fantastic success was slightly tinged with a fear for me, that we are about to embark on a Dragons Den series with more 'journey's' and weepy stories than inspirational stories.  Kirsty and her story was the perfect balance, and perhaps began to restore some of the balance between inspiration and humiliation!

Why am I here??

It's been a testing time recently, and in a lot of ways these are the times when you have to take stock and ask yourself good questions. So I'll start with - Why am I here?

Well taking that as the lead I thought I'd let you know why I started this blog.  The theme that 'Starting a Business in the Credit Crunch is Great' sounds a very positive one, and so it should be.  As I listened to the debate on BBC This Week last night on cynicism or scepticism and (I think it was Michael Portillo) it was said that scepticism is heathly (questioning of motives) and cynicism is a disease, a debilitating mind set which is all too often these days the first and primary response.  I have to agree to a point, it is becoming so much easier these days to be cynical and the glass half empty response is given more credibility than a glass half full response.

It has been a tough 18 months for the country for all kinds of reasons and even from the 'half-full' viewpoint that is the reality.  However, that's where I do draw the line (after a bit of a moan of course).  Recent events seem to me to show a growing mindset from some quarters that we are looking back and down as the norm.  Now as someone who does a bit of walking I've yet to achieve much in the way of distance by walking this way.  I'm pretty sure that isn't what Run DMC and Aerosmith were meaning either.  If you travel forward whilst looking back and down it doesn't take long for you to hit something or end up with something nasty on your shoe.

I started this blog to say look, I'm here and I'm looking forward.  There may be a recession, but then there is never a wrong time to take control of your life, dream a dream and go for it.  I've mentioned my Dr Pepper moment before and I'm not sure if I was extremely cynical that I'd have been able to give a measured and positive response to 'What's the worst that can happen'. 

I started this blog not to say, look at how well everything I touch is going, let me just put that point to bed now.  It's been tough and very, very loney running the business, and for someone who has boughts of depression that isn't a good combination.  But you know what? I wouldn't change it! I'm now doing something that makes me happy.  That isn't to say it just puts me in a happy mood, I have a genuine deep feeling that this rocky path is MY path, it's taken me a while to find it but it's the right one for me.

So whilst times are tough and the air of cynicism is seemingly growing it is up to all of us as individuals to do the things that are guaranteed to make us happy, learn from mistakes (but don't be afraid to make them) and raise our heads and turn them forward.  Then we'll all get where we are going a lot quicker and with a few less (smelly) bruises!

Mum...I'm in the paper!

So the power of social networking shows itself.  Just 48hrs after returning to this very blog and sending the update on my Twitter account (@simonbrooke) I've entered the world of social commentator.

Lancashire Business View magazine, top lancashire business publication read my latest posts and have now featured it on their e-bulletin update. To see a copy follow this link http://www.lancashirebusinessview.co.uk/news-details.htm?news_id=73 . 

This is a great example for one of the best lessons I've learned over the past 15months of being an entrepreneur...you are a trumpet so make sure you blow!  Ok, that is a little silly, but the old adage is certainly true, always blow your own trumpet, particularly in these tricky times.  And the other thing is - always say yes (ok maybe within reason).  It is amazing in this age of social media how quickly your voice can be heard and promoted. So don't be shy!  If you have done something, plan on doing something (that you can talk about - no revealing secrets early), or even have an feeling that something is 'good news' talk about it.  And don't think that you need expensive PR to do it, its promotion not a black art.  (though I should say at this point that professional PR are brilliant if used right - mwah pr bods x)

So tell your story, we need more good news stories - the more positive stories that are out there, the quicker we'll see us normal folk back on a natural high.

We learn so much from each other, from people we can relate to, people in our situation, people who provide us with a living example.  So why not be that example, then you'll be making the call 'Mum...I think I might be in the paper over there, can you go and get a copy please, no I don't know what it is we haven't put it out...put it on the fridge next to that finger painting from 1984'.

The Cheekiest Bird gets the worm!

Another post shocker...yep, but then I did make a promise that my next post would cover cheekyness so here goes.

A tip for anyone with a business or more likely starting a business.  Be Cheeky!

Now that is certainly not to be the case with your lovely customers, but certainly with anyone you even have a glimmer may be able to help your business.  By this I mean that gut feeling you get when you're in a conversation or even listening to someone speaking.  Don't be afraid, steal yourself and even if you've never done before spring into action....and ask a simple question - Can you help me?

I call this my Dr Pepper moment, after all what is the worst that can happen.  Example I hear you cry, well here goes.  In my 4th week of running Happy Sweet Shop (http://www.happysweetshop.co.uk/) I was listening to Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2 and he was auctioning places for his BBC Children in Need Dine and Disco event.  Top places and I so wanted to be able to bid, but sadly no way I could.  But a thought occured to me, wouldn't it be great to get some good coverage from BBC Radio and help Children in Need at the same time.

And so without a moments thought I dropped a quick email to the show along the lines of 'You are missing something from your event, some retro sweets for all the guests would be excellent!!..etc etc.  And sure enough within a couple of days I was in contact with Chris' brilliant PA and the event got the sweets and we got some BBC coverage.  This has lead onto other things this year and culminated in us being a partner for the BBC Children in Need 2009 appeal.  That and some fab contacts and more importantly a very good case study of what we can do.  You shouldn't underestimate the power of being able to legitimately link yourself to strong brands - but remember it has to be legit. Never make claims you can't back up.

But always go with that cheeky gut instinct when it comes to promoting yourself and your company.

Much later and careers advice!

It's been a while. It won't happen again!
I guess that's what happens when you are running businesses especially in such a troubled time. I saw a programme this morning featuring a 16 year old who's career choice is to be an entreprenuer. Now let me start by saying that this is fantastic, anyone who wants to run their own business should be commended and encouraged. However, the next few minutes pained me some what. He was making this decision as a vocation weighing up whether he should go to uni or start a business (incidentally he didn't know what business he wanted, just that it could make him rich - materially rich). For me this is painful and I'll tell you a couple of reason why.

Here is a guy who has ambition and his only role models are those entrepreneurs that didn't get a choice, they had to start a business to survive. Which leads me onto the next reason, being an entrepreneur wasn't a 'career choice' as it seems to be. Now I wouldn't have had the 'inspiration' to start my business if it wasn't for the more accessible approach to entreprenuer that the recent media age has created. However, I also believe that such a 'careers advisor' type of choice is itself wrong. Certainly without the explanation of all the pitfalls of starting a business.

I think more people, especially youngsters like this chap, but anyone of any age should be encouraged to take the leap if they feel ready. And that is really my point....feel ready.

We all make our own way, we all control our own happiness and for that reason we all get that feeling at different stages. With perhaps different role models out there in media 'entrepreneur' land more young chaps like this would listen to their happiness (or heart) and take the approach to starting their business when they feel ready - not when the careers advisor needs to take notes.