BLOG Two chairs and a motorbike It seems that you just are not playing the game here in Chania if you don't have a small table with two chairs and a motorbike outside your shop or cafe. I was starting to think that maybe everyone has this apparatus because there is a grant from the local government for chair and table buying. "Applicants must provide evidence of back street shop front with a shit motorbike or other two wheeled motorised vehicle. Newly decorated or Ikea - looking shop fronts not not apply." This place is grea
BLOG Getting ready for Sumner When I wake up and walk round this town I am reminded of the line in Kim by Kipling that ends something like "India was awake and Kim was in the middle of it!" The paragraph before describes parrots tooting, doors opening, trains moving and general hustle and bustle. Everyone in Chania is on a mission to get the place finished before the main summer season. Because this year the Greek Orthodox calendar and Roman Catholic calendar Easter at different times there start of the season has been stre
BLOG The little red cup This is what I drink Yerba Matè from (Argentine tea) and this little red one is the latest addition to our collection. It is really important. 1. it is from our friend in Argentina. 2. it arrived on the eve of two life changing weeks for me. 3. It is a new habit. Life changing weeks, part one is coming to Greece and resting, I had to stop, unplug and recharge. So far 2013 is zooming at 100 miles an hour in the right direction, which is great because 2012 sucked. I completely crashed at the en
Audio So tell me ten things about your business.... Why do you do what you do? How did you get into it? Who have you helped best? What are the things to watch out for in your industry? What mistakes do people make when buying your product or service? What else should they look at? What else is there in the marketplace they could consider that is better suited to them? If we got trapped in a lift together you’d be able to tell me at least ten things. Often I meet people who say they can’t write, don't know how to talk, sell, breath or anything el
BLOG #TAGtribe JAM - Content Marketing One - Live Blog 14.28 Wrapping up! Thank you for joining us today here or on twitter (#TAGtribe)! We're leaving in style on ukulele music :-) 14.25 Asked where would they put their money in therms of 2013 content, whether webinars or anything else, Sue suggests making partnership with media owners as they already know their audience, as well as how to tell a story. Ann takes her point of step forward: "Hire journalists!" 14.22 A new point made by Neville on which all our speakers agree: Content isn't new. 14
Audio Engaging People - Audio Newsletter #02 The Killer opening line......There should be a killer opening line here but I am too bloody excited to add one so I'll just dive in with this:Tomorrow is #TAGtribe Jam with Sue Unerman, Ann Handley and Neville Hobson at the Social Partners in Hatton Garden.This event is Question Time meets Saturday Night Live with a side of Google Hangout that you can join for free here.We will be debating Content marketing and why everyone should be at it and also why they should not!Why you can win with conte
BLOG Just for the record... I have just have to write something today. I am on a train, it is ear split-tingly early and I was meant to be asleep. In fact I have an hour before I arrive and I really need a nap. However travel is energising, I am looking out the window at the country rushing by and my brain won't stop working. Part of it is that everyday this week I am doing a talk, they are all different settings but boy have I got lots to cover! I am really, really looking forward to them all, mostly they are around th
BLOG We don't care because we don't have to. It has taken 6 months of asking, arguing, chasing, tweeting, emailing and texting to get an answer the differs from "computer says no" from Talk Talk. The quick story is that after finally being out in touch with the CEO via a contact I was "heard". Then the problem was sorted in less than thirty minutes and by someone soooooo nice I want them to be Godmother to my next child. This is not really a "triumph" for me. I am not feeling smug and a winner. I am thinking why did it take so long to ge
BLOG Between stimulus and response there is a little bit called choice. Energy is low. Small things are completely energy zapping. Some days it seems like a game. I have long subscribed to the idea from Viktor Frankl that in he space between stimulus and response there is a little bit called choice. Indeed after reading Viktor and Primo Levi when ever I am stuck a tube train I think of how they travelled to the destination that gave them their stories to tell and feel imediatly choose to stop whining to myself. With the "choice" everything could go either way.
BLOG Going to meet Seth Godin Quite honestly I don't really know what is going on right now. I feel like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly via a very painful cocoon. Really 2012 was a very very steep learning curve. It was full of joy in many ways, the life lessons and business lessons I would not change one bit - even the agony will be worth the long term insight. So that is on the way out. Then on the way in is this... I open my email and need to pinch myself, FreeAgent have emailed me my plane tickets to Mesh 2013
BLOG Tell me why I don't like Mondays I have always loved Mondays but now I don't. In fact recently it has been the worse day of the week for me. Which is a pain in the arse. Tell me why I don't like Mondays? Or why don't they like me? As I work through being "the one with depression" if there is a day that I am going to crash it is Monday. It plays out like this. I spend time to plan the week, making an organised list in my beloved asana.com so I am ready to go. Then Monday wake up, walk #babybernie to nursery (which is almost t
