Barefoot Business News from Robert Ashton
| November 2011
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I've got a cunning plan
I find it really important in my work to bring people down to my level. In my experience it's only when you stop taking life seriously that the answers to life's conundrums present themselves. This is equally true of enterprise, which is after all nothing more than the part of your life dedicated to income generation.
Of course self knowledge, understanding and confidence are all vital if you are to do this. The stronger you feel, the more creatively challenging you can become. The more you cling to the comfort of convention, the less likely you are to break new ground.
Increasingly, organisations as well as ambitious individuals use me as a catalyst. However relaxed you are about bending the rules, often only an independent can bend them to breaking point. I guess that makes me a professional maverick.
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| Empty shoes | |
As you probably know, I like working barefoot. It keeps me in touch with reality and enables others to see I'm not afraid to make myself vulnerable. When others take their shoes off too, I interpret it as a sign that they've bought my ideas and are comfortable supporting them.
So when Michael Gove, Minister for Education visited a school I'm working with I was delighted that he soon got his shoes off. To be fair it was to try out a brilliant interactive mat that 'special needs' kids use. But I don't think he'd have stripped off if not confident the project he had come to talk about didn't have legs.
The Minister's visit, achieved with help from George Freeman, the constituency MP, encourages me to think I'll succeed in helping secure support for a much needed new campus for my client. After all, an innovative special needs 'big society' school has to be a winner.
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| Spinning wheels |
Bidding for funding will always be important, particularly for major capital projects. But I personally find it more interesting to encourage local activists to build what is needed from the bottom up. The people with the position and power are usually well qualified to prepare bids than those at the grassroots. Here it's all too easy to be overlooked and not taken seriously.
In Colchester recently I met a group of Borough Councillors to discuss a major project. They knew that grassroots activism was important and so had asked along a guy who shared their passion for the project, but lacked the mandate that comes with being elected. I wish all local authorities were this enlightened.
The activist I met that day was someone at first sight you could easily take for granted. Long in the tooth, not in the best of health and arriving on a mobility scooter, Terry greeted me with a large smile and knowing wink. Read what happened next here.
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Blowing trumpets
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I always wrestle with the word 'consultant'. I guess some of what I do is consultancy, but unlike so many, I am not formulaic, I follow my instinct as well as the brief and I never, ever write a big report and scarper when it gets really challenging. Instead I use energy, experience and much more besides to deliver the result many will have thought impossible.
As well as working with organisations, I enjoy helping individuals convert their vision and passion into a sustainable enterprise. Of course I only take them on if I can believe in what they're trying to do. Otherwise, I'd not be willing to blow their trumpet and champion them as I do.
This month I was delighted to be able to help one lady in London find the right person to collaborate with in a Government department. Fingers crossed this will enable her very worthwhile children's project to be taken seriously. I also worked with the amazing Chris Kent. See how I publicised her search for funding with the Guardian here.
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| Cunning plans | |
There's always a way to get a result if you look at the problem differently. Here are some examples that are working for me right now:
Problem: Community owned shops find it difficult raising the cash to buy a building.
Solution: I've developed a factory built, fully fitted, ready to go, affordable shop that costs around £60k.
Problem: Charity wants to get noticed by a major funder.
Solution: We entered a competition where the funder's CEO is one of the judges.
Problem: A major capital appeal is struggling because key local players have doubts about the team.
Solution: I'll shift the focus from the team to the clearly identified need for the project and involve other organisations to overcome the reputation issues.
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Quote of the month
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'Your business has to become the vehicle for your emotional as well as your economic success. Otherwise your enterprise is just another job.'
Robert Ashton
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Diary date
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6th, 7th and 8th March 2012 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole
Chartered Institute of Housing South East Conference and Exhibition 2012
www.cihseconference.co.uk
Catch my session on Localism: Community assets at a local level.
Download more information here.
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Sincerely,
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