Well a fabulous summer for me is nearly over and it's back to the fascinating world of business.

- but first I just have to mention the MV Royal Star in which we've just finished cruising around the Indian Ocean islands - it's a small, 50-year-old ship oozing with character and service I would recommend it to anyone.

On the business front I know my last newsletter was biased towards the Far East and Far Eastern companies, so this time I'm the redressing the balance slightly by talking about 3 European giant killers that we can all seek to emulate.

You may have noticed a new look to this newsletter which is part of a complete rebranding for which I am indebted to the most creative advertising agency on the planet, Rock Kitchen Harris for creating for me. I am very excited by it, but it is difficult, you know, to see yourself how others see you I would therefore welcome any comments please on the design and my new website

I've also taken the opportunity recently of some CPD. I had a day's superb media training with Alan Stevens, The Media Coach and I'm now able to incorporate magic into my programmes having attended Ed Stivala's brilliant magic course for trainers and speakers.

I must also take the opportunity to mention a fascinating new client of mine, H and H Group plc, who are the largest livestock auction house in Europe selling some 800,000 head of cattle and sheep each year as well as providing other high-value services to the agricultural community at large.

The H&H logo is recognised by farmers throughout the UK and into Europe as a sign of quality and reliability and it's one of the things we hope to leverage on in the future. It's always worth remembering the definition: "your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room" - and if it's that good, leverage it.

I hope you enjoy this newsletter and find it valuable.

Well it's not true! ? the secret is to not only be bold but also innovative and, as Michel Robert put it in his book ?Strategy Pure & Simple", force the competitors to play in your sandbox rather than playing in the theirs.

To illustrate the point let?s have a look at three European companies that have each grown from nothing to major players in industries where there where massive, dominant successful competitors such that they now have those competitors seeking to play in "their sandbox".

The three companies are Red Bull, King of Shaves and Virgin.

I thought you might be interested to read a letter I had published in 'Director' magazine as 'letter of the month'

"Further to Caroline Warboys' letter on Customer Service, I am also more than perplexed by the experience of a distinct lack of awareness, quite simply, of what it takes.

Looking to buy a rental property in Oxford I browsed the web sites of six local estate agents, clicked the "contact us" button of all six, asked a few questions. Within two hours one had called me, discussed my situation and given excellent advice. As for the others - nothing, zero, not a peep.

In Asia attention to detail and outstanding service runs in the blood - and Singapore is the world leader. Singapore's success has been built on service and delighting the customer ? and in a manner unparalleled anywhere else in the world.

What People Say

"Roger, we have seen a sustained increase in revenues and profits as a direct result of attending your workshop. Thankyou ! " Martin Mulligan, CEO, Martin Mulligan Group Limited

?You are the one that made this conference a success. We all learnt a lot from your insight. I will see what we can do to engage you to our university. Our students certainly need as much of your insight as we do"- Professor Dr Lee Chee Wee, National University of Singapore

"I found your presentation, and I am sure I am speaking for a vast majority of those who attended the conference, one of the best in its genre I have witnessed - it was poignant, precise and engaging." Viswa Sadisivan, Chairman, The Right Angle Group of Companies

"It is no coincidence that the Group's dramatic improvement in performance, over the last 18 months, relates directly to Roger's association with us" Ian McKernan, Chairman & CEO Molecular Products Group plc

"Thankyou for sharing your "helicopter" concepts with our delegates. We received excellent feedback and they found the session to be useful." Patricia Enslow, Director, Strategic Marketing Asia, Pacific & Middle East, Citigroup Private Bank