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In this issue...
  • Is your business technology woefully behind ?
  • Some software that might interest you
  • The "Helicopter" Service Awards

  • Images of the Month
    GfK Marketing Services
    Midlands Leaders Group
    Derek Shepherd, Aggreko
    ABLE group

    GfK Marketing Services workshop at Ashford Castle
    ******************
    with Midlands Leaders Group
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    with Derek Shepherd, MD Aggreko International, in Mauritius
    ******************
    with The Academy for Business Leaders & Executives
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    UPCOMING PUBLIC KEYNOTES & WORKSHOPS

    Various Events

    Singapore/KL

    3rd to 7th March

    More information

    The Academy for Chief Executives

    Western Manor Hotel
    Junction 9 M40

    Tuesday 11th March
    Breakfast event
    7.30am -9.30am

    More information and booking:

    The Elite Development Programme

    London

    Thursday 20th March
    am: Workshop, pm:Workshop

    More information

    The Millionaires Business Club

    Sopwell House
    Cottonmill Lane
    St Albans AL1 2HQ

    Thursday 27th March
    6pm

    More information and booking:

    Aylesbury Vale Breakfast Briefing

    The Watermead
    Lakeside
    Aylesbury HP19 0FX

    10th January
    7.45am - 9.30am

    More Information:

    Various Events

    Lagos, Nigeria

    11th to 13th April

    The Helicopter
    Business Alert
    Q1/2008

    Aggreko logo

    I'm just back from speaking at a conference in Mauritius (it's hell this job!)

    It was Aggreko International's annual conference - and what an impressive company they are!

    Their business is the supply of standby generation and temperature control equipment and they are in just about every country around the world. They've won the highly prestigious contract to supply all the power needs for the Beijing Olympics - and regularly supply the power for football World Cups and Formula One events.

    There were around 200 Aggreko managers and directors at the conference from, I would guess, around 20 countries, and the most impressive thing for me was that whoever I spoke to the first thing to come across was the Aggreko culture (can do, 24/7, work hard/play hard, fiercely loyal) and a long way second was a national culture or character.

    I got the impression that simply everyone in Aggreko pretty well enjoys every day - how important is that? They were a universally sparky, professional, successful and great group of people to be with.

    My congratulations go out to Rupert Soames, the CEO and Derek Shepherd, the Aggreko International MD.

    Aggreko is a model for all of us - if we can develop a similar spirit throughout our companies don't you think we'd be halfway there!

    I have to mention that I was interviewed on the radio recently and was the guest on City 7 television 's "Face to Face" programme in Dubai -- all very daunting!

    (I'm told the "Face to Face" interview will be here shortly - if you can bear it!)

    Finally let me remind you of the "Helicopter" awards for outstanding service and for lousy service.

    Just one "Golden Helicopter" Award, one new "Ditched Helicopter" and a repeat Ditched Helicopter this month!

    I welcome nominations for either category. Explanations of why they're being recommended should be put on my blog to back up the listing.

    I hope you enjoy this newsletter and find it valuable and may I thank you for your support and smiles.

    Roger Harrop
    PS. Have you read Ian McEwan's "Saturday" ? - well worth it.

    Is your business technology woefully behind ?
    - it should be enabling every part of your business to perform

    I guarantee there is technology out there that you should be using that you aren't. It seems like every day there is some new business technology that is immensely clever, often cheap - or free - and from what I see is adopted by companies in inverse proportion to their size!

    I blame you and, if you have one, your IT Manager.

    I would have the job specification of every IT Manager start with:

    "It is your responsibility to ensure that the best information technology is made available to improve the efficiency of every aspect of the operations of the business"

    We all know about the big ticket IT systems like ERP and MRP, sales order processing, accounting packages, CAD systems and the like but you should be using technology throughout the business simply to ensure that everyone in the organisation spends as much of their working time as possible doing what they are paid to do.

    What does that mean?

    Some of you will have seen the results of research by Proudfoot that I quote in my workshops. They researched how sales people in the UK actually spend their time and what they found was that, on average, they spend just 33% of their time doing what you employ them to do - selling to customers. Furthermore they spend an unbelievable 52% of their time on travelling and administration.

    I am sure we could establish similar statistics for service people, account managers, engineers, technical people and indeed probably almost everyone - including you!

    more

    Some software that might interest you

    I've come across some software recently that you just might find of interest:

    Firstly - how about this - you come home and the fridge is almost empty and you want a meal. Go to recipematcher tell them what ingediants you have and they'll give you a recipe for a meal from what you've got!

    Next, videora will convert any video into iPod format for you.

    Finally, I had to smile at this. For all those of us who loved Lego when we were young - you can now build Lego on line here

    Have fun!


    Helicopter Awards The "Helicopter" Service Awards

    I find myself increasingly putting the service I receive from organisations into one of two categories either "outstanding" or " lousy" - there doesn't seem to be just 'average' any more. I've introduced therefore "Golden Helicopter" outstanding service awards and "Ditched Helicopter" lousy service awards

    You'll find the story behind each in my Blog

    Please add your comments and any recommendations of your own for awards.


    Golden Helicopter Award

    Ditched Helicopter Award
    Ditched Helicopter Awards
    - for Lousy Service

    Alfa Romeo

    British Airways

    Audi

    Selfridges

    Intercontinental Hotels

    Air Canada

    Carlisle City Council

    British Airways - again!!


    Find out why here


    Quick Links
  • Complementary E Book 'Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Profitable Growth, But Didn't Know Whom to Ask'
  • Gihan Perera, THE electronic marketing guru - with lots of free info!
  • Alan Stevens - the media coach
  • The Professional Speakers Association
  • Doug Stevenson's wonderful Story Theater
  • Fantastic voice recognition systems that I use it all the time
  • Talk to Roger about speaking at your next event or workshop
  • Make your AdWords give big value
  • The Academy for Chief Executives
  • The Institute for Independent Business
  • Roger Harrop is a former plc CEO, International Speaker, business advisor, author, mentor and consultant who inspires and entertains his audiences with his acclaimed Staying in the Helicopter series of speeches, seminars, workshops and masterclasses focussed on transformational profitable growth. Over 4000 CEOs and others have achieved massive growth in profits and sales through his thought provoking and entertaining speeches laced with real-life stories, anecdotes and humour. He is President Elect of The Professional Speakers Association, a Speaker of the Year with The Academy for Chief Executives and a Member of Speaking Faculty of The Institute for Management Studies.

    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

    "Without question Roger's workshops have been the catalyst in enabling our six operating companies to unlock the door to profitable growth and without exception, everyone has a real desire to be in the renewal room and when there, reside in it permanently!" Trevor Hebdon, CEO, H&H Group plc

    "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

    T/F: +(44)1491613635


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