What a fascinating time it's been since my
last newsletter.
Firstly I've had a new hip - ceramic and
titanium with the extra large socket for
windsurfing! Truly remarkable - it really has
given me a new lease of life and my sincere
thanks go to Prof David Murray at The
Manor Hospital, Oxford.
It was particularly interesting to then have
six weeks during my recovery time to "get in
my helicopter" and look at the strategy and
plans for the future development of my
business - something, perhaps, even I need to
do more often.
I then spent a great 8 days back in Iran with
seven top speakers - speaking to the
most delightful business audiences of up to
1200 in some of the best conference centres
I've ever worked in. For some reason,
however, someone thought it was a good idea
to produce various ceramic items with our
photographs on - strange!
It now looks like I may be working with the
leading Iranian daily newspaper - who,
incidentally, publish a copy in braiile every
day. Do our newspapers do that I wonder?
One of my non-executive directorships has
come to an end after seven highly successful
and most enjoyable years - although frankly,
after all that time, it feels a little like a
bereavement at present and I think I've been
through a similar cycle of emotions.
I've had the delightful experience of
spending time in Londonderry, Northern
Ireland again after 20 years and speaking at
the excellent business leadership and
management initiative "Made
not Born" by the Northern Ireland
government. Northern Ireland is such a
lovely, gentle country full of lovely, gentle
people.
As I write this I am in Pakistan where I am
keynoting and running Masterclasses in
Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi to the most
positive and optimistic of audiences that you
could imagine - a real lesson to us all.
A Masterclass in Kuwait comes next and then
the delights of Lille in northern France and
the ABTOF annual conference.
Then off to watch my son, Russ, in his first
London Marathon running for the magnificent
Orpheus
Centre where my stepdaughter, Kim, spent
her last 18 months.
I'm very proud of him.
Finally a holiday on our favourite Scilly
Isles beckons
and the wonderful Hell
Bay Hotel on Bryher.
In between all this there has been my usual
visits to my business adviser and
non-executive director Clients and workshops
for Academy for Chief Executives groups and
others around the country.
What a life - I love it!
Let me remind you of the "Helicopter"
awards for outstanding service and for lousy
service.
Two "Golden Helicopter" Awards and two
"Ditched Helicopter" this time.
I welcome nominations in either category.
Explanations of why they're being recommended
should be put on my blog to back up the
listing.
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I hope you enjoy this newsletter and find it
valuable and may I thank you for your support
and smiles.
PS. London Underground started piping "uncool" classical music in the booking halls of tube stations in December 2005 to deter youths from loitering, resulting in a 33% drop in abuse against staff.
