If you live in the northern hemisphere I hope you've had a great summer - I certainly did - we are just back from two weeks in glorious Corfu and and we've had some long weekends in Brighton, Dorset and the Northumbria Coast and are off to the Suffolk coast next weekend - all simply glorious. Even more importantly for me I'm back windsurfing regularly for the first time in four years.

Incidentally, my wife and I happened to be In Covent Garden in London in August when the new Apple store (the largest in the world I believe) opened. It looked like immigration at Kennedy airport! There were queues snaking way back from the entrance, but for me what was absolutely fascinating was that the longest queue had the above sign at the front. So there were more people waiting who were actually committing to buy an Apple product rather than just looking! - what would you do to get your business into that position?

Last year I was very happy, along with a number of my colleagues, to help YooDoo with content for the website they were developing. YooDoo is about helping unemployed and young people start up in business and give them the advice they may need to do so. I was filmed talking about "elevator speeches" and I hear that this has turned out to be one of the most viewed items on the website. Having an elevator speech is something that every one of us ought to have - ready for each time somebody asks us what we do. The video is here if you would like to have a look.

I'm really excited to have just launched my new website. Whilst the old one did me really well it needed updating and to be more focused. I have completly rewritten it to focus on my Clients, or potential Clients, together with the inclusion of more videos and focus, together with lots of advice and a "Knowledge Zone". I've also had search engine optimisation research done by the excellent Momentum Web Solutions and the whole site has been redesigned by are simply amazing Rock Kitchen Harris - who are not only technically outstanding but more importantly, perhaps, they give the site the design "personality" you need. Finally my friends at Gillissa continue do a great job developing and tweaking my Google AdWords to ensure maximum possible exposure.
I highly recommend all three companies.

As usual I have been travelling to all kinds of interesting places over the summer and most recently I'm just back from Gibraltar, which is somewhere I've only been once before and then about 25 years ago. I was there for four days and found it a most welcoming, friendly, switched on place full of delightful people. I ran two workshops- one for the newly formed Academy for Chief Executives group and one for Credit Suisse managers and Clients together with a keynote for the top team of GibTelecom - Gibraltar's largest telecom provider. I'm very much looking forward to returning, hopefully early in the New Year.

Another activity of mine that has really got going since my last newsletter is a series of one-day Masterclasses for HSU International in North London each month from July through December. Each of these are 100% grant funded (you are probably fed up with receiving my flyers about these over the last few weeks if you live in the UK - sorry - but it is such a unique opportunity!). There' are still a few places left on the November and December Masterclasses - so if you're interested in learning the simple tools to grow your business immediately you need to have a word with Alison on 07795346396 or alison@hsuinternational.com NOW!

STOP PRESS::
I'm just back from yet another outstanding PSA (Professional Speaking Association) Convention and was surprised, honoured and humbled to be presented with The Professional Speaking Award of Excellence. Wow!

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

Three "Golden Helicopter" Awards and no "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.

Click here to follow me on Twitter

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

It really is a visit not to miss and I would highly recommend going on one of their fascinating tours.

The Royal Navy Museum in Portsmouth has come to realise that in HMS Victory, Admiral Lord Nelson's flagship, they have the perfect setting for a corporate event.

They therefore shortly plan to offer the opportunity of an exclusive event:
Accommodation in a local boutique hotel, chauffeur collection, champagne reception at the Museum hosted by the former First Sea Lord, dinner in the Officers Mess on board Victory, hosted by the Second Sea Lord and a tour of the ship by the current Captain.

My wife and I were privileged to be invited, along with a dozen others, to a "trial run" of the whole evening - in exchange for us critiquing it for them!

It was simply fantastic.
Walking onto HMS Victory alone was magical and eating in that cabin so heavy with history was very special - a truly unique experience.

If you'd like to know more contact Giles Gould giles.gould@nmrn.org.uk

If you have ever thought about writing a book then Ayd Instone's Boot Camp should be a must for you

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Did you see the latest league table of the richest nations by GDP/head?
They are:
Qatar
Luxembourg
Norway
Singapore
Brunei

- and which one has no natural resources of any kind, except for their people? Singapore - a truly remarkable achievement.

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Some useful websites for you:
crashpadder - spare rooms to rent worldwide
Do your bit for the environment and get stuff for free ecobees
Anyone can do animation at muvizu
AddressGrabber Standard is the quickest and easiest way to capture address details into your database addressgrabber

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Ever been stuck with a bottle of wine but no corkscrew? - Have a look at this

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.

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

"Thank you very much for your astonishing presentation at Credit Suisse" Carlos M. Martins Vice President

"The sessions were really good - Roger is particularly skilled at asking the right questions to make you find the answers to move forward yourselves as opposed to telling you what to do. He is a perceptive man who is clearly skilled in motivating and getting the best out of people. It is refreshing to see the train of thought his influence has provoked company wide." Caroline Singleton, Sales Representative, Thomas Graham & Sons Limited

"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

"I am amazed at the reaction experienced by Roger's audiences.  They are totally engaged from beginning to the end and all seem to be transformed in one way or the other.  He seems to have no country or cultural barrier.  He has laser sharp focus and keeps his audience spellbound" Rakesh Bhargava, Chairman, The Academy for Chief Executives, USA and India