Last Friday I presented a full-day workshop to a group of orthodontists at the Head Office of 3M in Bracknell – what a fantastic facility – the AV and conferencing suite were first class – and the building a dream.

The avid reader may recall that, last year, I was fortunate to visit the RBS Head Office in Edinburgh – and waxed lyrical about how fortunate employees were to work in a self-contained environment.
Here again, 3M provide a world in which their staff can shop, eat, exercise and enjoy a balanced life, without leaving the premises.

My audience of ortho principals and team members were in good form – always evidenced by the fact that I wander off my script and finish without covering all of the promised material.
The day focused on marketing and team building – especially in the environment where the majority of the delegates were seeking to increase the levels of private treatment offered.
Full marks to 3M and to Nick and Gavin, who looked after us all. A special “thank you” to Viren Patel from Cardiff -who attended for a Chris Barrow refresher and spent the whole day telling all concerned how good our programme has been for his practice.
I enjoyed presenting in the dark red conference suite – very bourgeouis.

Arriving back at midnight on Friday – I slept until after 10.00am Saturday morning and spent the day in a state of collapse – just exhausted from a busy week.
But no rest I’m afraid – in the run up to Easter there is much to do – so Sunday became a working day for the first time in many years.
Email catch up in the morning and preparation for a pre-Easter week of practice visits for Platinum Club members.
A 5-hour drive yesterday afternoon/evening brought me to the excellent Dakota Hotel in Nottinghamshire, where I enjoyed a late meal and a good read before bed.