T'was the week before RF (The Retail Festival)

and all the dental clients stopped answering mail, email and phone calls. Suppliers slowed down their deliveries. Every project was put “on hold” until after the holiday. “We’ll do it in January” became the mission statement for many businesses. However, I have a full week of work ahead of me before I take a 2-week
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T’was the week before RF (The Retail Festival)

and all the dental clients stopped answering mail, email and phone calls.Suppliers slowed down their deliveries. Every project was put “on hold” until after the holiday. “We’ll do it in January” became the mission statement for many businesses. However, I have a full week of work ahead of me before I take a 2-week break
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Mr Grumpy

Its interesting to see the reaction to my last two ezines, where I have (with tongue firmly in cheek) complained about the falsity and excess of the Christmas season. Some have seen the irony and thanked me for the humour. Others have written quite stern feedback, suggesting that I “get a life” and cheer up.
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Back in the UK

Yesterday I was travelled from London to Kings Lynn, Norfolk for a dental practice visit. Along the way, we pass the site of Sunday’s massive explosion in Hemel Hempstead (the largest fire in Britain since WWII) and saw the 70 mile smoke stack rising West across the sky – quite awe inspiring in a gloomy
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What we learned in Toronto

I enjoyed a fascinating conversation with Michael Bungay Stanier over breakfast this morning and I was so inspired that I’ll write an ezine article about it next week – don’t miss it, he is an exceptional person. For now, he asked me “if I took one of your clients to the bar and they loosened
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Why do the clients who can pay, pay?

We were discussing this issue here in Toronto on Wednesday. In other words, why do people actually hire a business coach? 1. Because they do not have enough: Time Money of the right People in their team 2. Because they have feelings of: Quiet desperation Low self-esteem Frustration Lack of focus/direction Fear Overwhelm 3. Because
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Fortress of solitude

I could never quite understand why Superman chose the frozen wastes to build a place where he could think straight. OK – he didn’t feel the cold but you would have a thought a nice little hut on stilts over the Indian Ocean or something? Anyway – I have found a couple of places here
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The hotel that has to try a little harder

I arrived in Toronto last night and was somewhat uneasy as the cab drove past the downtown financial area. That’s where I have stayed on my last 3 or 4 trips, using well known brand name hotels such as the Sheraton or Royal York. We arrived at The Grand and my heart sank a little
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The right place to ask questions

Monday morning in the Heathrow Hilton before I fly to Toronto. I arrived yesterday to be told that my Silver rewards card with Hilton had been enhanced to Gold status and I was upgraded to a fancy room on the Executive floor. Ah the joys of reward cards – I’m pretty “hotel-ed-out” at this stage
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London City

I’m working in the City and West End of London the next 2 days, with dental practices that exist in a world very different from the rest of the UK. The big city lifestyle – everyone rushing about, nobody making eye contact, prices much higher and customer service a rarity. And yet the principles we
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