Don't be 'orrible

If you are here because you are looking for my comment on the ProBlogger to be expanded upon then worry not, the post is still in draft and won't be long. If you stick your email down on my blog, then I will let you know when I have posted it up ;-)


Back to the subject matter for today though - Why, when you see a reply to a post/tweet/comment which is a criticism or meant to contain negative feedback, is it that this criticism is more likely to be answered by the recipient than a positively charged one? Strictly on a percentage basis of course. Or have I completely missed something here?


Are there more subtle ways to be positive towards your intended audience which get your good message across, which I have not quite grasped? Is negative feedback just a cheap-shot at gaining some undeserved time from an audience? My thoughts are this, it is counter-intuitive to blast people for no reason apart from a personal gratification. So why would anyone do it then? How can we go from being what are essentially well wishing and helpful human beings to critics...







Social media is fast becoming a hecklers paradise - a place to voice your opinions with out fear of retribution. I could walk you through many examples of this, some more serious than others - but I won't. Do a search engine sweep if you really want to see how sick it has gotten, or watch the news from time to time. I will leave you with a personal experience that left me wondering wwwwhhhhhyyyyyy???.... and it goes a little something like this;


I was surfing Twitter one Saturday afternoon when I noticed that a conversation from one of our favourite Dragons twitter feed Duncan Bannatyne had gotten heated. A [follower] had simply asked [not in those words] Duncan to stop being quite to prolific with his tweets in reference to his charitable work and perhaps that Duncan should not be referred to as a 'hero' himself. Of course this got some attention. Lost in amongst the debate on how a hero could be physically defined were the tweets of well-wishers, wishing him good luck for the new series and thanking him for his generosity towards the charities that he champions. A rather nondescript example, and believe me it doesn't really deserve anymore airtime - other than only to illustrate my point. Which is this....


There is a saturation point I believe. If you find yourself having to respond to nice comment after nice comment... then heading off the odd bit of negative feedback can feel like you are making progress by responding or doing something more productive with your SM [social media] time. It's not that harsh comments deserve retaliation, no, it's just in this world where bad press can be spread so easily - there comes a time where enough is enough.

I know that if I was to write a critical tweet of somebody, that I probably would get heard by more people online than just sending it into null space... harsh tactics.


I do not recommend it, BUT if you think that you have a justified reason to criticise another fellow Tweeter or Facebooker.... then please remember this. The more response you receive from you negative post, then the more your comments will be scrutinised. So make sure that you are giving feedback for a VERY good reason, and your motives are indeed, pure.

Engine[er]

Location:The Peahen, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Business Planter

I worked hard today. When you work for yourself though there seems to be bottomless well of energy to tap into, AND everything you do for your business is fun! Hmmm maybe that's a minor stretch of the imagination. Let's just say you can see the benefits of your labours in full technicolor, and leave it at that for now.

In amongst my blogs of recent days i forgot to mention a few things about me. I know that I should have done this earlier, but here goes. Firstly, I am human and fallible. Not fallible and therefore a risk taking professional! Good God no. I mean fallible in the way that I may spend a little bit too much time researching or that i have a tough time remembering names. Secondly, even though I like to think that I can conjure up an answer to most questions... in reality; outside of engineering and raw problem solving ability... I tend to need more help than I can give. For now. Thirdly, you have my complete attention. Yes you. You there reading my blog. [no I'm not going to ask you to christen a child-like princess - like in 'The Never Ending Story'] the reason why I write is to show you that I am here doing this so that you can exercise your option to glean a thing or two from my mistakes, and victories. Please don't forget to tell me ALL about your gleaning.

During my stroll through Veralum Park in St Albans on Thursday evening, on my way to a evening chat with members of our local Chamber of Commerce, I was very lucky to brew a brief brain storm. I concentrated on management of my business expansion into the future. The way I saw it was as follows, either I could;
1. Continue to grow a client base. Squirrel away funds and use this to establish an office and begin employing other Engineers. Traditional, tried and tested. Pluses? Lots of advice out there, and as straight forward as you can get. Potentially a comfortable life style. Minuses? Recruitment, and management of staff is not everyone's cup of tea. I can't see myself doing that until I retire. And this is exactly what I will have to do to afford retirement... as selling businesses of this nature is notoriously personal, and good will, will only get you so much in financial return. Bit of a cul-de-sac that one.
or
2. Partner-up with other Engineers. Find one or two like minded business owners of a similar size, merge and share work and responsibilities. You get stability, when your neck of the woods are quiet... and conversely you will be expected to prop up you partners when the situation has been reversed. I am not overly enamoured by this model. There is still too much competition internally for business, and ultimately this may lead to one partner growing weary and separating. Growth is made easier by virtue of a less risky field of play, higher number of opportunities AND by organic growth. Big advantage, you will already have 1 or 2 ready made buyers for when you feel the need to sell up your part of the business.
Or
3. Collaborate with complimentary business streams to offer a broader service. For example, find a builder or Architect or both and launch a separate company, sharing profits. This could be an unfair model and would tend to focus growth down a particular route. Collaboration should be aimed at leveraging resources so that larger contracts can be attained. Problem, no natural buyer for business unless the collaborators have gained some long term framework agreement with a major service provider and therefore have built in long term value...
Or
4. Collaborate with a completely non-complimentary business. Strange one this. You are seeking different revenue streams by thinking laterally and using the experience to learn more about a different business altogether. Those of you who know me will definitely think that this is the route most attractive to me. If only to take on the challenge. Pluses? Lots to learn and more chance of falling upon an idea which is entirely original for both your business. Downs. Sounds hard work, expensive to integrate and stupid. I can discount hardwork as this is something which you HAVE to partake in anyway. Expensive? Could cause a problem. Stupid? I like the sound of that... original ideas always seem stupid at first - there is no precedence to compare it to and you are embarking upon the unknown. Stupid is as stupid does.








Of course there are lots more to think about but this is a good start. What do you think?

NOTE. most options involve some kind of collaboration. Interesting?


Engine[er]

Location:St Albans,United Kingdom

Teach Yourself How To Run: Part Five

I understand that if you have been following my ad-hock running lessons, that you may have already realised that finding time for training is very hard work. Recap - Part1, Part2, Part3, Part4.

You are going to find that life will generally crop up from time to time and divert your attention from grabbing your weekly fix of jogging. It happens. If you are sensing some sarcasm in my writing tone then...bingo - you got me!! I'm not one to harass people, so I'll be brief. You need to begin your lessons again - please refer to the previous posts above. Done.

OK! For those of you who have managed to stay with me to date and given my lessons a go... let's give you another one of my observations to practice.

I had noticed a few years back that during my runs, when I am struggling and in the back of my mind I feel slow... I tend to run close, very close to the edge of the path or trail, virtually hugging a hedge, wall or tree line. It makes me feel like I am running faster - when I am not. So, if you are just starting out and want to feel like you are running quick (for fun), try running real close to a fence. Alternatively, if you want to test your resolve - run away from the edge and physically pick up you pace for a little.

We want to be together!

Huge reminder: try not to time your runs for now. You have years of running against a clock ahead of you... let's not spoil the fun for now because your mind can play games on you ;-)

That's all I can offer you for Lesson 5, so please post up your comments and let me know how you are going!


Engine[er]

Visualise, Inspire and Conquer

"Dream, Believe and Achieve", David Clarke - Captain of the England Blind Football Team. This phrased was championed by David during his speech to the St Albans and Watford Chamber of Commerce last Thursday morning. Just recently, David and his team mates training and personal exploits had been well documented on the Channel 4 series, Best of British - Episode 1, which is infact getting a re-show tomorrow evening at 5pm! Check it out - I implore you. (Sunday 5pm, Ch4).

David was invited by the chamber of commerce as a guest speaker to a breakfast meeting at the Watford football club grounds. Instantly he managed to make us laugh by demonstrating some of the self confessed 'black humour' which apparently runs rampant within the paralympic GB squad. I won't tell you his party piece in this post - but if you really want to know then drop me an email.

Before I signed up for the breakfast meeting, I was not sure what David was planning to talk to us about. It was personally well received that he chose a subject which we all could do with some brushing up on - 'how to succeed'. It is a bit of a paradox really. If we all managed to concentrate and implement the lessons brought to us by successful people such as David Clarke and his ilk, then logically this would shorten our chances of achieving success through being so well prepared. Unfortunately though, this does not stack up mathematically, as there can still be only ONE winner and ONE winning team. "We were not in this game, just to be happy with reaching the finals. Winning has always been our goal", David Clarke - 5 times runner-up in the Blind Football European Championships. As David revealed to the audience his bewildering history in the European Championships, the pain was etched across his face, but hidden behind a beaming smile. The frustration was tangible to me; he paused at he end of every sentence as if to relive each and every last minute defeat. As the words fell out, I recognised this feeling. It appeared to me that by dragging the past disappointments out for everyone to see, it solidified his need to train harder and visualise his strategy with a greater accuracy.

The 3 zone coaching system used in blind football. The goalkeeper coaches the defending third of the pitch. The team manager coaches the middle third, and the final third is coached by your very own coach who is stood behind the oppositions goal. An interesting zone management strategy.

You will be forgiven for concluding that the only person (people) standing in your way to success and creative freedom are those who are 'better' than you, or 'smarter' or 'fitter' or more 'talented'. I do not believe that this is so. These people who you value in such a high regard represent only the nominal benchmarking for success. You can view these guys and girls as targets to visualise, and eventually zero in on and blast past them. The people who you must pay the most attention to and beat - day in and day out.... are yourselves.

David was trying to convey how important this is to the ladies and gentlemen that Thursday morning in a way which he seemed to know very well - by connecting with others and showing them how much he had dreamed about winning a gold medal. He wanted everyone to see that he and his team mates believe that this is what they are going to do... but what really separates the winners from the losers is of course the very real feeling of achievement which goes with owning a gold medal.

You can go through business life quite happily accepting failures, and giving up on your dreams as this world seems to be very well set-up for a balanced existence. Trust me when I say that this is not the worst thing. The worst thing is not believing that you can make it and contaminating the dreams of others as a result. I saw David as a person who is not going to take no for an answer, and I have the greatest respect for that. If the unthinkable happens, and the England squad are equally as disappointed for the 6th time in a row at the European Championships, in Turkey later this year... then you better believe that he will using his energy and momentum to train for something else, equally challenging and as deeply important to him and his family.

How can this ever be considered anything less than inspirational?

Please will you join me in wishing David and his team mates good luck in Turkey - David Clarke (Twitter)


Engine[er]

Social Media Harmonics - a personal adventure

Hello - Warning! I am about to artfully dodge a promise that I made to write about David Clarke's speech yesterday morning, I am still typing that one out. So there is my excuse - it's still at draft stage, and please keep reading.


I have however decided to write a quick blog post with regard to an ongoing mission to find my online voice and practice 'Social Media Harmonics'. It's a phrase that I have coined that describes the process of continually hitting the social media 'sweet spot' when interacting with your audience online. Very important phrase that - 'your audience'. 


Social Media Harmonics is the positive result of  an iterative process much like experimentation, but without forming direct comparisons between the theoretical and the physical universe. I just look at the analytical pages and make notes on patterns. Sorry - it is that basic


Essentially, what it is that I am doing involves plugging away at many different flavours of posts, to see what it is my audience; YOU, expect from me. Do you need technical expertise? Are you happy to catch-up on what it is that is presently occupying my mind? Of course, at this very moment, I could very well be ranting into the empty blackness of blog-space! My lack of ego comforts me with the knowledge that it still is early days for my business and my page analytic reminds me that there are a few of you interested in my journey, enough to read up on what's new in my world. Thank-you.


Recently I released a rather risky LinkedIn poll question, intentionally aimed at being provocative and slightly vulnerable. It went a little something like this - 

"Do I come across needy? For all those who have connected with me - how would you describe my marketing persona?

As you can see, I am inviting honest feedback. A risky strategy I think that you all will agree - especially since we live in a world of Twitter and YouTube hecklers. BUT, this is LinkedIn in right? This network of professionals are looking to showcase their capabilities and skills to potential clients, partners, investors and employers, we use this platform to engage with like minded professionals and join in with conversations in the hope that it broadens our understanding of a subject. IT IS WONDROUS! I can slip into group conversations which I have no expertise in and watch as a swarm of [insert subject matter] heavy weights clash and debate their thoughts until a winner emerges. Truth is... we all emerge as winners. We all learn something.

So how did my poll go? I have received only one vote so far - so get over there and stick you name down, vote and comment. 

Engine[er]

Timing in Business is not just about owning a watch...

This a subject matter that is very close to my heart. It has been due to the phenomena of 'correct timing' that I find myself with my gorgeous fiancé, and on my way to creative freedom. I say on my way... because even though I am supporting myself financially in my business, the ever present lure of contractual work still remains as one of my 'get out' strategies. I try not to think about that too much though.

OK. You want to know about timing, that's why you are here right? Well we all know what it physically stands for, and I'm sure that you have heard sportsmen and sportswoman constantly reiterate the importance of 'timing' to enhance the levels of their success. Whether it's a golfer who states that its ALLL about the timing of you swing, or a pro footballer who insists that timing forms the basis of good form. The amount of circumstantial evidence out there is enough to get you thinking. Admit it, proper timing seems to permeate through to everything!

My opinion is that proper timing can be measured in scales. If we were to look upon good timing is as simple as arriving for an interview or meeting on time - then the actual 'time' part of the equation is not as important as say the planning. For example; you need to be at an interview at 10:30am, therefore you have to be up and out of bed at a certain time, catch the right bus etc.. Planning is key. When there is a particularly busy traffic morning and you wake up a shade late - it all boils down to whether you can make it through that door on time. So all that well considered planning gets condensed down into a solitary moment in time. Did you make it on time?

A scaled up example of 'timing' could be the same type used by 'say' golfers. When a ball is driven from the tee - the body is acting in a very instinctive way. Muscle memory and relaxation guides the club face to the right spot on the ball at the right speed for that particular shot. Timing. Many different factors stack up behind the action of taking that shot and all of it depends upon you getting the process correct. Again though, the timing of the shot pales into insignificance when compared to the preparation of your body and mind many years before hand. You would have under gone years of training in golf OR experienced similar sports so that your body and mind work towards one solitary goal - condensed into that one single instant of time...

Other examples of timing in action include singing and public speaking. The skill and knowledge which goes into producing the right sound at the right time is incredibly important. Being able to perform well and influence the emotions of the audience is all about understanding who it is you are speaking to, and even more importantly, an understanding as to why they are there listening to you in the first place. To be entertained? To have fun? To criticise? To learn? Timing the right performance is crucial to success and it involves interrupting the crowds mood and/or enticing the crowd  to feel how you feel. An absolute art form which many good practitioners seem to have an innate instinct for.

It can be seen from above that effective timing is crucially linked to and programmed into your mind and body by practice. Repetitive practice.

So how can you secure your victory in the business world straight out of the traps? This is virtually impossible - but not completely improbable. I have been reading Richard Bransons' book 'Screw it let's do it' in which he discusses at length the mental fortitude required to succeed. His continuous stabs into the business world began from a very early age. By the time he was 11, he was already learning that giving up was the surest way to failure. He appeared to have a desire which superseded virtually every other emotional and physical need... the desire to 'give it a go'.

Good timing is born from a large amounts of experience and application of that knowledge through practice and stubbornness for not giving in. Mr Branson describes himself as a stubborn and tenacious man, seemingly backed up by a belief that he will never fail at anything... to me timing appears to be the result of effective planning and practice. Timing represents the culmination of all your hard efforts distilled into a single moment of time - that 'perfect' process which has been practised and imagined some many times before that failure; is a less likely outcome compared to success.

In conclusion - if you find yourself standing on the precipice of starting your own business and eventual creative freedom... you are either about to take some hard knocks, learning from each and everyone one of them until you give up and fail... OR  you are about to take some hard knocks, learning from each and everyone one of them until you succeed and grow, and you earn your right to 'good timing' through learning from your experiences.

Engine[er]


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Home, e-learning & blogging

A SLOW week in the life of a SMALL business owner

[Checks his calender] (that's me checking my calender by the way - in case you couldn't tell).

I needed to check my where-a-bouts, as last week was akin to an almighty explosion of nothing... Pffffizzzzzz POOF! Here, for your enjoyment is a rare glimpse into what a slow week may look like, should you decide to take up the NEW START-UP CHALLENGE... and begin working for yourself. I'm quite proud and puzzled at the same time. Enjoy.

Monday. Early to rise, seriously. Speak to free business listing website for 25minutes and discuss how my free listing is not as good for my business exposure as the £[insert random price] sponsored deal is. Go figure. Arranged to meet with my local hair dresser during lunch to sell him the FREE professional services of my friend who has agreed to build Facebook pages for small businesses to earn himself some pocket money, but needs a couple of portfolio jobs to get started first. Then spent 2 hours setting up the business page on Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare so that my mate could hit the ground running. Do a little bit of work for an Architect on a local project. Meet Steve Brown of Browns Barber Shop at lunch, snap a bunch of photos for his Facebook page. I leave a very happy man behind me, with promises of a sparkling brand new way of marketing his business - FREE of charges of course. Get home, email business friend regarding a personal project I am doing for him. He is very very happy. Call Paul and email to him the reel of photos from the afternoons photo shoot. Everyone knows what they are doing... and relax.
Tuesday. Late up. Social media morning. Continue design for local Architect. Receive a phone call from gentleman who found me on LinkedIn. He loved my company profile and hoped that I could help him with his structural problems. We hit it off well and I agreed to visit his home next week. Spoke with an ex-work colleague and Architect regarding a meet-up for tomorrow. Finished off my application to apply for next years Chartership Examination - Institute of Structural Engineers.
Wednesday: Chase member signatures for my Chartership review interview then drive to meet old work colleague to speak about business and how we can help each other. Had an awesome discussion about new-starters, marketing, branding, pricing and of course buildings and work-work. During the conversation, my Architect friend gave me a huge compliment - I'm sure that it was meant as a compliment, but I don't think she realised how important it was for me to hear it. She said to me that reading my blog, and company profile and how I presented myself in the electronic world is a complete echo of who I am in the real world. Obviously she has had the opportunity to work with me in the past and reaffirmed that I am marketing myself in the way that I intended - being true to my personality and future plans . I was 'made up' that afternoon. Was called up by a contact who wished to push some work my way. I agreed to meet the client on site the very next day.
Thursday: On site after braving horrendous traffic. Agreed to silly deadlines [mentally shifting work around] and left site brimming with happiness and hope - interesting new job and 2 rather encouraging new contacts for the future. Time to pop back to the home office and chase signatures for my Chartership application... squeeze in a small amount of work too ;-) Mid afternoon - met with young developer who is trying to do good things in and around Herts and North London. Quality contact and a very focussed customer. Polished looks, business man like, and obviously design orientated. Score! - I could see him becoming more and more interested in what I had to say about my business and we hit it off well. Promises were made to send some work my way and again I left a happy and re-charged man. Final stop was a visit to my friend and past mentor to talk about my application to next years Chartership Exam, and sign a form for me. Good to catch up - even if it was only for 30minutes. Worked until 11pm on Architects project. Yawn.
Friday: Posted all information that was required to IStructE (Structural Engineers Institute) and then flew down the motorway to an already active job - to discuss plans with builder. Chatted through the plans for the third time - and wondered why I bothered creating drawings if they weren't being read.

First meeting with possible new Architect colleague in St Albans. Awesome chat. More promises made with regard to giving me a chance to estimate for some of their current projects and indeed one did arrive later that day. A cool extension on a GradeII listed cottage, on a side of a hill (nay cliff?) in Devon. More drawing work and finally issued structural input for a local project. The end of the day saw me sat at my computer working away on social media input (like this blog) and waiting for someone to make use of my FREE Weekly Structural Surgery offer... no takers again. This could take a while to find it's audience I think....

Engine[er]

140 ideas in one afternoon

How absolutely fabulous was the weather today? Even though I got to spend most of it bouncing along on a train and the tube, the latter half was fertile with creativity and interesting conversation.

8 individual business owners, including a posse of Serco employees were joined together to discuss ways in which the government funded Businesslink website might be improved for UK business owners and new start-ups seeking help. Cool.

This was the second meet up (first meeting blogged here), and the pressure was on for us to brain storm a plethora of ideas, that our hosts could then gather-up. Once distilled, the results were going to be considered for entry into the already 'bursting at the seams' website, or may even kick-start the process of a structural change.

To begin with, it is an excellent website from a fledgling business point of view. Let's make no bones about it, this website is a treasure trove of business how to's, but also it is an exceedingly tough read. For those who have enough time and energy to plough through the information - awaits a large amount of knowledge through professionally written articles. It was mentioned during the workshop that a line must be drawn under how much information is required to be pushed upon us from the government, and how much is simply made available for us to explore at our leisure. My opinion is that you do not know what to look for unless you know what it is that you are supposed to be looking for - and shock horror,  not all of us can find the time to learn for learnings sake.

Part of the problem is that there are way too many info-avenues out there and it is hard to know where to start. If Businesslink is aiming to be the first and only stop for UK business owners who need to know more about regulations, then surely the following question has to be answered first. How do we skill ourselves up in a world jammed pack full of information cul-de-sacs and  data fatigue? The way I see it is that, firstly we have to admit that we need to continue the learning. Next step is to focus on a healthy rate of exposure and focus on what we need first. Somewhere in between we have to learn to enjoy the experience too. Very important. Can Businesslink solve this for us?

I believe that it can.

So watch out for the website - as hopefully, an essential tool for business owners... may well be changing, for the better.


Engine[er]

N.B. Today's weather was abysmal (Sunday 4th), so sorry for mentioning the great weather in London on Friday

Location:New Bridge St,City of London,United Kingdom