I was saddened today to read a story in the Telegraph, written by the Rugby Correspondent Mick Cleary. It was an update on the situation of one of Rugby's finest, Andy Ripley, whose Prostate Cancer has returned with a vengeance and spread to other parts of his body. I cannot begin to do justice to the story, but it brings home to me just how much we need to fight this hidden cancer. Anyone over the age of 40 who played or watched rugby will hopefully remember Ripley as one of the stand out players who played the game in the amateur era, but who was one of the most "professional" athletes, something that continued over the years that followed as he came to wider acclaim through the "superstars" programme, and who narrowly missed out on a seat in the boat race aged near to 50.
As a 47 year old man, I am heading towards the time when risk is at its peak statistically, and having met the guys at the Prostate Cancer Charity I know how hard they are working to get the facts out there and into the hands of men like me and their families. Please go and look at www.hiddencancer.org.uk and get the facts, and maybe get involved. Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, and one man dies every hour as a result. All from a cancer that men don't want to talk about, don't understand, and don't look out for.
Most businessmen conduct risk analysis in their roles, and yet when it comes to their lives many men don't bother to get informed. It doesn't take long, look at the website and understand. And say a prayer for Andy Ripley, a great man laid low by a hidden cancer.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/7528376/Former-England-and-Rosslyn-Park-star-Andy-Ripley-stands-tall-in-face-of-prostate-cancer.html
www.hiddencancer.org.uk
Saturday, 27 March 2010
Business and Social responsibility
In a discussion this week with a young entrepreneur, he clearly told me that from the start his business would have a social side to it as well. We discussed setting up a foundation that the company can feed money into when it can, and which can then be used for social projects that are close to his heart. It was very clear to me that this was not a proposal meant to make him "feel good", it was more that he, and hopefully his generation of entrepreneurs, feel that this is a given for any business.
Many entrepreneurs of older generations have long supported the notion of "giving back"; as an example look at some of Scotland's leading business figures who have created foundations or programmes to make things happen. In 2008 I delivered a speech in Dubai on behalf of the Global Trees initiative which is led by Peter Grant, and which has planted hundreds of thousands of trees on a global basis. See www.globaltrees.co.uk for more information.
Larger businesses have also become aware of the notion of "CSR" over the last 20 years, however it is interesting and impressive that the younger entrepreneurs starting out have this goal. I will support this project whole-heartedly, and it is to be hoped that other mentors, investors and non executive directors also are able to assist today's young business leaders to do the same. It is a tough environment at the moment for start ups as well as established SME's, but if small companies are the engine of the economy, lets hope that they can also be the force that forever establishes the wider role that business can play in society.
Many entrepreneurs of older generations have long supported the notion of "giving back"; as an example look at some of Scotland's leading business figures who have created foundations or programmes to make things happen. In 2008 I delivered a speech in Dubai on behalf of the Global Trees initiative which is led by Peter Grant, and which has planted hundreds of thousands of trees on a global basis. See www.globaltrees.co.uk for more information.
Larger businesses have also become aware of the notion of "CSR" over the last 20 years, however it is interesting and impressive that the younger entrepreneurs starting out have this goal. I will support this project whole-heartedly, and it is to be hoped that other mentors, investors and non executive directors also are able to assist today's young business leaders to do the same. It is a tough environment at the moment for start ups as well as established SME's, but if small companies are the engine of the economy, lets hope that they can also be the force that forever establishes the wider role that business can play in society.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Technology and Marketing
Some years ago, I was talking to an exec who worked in the Architectural industry. He showed me some of the designs they had created on his iPod touch. It struck me then that this was a real advance for marketers, as sales people could be equipped rapidly and uniformly with examples of work that spoke volumes. This was a revolutionary tool to win business.
Now I look at the iPad, and the opportunity becomes huge. From the data collector conducting research through to a sales person who is able to display visuals, complete orders, run models as they sit with the potential customer. In the high speed world we live in, the "right now" effect can be very powerful. I can envisage people in the future using it like a clipboard - collecting, collating, creating (enough alliteration!!)
A colleague and I were discussing this the other day - a device like the iPad offers an instant marketing tool and consequently, we are rethinking the strategy to take advantage and to gain a competitive advantage.
How many things we don't know about yet will shake our established way of doing things? Can we afford to look at these trends and try to predict - can we afford not to?
A colleague and I were discussing this the other day - a device like the iPad offers an instant marketing tool and consequently, we are rethinking the strategy to take advantage and to gain a competitive advantage.
How many things we don't know about yet will shake our established way of doing things? Can we afford to look at these trends and try to predict - can we afford not to?
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Social Media – how important
A report the other day from Brand republic www.brandrepublic.com featured a story about the Princeton Survey Research International report on internet usage in the US.
It showed the shift in usage of social media, particularly Facebookwww.facebook.com and Twitter www.twitter.com
The key issue was that Facebook users were getting older and that Twitter was seeing a “flood” of younger users flocking to use its service.
Interestingly the research showed that the most rapid take up of Twitter was in the 18-24 age group unsurprisingly. 37% of internet users of that age were on Twitter. Of course the interesting thing is that 2/3rds of the potential market was not using the service, but no-one bothers to point that out as we have become used to seeing that Facebook and Twitter were heading for ubiquity. When the internet users get older i.e over 45, 9 out of 10 users are not using twitter or another status update service. Perhaps this is because users of this age don’t want people knowing what they are doing?!
Whilst there is no doubt that all marketers have to have social media on their horizon, it sometimes pays to look the other way and remember that those that don’t use these services could be just as important as those that do.
It showed the shift in usage of social media, particularly Facebookwww.facebook.com and Twitter www.twitter.com
The key issue was that Facebook users were getting older and that Twitter was seeing a “flood” of younger users flocking to use its service.
Interestingly the research showed that the most rapid take up of Twitter was in the 18-24 age group unsurprisingly. 37% of internet users of that age were on Twitter. Of course the interesting thing is that 2/3rds of the potential market was not using the service, but no-one bothers to point that out as we have become used to seeing that Facebook and Twitter were heading for ubiquity. When the internet users get older i.e over 45, 9 out of 10 users are not using twitter or another status update service. Perhaps this is because users of this age don’t want people knowing what they are doing?!
Whilst there is no doubt that all marketers have to have social media on their horizon, it sometimes pays to look the other way and remember that those that don’t use these services could be just as important as those that do.
Learning from Eddie Murphy…!!
One of my favourite scenes in any movie is the barber shop vignette in the Eddie Murphy film “Coming to America”. Murphy and Arsenio Hall play all the characters, and Eddie Murphy is in the character of an old sage, and tells a great joke which I paraphrase and embellish a bit here.
“I went to this restaurant, it was advertised everywhere and when I got there it looked great, staff were really nice and attentive, and I ordered the soup. The soup came and I called the waiter over.
Try the soup.” I said
The waiter instantly got defensive, “What’s wrong with the soup?”
“I just want you to try the soup”
He called the Head Waiter, “is there a problem? Is something wrong with the soup?”
“I just want you to try the soup”
He called the chef “the gentleman wants me to try the soup”;
The chef came out “What’s wrong with the soup?”
“I just want you to try the soup”
“OK, OK.” said the Chef “I’ll try the soup – where’s the spoon?”
He finally got the problem….
I firmly believe that art imitates life more often than we give it credit for. How often has an otherwise great experience been dented by a little detail? How often do we find ourselves too busy trying to create the big picture, that we forget the small thing that makes it impossible for the big picture to come true? Doing the small things right is so important for any growing business – whether it be looking after your staff, anticipating your customers needs, or thinking through your next move. Take the time to think about the small things – I guarantee it will enable the big picture to come true a lot quicker.
“I went to this restaurant, it was advertised everywhere and when I got there it looked great, staff were really nice and attentive, and I ordered the soup. The soup came and I called the waiter over.
Try the soup.” I said
The waiter instantly got defensive, “What’s wrong with the soup?”
“I just want you to try the soup”
He called the Head Waiter, “is there a problem? Is something wrong with the soup?”
“I just want you to try the soup”
He called the chef “the gentleman wants me to try the soup”;
The chef came out “What’s wrong with the soup?”
“I just want you to try the soup”
“OK, OK.” said the Chef “I’ll try the soup – where’s the spoon?”
He finally got the problem….
I firmly believe that art imitates life more often than we give it credit for. How often has an otherwise great experience been dented by a little detail? How often do we find ourselves too busy trying to create the big picture, that we forget the small thing that makes it impossible for the big picture to come true? Doing the small things right is so important for any growing business – whether it be looking after your staff, anticipating your customers needs, or thinking through your next move. Take the time to think about the small things – I guarantee it will enable the big picture to come true a lot quicker.
customer choice!
Todays order - extra hot, no water, no foam, soya latte and a children's temperature soya vanilla melt - yes this was a real order at a well known coffee chain yesterday by the lady in front of me. (said in a voice loud enough for all to hear) even the usual repeat order echo wasn't there - I think the barista was even confused. I was so stunned I had to write it down. i admire the customer mantra and the willingness to please but my question is - how did this customer work out that is what they wanted?? was it trial and error or did someone one day suggest to them that they try it "extra hot"...?? with typical british reserve I was nervous about ordering my skimmed milk latte...meanwhile at the other end of the serving counter, people started backing up as the barista set about making the order. So the customer experience for one person was great, for the rest of us....not so great. Offering the ultimate choice comes with a cost in terms of the delay for others - it is a delicate balance which on the whole gets managed really well, but occasionally, just occasionally does it sometimes tip over in favour of offering less choice?
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