Nat Relax Day Image

Its National Relaxation Day!

/0 Comments/in /by

It’s National Relaxation Day! 😀

I don’t know about you, we’ve just had the weekend, but I feel like I need a day off.

Especially when you’re thinking about moving house, as Karen and I are at the moment.

Its just about sorting stuff, packing boxes, tip runs and car boot sales, where incidentally we got soaked to the skin, packed up and went home. Better luck next Saturday.

We don’t like to move with anything we don’t want in our new home.

At one period in our 24 year marriage, we moved 5 times, in 7 years.

We are pretty much experts now at getting rid of stuff.

After all, in 1880 English textile designer William Morris famously declared to his Birmingham audience:

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

That about says it for us.

So, if you’re weekend was not relaxing, maybe take a few times out during the week to relax.

Maybe get some ideas here?

National Relaxation Day (August 15th) | Days Of The Year

Whatever you do to relax, chill out, and let the stress all wash away..

I will probably go for a run, not everyone’s cup of tea, but it works for me.

What’s more if you’re properly relaxed, you will probably be far more productive, when you are in work.

Have a great week 😎

#RelaxationDay

#NationalRelaxationDay

One Small Thought

One Small Thought

/0 Comments/in , /by

Its Friday and I’m feeeeeeeeeeeeeeling good!

(I’m sure there’s a song in there somewhere, Nina Simon or something similar)

I got a bit reflective and came to a few conclusions.

  • Life is not a rehearsal; you don’t get to come back for a second go. Kick the arse out of it whilst your here. No regrets at the end, about what you didn’t do!
  • Love what you do for a living, give it 100% and care about it. If you don’t, do something else. You can change your life whenever you want, you just have to decide.
  • In business play with the ladies and gentlemen, not the players. Time is too short to manage difficult people, move on without them, you will be much happier in the end.
  • Love who you are, whoever you are, whatever you are and don’t apologise for it.
  • Having said that, if you do something stupid, apologise quickly, profusely and mean it. We all make mistakes, that’s human, what matters is how you deal with it.
  • No one owns you and no one gets to define who you are and what you should be. If the haters hate, just ignore them. They are completely irrelevant to who and what you are.
  • Social media is a personal and business tool, its useful, but it’s not reality. Use it sparingly and don’t get sucked in to thinking its real. If you can make valuable connections that’s good, but then cement them in the real world or it means nothing.
  • The world is pretty dull without that group of connected people you call family and friends. Spend time with them, love them, even if they are weird sometimes. They will love you back and there isn’t anything better in life.

That’s it for Friday, have a great weekend, raise a glass of wine and enjoy!

Sun Hat

All work and no play

/0 Comments/in /by

Makes Jack a dull boy,

Another good week helping lots of nice people, #becauseaccidentshappen all the time.

This week we have helped:

  • An importer of domestic goods
  • A publisher of children’s books
  • A London construction company
  • A South Wales based charity and
  • A Training company in the construction industry

You might think I’m going to whinge about the lack of staff during the holiday period, but I’m not.

Its absolutely essential that all members of staff feel able to take a break re-charge batteries and come back refreshed, energised and enthusiastic for the work we do. Nothing disappoints clients more than a lacklustre approach to meeting their needs.

That applies to founders and owners as much as anyone else, so this weekend I will breath in the fresh air, relax, drink some wine, enjoy the sun, (if it appears) and if the heat allows go for a nice run, with friends. I might even pick up a pen and start writing another book.

These are just some of the things I do to come back on Monday morning refreshed and excited for the coming week.

We are all different, so what do you love to do on the weekends?

(Please don’t say work or planning for company growth)

BIBA 2023

BIBA 2023 Manchester Central

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

As a proud member of The British Insurance Brokers Association for over 40 years, and now as a board member, I can say without any hesitation that the BIBA conference in May each year, bringing brokers and insurers together in one place for three days, is one of the best and most productive weeks of the year.

This year the theme is “Rising to the Challenge” The BIBA Conference 2023 | The British Insurance Brokers’ Association

If you have annual arrangements you wish to arrange or renew, doing it at the BIBA conference each year is probably the most effective way. The range of providers present and more importantly decision makers, all in one place make for an excellent conference.

Add to that the line up of keynote speakers and sessions each year, bring everyone up to date with what’s new and emerging as well as all the legal and regulatory matters that will affect our businesses going forward over the next 3 – 5 years. If you are an insurance professional #biba2023 is the place to be.

It’s also nice to be in the middle of something which has been in planning for the last 12 months, leading directly from the manifesto which is published in January each year. In 2023 we are #managingrisk & #deliveryingstability.

Looking forward to meeting friends old and new and securing services that will directly benefit our clients going forward.

Have a great week, I know I will.

 

 

 

Reflective moment

Restup and come back fighting!

/0 Comments/in /by

As founders we spend our time thinking about our businesses and how we can make them better, serve more customers and develop our offering over time. Its always on our minds and it can be hard to switch off. Weekends are meant to provide that rest, but it’s just not long enough and there is always stuff to do.

If you’re in this for the long run you must take valuable time off to re-charge your batteries, but more importantly to refresh your outlook on life. New experiences, new places and new vistas open up your mind to lots of possibilities and that is good for the creative process in your business. A week or 10 days will do perfectly well.

Shortly Karen and I will take some time out of the business, assured that our team have our back and they know what to do to look after our lovely clients. All the stuff that we had to do, right up until the Monday after we return will be done, so we don’t leave our team with extra work to do.

North Africa is our destination, a beach in the sun at a lovely, peaceful, restful resort and not somewhere we have ever been before together.

We will recharge and come back with lots of great ideas and the energy to put plans into action.

Take the time you need, you’re no good to anyone burnt out, working ridiculous hours.

Have a great weekend 😊

Reflective moment

And relax……