So as of Monday, I am going to be away for bloody weeks, so there’s going to be a sever lack of updates on this site …. however don’t despair [ahem!] because I leave you with one great big entry for you to enjoy.
[In the unlikely even you need to get hold of me, I’m still on email – unfortunately my trip is almost exclusively for work! Damn.]
A casual acquaintance’s of mine and the wonderful Russell Davies, said he thought we shared a number of common traits …
Both are from ‘the Midlands’
Both get paid for thinking
Both spend time helping people get in [or out] of the industry
Both love Nottingham Forest Football Club
Both could do with ‘losing a few pounds’ [Though I think you look very lovely as you are Russell]
And while I don’t think five similarities exactly represents ‘a lot in common’, when I gave it some more thought, I realised we have so much in common … we could be [sort-of] twins!Look at the facts …
Both are men
Both have names beginning with the letter ‘R’
Both have a love of music
Both have blogs [multiples of]
Both have started their own companies
Both have blogs with photos of shoes on it [Mine / Russell’s]
Both have facial hair
Both have been to Graceland [though he also went to Dollywood]
I mean that’s another 8 similarities I came up with in only 27 hours of thinking!!!
OK, so I am sure Russell is rather disgusted at being mentioned in the same breath as me – let alone being told he has similar ‘traits’ to someone like me – but as he’s a lovely chap, I’m sure he won’t say anything about it PLUS we’re hoping to get him/OIA involved in some projects of ours, so he’s not going to blow it by telling me to piss off, hahaha!
Anyway, because we have sooooooooooooooooo much in common, I thought I might as well go one step further and try and sort out a regular ‘Coffee Morning’ just like he does – except mine is going to be called SPEAK E A S Y because …
1. Russell’s is called ‘Coffee Morning’ and I need to start creating my own identity.
2. cynic is starting a research company by that name so it’s early publicity, hahaha
3. I’m going to invite ‘guests’ from all sorts of industries so we can chat, meet and see what happens. [It also means that if I’m away travelling, these things can still go on]
4. Eventually it could form some weird ‘training’ course [‘borrowing’ from Russell again!]
5. You can ask absolutely anything without fear of ridicule
6. It has abit of an illegal spirit about it – well, it does in Singapore – which I appreciate has no relevance to you lot in the UK, US and Oz.
Alright … alright … so there is a ‘selfish’ reason for me suggesting we do this.
Thing is, as much as I absolutely love meeting up /talking with a bunch of you, it’s getting to the stage where I am running out of time for the odd bit of work I have to do … so by arranging a weekly/monthly meeting, we can meet up and chat whilst also stopping my colleagues bitching about me not ‘pulling my weight’.
Now I appreciate this makes me look a bit of a cock – and I am sorry about that – but I really do want to help out, soooooooooooooooo how about I pencil in some dates and if anyof you are around [or interested], you can pop in and say hello.
[Of course, to make sure I don’t look a complete Billy-No-Mates [if no one turns up] I’ve covered myself by arranging the majority of the below sessions with guys who already do this sort of thing on a regular basis, ha!]
SYDNEY: Tuesday 3rd October @ Canteen Cafe [Balmain] from 12pm – 2pm
NYC: Friday 20th October @ Hampers Cafe [Soho] from 12pm – 2pm [This will be with Andy’s ‘Be Better’ sessions]
SHANGHAI: Wednesday 27th October @ Westin Hotel Bar [CBD] from 12pm – 2pm [This will be with Aimee Chan’s ‘FEEDback’ sessions]
SINGAPORE: Thursday 15th November @ Venue TBC from 12pm – 2 pm [This will probably be with students of SMU]
And if any of you in Singapore want to see the man himself … yes Mr Davies … get yourself along to this conference, it’s bound to be brilliant and far more interesting and entertaining than the rubbish I do.
Now I have checked with our lawyer and apparently I am still safe of being labelled a ‘stalker’ so Russell need not worry – or call the Police.
[Russell, I do hope you take this in the manner it is meant, and I promise not to start a company called IOA – though I should maybe start one called IOU!]