22 MARCH - WHERE'S THE TIME GONE?

I've just realised that it's been a day or so since I made up my blog - a day or seems to actually to have been two weeks. What has happened with the time?

I have a heap on the left hand side of my desk. I call it my S**t Heap" because it contains all the stuff which I really don't want to deal with. I've had that heap on all of my desks for as long as I can remember.I know what's in it and a lot of it is just too horrible to contemplate. Every now and then, when I feel really brave, I take a hold of the heap. I did that today and a miracle has occurred. The stuff which I thought was really threatening has turned into mildly irritating and the rest has all been dealt with. I am not sure how this miraculous transformation occurs but it always seems to work for me. It's like when you put garden and household waste onto a compost heap and it turns into good rich soil - bad becomes good.

I do not suggest this as a panacea for all ills. Indeed quite the opposite. If you have a major problem then face it .... now. For the lesser problems though, it can and does help to focus the mind and a little prevarication can sometimes be a good thing.

Well, the last time I wrote I had just scored a major victory over an old adversary thanks to the help of some good old friends. Since that time I have suffered a relapse with my anxiety problems which has been annoying and the loss of my one employee -also irritating. The interesting bit is that the loss of Mathew forced me to face one of my perennial demons, networking. I hate it. I can't stand mixing with people at the best of times but to have to mix and blow my own trumpet.......!

I got up last Thursday at 5.45 am washed and presented myself at a local hotel. My friend Tracie was there to soften the blow a little and I walked into the room with trepidation. The worst thing in the World then happened - some guy I had never met before thrust his hand into mine and introduced himself. "Hell" I though "I'll have to respond". It felt like the time I attended a "born again" wedding when they asked everyone to turn to each other and hug them. "Not bloody likely" was my response and I ran. The same emotion came over me this time but the door was too far a way and I couldn't escape. The guy turned out to be quite normal. He did not need a hug - I assume  - and talked sense. I then got pulled into another conversation and the same happened - I found myself relating to people. All these years I have hated being a "new boy" so I have avoided it - well this time round it was not that bad - indeed I hope to have made some valuable contacts -  we'll have to see. I may even get up early again.

One job came to an end this week and it has been an interesting journey. I can't reveal details but I can say that it is always fascinating to watch another trade at work. In this case the guy is a true professional. He is thorough and very proud of his work. He takes time to make sure that he gives as good a service as possible and yet he is short of business. The conundrum is that his competitors are far more expensive, offer a worse service and get more business.

I was f going to get him to change the way he worked and to reduce his service levels. Having studied him I know that that would be unfair and that he couldn't do it. Instead, I have worked out a plan which will get him significant levels of new business and allow him to raise his rates a little. That way he keeps his pride and gains revenue. In the end, I feel that if we play it right, he will beat the opposition but it will be a long haul.

So that's it for this time. The nights are getting lighter and it's getting warmer. Thank goodness I have been getting more and more depressed with the cold dark winter.

Live long and prosper.
xx