UPBE4T

 

                                                                                       Edition 398 Monday 25/09/17

 

Hi,it would be fair to say having kids can put a strain on having a life!Thats why things like ‘playdates’ throw much needed ‘lifelines’ to parents who unwittingly have become slaves to their kids.Now Im not saying we are full time members of the slaves gang but we don’t ever need to be asked twice if our son is available for a ‘playdate’ (he was born available)!!

Fletcher reckons he knows we love him and will always be back to get him so why not playdate your way around the classroom, school,community and neighbourhood!(did someone mention stay over?)

Something funny about playdates is how happy the parents dropping and running are to be doing so (we almost did a wheelie on our hosts gravel drive leaving a bit quickly).

We unashamedly took full advantage the opportunity a playdate provided us to organise an impromtu date of our own at a favourite local we used to frequent pre FJJ.

We knew it was long overdue but didn’t realise how much we needed it.We had a thoroughly enjoyable time in the beer garden reconnecting during adult and intimate conversation!!

Daylight Saving is always cool heralding the real start of Spring and hopefully an endless Summer.Time to clean and crank up the BBQ all you self proclaimed master chefs!!

I hope you are energised and ready this week with you’re ‘A’ game……….Cheers Jonesey.

 

Kate Henderson reckons playdates should be for everyone regardless of age!

 

 

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”. Benjamin Franklin

 

I got an automated note from my mortgage broker recently reminding me that a loan was due to be renegotiated.

The note asked if I wanted them to commence discussions on my behalf which I did.

Weeks passed with no response so I followed up with a note asking what was happening?

My broker called me apologising for the slow response and assured me all was in hand.

I duly received a brief note outlining a range of renewal terms and options.

The note contained no explanation of process followed or any recommendations and advice?

I considered this to be odd and unacceptable from my so-called expert?

I wrote to the sender outlining my disappointment and asking for an explanation of what process had been followed on my behalf to secure the best terms and options?

I asked for the missing advice as it was something I expected to be provided by a broker?

These guys get paid a commission by the bank for facilitating my ongoing custom so surely they can be expected to provide a comprehensive and professional service for this?

I received an apology and a thorough breakdown of what had been negotiated and their advice for me based on given  current and projected financial market trends.

I was thanked for providing a wake up call to his team about why they are in business and what their new and existing customers expect from professional advisors!!

Seems due to rapid expansion stuff like this has fallen through the cracks a bit with them.

Seems also his wife was the sender of my brief note as she did her best to assist with a backlog of replies to customers.I was bit embarrassed and apologised to her sincerely!!

They understood completely and appreciated the comments so I didn’t feel too bad!!

So then I felt ok for speaking up and giving feedback that assisted them to grow.

A good lesson for us that all feedback both good and bad is worth giving and receiving!!

 

“An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less”. Nic Butler

'Seal' the deal !!

        

 

 

 

                                                                                       Edition 397 Monday 18/09/17

 

Hi, I used to ignorantly roll my eyes when I heard that people were offered counselling to assist them overcome exposure to trauma.These days it is accepted ,common place and recommended as a means of dealing with a range of experiences.No body is invincible and whilst we all deal with things differently I for one am pleased this service is available to volunteers like Christine who are first response frontliners. The days of having to harden up and soldier on regardless are thankfully long gone as are my old fashioned archaic views!!

Fletcher reckons having a seal for a pet would be cool especially if he could take him to swimming lessons!!Hmmmm careful what you wish for kid(see photo attached)!!

Something funny about the exhausted but live seal from last week is our resident ‘rescue anything’ person also had a chance meeting with what was probably the same fur ball.

Judging by the attached photo we are lucky it is not continuing its recovery in a warm bath at our ‘rescue retreat’!!!Imagine taking one for a walk on a lead….dont go there!!

Honesty is the best policy but not always my first thought I am sad to say! Last week I selected and marked the wrong courier pack at the Post Office.I admit my first thought was to bin the mistake rather than disclose however after deciding against this and declaring my stupidity the nice PO lady decided not to charge me because of my honesty….hmmmm if only she knew! Have an honestly good and ‘Upbeat’ week ahead!!……..Cheers Jonesey.

 

Kate Henderson reckons she is not sharing her bath with a sneaky, slinky seal!!

 

 

“Making promises and keeping them is a great way to build a brand”.

 

Little old Green Gorilla recently appointed a Marketing Manager to the team.

In a rare moment of calm and with a rush of blood to the head we decided it was time!

Time to stop flying under the radar and to join all the other companies out there shouting from the rooftops and promoting their brand!

Time to catch our breath from the first frenetic seven years and to work on the business.

This allows us to focus on our points of difference and what we consider makes us great.

All that stuff that should be front of mind now is, with the development and enhancement of  our social media with our upgraded website way out front and centre.

A quarterly internal newsletter featuring staff and company achievement is underway with two editions already delivered to our growing team.

This will be added to with a customer newsletter soon to hit the electronic highway!

Reviewed and revised sales collateral is a much needed and appreciated work in progress!

We are manning stands at two huge trade shows in September and October.

The highlight to date for me is the focus this move has given us on Community support.

The importance of giving back cannot be underestimated as there are so many worthy organisations doing such awesome work behind the scenes everyday.

To this end we recently sponsored the launch of a new Green Building certification program.

We support and sponsor a number of Community organisations in the North West.

Our biggest commitment to date is to the not for profit charitable trust ‘Sea Cleaners’

They are an amazing organization doing on the sea what we do on the land by keeping the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf rubbish free. It is our pleasure to support them.

The interesting thing for me is the amount of recognition and satisfaction we have received since investing more in our brand and our community…giving a little to get a lot!!

 

“Your culture is your brand”. Marketing Dept Green Gorilla!!!

Take and Give

 

                                                                                       Edition 396 Monday 11/09/17

 

Hi, thanks for your positive feedback on the ‘code purple’ event in last weeks edition.The sequel was equally as tragic/traumatic as the 47 year old victim was placed on life support and sadly passed away.This was however not before her organs were able to be donated in time to save other lives(including that of a baby).WOW,just like that, life takes away with one hand and gives with the other……..truly amazing!

The one thing that made this possible was the speed of the response so our local team whilst disppointed they could not save her life were still extremely proud of the outcome!

Fletcher reckons haircuts are overrated so has decided to rebel and grow his out!He figures there is plenty of time to lose it later….and his hair!!!!

Something funny about running in the dark is things that go bump, bang, flash and ark,ark in the night!I discovered all three last week as I got caught in an electrical storm complete with thunder,lightening and squally hail whilst almost running over the top of a live but exhausted seal washed up on the beach from the storm…never a dull moment! :)

Some relisted Trademe auctions,reading the weekend papers from cover to cover and watching a hard fought All Black victory in front of a cosy log fire…ahhh life doesn’t get any better until you find yourself on birthday party duty at Inflatable World of course!!!

A busy weekend with the undoubted highlight being helping my Mum celebrate her 87^th birthday at home over a lazy long lunch…happy birthday Mum……..Cheers Jonesey.

 

Kate Henderson reckons she could do with a spare organ or two..just saying!

 

 

“You gotta risk it to get the biscuit.”Unsure….Cookie Bear perhaps?

 

Watching the footy on the weekend I was reminded of two things;

First thing…….business and sport have a lot in common

Second thing….’Fortune favours the brave’

Lets look at some of the similarities, two things for me standout;

First thing……Leadership.Second thing… building and maintaining Momentum.

Strong leadership that is cool under fire,able to assess situations quickly and make decisive calls under pressure is required before any business or sporting team can be successful.

It is also leadership that spreads responsibility for decisions and actions to senior members in the team that develop their ability and confidence as part of a key leadership group.

The footy example of Leadership I saw segways perfectly into my second reminder as it involved fortune favouring the bravest leader.

The dominant teams (companies) leaders took risks at key moments of the game to extend its lead. The other teams leaders however chose to play it safe and took safer options to build and protect their slender lead.

The interesting thing about the decisions taken by both leadership teams was that for the one willing to take risks they also seized the momentum back in the game.

The other sides decision to play it safe resulted in them relinguishing the momentum they had worked so hard to build.

Two game changing moments with different decisions causing different outcomes.

Two Q’s ;First Q..how many opportunities do we miss because we are risk adverse?

Second Q…how high could we fly if we didn’t care?…..time to find out……Good luck!!

 

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing.”

Muhammed Ali

Code Purple

                                                                                     Edition 395 Monday 04/09/17

 

Hi,life is a series of ‘moments of truth’ they identify,define and direct us.My heroic wife experienced this first hand when she responded to a ‘code purple’ (cardiac arrest)Fire Brigade callout last week.Rather than responding to the station she responded directly to the nearby address with her quick actions allowing her to resuscitate the patient!The rest of the team arrived and were able to assist and stabilise the womens condition enough to allow her to be transferred to hospital.I was so proud of my wonderful wife for her quick life saving decision,she has found her calling and couldn’t be happier or better suited for it!

Fletcher reckons his Mum is a legend and he couldn’t wait to tell everyone on the school bus, at school and anywhere he could attract an audience!!....gift of the gab perhaps?!!

Something funny about Tommy our cockateil is he knows when he is on to a good thing so we can leave his cage open, our house doors and windows open yet he stays put! Lets face it why would he make a break for it when he lives the life of Riley at 48??!!

I have had a very cool long weekend celebrating Birthday and Fathers day(same day this year!!).I always make a point of taking a day off for my birthday because it is my special day and I love to take time out to spend it with my family.I feel especially lucky still being able to celebrate Fathers Day with my Dad and we had a cool time doing that too!(see pic).

I hope you also took time out to remember your Dad. Have a good one ……..Cheers Jonesey.

 

Kate Henderson reckons she recognised Christines huge potential early on !!

 

 

“Life is a gift,wake up every morning and remember that”.Someone grateful for life!

 

Christines efforts in saving a life in our community gave my life new perspective.

I have often said no matter how hard done by we may think we are there is always someone somewhere worse off……and there is!...much worse off.

All my so called issues added up wouldn’t come anywhere near the magnitude of those suffered by other people who have accidents or are affected by ill health or bad luck.

Our emergency services are exposed to this on a daily basis and as mentioned above it identifies,defines and directs them.

As the iconic Fred Dagg used to say and sing “We don’t know how lucky we are” and he was so right because if we did know then we wouldn’t moan so much about nothing really.

Things like this happen to reinforce what is important and maybe what isnt such a big deal.

For example 1);Is returning home to your family happy, healthy and stress free more important than getting agitated in traffic or with work and taking that out on your family?

For example 2) Is making that deal or early/late meeting more important than taking time out to drop your child to school or watch their concert, competition or event?

For example 3) Is taking your phone everywhere more important than being present for your family or friends?

I think the key thing for me is something I have mentioned in ‘Upbeat’ on numerous occasions that is none of us know what is going to happen so we need to make the most!

The most 1)of everything putting the people who are important to us before all else.

The most 2) of every minute of every day because it could be our last?!

The most 3) of every opportunity to add value to ours and others lives!

Crikey…..no time to lose so lets get cracking with living and stop moaning about our lot!

 

“Life is short, smile while you still have teeth!!”. Someone without teeth J!!!