Got Talent?

Well the programme certainly lived up to its name and brought to the screen, for one night only, an eclectic mix of the performing arts. We were entertained for nearly three hours by acts from ages 10 to 74 on a hot spring night; in my case with a host of lightly-oiled friends around the Barbeque.
Were they the best of British? Probably not! Were they the best of the 100,000 who auditioned? Possibly not! But they did collectively make a good line-up that was capable of being the Royal Variety Show in its own right. I say full marks to ITV, Syco (Mr. Cowell’s production company, as part of SonyBMG), the Judges and Ant & Dec; who must all of profited nicely from the experience.

It made me wonder if we have any particularly talented PAs out there.

Sarah Tiddy FAPA

Dark days in Docklands

I have spent a fair amount of time in Docklands during my business life and have always been invigorated by the buzz the place exudes. During the heady days (pre-Crunch), when commissions were high, midday was always particular wild with the young and upwardly mobile heading out for the chichi boutiques and flamboyant lunches. But those days are long gone and as I met one of my favourite friends for lunch yesterday I couldn’t help noticing how gloomy everyone looked. No more bounce or riotous laughter, just long faces and subdued grunts. Over lunch a guy at the next table said, “Still, I’ve got an interview tonight, so it’s not all bad!”

I doubt that the financial sector will ever be a trusted barometer for the state-of-the-nation again but it seems a long way from recovery in Docklands. It would be good to hear from PAs working there to know if the picture is less gloomy that images suggest.

Gareth

UK Manufacturing falls slowing

According to the CBI’s monthly industrial trends survey for May, UK’s manufacturing firms expect the pace of decline in output to slow markedly in the next quarter, suggesting they believe the toughest phase of the recession may be behind them.

The results showed that 17% of the 575 firms surveyed said they expect the volume of output to increase over the next three months, against 34% who anticipate a fall. The resulting balance of -17% is a marked improvement on the previous month (a balance of – 32%), and takes the measure back to where it was before the collapse of Lehman Brothers last September (a balance of -16%).

Ian McCafferty, the CBI’s Chief Economic Adviser, said, “After scaling back production very sharply at the beginning of the year, manufacturers can see a glimmer at the end of the tunnel. They still expect manufacturing activity to fall, but at a much slower rate over the next few months. However, this was another tough month for firms, with orders at home and abroad still at very weak levels. Demand for UK-made goods remains weak with 10% of firms reporting above normal total order books in May, while 66% said they were below normal. The resulting balance of -56% is broadly unchanged from each of the previous three months."

Despite firms aggressively running down their stocks, levels remain high with a balance of 30% reporting stocks more than adequate to meeting demand, which was not far off March’s twenty eight year high (a balance of 31%).

Gareth

Note for PAs – this is useful data when your Boss asks for any evidence that things are starting to improve or when you need to demonstrate you have your finger on the pulse.

What is your credibility worth?

If I said that for less than £5 per week APA membership could dramatically improve your credibility as a Professional PA would you listen? If I said it would actually cost you little more than £1 per week would you join? And in many cases your business will pay for your membership because it is tax deductible as a professional subscription.

This is the new message we are using to promote APA to these thousands of PAs who are not yet Members and we are developing the messages that support this claim so that PAs can help elevate their status within the business and become seen, as they should be, as Managers; of time and the most valuable asset any business possesses – Its Directors.

APA is already being seen as the professional representative of this uniquely influential body of people and is consulted alongside organisations representing lawyers, accountants, directors and managers. Our ambition is to grow more and we need your help. If you read this blog (or are a Member of the Personal Assistants Community) and are not a member yet then apply to join at www.paprofessional.com or encourage friends and colleagues to join. We will even incentivise you for every new member you recruit.

APA is going places, join us on the journey.

Gareth

The search for the stars

Last week, the much-hyped Wolfram Alpha search engine went live. This week, Microsoft is expected to demonstrate its new 'Kumo' search platform. Both products have attracted much attention from the press and techies alike, but can either really challenge the dominance of Google as a search facility?

For the overwhelming majority of web users, the Google search service has become the de facto tool for searching the web. Former market leaders such as Yahoo have struggled to stay afloat while the word 'Google' is so popular that it has moved from a noun to a verb - a 21st century Hoover.

But do the new pretenders pose a threat?

Wolfram Alpha isn't exactly a 'Championship contender,' either in format or function. The brainchild of scientist Stephen Wolfram, aims to answer questions not in the normal 'keyword' format of traditional search engines, but in natural language. Early reactions have been mixed and the site has not been without its early critics but it does appear to return some interestingly different results,

Even when the early kinks are worked out, one has to question whether Wolfram Alpha will solve a genuine market need. After all, Google is pretty popular with users and while the keyword system has its flaws, it has worked pretty well so far. Rather than replace or compete with Google, it appears that Wolfram Alpha will have to settle for supplementing it instead. The new engine does do certain things better than Google, and it may be able to carve out a niche in the market. Perhaps that will be enough for Wolfram.

The situation is very different for Microsoft. Its long-awaited next-generation search technology, code-named Kumo, will be mount a direct assault on Google. The Company's recent attempt to acquire Yahoo was based almost solely on boosting revenues and when that deal fell through, Microsoft turned its attention in-house to construct a Google killer.

Watch this space for the ensuing battle of the technology giants.

Gareth

Based on an excellent article by Shaun Nichols of vnunet.com

EU Pregnant Worker Directive 2008 – pending amendment

APA is regularly asked by Government to comment on upcoming changes to legislation (UK & European). UK Government is currently seeking views on pending amendments to the European Commission's Pregnant Workers Directive (92/85/EEC).

The Directive sets down minimum levels of maternity rights, including leave and pay, which Member States must provide. The Commission’s aim is to contribute to better work life balance through improving the protections offered to pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding. As part of its policies to support working parents, UK Government has built on the minimum standards set out in the existing Directive (2008) and provides a longer period of maternity leave and a higher rate of maternity pay than is currently required.

APA would welcome your views on the Commission’s proposal to change the minimum standards set out in the Directive, including the likely costs and benefits. Your views will inform our response to Government. It is worth looking at the section that compares EC minimums and the UK interpretation. In the case of compulsory maternity leave, currently two weeks in the UK, the EC is proposing an increase to six weeks – is this reasonable?

To view the Consultation Document go to: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file50575.pdf

APA

And then a hero comes along

In her reply to an article yesterday [To boldly go …] one of our most prolific bloggers, Tracy Carter FAPA (aka TC) said the following:

“This blog has touched on a subject that is on my mind at the moment. In my free time I'm a leader for Girlguiding and work with 5-7 yr olds (Rainbows). I showed the girls a photo of the Queen - they didn't know who it was, I played the national anthem, they didn't recognise it etc. In a fun way I am introducing them to Britain and the reasons to be proud of Britain - after reading this blog I will now introduce them to some of our heroes, I know Helen will certainly be on the list.”

I’m with Tracy here, who are our great heroes today and who really knows about them? It seems that hero status has gone from endeavour to celebrity; where we sometime know too much but surely a hero should be so much more.

As a community of PAs I would like to know who you consider a modern day hero and who you would regard as great business leaders (a business hero if you like). Who sets the standards so high that we can’t fail but to admire them? Your thoughts would be interesting. The payback is that I will promise to approach their PAs and attempt to enlist them.

Gareth

To boldly go ...

While I wouldn't want to take anything away from Major Tim Peake, who was announced yeaterday as Britain's first 'official' Astronaut; actually quite the reverse for as a former professional pilot myself he automatically joins the ranks of my aviational heroes, I object to the notion of 'first' when it's aplied to his achievement.

Helen Sharman will always remain the first 'true' British Astronaut to me; and I had the huge pleasure of interviewing her for a radio show I did in 1992.

Helen flew into space in 1991 aboard a Soyuz rocket (mission TM-12) which lasted 8 days and linked with the MIA space station. She was trained as an engineer and chemist and formerly worked for Mars (not the planet, the chocolate company). Can you imagine a better CV including both space travel and chocolate?

Gareth

Improving Brainpower

Vitamin D may play a key role in helping keep the brain working properly later in life, a new study claims.

Research published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry looked at over 3,000 European men aged between 40 and 79 and compared their cognitive performance. The study found that men with higher levels of vitamin D performed consistently better in an internationally-recognised test that assesses an individual’s memory, recognition capabilities and speed of information processing.

Commenting on the findings, lead author Dr David Lee, from Manchester's School of Translational Medicine, said: "The positive effects vitamin D appears to have on the brain need to be explored further but claims the finding's raises questions about its potential benefit for those with or susceptible to dementia.”

Vitamin D is found in a small number of foods such as oily fish, eggs and liver. Other food sources include fortified foods such as margarine, breakfast cereals and powdered milk. But we get most of our vitamin D from sunlight on our skin. This is because the vitamin forms under the skin in reaction to sunlight. The best source is summer sunlight.

Sarah Tiddy FAPA - off to the beach!

Thanks a Billion

If we are now in the Year 2009 and if we count from Day 1 in Year 0000, then one million days will not have passed until the Year 2739. One (B) billion days won’t pass for an awfully long time! But why do I tell you this?

Some interesting facts about the unimaginable number 1 billion:

The Milky Way is reported to contain more than 200 billion stars,
The human brain has more than 200 billion neurons,
And British Banks consumed more than £200 billion of taxpayer’s money in 2008/9.

That’s food for thought!

Aimee Lewis FAPA

Walk About

In a discussion with a group of PAs recently, it was suggested by an attendee that he was one of the few people in the business who actually spent any ‘quality time’ with the MD. A number of people agreed.

This is perhaps not surprising as we tend to communicate more and more via the magic screen these days and this has drastically cut down the physical (even voice only) interaction to a minimum; reducing personal interchange to ‘How are You?’ or worse ‘hay?’ As a reply, ‘I’m OK’ is even worse [try saying it in six different ways to convey different emotions].

It reminded me of one of the great ‘new’ management techniques introduced over twenty years ago called MBWA or Management by Walking About. It suggested that every senior manager should regularly get out of the office and should go and chat to staff, at all levels, across a range of departments in the business. The notion was that by being seen and more importantly by listening to people you would get the best possible measurement of the company’s health. By asking a series of open but none threatening questions people you could identify the hot spots, the difficulties and even the weaknesses within the structure.

To be able to achieve a state of MBWA the Director, or more correctly his or her PA, has to find time to do it. But, as someone who has practiced the technique, I can promise the return on the investment of 30 minutes first thing every morning or a couple of hours on a Friday afternoon is enormous. I believe physical communication is at an all time low it’s time to break the emergency glass and reach for MBWA.

If you say ‘It’s never going to happen around here!’ then it makes the role of the PA even more important because s/he has an added responsibility to inform their boss of the ever changing temperature of the business. Think about it and let me know your thoughts.

Gareth

APA Members can see a more detailed article on MBWA within the Knowledge Zone of the Members Only area of the website http://www.paprofessional.com/index.php?id=18

The Art of Marketing

We have an excellent strand of debate running on the ‘Decomplexification’ article (below) and it reminded me of one of my very favourite business definitions. It relates to marketing; which few can explain and even fewer really understand, and suggests that:

Marketing is the art of seeing things from the Customer’s point of view.

It works for me because it defines marketing as a creative skill (an Art) not a science, and one that requires insight and an understanding of the most important person in the business cycle; the customer and recommends you putting yourself in their place. It also, in one short sentence, justifies the need for good market (customer) research.

Next time someone comes up with a Marketing concept or message, imagine yourself as the consumer of that product or service and ask yourself, “Does it work for me?”

Gareth

Decomplexification

I met with a friend recently (John Thomas of IFA) and we were chatting about bureaucracy and process and how some people just love to make things difficult and he exposed me to a personal campaign which he has called ‘Decomplexification’. (Which he admits is a word more easily attributed to George W. Bush than himself.)

John feels that there is a growing number of people and organisation that like to perpetuate the notion of complexity [Have you ever read the manual that comes with a mobile or laptop recently] and their mission in life is to confuse and mystify the rest of us mere mortals.

I remember participating in a meeting where a group of Civil Servants and Lawyers were tasked to write a guide titled ‘A Plain English Guide to the New Legislation’, can you imagine a group less qualified to write anything in plain English? They wrote the Guide and it was almost unintelligible!

So I’m with John and would encourage all readers to look around and where process is engineered or copy is written; in promotional material, on websites, in briefing notes or even Board Minutes, commit yourself to the principle of ‘decomplexification’.

Gareth

PS. I'm going to have a look at the APA website again this week to ensure I practice what I preach!

Creme - final reminder

Just to remind Members that the Times Creme Conference 2009, originally scheduled for 12-14 May 2009 (Today + 2), has been postponed until November. If you have paid for seminars in advance you will find a refund form - from its organisers - in earlier blogs.

APA

Politicians, Pay and Pampers

We have been asked the following question by several Members this week: “What is APA’s position on the ‘MP Expenses’ issue.”

Our reply was simple, ‘There is a clear conflict between what MPs claim, what they are allowed to claim and what the voting public find is acceptable for them to claim and therefore APA would encourage the Government to find a transparent, auditable and workable solution and introduce it within an acceptable period of time. APA would encourage those involved to start by revisiting the basic salary paid to Parliamentarians.’

Let me explain one fact that influences this thinking. In 2007 there was a survey of the salaries of the Chiefs Executive of the Top 5,000 businesses in the UK. The average of these was £750,000 per annum – we have heard recently the details of some of the highest ones. Now if you consider that the Prime Minster is Britain’s CEO (MD, UK plc) and he is paid £168,000 pa. then it seems very little for a hugely responsible job. Cabinet Ministers receive around £140K and backbench MPs just £70K.

APA believes that if we paid MPs a realistic salary, and I have met enough good ones to know that the responsibility, if the job is done correctly, is extremely onerous, then we wouldn’t be having this debate about claims for cat food and Kit Kats! If they wanted a flat in London and the lifestyle to go with it, then, if they earned enough, they could pay for it themselves.

We would also request one thing of our Politicians; Please don’t be pressurised (by the Press) to rush into a solution. Quick legislation is hardly ever good legislation. It is clearly a thorny subject and one that could be debated, agreed and enacted in time. The current situation has been in place for 20 years, what are another few months.

This is an issue that I doubt APA will be consulted on but I would welcome your views to inform the organisational opinion.

Gareth

Time to be sociable

APA is pleased to announce that it is taking another step into the world of PA Networking today; this time in a social environment with the PA Community (PAC) developed and launched by Carly Beales.

Colin Minto, Technology Director of APA said, “We recognise that many of our Members already participate in Twitter, Facebook, My Space and other social networks and we have been talking about a PA specific network for some time but have been concerned that the content may not align absolutely with our professional aspirations for the Associations site. We have therefore elected instead to participate (as a member only) in this non-competing and friendly activity. We hope that some of our Bloggers will take a look at PAC and participate if they think it is worthwhile – we do.”

To view and join PAC go to: http://personalassistants.ning.com/

APA

Technology – It can be straightforward!

There are some simple rules to follow when selecting a technology that will enable you to make the right decision and save your organisation an awful lot of pain when trying to implement and utilise it.

I have often been asked “What is the best software?”! I simply pointed them to a directory of software vendors and said it was in there, because one software will be great for one business and poor for another.

Without detailed criteria of what you need a technology to do and whether your colleagues will be able to use it effectively, you might as well stick a pin in the Yellow Pages.

So here are the rules:

1. Brainstorm exactly what you need a technology to do for your business and get input from everyone it will touch, or a representative from each department if this is not practicable - This will give you your specification list.

2. Discuss, agree and score each item on your specification list in order of importance – This will highlight the priorities to discuss with vendors.

3. Create a specification you can distribute to vendors and send it to as many as you like, inviting them to confirm they can provide a solution to satisfy your criteria but more importantly evidence they can satisfy it.

4. Separate responses into those that stick to your criteria and those that try and hoodwink you with all the bells and whistles you didn’t ask for – Invite vendors to present from the pile that stick to the criteria and, in your opinion, provide the most professional response.

5. Make sure all departments in the business are represented at the vendor presentations and instruct those presenting to clearly demonstrate how their solution satisfy’s your criteria and get them to evidence this. Also ensure you grill them on how user friendly their solution is and again provide evidence.

6. Choose two or three to go to the final stage, which is the quotation round – Invite them to submit their best price bearing in mind one or two others vendors are doing this as well and let each vendor know who they are up against.

7. Invite each vendor back in to run through their quotation and if necessary remove elements lower down your priority list to reduce cost even further.

In essence, do the hard work before choosing a technology because it is so much harder trying to make the wrong technology fit your organisation and operational needs.

Colin.

Charity business down

The current recession has seen a decline in charitable donations, new research shows.

Oxfam announced today donations to its shops are down by 12 per cent already this year, and claim a total of 1.2 million fewer donations could be made in 2009. At present, the charity claims more than 80 per cent of its total income from its shops comes from donations from the public of clothes, books, music, household wares and other goods.Oxfam suggests the fall in donations demonstrates wider trends resulting from the credit crunch with families tightening their belts and buying less, meaning they replace less and therefore have less to donate to charity shops. With the housing market in decline also, fewer people are moving house, which has seen a "huge" drop in donations of household items.

Oxfam's director of trading, David McCullough, said: "The £20 million profit made by our shops last year would be enough to fund all of Oxfam's work in DR Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia for a year. But we can't sell fresh air, and they of course rely on the generosity of the public for their stock. Without continued donations of everything from clothing to cookware, Oxfam shops could not continue to play such a key role in communities across the UK. Whether it's a pair of trousers or a pair of curtains, we can use it to make money and help people all over the world," he said.

APA Note – Why not spend some time this weekend sorting out the cupboards and drawers and taking those unwanted items along to your favourite Charity Shop. Or better still organise a company event and send the proceeds to the APA’s Charity of the Year – Breast Cancer Care.

Aimee Lewis FAPA

Times Creme - refunds

Thanks to TC we have located a refund form for anyone who has already paid to attend Creme seminars for the London 2009 Show, 12-14 May, now postponed until November.

To reclain please use the form below and fax it to the number shown.

http://www.exporeg.co.uk/reg/creme09/refreq_form.pdf

APA

Why giggling is good for you .. and your boss

From an article by Penny Stretton in the Daily Express 05/05/2009.

Having a laugh at work might be frowned upon by some bosses but research shows it can make employees healthier, happier and more productive. Giggling can boost our immune systems, lower blood pressure and help us cope with stress during the recession.

But despite the benefits, more than 30 per cent of workers admit to not having shared a laugh with their colleagues for more than a week.With million of Britons returning to work after the bank holiday weekend, there may seem little to giggle about. Economic gloom, worries about job security and grey skies are unlikely to lift many people’s spirits.

But a survey by Maltesers found that workers who laugh regularly take fewer days off sick, suffer less stress and are likely to be more creative. The power of a good giggle is so strong that 81 per cent of people say it makes them feel happier and 50 per cent feel stress-free afterwards.

It can even make people more attractive to the opposite sex. Six out of 10 people said prospective lovers who know how to get giggly are much more sexy than those who laugh less. Experts recommend a daily dose of at least 30 giggles a day to promote optimum health, performance at work and successful relationships. However, according to the study, adults often forget how to giggle as they grow older.

A Maltesers spokesman said: “Children laugh on average over 400 times a day. However this declines to an average of just 15 times a day for UK adults. To counteract the nation’s giggle gap, Maltesers has launched a campaign to help UK adults reach the recommended 30 giggles a day.”

Experts say there are some simple tricks to kick-start a giggling fit, such as spending more time around friends and family. Smiling more also helps to boost laughter levels, as does looking for humour in everyday situations. And health psychologist David Moxon said: “Spend time with other gigglers – giggling is very contagious, so stop to enjoy light-hearted moments throughout the day".

Gareth has a very wacky sense of humour and he often makes himself laugh, what about your bosses?

Shelley.

Times Creme 2009 - Postponed

The Times Creme Conference and Exhibition, scheduled for 12-14 May 2009 has been postponed until November.

In an announcement today organisers have said "Unfortunately, due to the current economic climate and in the best interests of the show, it has been decided to postpone this year's show until 17th - 19th November 2009. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."

APA was aware from Members that many would be unable to attend and this appears to be a sensible decision.

Gareth

Controlling credit in difficult times

Many businesses are struggling with cash flow difficulties in these taxing times. Sound credit management is especially critical in a recession and every employee has a responsibility to keep a tight grip on the collection of debts (and the payment of your own bills).

We have heard from Philip King, Director General of the Institute of Credit Management, whose expertise is regularly called upon in the current economic climate, offering advice to APA Members. He has identified two ICM websites that he feels could really help businesses to manage their cash flow and thought APA Members should be made aware – Philip and his PA, Tracy FAPA, have experienced countless companies where cash flow difficulties have led to enormous stress and worry and they know PAs are very often at the front line; and therefore see and hear the worries of their Managers/Directors.

The ICM provides a comprehensive range of nationally recognised awards and qualifications which range from Level 2 to Level 5 and can really help with credit management education and training. APA’s advice is that PAs be aware of ICM and its expertise it offers in this area should you start to see difficulties arising. Please direct senior staff (especially those with financial responsibility) to the following sites:

http://www.icm.org.uk

http://www.promptpaymentcode.org.uk

Philip has written 10 Managing Cashflow Guides in association with BERR which are incredibly useful and can be downloaded free from:

http://www.creditmanagement.org.uk/berrguides.htm

APA

Dark chocolate is better for you!

Brain changes in chocoholics that occur when they see or eat chocolate are similar to those in addicts when they take drugs, scientists say. British researchers at Oxford University found certain regions of the brain were more active when people who confessed to cravings were fed or shown pictures of chocolate than in non-cravers.

They also discovered the sight of chocolate contributed significantly to the activation of brain areas associated with reward – suggesting that dieters could cut their intake by avoiding the sight of foods they particularly desire.

Prof Edmund Rolls said: "Understanding individual differences in brain responses to very pleasant foods helps in the understanding of the mechanisms that drive the liking for specific foods and thus intake of those foods. Sight and flavour combined give a much bigger response than seeing or tasting the food separately. The sight component is important and complements the flavour. If you want to limit [food] intake, you could limit the extent to which you are exposed to the combination of sight and taste. For example, you could eat in the dark."

Don't you just love research! I assume volunteers to join the project are plentiful [or plenty full].

Gareth

Are you a procrastinator?

Procrastination - putting things off - is said to be 'the thief of time' but in reality is a common, natural, human reaction to tasks that may seem in some way difficult or challenging. However, severe procrastination that leads to feelings of wretchedness or extreme anxiety may need addressing. For PAs it is a negative trait and must be overcome at all costs. Here are the signs to watch for:

Procrastinators tend to:

• Find it difficult to make a start - ‘I’m waiting till I’m in the right mood/inspired’,


• Create diversions – ‘before I start, I’ll just..tidy up/check my emails/have a snack/etc.’,


• Waste time by working ineffectively – ‘I spent time on the task but have nothing to show for it’,


• Rush at the last minute – ‘I work better under pressure’,


• Miss deadlines – then feel guilty, disappointed and reproachful.

Commonly procrastination is mistakenly perceived as laziness. Essentially, however, procrastination is caused by inner conflict where there is a want (or need) to do something, matched with a corresponding resistance to doing it. Energy to prepare to act and then to execute the act does not ‘flow’ so there is inaction and then conflict leading to frustration and failure.

It can be overcome with determination and strong support from those around you - a good tip if you think this is you is to come clean, admit your failing and ask for assistance from your Boss or a colleague.

Carly FAPA

APA Members can visit the Knowledge Zone in the Members area f the website for a more detailed explanation and some tips on what to do to over procrastination.

Entrepreneurs don't fear failure!

One of the things that differentiate an entrepreneur from other mortals is their willingness to take a (calculated) risk. Without risk there is no gain and without gain, no profit. So in entrepreneurial business risk is inevitable.

Strong business planning enables them to define the risks, assess them and develop strategies to defend against them but risks will always be ‘just around the corner’. The risk of business that fuels entrepreneurs is the same adrenalin rush that fuels racing drivers, sky divers and all great adventurers. Sometimes things go wrong and the car (or business) slams head first into a wall at 180 mph.

So a PA (as the front seat passenger) to an entrepreneur has a special responsibility to understand what makes her or his Boss tick; what the risks are, so they can recognise when their Boss is pushing boundaries and when they should keep a special eye on the road ahead to watch for upcoming obstacles.

Great entrepreneurs; like Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Ray Kroc and others, are the Masters of Risk but they temper their own high risk tendencies by packing good business professionals around them. All have a loyal and hard working professional PA alongside them on the journey.

And remember: Most really great entrepreneurs have failed in the past, maybe even more than once, but they have learned from their mistakes and moved on (picked them selves up, dusted them selves off and started all over again). Failure to an entrepreneur is an occupational hazard.

Gareth