22 July 2010
Multi-Millionaires Say It With Chocolates
- Having spent the last few weeks rubbing shoulders with illustrious and successful entrepreneurs at events in and around the Club, Alfred has been astounded by the number of synonyms used to avoid the actual mention of money. From the over-formal "return on investment" to the pretentious "remuneration package" to the more casual "upside" we seem uncomfortable nailing a cash number on to the door where opportunity is knocking.
Are we that prissy and English that discussing one's earnings or personal profits is still deemed vulgar? Do we fear that our arbitrary personal spending will be harshly judged by others, based upon the lucre we've knowingly banked - "He should have picked up the check, he earned over £400k last year". Or, maybe given the staggeringly large headline cash sums bandied about in 'credit crisis' Britain, our meagre "profit margin" simply wilts by comparison.
Alfred recently approached a client about reworking a "fee structure" only to be told that "no further resources were available". Correct me if I'm wrong but they meant "there ain't any more money for me". Right?
**
Talking of Entrepreneurs, Loh Lik Peng, a former lawyer from Singapore, must be congratulated for the sheer bravery of his recent hotel launch, a funky 98 room London hotel set in a grand, converted, old town hall. Not only is 2010 a brave time to open such a venture, but located bang in the heart of Bethnal Green - an un-gentrified 'hood even further east than Shoreditch - he clearly trusts that Town Hall Hotels' authenticity trumps its location for design savvy guests.
Note to self: Just because Conrad Black has been released from prison for using his public company as a 'private fiefdom' it doesn't mean I can use my shareholders money to buy a new Aston Martin DBS Volante.
Heard too much this week: "I'll Facebook you the details"
Not heard enough this week: "Who do you think would win a street fight between Obama and Cameron?"
Last word: In Alfred's experience giving a woman the gift of chocolate is a fairly safe bet. While the thought itself goes a long way, the chocolate type, brand and size also says something of your affection for her. A bar of Green & Blacks says 'hey love, let's share a mid-week treat'. A bespoke box of Rococo chocolates says 'I want to spoil you, my darling'. So what was British financier Anthony Ward trying to express to his wife Carolyn last week when he bought 241,000 tonnes of cocoa beans - 7% of the global supply - for £658m?
Good day.
Alfred
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01 March 2012
Nominations for Marketing Academy 2012 Scholarships
- 12 January 2012, London - Marketing Hall of Legends (UK), the non-profit organisation responsible for The Marketing Academy are delighted to announce the Nomination Portal for their unique Scholarship Programme is now open.
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31 January 2012
Inside 80: Energy Is Wealth
- To thank you for your commitment to our business and your life, we'd love to share with you how to prepare for a wealth of energy in 2012.
Join us to hear from a director of internationally renowned Shirlaws Business Coaching in January.
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24 January 2012
Alfred's Blog:
Famous Photographs Meet Their Creators
- The Tank Man of Tienanmen Square. Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston in victory. The portrait of the Afghan Girl on the cover of National Geographic. Many of us can automatically recall these photos in our heads, but far fewer can name the photographers who took them. Even fewer know what those photographers look like.
Tim Mantoani hopes to change that by taking portraits of famous photographers holding their most iconic or favorite photos in his new book Behind Photographs
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