Week Thirty: Successful People Build Each Other Up

Week Thirty has been a very productive week in the land of The Concierge.

After a couple of weeks away it was great to get back and focused.  The website has been updated, marketing materials have been ordered, accounts have been set up, and most importantly my first clients have been secured.

I have organised a Whisky Tasting Tour of Islay on behalf of clients and will be in attendance to guide the tour.  All being well I'll repeat this in the coming months as a tour offering and next year will be venturing into a wine tour weekend of Majorca if anyone wants to note interest!!  I have secured a client for my personal organiser services - helping them to manage their home whilst they're based elsewhere.  I also have leads in place for other events and meetings set up with a couple of potential preferred suppliers across The Concierge and wine businesses.  So its all very exciting and I already have my eyes set to the future with some ideas to expand my offering at the turn of 2015.  Fingers crossed this is the start of a successful business.

Like all things that are a bit different from the norm, I have my supporters and I have my critics.  Only to be expected - not least as constructive criticism most definitely has its place.  The thing is though that anyone who sets up on their own without a steady income from elsewhere has moments every single day when they wonder what they are doing, if they're off their heads, who do they think they are, why do they think they're going to be successful, have they got it wrong, can they change their life and opt out of 'normal' - to focus on living life and making an income to support that?  They don't need anyone else to point all of this out - they do a blooming great job of doing it for ourselves. 

What they do need once in a while is a boost of positivity, people telling them they support what they're doing and think its great etc.  I had two experiences this week which reinforce this.

On Friday I had a telephone conversation with a business associate from my previous life.  Sue is someone I've met professionally through the Bank who has kept an interest in what I am up to this year.  We finally spoke on Friday at one of those points when I needed it.  She has a similar outlook on life as me - live life and cut your cloth accordingly; do what you want to do and as long as you are making what you need to live the life you want then that is more important than anything else.  It was a great conversation about prospects full of coaching, positive reinforcement and support.

Why am I pointing all this out?  Well, over the weekend I attended a two day music festival called Party at the Palace in Linlithgow.  The professionalism yet personal tone of the communication and PR of the event, the quality and price of the tickets, and the line up of musical acts which had been secured made me think this was a very professional outfit setting up another festival for Scotland to enjoy each year.  I assumed established promoters etc.

In reality it turned out that this event was the brainchild of a local resident John Richardson who had been trying to think up what would be a good business idea; something he could do that would involve the Linlithgow community and local businesses.  John teamed up with a friend; Peter Ferguson; and started to explore making his pipe dream become a reality.

They had a vision of what they wanted to do, put a huge amount of money at risk and started to build a festival.  A brave act indeed.  They had no idea how to bid for and book bands and they weren't just after any bands, they wanted Scotland's top acts, they had to deal with the council and red tape at Historic Scotland which meant they lost a lot of opportunities by the time the go ahead came through in April, they organised everything from the bands to the catering, security, traffic management and cleaning crew.  They had to provide reassurances to local residents about disturbances and placate three wedding parties who were using the church and palace at Linlithgow that weekend.  They were determined to source everything they needed within a 20 mile radius of Linlithgow and to involve local businesses.  By their own admission they'd have made more of an income working at McDonalds.

So the event arrived this weekend.  The acts included James Grant (Love and Money), Horse, The Bluebells, The Silencers, Hue and Cry, Deacon Blue, Simple Minds - to name but a few!!

Things didn't go without their problems.  Saturday had great weather but there were problems with the bar leading to over two hour queues to get drinks with the same happening with the food queues later on.  The application of rules re food and drink being allowed to be brought in from outside were inconsistently applied, tickets had been sold last minute at half price to attract custom much to the dismay of those who had bought them well in advance at full price.  Sunday saw horrendous weather which meant the extra staff etc brought in to manage the bars weren't needed as people stayed away until later in the day etc.

People had plenty to say about it at the event and on social media.  Comments flew around on Facebook about how poorly managed the event was etc - despite the fact the organisers were doing everything to apologise and keep people informed of what they were doing to resolve the issues.  What I always find disappointing is how people can spiral into a torrent of negativity across social media.  How we can be so quick to see the negative and hold people up for criticism rather than stepping back, thinking about what they've tried to do and support them.

The event was based around the music and the bands were amazing.  That at the end of the day is what we paid for.  Yes there were problems but as I recall T in the Park wasn't exactly the best event ever in its first year.

I wonder how many of those who are happy to criticise would ever have come up with such a brave idea, put everything on the line and deliver it?  Or how they would have reacted to the feedback - like the organisers would they have done everything in their power to rectify the situation facing into the problems and pulling out all the stops to improve for day two?

I take my hat off to John and Peter for being brave and standing up to do something for themselves, the community and the local businesses.  Yes there are changes to be made for next year but I really do hope that there is a next year and that they have enough successful people around them building them up that they will take it to year two.  

I will certainly be supporting them in any way I can (whether its just this blog making people think - guys feel free to share it!! - or whether I can be of practical help) because such bravery and vision deserves support.

So here is to measured positivity (of course constructive criticism has its place), an end to putting each other down (we're our own biggest critics after all) and to building each other up every day.

Look forward to seeing you next year at Party at the Palace guys.

  

This week I...

...HUNG OUT at...Party at the Palace in Linlithgow with great friends in a great place (I love Linlithgow and if you've not been you should) and listening to great bands (even if most of the crowd pleasers were from the 1980's and 1990's!! - feeling old)...

...WINED ON...a lovely Picpoul de Pinet with dinner when I...

...DINED ON...beautiful beautiful small plates at The Ox and Finch in Sauchiehall Street.  This is Glasgow's latest shining light on the restaurant scene and very deservedly so.  It was absolutely packed on Wednesday night with multiple sittings coming in.  The staff were great and not phased by us asking them to choose the dishes on our behalf.  We had some stunning dishes including:

• harissa mackerel, herb salad and preserved lemon
• panko cod, shredded thai salad and lettuce wrappers
• pea, broad bean, courgette and lemon orzo
• chips, truffle salt and roast garlic aioli
• confit pork belly, white onion puree, capers and raisins
• buffalo mozzarella, peach, mint and prosciutto salad

MY MOUTH IS WATERING AGAIN JUST THINKING ABOUT IT!!

If you haven't been you have to go - really relaxed atmosphere, great menu, great wines, lovely staff.  The only problem - its busy!! You have to book well in advance so lift the phone today!

Until next week - have a good one.

Weeks Twenty Eight & Nine: My Games, My Memories, My Musing

Where do you even begin?  What a fortnight it has been.  There have been many Twitter and Facebook updates along the way and my aim in summarising My Games is not to regurgitate my itinerary over the fortnight.  Rather it is to document (for me more than anyone) my memories of My Games.

Why do I keep referring to My Games?  Well it struck me from the very first day that with so many sporting and cultural events on around my city no two people were ever going to have the same experience of the Commonwealth Games and our Dear Green Place.

So here is my summary, my perspective of Planet Comm Games.

Doing it our way
From the get go Glasgow presented to the world what Glasgow is.  There was no glitz, glamour or gloss put on our city and our country.  Instead the tone can best be summarised as "real" as far as I am concerned.  We didn't over egg the ceremonies, we were sympathetic to the city and its citizens - one of the bands at the pre-opening ceremony was a band that was playing at Clutha Vaults the night the helicopter crashed, the pipes and drums were provided by the guys you see on Buchanan Street every week, real people explaining the rules of the games, real language from Haud Yer Wheesht to Gie it Laldy, real humour (taps oan and taps aff).  It felt like we were showing who we are to the world and what was more important than anything was making sure that the citizens of Glasgow and Scotland were engaged and felt it was their games.

Raising the bar
The first games to integrate para-sport.  The first games to directly link to a charity that works across the commonwealth (£5m raised to date for UNICEF).  Fifty thousand people applying to be a Clydesider (more than Manchester and Melbourne combined).  We may have kept the tone of the games "real" and understated but our achievements in taking the Games to another level are second to none - we really have moved sporting events to a new platform.

Joining the Dots
In the last few years when thinking about the Games coming to Glasgow, my focus has been on the sport.  I never in my wildest dreams expected this to be such an all encompassing positive invasion of my city from sport to theatre, dance, music, talks, poetry, tour, exhibitions.....there was something for absolutely everyone and not enough hours in the day to fit it all in.

The marrying up of the sports venues with the festival hubs at Glasgow Green and Kelvingrove Bandstand and the complete engagement of the BBC at the Quay made the city feel even more compact than it actually is and made for a great opportunity to get involved in tonnes of different things whilst wandering between venues.

Even within the venues you could have different experiences.  BBC at the Quay was a completely different experience in the evenings when there for events versus visits during the day with children.  My nephews could not believe how much there was to do and how many take aways they got - online videos, circuit board badges, stickers, medals, flags.....this is engagement of the future generation.

Bringing the city and its communities to life across all the arts and sports is what made it possible to have such a stand out event that was always going to have something for everyone - well provided they chose to engage in it.

A number of months ago Glasgow launched its new slogan - People Make Glasgow.  We all knew it was true but I'm not sure we really fully related to it or embraced it before the Games.  And that is where you have to take your hat off to the organisations which have been working together over the last few years to make engaging in the slogan and the Games a journey to something we as the people in question believe in through our own experiences; introducing the new slogan to engage people in becoming involved in the Games then reinforcing it throughout the Games; letting people work it out for themselves that they are the thing that makes the city by being themselves, helping people, stopping for a blether, laughing at ourselves and getting wholeheartedly behind every athlete.  I believe even the more sceptical amongst us is now engaged in a way we never have been before about a slogan for our city.

Hats off to to all the agencies and organisations involved in People Make Glasgow and the Games for the way they have joined the dots on the opportunity the games have afforded and the possibilities for the future showcasing our magnificent city will afford.  I don't think the city has ever felt as collaborative, professional and joined up in making sure we fully exploit these opportunities (in a positive way).

The Energy
I have never felt an energy like it in the city - the place was mobbed; people were excited, positive, supportive, welcoming, going out their way to help, coming together to soak it all up, exploring new experiences, getting behind the sport and the festivities, setting a standard, making Glasgow.

The unexpected
Working for myself I was very fortunate to be afforded a chance to spend the two weeks immersed in the Games and the festivities.  What a brilliant opportunity to explore my city - to be a tourist in your own town and find new places and experiences as well as taking time to do things that were never likely to make it off the to do list.  I experienced some "out there" outdoor theatre at Perch, discovered the beautiful park at Tollcross I never knew existed, realised how compact the city is and that there is no reason for us not to cycle or rely on public transport more - it actually is really easy no matter where you're going, got to climb the Glasgow Tower on the most perfect day of the year, discovered a vegan cafe at St Enoch called Mono which had the most amazing looking (and tasting) food.  None of this would have happened if I hadn't taken that time to soak up my city.

Legacy
I understand the need for us to ensure that all that has been achieved during the Games is not allowed to slip through our fingers, that we galvanise the opportunities presented to us to make the City even more successful than it is today for its citizens.

That said I am not a fan of over analysis and job creation for management consultancies to produce reports in a couple of years time that tell us a whole load of things about whether people in deprived areas have taken up sports / developed a healthier lifestyle, whether we've attracted more inward investment etc.  These are important factors and we should be concerned about the state of our nation but the last thing we need is overanalyses.  Lets just assume all of that will happen and find examples of it as we go rather than creating a cottage industry of validation.

Legacy as far as I am concerned is all about the small stuff:
1. the family from London mum and I met at the top of the Glasgow Tower who had never thought of coming to Glasgow, wouldn't have without the Games but have vowed to return for future holidays
2.  Active Sports visiting schools and giving kids the chance to try lots of different sports which has directly led to my nephews trying judo and taekwondo
3. kids getting the chance to go to these venues and see the athletes and be inspired for the future or visiting the digital tent at the BBC and trying out new skills with basic computer programming
4. getting on your bike rather than driving
5. lifting our heads out of our phones and talking to each other on the trains and buses or talking to people we'd never otherwise have met
6. coming together in a shared experience with a positivity that permeates every part of our lives - even the small things of helping each other get served at overcrowded bars, sharing tips on where to go and what to do
7. Young Scot initiative to plant seed bombs the length and breadth of Scotland with legacy wishes from all age ranges - an amazing initiative that humbles you when you read what kids (and adults) wish for
8. entrepreneurship - my junior companions at the Closing Ceremony Party in Glasgow Green made £36 between them just collecting used plastic glasses and returning them to the bar - it made their night and whilst it sounds stupid it did bring out some entrepreneurial skills and reinforce reward for a bit of effort!!  It was also quite funny when the competition emerged too.

So in summary my games is more about my city and the fact that she really showed herself to be the hostess with the mostess wooing everyone in to experience all she had to offer and sending them home having had the most amazing experience and new memories made.

Its also about the citizens of the Dear Green Place - those who stop for a blether, who help anyone and everyone, who include and cheer on all the athletes especially the underdogs and even the English!!!!, the Host City Volunteers, the Clydesiders, those who have worked so tirelessly (or at least sleeplessly) in the hospitality trade that they've barely even experienced the festivities.

And what am I going to commit to? What is my part in Legacy?  To continue to explore my city and all that it has to offer, to make the effort into going further afield and being engaged in my wider country by ticking off the bucket list I never quite get to, to do it using my feet, my bike or public transport (it is so easy), to promote my city at every opportunity and to continually promote my city and keep the spirit of the last two weeks alive.

Thank you is not enough of an appreciation to all those involved but it is what I have so a huge thank you to all who have played their part in making this the most successful fortnight Glasgow has ever had.

Whilst the Games were on I...

...HUNG OUT AT...Perch theatre production, 2 x Queens Baton Relay parties, Mark Beaumont in Conversation at the BBC, Ken Bruce Show, The One Show, Opening Ceremony, Glasgow Green, Merchant City Festival, BBC at the Quay, Glasgow Tower, the swimming, the flotilla, Boomerang, the rugby sevens, three athletics events, Scotland House with Team Scotland on Medals Night and Salsa Celtica & The Funky Shepherds of Lesotho at Festival Club, the Gerard Burns Portrait Exhibition at Clydesdale Bank (don't miss it), the marathon, the time trials, the road race, the Closing Ceremony Party at Glasgow Green...

....WINED ON...mainly beer!!...

...DINED ON...many lovely locally produced foods at the venues including a stunning Loch Fyne fresh made salmon burger.  By far and away though the best meal out I've had during the games is reserved for Bukharah Indian restaurant in the Lorne Hotel, Sauchiehall Street.  It was not only a beautiful setting but the food itself was very flavoursome and majored on being healthy so a lot less oils and you add the sauces for yourself so unlike some other establishments.  It wasn't a case of trying to find some solid food in amongst a dish swimming in sauce.  The food was beautiful, tasty, aromatic and some of the dishes quite unusual.  I would highly recommend it.

So after all that I do find it somewhat ironic that as the athletes get a chance to let their hair down and have a couple of days off to party, have a drink and bad food, the rest of us are back focused on drinking less, eating healthier, getting our exercise regime back in shape.....Here's to a health conscious and business productive week!!

See you next week.  Until then have a good one.  G

My Wee(ish) Gallery from the Games

Week Twenty Seven: Bring It On

Well what a week it's been (not that much of it this week has been work related!!)

It started with The Queens Baton reaching our little window on the world last Wednesday and ended last night with a BBC live event at their Scottish headquarters at The Quay, Glasgow with Mark Beaumont.

Mark is the adventurer who broke the record for circumnavigating the world on a bike, went on to cycle the Americas (cos he hadn't done mountains) and also rowed the Poles as part of a six man team on the premise that cycling round the world didn't include cycling on water therefore proper circumnavigation. 

His latest adventure has been travelling with The Queens Baton as it has made it's way through The Commonwealth and filming it as he's gone.  During the event last night he gave a very unique perspective on what the commonwealth games mean to people.  We heard of the Belize triathlete who trains on airfields, rides steel beach bikes and thinks that by swimming in the "cool" Caribbean Sea he's getting a sense of what Strathclyde Park Loch will be like (Mark suggested to him he come a few days early to acclimatise).

Then there was a lady cricketer for whom sport has "saved her and her family's lives" because without it she would be struggling to support them.

Another story of winning silver at the Olympics out of the blue by a small national hero - they're first ever medal - and being rewarded with 6 cows by the prime minister of the country.

The Barbados rugby 7s team who only qualified after Nigeria pulled out but don't have anywhere to train but do so with whatever they can find and make into equipment.

The point of all these stories.  The Commonwealth Games isn't about the best in the world like the Olympics.  For the people Mark met along the way it's about being able to bring their country's culture, heritage and identity to a global audience and to proudly represent their nations whether through winning or losing at sport or through theatre, dance and music.  Hence it's reputation as The Friendly Games.

Last Wednesday as I say saw the Queens Baton come to our corner of the world. And what an honour it was to watch Sara Clegg carrying the baton through Clarkston and onto the stage at the big event that was being hosted there.  Sara did an exceptional job in not only carrying the baton but in making her family very proud and the many friends who came to celebrate very honoured to be part of such a special day.  Sara smiles all of the time but the smile on her face that day exceeded even her best.

On Saturday I attended one of the first of the Festival events that coincide with the games.  A theatrical extravaganza of aerobatics, dance, theatre and specially composed music performed by the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.  Of course we were brave enough to make the opening event outdoors.  Of course the heavens opened all day.  Of course it looked like it would be cancelled.  Of course we all turned up hard as nails to take on the weather.  Of course we were rewarded with the only dry few hours in the day.  It was an interesting figurative and interactive show in Rottenrow Gardens and the surrounding roof tops and building frontages with dance performed off the sides of buildings, actors milling around us all and a wee dance for us all to do at the end.  Of course myself and my friends were glad we'd had a wee vino before we got there!! An amazing outdoor world class theatre performance that you couldn't quite believe was happening literally in our backyard.

I know people think I'm slightly obsessed with The Games and The Festival (I promise I'll stop Facebook posting and tweeting - well at least cut it down) but I make no apologies for that.  This is a once in a lifetime experience for the citizens of Glasgow and once in a very long time for the city itself therefore I, and many like me, are and will continue to wholeheartedly and excitedly throw ourselves behind it.

I've seen more than some so far but what I have seen is a mere taster if what is to come over the next 11 days of sport and festivities.  Even that taster though has left me bursting with pride at what Glasgow is and what the games legacy will help Glasgow become.  We aspire to be a world class city and I suspect that will be showcased to the world in the next couple of weeks as Glaswegians welcome the commonwealth in their own friendly, self depracating style.  After all as the saying goes People Make Glasgow.

Whilst building up to the festivities I...

...HUNGOUT in the city as much as possible. A highlight - Monday night in glorious sunshine at the BBC Quay right on the River Clyde was a great chilled out evening. Sitting in George Square people watching as the visitors from the Commonwealth gather to have their picture taken with Big G (the massive games logo not me!!!)...

...WINED AND DINED ON...this week I played host for my wine club friends who love their wines and their food so no pressure there.  I have to say my food and wine selection went well so this week I'm acknowledging myself - something we should all do once in a while.  We took a flight of three cavas to try with our tapas.  The most sophisticated and elegant was Segura Viudas Brut Reserva whilst the most quaffable was Freixenet Vintage Especial Brut.  The tapas included piperade (marinaded peppers), prawns marinaded in paprika, lemon, oregano and cumin and various Spanish cheeses.  

We then moved on to cod and chorizo stew served with Damana 5 Ribera del Duero which was just the perfect match. As for dessert it was Spanish pear tartlets poached in and served with Pedro Ximinez sherry.  There may have been a few more wines consumed however they weren't for matching!! The Segura Viudas Cava, the Ribera and the Pedro Ximinez were all matched by and bought from the great wine shop Valahalla's Goat on Great Western Road. Inspired matches.

So I may or may not blog from the Games each day over the coming couple of weeks. We'll see. In the meantime have a great week whatever you're up to and if anyone is in town then give me a shout to catch up for coffee/gin/wine etc.

Have a great one