Phil Terrett

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10 years later

There will be a million blogs today.

For what it is worth, I watched from a pub just off Golden Square in London, on the phone to my wife at home in Wales. I was COO of a London based VC that was trying to raise a new fund in the US. 9/11 killed the fund. It was a truly shocking day.

I remember.

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What to do when you are not in charge?

thinking

Hmmm, a question…..

I spend most of my working life in control of what I do, as I run my own business – my game, my rules.  My wife Ruth has a great dog community business and online shop called Johnny Muttley. She has started appearing in person at country fairs, dog shows and events and I tag along out of solidarity and support (and to put up the gazebo). I am in effect her sequined assistant. It is however, her game and her rules and she likes things done in her way and at her speed.

How do I use up my excess energy during these days and how do I avoid moping around like a sulky teenager as I await my orders?

Thunking required and polite advice welcome…..

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Seedbomb, seedbomb, you’re my seedbomb

“You can give it to me when I need to bomb along
Seedbomb seedbomb you’re my seedbomb
And baby you can grow me on”

Let’s sing along, all together now…. tee hee.

My lovely daughter Rhiannon Cara reminded me this weekend that I wanted to call her either “Fang” or “Blind lemon melon”, until sense and Fleetwood Mac prevailed.

Anyhoo we have just spent a pleasant afternoon throwing away her Christmas present to me, three hand grenade shaped clay seed bombs (see exhibit 1 below M’Lud):

Seed bombs

The clay bombs are filled with flower seeds and rye grass and are designed to be thrown into areas needing some colour – perfect guerilla gardening tools. They are deployed with aplomb:

Guerilla Gardener number 1

The result is shattered clay which will dissolve as soon as there is rain and a great spreading of seeds:

I’ll keep you posted as (hopefully) the seeds germinate and this little derelict spot gets lively! Gizmo looked on in disgust from a tree as this was all rather interrupting his afternoon gallop:

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Shelter From The Storm

I just spent a couple of hours cooking two meals, one for tonight and one for tomorrow in the company of a dear old friend, Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan, and like so many times over the years it struck a number of notes with me; and so a brief thought odyssey accompanied by Bob….

“They say the darkest hour is right before the dawn” (Meet me in the morning)

Someone really smart said that you can never be truly happy until you are doing what you were built to do. This got me to thinking that I can do many things, I do do many things, but especially in my work I haven’t always been heading towards what I am built to do. This changed last year when we launched a collaborative project to help people build their businesses. Nevertheless the change has been painful, but I think we are getting there.

“I can change, I swear, oh, oh, See what you can do. I can make it through, You can make it too.” (You’re a big girl now)

I’m sure you can see from the other entries in this blog that a lot of what I do leans towards helping others. I guerilla garden to help the community and I pay-it-forward to help individuals worse off than myself. The realignment of my work is to ensure that I carry all of this thinking through to my business – helping others grow, helping others help their customers. In Tim Templeton speak I think I am moving towards being a relationship-relationship person.

“then he walked up to a stranger and he asked him with a grin, Could you kindly tell me, friend, what time the show begins? ” (Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts)

Well it has already! As well as the initiative to help businesses grow I’m working on a cunning plan to help businesses appreciate their existing customers more, and to appreciate and be grateful for the referrals they receive in a more concrete way. Wouldn’t it be nice to meet past and future customers who say “I remember you, you sent me a postcard/gift/thank you note”? I had one of those today.

“Try imagining a place where it’s always safe and warm. Come in, (s)he said, I’ll give you shelter from the storm.” (Shelter from the storm)

This is where I am heading to, so tell me what you think. Business by kindness, politeness and attention to those that we meet is a great way forward. Matching this better to personal ways of doing things has to be my way forward.

“I can’t help it if I’m lucky.” (Idiot wind)

Thanks Bob, good to hear you again. Why no words from “If you see her say hello” you ask? I’m saving that for a tattoo. This is me by the way:

Phil Terrett Cartoon

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July 14th 2010 is my 50th birthday. They tell me it’s all over now – it isn’t!!…..

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear…oh poo, what’s my name?

Suffice it to say that from my point of view nothing has changed, my hips haven’t fallen off today, I still have my teeth, and policemen still look like policemen. 50 is the new 30, bald is the new hairstyle and I will not go gentle into any good night, thank you very much.

So rather than commiserate with me, please join me in looking forward to the next 50 years (ok maybe that is tempting fate a bit), play a little punk music or Children Of The Revolution and watch as I pick up more speed as I run past. No big party this time, hopefully a barefoot walk along a beach.

Have a good day, leave comments and talk soon.

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Random Acts of Music #6 The Village Green Preservation Society

From The Kinks in 1968 to Kate Rusby 40 years later, used in the TV series Jam and Jerusalem, The Village Green Preservation Society is an English classic. I have never been a mad keen folk music fan but Kate Rusby has just got the most perfect voice.

Random Acts of Music #6

Find her work, buy it, love it.  Enjoy…and comment please!

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Remarkable People

I Have been fortunate enough to spend part of this last week at a gathering of remarkable people, kindly hosted in St. Tropez (video of view below).

It is rare in this world to have the opportunity to meet a group of peers and to learn vast amounts in such a short time. The group largely comprised CEOs of upcoming companies, together with a smattering of other interesting parties. This week reconfirmed my belief that small actions and concerted effort can not only make companies grow in a smart, tenacious and non-compromising fashion, but also with a view of the wider picture in mind. We all have such a social responsibility that growth must be accompanied by contribution to those less fortunate.

Lauren shared a quotation with us:

“There are those who enter the world in such poverty that they are deprived of both the means and the motivation to improve their lot. Unless they can be touched with the spark which ignites the spirit of individual enterprise and determination, they will only sink into apathy, degradation and despair. It is for us, who are more fortunate, to provide that spark.”

Feeling rather humble and drawn to action…