Life After Death

Some years ago, I had to fly to Scotland for a company conference, big deal I hear you say. WELL,
I had never flown before and to say that I was scared would have been a major understatement. I remember leaving home that morning, thinking, what if this is the last time I ever see Becky and the kids again. As I drove to Tim’s, a good friend of mine who would be flying with me, I started to worry even more about the ‘what if’.

Now, Tim knew I had never flown before, and like a true friend never once questioned or laughed at me over the point that I was 35 but acting like a 2 year old.

I remember going through Stanstead Airport and boarding Easyjet. Tim sat near the window and after that, it all became a bit more serious for me especially when the plain started to move.

Now, not being a religious person, I thought, well, praying won’t help, but hey, he may just be listening, I will close my eyes and drop him a quick note.

Do you know the strangest things that kept going through my mind was, if I die, there is so much I have never said to Becky and all the kids. I know I always tell Becky and the kids I love them, but if only I had had the chance to leave all my messages for them, so if this were the big day, they would know how I really felt. Then I started to worry about the strangest of things, like, where I keep the life policies, codes and passwords, what business interests I want left to whom. I know, we should have a WILL, but as the plane was heading up over the Midlands, my Solicitor was not anywhere in sight!

Well, we got there in one piece, and then after what was the most amazing conference of my life, ending with Tim and I on stage in front of hundreds of people, it was time to fly home.

Oh no, not again!

Now, the funny thing is, some things after a while fall from your mind and drift in to the past, and until the next time it happens, you forget about them. This was one of them, until I was at a coffee morning and someone did a talk about a new website, www.sayitwhen.com/abc and it brought all those emotions flooding back. This site is somewhere you can leave all your messages, songs, videos and much more for loved ones to access when you are gone. I know sounds morbid doesn’t it, but like taxes, you can’t cheat it.

The guys who run the site I think have something really special, check it out and let me know.

Mark Byford

E: mark@abcadvantage.biz T: 07979 080808

http://www.abclocal.biz/ http://www.abcadvantage.biz/ http://www.abcnetwork.biz/ http://www.mysplodge.com/

ABC take on the Blues

Never hack-off your business partner

It’s been a mad month at the ABC, hence, I haven’t written lately, but thought I ought to play catch up with everyone, and let them know why it’s been so quite from someone who always has something to say.

Several weeks ago, I was on Kevin’s case about getting our new website and member’s area completed, when he took a telephone call from Jim Herrington, a business coach with Action International. Jim was trialling a new venture to see if business people could get the emphasis of needing a coach, if they saw why sports people used them. Kevin said, “Oh, Mark would love to attend.”

Bring your sports kit for a light coaching slot with Bryan Hamilton and Simon Milton the flyer said. Being a Tractor Boys fan since birth, this to me was an opportunity not to be missed.

The morning arrived and Matt, a good friend of mine who plays a lot of football, picked me up for the day ahead. I had managed to get two tickets from Jim, who had clearly stated, “There are only 20 golden tickets”.

We arrive at Portman Road training grounds where we were greeted by Jim, and another Action Coach. After an hour of networking, we were taken by bus to the Ipswich Town players training grounds, where we were met by Bryan Hamilton the Coach, and Simon Milton one of the former players. I thought, well, how hard could the light coaching session be?

Let me tell you, the best bit of it was seeing Matt’s face, every time I looked at him and saw his huge smile, it took away the pain. Luckily, Peter Green the photographer had the sense to take the photos before we trained.

The two hours came and went, and as we all headed back to the showers. Most of us agreed that the days of us playing football had been over for some years.

The day rolled on with a networking lunch, where we all got to know a bit more about each other. One person who springs back to mind was Kate McNally, the only woman to attend; whom we would find out at the end of the day was the business editor to the East Anglian Daily Times, she was such a good sport.

The last two hours of the day were taken up by Action Coaches; letting us know how they could help the business people, we come across every day in our businesses. They covers loads of great stuff, I took so many notes it was untrue. Some bits I’ve implemented into our business already.

The day came to a close, and Matt and I headed back to Bury St Edmunds, happily chatting about the day and the people we had met, and wondered how we could now help the Action Coaches.

I guess, the how can I help, was made easy when you look at the whole day. I have never ever played in a game of football, at any level, even school, as I did track. After a short while, I could dribble the ball around the cones, and soon came to understand that’s what a coach does; shows you how to do things you didn’t know how to do before. How many business people do you know who go through their business life not really knowing what they are doing? Maybe they need an Action Coach!

Well must go, I still have about 50 more blogs to do…

Speak soon

Mark Byford

E: mark@abcadvantage.biz T: 07979 080808
www.abclocal.biz www.abcadvantage.biz www.abcnetwork.biz www.mysplodge.com

P.S. Nearly forgot, the ABC marches onward and upward, with new members joining at all levels.