Chris Barrow’s Blog

Enjoyed an hour’s conversation with my good friend Andre Panet-Raymond this evening, he in Sarasota, Florida and me in Falmouth, Cornwall.

Andre is one of Florida’s top golf coaches, I have never played a game in my life – but I have helped him as a business coach – which just goes to show….

Sound and vision quality were simply excellent – and this is a reminder that I have to start using Skype more often to communicate.

Here’s a link to a Sheffield Telegraph article on how S10 Dental are bringing other small businesses in their area together.

Another example of the sterling work done by practice manager Julie Webster.

Now, more then ever, you MUST engage with other entreprenuers in your location.

• An added-value alliance – you converse with each partners existing clients – invite them to functions
• A marketing alliance – you pool time, money and people to create events that will attract potential new clients.

• another week of travel begins – today I am working with the team at Bridge2Aid after visiting Number 45 Dental in Chichester #
• Work done with the Bridge2Aid team and Bromsgrove next #
• Just about to enjoy a small plate of mushroom rigatoni after swimming 20 lengths. Twitter is so daft #
• Chap on next table consuming equivalent of my body-weight. Quite unsettling. “wafer-thin mint sir?” #
• 75 emails and now its off to see an orthodontic practice in the West Midlands #
• just installed Tweetdeck on Mark Oborn’s recommendation – we shall see… #
• @guylevine so when are you running a teleclass or webinar to learn how to use it? in reply to guylevine #
• And now a 185 mile drive to Exeter airport #
• just about to leave Exeter Airport for Edinburgh and an evening with friends – great meeting with Phillippa this afternoon #
• @guylevine I wish – not at all sure what my diary looks like – where can I get a quick tutorial on creating groups in Tweetdeck? in reply to guylevine #
• arrived safely in Ediinburgh and about to enjoy pasta #
• 5.00am start – it’s weird wandering around somebody else’s home at that time #
• Xandra is making haggis for my breakfast – I’m in heaven #
• fantastic management meeting with the Polwarth Group team – helping to build their business and visit to the new clinic in Craiglockhart #
• still in Edinburgh – working with the IDH area management team today #
• on an IDH conference call to discuss branding in Southampton – ever more convinced that getting the right brand is an essential first step #
• Friday morning in Strathclyde – windy and cold – long day ahead #
• Heading for Glasgow after an exciting practice visit in Prestwick #
• a rather long wait at Edinburgh Airport for my Exeter flight this evening #
• how come I get to bed at 1.00am and wake up at 7.30am? #
• Sunday morning are so lovely – awake before Annie and reading with a cuppa #
• after two 6-day weeks, I am reminded of the value of a 2-day weekend – my love of life is back #

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Friday evening and a 4-hour wait for my flight from Edinburgh to Exeter and then a late drive home to Falmouth.

A chance to reflect on an inspirational trip north of the Border and some new friends.

Wednesday was a delight – to meet with Willie and Xandra Maceachan and the team at the newly opened satellite clinic of The Polwarth Group in Craiglockhart.

I can recall driving past Oddbins over a year ago in Willie’s Discovery and he mentioning that the off-licence was closing down and the site available. We chatted about the viability of his third clinic.

A year of planning and execution produced an opening last week and 10 new patient consultations in the first 7 days – purely from “walk-in” enquiries – we haven’t even started the marketing proper.

The interior of this 1-surgery satellite (there is room for more) has been completed to a concierge standard and entirely “on brand” – I am proud to see an idea take shape and become a reality.

Along the way a recession occurred – and the owners and team haven’t blinked – they have just continued with the effort and energy needed to birth a new clinic.

I also have to thank the Maceachan clan for making me feel like one of the family during my stay at their home – a lovely change from endless hotel rooms.

Equally inspiring have been the last 2 days with the regional and area management team for IDH in Scotland.

On Thursday morning I arrived at IDH’s Frederick Street practice in Central Edinburgh and was immediately made very welcome by the team, even though I surprised them by staggering up the stairs and through the door with my suitcase 45 minutes early.

Matt arrived shortly afterwards and it has been an absolute pleasure for us to “shoot the breeze” with Angela, Bev, Laura and Trudi in Edinburgh and then over in Prestwick this morning.

We have met with two teams of staff and one team of clinicians and I’m delighted to say that they have been open-minded and committed to raising the bar on clinical care, branding and customer service.

I was rather tickled that the Edinburgh team had received a flyer from Practice Plan a few days beforehand and were expecting “that man on the brochure” to arrive – fame at last.

Can I also take this opportunity to thank Yann and Gilly Maidment and the team at Stafford Street Dental, who welcomed my IDH team for a lunchtime tour of their premises and shared Welcome Packs, Referral Business Cards and their enthusiasm for concierge class dentistry.

Who would have thought it possible – an independent opening their doors to a nearby corporate to share ideas and vision?

The IDH teams we have listened to are just as proud and ambitious as the independent teams I am used to – you have no idea how energising that is!

The lesson to be learned is that some of the hyperbole out there in the profession about “the corporates” is based on gossip or isolated experience and not facts.

I find it fascinating that Angela, our fire-cracker regional manager in Scotland is only the third person I have met in 12 years of dental consultancy who actually has an MBA!

In the last 2 days we have set the scene for a complete programme of business development for over 20 practices in Scotland – and I cannot wait to get started on the work.

A superb journey and a warming way to end a week.

I haven’t enjoyed my professional life this much for over 5 years.

Interesting to see this example of branding on Edinburgh’s George Street yesterday:

My ezine, written this morning and out in the next 24 hours, will comment further on the role of retailers in the emerging market.

How rare is it to see a principal or a team who are proud of their brand?

I want to see and hear the following:

• Proud – of the brand that has been created
• Precious – about any feedback
• Passionate – about making the brand visible

I mentioned, in last week’s ezine, the new web site at The Courtyard in Huddersfield.

Do you think Marcos’s team are proud, precious and passionate about the work that has been done?

I’ll bet they are – and that their pride manifests itself in all aspects of their customer service.

A brand is like a regimental standard – a flag to rally around.

It’s not just about funky logos and smarmy strap lines.

It’s a culture, an ethos, a way of professional life.

Essential – and attractive to the right type of patient.

Kim Black sends the following;

You need the 10 top screensavers:

http://www.usingmac.com/2008/10/13/top-10-mac-screen-savers

I love the Flickr one.  You can use three keywords and find 500 photos to display or use
your own photos on flickr by using your screenname

Kim

The glamour of air travel, originally uploaded by coachbarrow.

Exeter International.

Waiting to board the 18:55 to Edinburgh.

Missing home.

I love what I do and who I do it with – but I’m not loving when I do it.

However, a conversation with Phillippa this afternoon has been the
start of putting that right.

True Success will be restored soon.

Taking the first steps is energizing.

Here’s a question from Harry Singh at Aesthetics in Hatfield:

Hi Chris,

We have a pub across from T-Mobile. A lot of the corporates go their for lunch. We are trying to promote ourselves to these lunch time customers, however since it is a chain of pubs, they do not allow any companies to advertise, etc.

Apart from going their every lunchtime ourselves to eat, can you think of anyway round this.

Thanks

Harry

and my initial answer:

does the pub hire rooms – hire for lunch and learns on cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics

any other ideas out there?