The return of Agent Squirrel

Sorry!

Should have said in the last post that I have had a number (OK - not large...) of enquiries about Squirrel and his adventures in Business Intelligence. I have been working on some ideas and within the next week or so will share with you another episode...

Pic above: me with a Jeff Kooons sculpture taken by Dr Morrish - thank you! and no they are not my hands!

Jonathan

Tribes

TRIBES!

Over the past few years Jackie and I have been talking incessantly about tribes - especially types of consumer tribe and how they relate, react and interact with business development (and if you have not caught any of my lectures/talks or articles on this - check out the blog or send me an email via the Newport Business school). Well I thought I share with you two excellent examples of 'tribes' that I have been either part of or witnessed in the last few weeks. Firstly the 'Vanfest' pics (above and below). Vanfest is Europe's largest gathering of VW camper vans at Malvern every September - this year there was an estimated 50 thousand people attending but critically only about 10 thousand vans...which suggests that a lot of people are at the 'wannabe' stage of tribal membership. Similarly the 'HOGGING THE BRIDGE' event (October) - this is an event organised by the Harley-Davidson Owners Group (HOG) which comprises a 'ride' across the 'old' Severn bridge from England into Wales and back through the villages to Chepstow - the parade is a real spectacle and takes in excess of an hour to pass! It draws people from allover South wales as participants and spectators and this year an estimated 2 thousand HOGs took place but - and this is the bit - a further 2 thousand non HOG bikers...do they also want a HOG? So two pretty interesting examples of 'Tribes' - and I know I use these examples frequently - so for my MBA students this term - here are some photos! (there is even one that combines the tribes of VW and HOG!).

Jonathan

Ha! thought that I had forgotten all about the blog!

Well bloggers - sorry - I really do not have an excuse, except that I have been here, there and everywhere in the past few months - a new role in the University, quite a bit of TV and radio stuff and lots of fun being had in my VW van (which sounds a little rude but is not - honestish).

So for now a little note to say hello and that I'll be back in the grove over the next week or so.

Oh and here is a picture taken in Chicago this year...sort of self portrait if you can spot me (it's the BEAN in the millennium park BTW).

JHD

Well there you go that was January!

I think the above tells you what sort of month I have had! Pretty hectic. So now back in blog harness and with lots to tell over the next few days.

Firstly - a welcome to new readers who I met in Swansea last week (Friday) thanks to the University for an invitation to speak to a large number about marketing at the entrepreneurship interface...I think we all enjoyed ourselves!

Also a warm welcome to all my new MBA students - those who have joined the February intake of the Newport MBA and those who will be studying Marketing and Business Futures with me this semester - if you are a business and you want some of this for your team...then drop me a line!

OK - lots more to update in the following days and I'll find some new photos too!
JHD

HNY!

Morning all,

Here we are back at it...well some of us anyhow!

2009 will be a tough year I suspect - I woke this morning to hear that Wedgwood - THE iconic name in pottery has filed for administration. Some years ago I used to do a lot of business with them and it was clear - even in the 1980's - that things were not good at Wedgwood (or for most of the potteries for that matter) - they had lost sight of the changing trends in the market (suspect more so now) and also lost sight that high volume production was not where value is created in that business...any how it's a shame all the same and I just hope (for the sake of our national heritage) that a buyer can be found who will be sympathetic to the legacy of the Wedgwood family and indeed the 'potteries'.

I think I have failed to avoid getting the 'cold' that has been doing the rounds and as I write I ache all over and feel pretty slow...which is a little problem as I have a busy London based week ahead of me...which will mean that I will either spread my germs further afield or catch a variant of another 'cold' virus - thanks to the tube! You see - us country folk are not used to all these people!

Thought I would also attach a nice wintry photo - taken near home last weekend...any one seen my snowboard?

JHD

Seasons Greetings

Wishing all my readers a restful festive holiday and lets all hope for a peaceful 2009

(photo taken a year or so ago near home and the poem I still read to my children!)

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

by Clement Clarke Mooreor Henry Livingston
Twas the night before Christmas,

when all through the houseNot a creature was stirring,

not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snowGave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

but a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted,

and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling,

I heard on the roofThe prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

We Know Mason...

The debut Album from We Know Mason: 'you do' - treat your ears it's just brilliant!

Ah - if like me you had no idea what or who Mason is then welcome to the over 40's club my friends!

I had a quick peek at the Urban Dictionary to find that this was something that someone once muttered to a door man at a nightclub in ...somewhere ...and it appeared to allow access. I guess its the same with: I'm with Bob or John or Steve - bound to be one of those in every club.

I digress - for what this actually is (is also) is the name of one of the most exciting bands that I have heard in many years. I was once ...a long time ago a club and radio DJ - yes I was...hard to believe- I know! So I always consider my ears to be a pretty good judge of the likely future success of a band or song - and this time they have gone into overdrive (my ears that is).

So get yourself along to the following and listen for yourself:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/weknowmason
http://www.weknowmason.com/

the debut single 'The Country' can be viewed on YouTube:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=TeTwwRviqjg

I wish WKM well and look forward to the album - and note how much the music business has changed in last 25 years...own label, own video, own promotion (viral) and OWNERSHIP by the people that produce the music...not the sickly sweet karaoke nonsense that we have seen on Saturday nights of late (and wonderfully parodied by Peter Kaye's Geraldine McQueen) that does oh so little for real music and musicianship and for that matter Creative Industry Marketing!

'Stay tuned for more rock and roll'

JHD