Mike's musings: “It’s amazing what you learn in the company of positive people.”

“It’s amazing what you learn in the company of positive people.” Not my words, but those of Charan Gill (aka the Curry King)

On Tuesday I spent the day at JCI Scotland’s InspireChange event at Gleneagles. Charan was the opening speaker, with the second session of the morning taken by the Performance Tree, covering Franklin Covey’s ‘Principle Centred Leadership’.

After the quality of buffet lunch you’d expect from Gleneagles - I couldn’t resist 4(four!) courses - the afternoon featured Creative Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 Gill Eastgate of NKD clothing, (although not Nicola Mimnagh, 'face of NKD'.

The day rounded off with Mike Southon, FT columnist, and ‘beermat entrepreneur’.

The day lived up to its name –providing me with inspiration, both as a business owner and an individual.

There was far too much covered to go into much detail in a blog, but a few points to mull over:

“If you commit to something, everything else will fall into place” Charan Gill

“Maybe when things are free, we don’t value them enough” Charan Gill (On creating a more entrepreneurial Scotland.)

“Do you get change if you only change the process, but not the perception?” Mel Harris of The Performance Tree

“Our customers boast about our awards far more than we do” Gill Eastgate {sound like being remarkable?}

“[I think that there’s] a critical moment [people face, and that] separates entrepreneurs from civilians” Mike Southon

Mike also suggested three steps to follow for anyone setting out on the journey to entrepreneurship.

Step 1. Find a foil

Step 2. Find a first customer

Step 3. Find a mentor.

All in all, the day was excellent. As a JCI Aberdeen member, the full-day whole shebang cost me only £65, non-members could have been there for £85.

Which left me with only one question – why did I meet so few budding and existing entrepreneurs from Aberdeen on the day?

Mike's musings