Number 3 in Seth Goldin’s Series on what it takes to be indispensable
Jacqueline Novogratz on how to recognize a linchpin from Seth Godin on Vimeo.
Another in Seth Goldin’s series on what it takes to be indispensable
Sunny Bates on Linchpins, Passion and Fear from Seth Godin on Vimeo.
As a favour to my friends in the Team Delete crowd i’ve cut a video from their headcam footage from last year’s trip to the alps. I’m just sorry you’ve had to wait over a year for the results guys! (what a year it’s been though!)
Team Delete 2009 from Rich on Vimeo.
Before I’ve even got started with the “Tides Are Turning” posts, an inspirational couple of sentences I found whilst searching around this subject from internet personality Gary Vaynerchuck
Linchpin: GaryVee from Seth Godin on Vimeo.
Merry new year readers. In a week’s time we will see a newly commissioned light show grace the walls of some of Cambridge University’s prestigious buildings. As always watch this space for more information. As a recap and taster of what’s to come, please enjoy footage from last year’s show.
Revision: The Flickr hosted video was ending after a minute. See the full version now hosted at Vimeo
Cambridge 800 from Rich on Vimeo.
All Estate Agents are arseholes.
Woah!
Backup Rich, that’s bang out of order. You can’t make offensive sweeping generalisations like that. You’ll offend someone. Worse still, if they’re the litigious type you could be in big trouble.
I know, since i’m feeling extra Christmasy, I’ll cut you a deal. I stop with the “Estate Agents are arseholes” line, but you’ve got to pack it right in when it comes to “young people are untrustworthy”. Right in, or there’s no deal.
So my current thoughtful, intelligent, selfless (/sarcasm) have not only managed to drop me in it once, but thoroughly mess me around. (fortunately neither of them read this blog) So i’ve had the glorious task of finding myself a new place to live. And If the impending shadow of forthcoming homelessness is not enough to really cheer you up. You’ve got to deal with satan’s spawn itself. Estate Agents.
A few notes:
1. When it comes to housing I’m pretty sure i don’t need any guidance on what I’m looking for. Point and case – if i ask to see 3 bedroom houses within [budget] in SE London. Please for the love of all things nice don’t show me a flat, bedsit, warehouse or caravan.
2. When we set our maximum budget, that’s exactly what we’re telling you. Any more money per month and we wont be able to afford our rent. We all know how much that would upset you. So don’t waste my time (and yours) by showing me properties around 30% over the maximum. And really REALLY dont leave it until we’re stood infront of the property to break the news that it is “more than i was expecting”.
3. Through sheer luck and constellation alignment we find a fairly acceptable place. You say “furnishing is flexible, move in date can be negotiated” Great, here have some money to keep that house safe. So, now we’ve signed the forms why one earth would you give us an immovable date 4 days after we requested (that’s not negotiation that’s dictation) and tell us we were “stupid” to sign the holding forms on a furnished house if we’ve got our own furniture. BE CONSISTENT
4. Be consistent. If you tell me one thing on Monday, i’ll hold it true on Tuesday. Maybe even Wednesday. Jeez if i told a client I could deliver something in my line of work, I’d be expected to move heaven and hell to achieve it on time or face the p45 flavored consequences.
5. When you ask for a £500 “holding fee”, don’t tell me two days later that a further £500 deposit will be required before the house is taken off the market. Tell me everything at the start. Did i mention that in #4? Be Consistent ? be VERY CONSISTENT.
6. By now we’ve put £1000 down on this property. Its completely unacceptable to use “you’ll lose your house” or “i think you’re forgetting what a bargin you’ve got here” as a retort to every request and question we make. Me: Could we talk about the moving date Estate Agent: You’ll lose the property if you keep making demands like this. No we bloody wont. The holding deposit is there to “hold” the property for us, what you’re doing is using blackmale to facilitate sitting on your fat arse and not ringing the landlord and making a reasonable request. We know what a “bargin” we’re getting, we dont need reminding. Quite frankly if we thought we were getting ripped off we wouldn’t have put the money down and filled out all the forms. WOULD WE ?
This much to shout about, and the moving date (still undetermined) wont be until the end of Septemeber. I should very much expect another rant around that time to document further failings on the Estate Agent’s behalf. We plan to write to head office with this catalogue of complaints once we’re safely moved in
Two new flickr photosets for your viewing pleasure
The Pavilion will be at the Serpentine Gallery until the 18th October 2009
The Walking In My Mind exhibition will be at the Hayward until the 6th September 2009
Showing a clear two fingers to the thugs who stole my Kona, I’ve picked my life up and before you know it there’s a new bike on the scene. Yeah yeah i know, its soon. Very soon. But a man’s got to move on.
Unforutnately I’m too lazy to get the SLR out so you’re going to have to make do with a camera phone photo for the moment.
So today was a slow day in the office, a really really slow day. There was kit to put away, and as much as a looked at it, it wasn’t going to move itself. I was out of options. Kit was being prepped for a job that was heading out next week, but as i wasn’t going with it. I left them to it. By 3pm we’d had enough and decided to call it a good days work (who was anyone to know?)
With the over excitement about the new bike i’d cycled in this morning, which had left Glenn high and dry as he normally catches a lift. However with him living so close to me a plan was hatched….
A full on Topgear style race, bike vs. public transport Barking thamesview estate all the way back to Hither Green.
As 3:15 turned a corner we were all winding up for home time, i’d put my shorts back on ready for the ride and computers were being turned off. CHEATING of the highest order out the blocks. Glenn had been offered a lift to the station. This was going make it really close. I knew from the ride in that my previous time (on the Kona) of 50 mins was a distant dream to the 1hr 15 it had taken me to get there in the morning. Maybe the new bike was slower ? The rear suspension could be sapping some of the power, plus it was heavier. More than likely though it was the extra mince pie i’d had at Xmas and the month away from riding that had really taken its toll. I knew that this was going to be close 1h15 Barking station to Hither Green was an achievable target on public transport.
As the guys bundled into the car i shook hands (like the good sportsman i am) and got straight on the pedals. Thames road was flat and i was surprised how long i held onto my lead. Inevitably the car did what it knew best but by the junction onto River road the cars queued up and i shot round the corner and up towards the A13. Back in front! By the time we joined the A13 traffic flow had evened out and we were neck and neck. This was where our routes separated and i was glad to be on an even field at this point. There had always been the chance that i’d be behind already even after so little ground had been trodden.
Despite battling the wind on the way in, directions had changed and i was going to have to battle it as i headed west on the A13 cycle path once again. This really wasn’t going to help. Mostly the route was flat and i settled into a steady cadence. 15mph was the goal, but as the track wandered up and down a steady 12 was the best average i could muster. The bike was performing well, but even with the fork on its stiffest setting i’d still got 115mm of travel, far too much to take racing on road seriously. But we all know thats not what the bike was bought for!
I burned up past the blackwall tunnel turn off and across over towards the greenwhich foot tunnel. This would be my route under the thames and back into SE London. Pace was steady, and although i was having fun, the falloff in my fitness since Nov 08 was blindingly obvious. I’d lost a lot. As i pulled into the lift at the North side of the tunnel all was going well. Valuable time was lost having to walk (read the signs!) through the tunnel and the climb with my bike on my back up what seemed like 10,000 steps at the south side really hurt. Damn broken lifts!
Still, pooped, heartrate was a steady 180 by now and the last leg to conquer i moved on up to the centre of Greenwhich. Dammit, i’d forgotten the one way system that would take me completely the wrong way. I knew that time was tight and i opted for a short, but naughty, pavement stretch up through Greenwhich to rejoin the route at the other side. Now i’m normally a fairly courtious cyclist, walk on paths etc…but this was a race!, so carefully i weved my way up through the streets and parked at pedestrian crossing ready to bounce at the light and head on my way.
As i wobbled a trackstand out trying to keep the balance at the kerb a tug on my jacket all but pulled me off the back of my bike. It was an oldish man, who politely informed me that the nearest bookshop was just round the corned, and reccomened the highway code as delightful read. Specifically rule 74 (i’ve not taken him up on the offer) Something to do with cycling on the pavement ? Well that was it. I’d put my foot down so might as well stay and join in. “You see sir” i said “there’s still hope that i may one day learn the highway code, but YOU will forever be a monumental twat” and with a good long flick of the V’s i was dust and heading up into Lewisham. Yes i was in the wrong, but a stationary man on a bike at a crossing was hardly knocking small children over.
Hither Green lane was the last stretch, and the hill was about as much as i could cope with by now. Superlow gears were in order and lost valuable time spinning up the hill. As i rounded the corned to my flat i threw the backpack from my back and fumbled for the phone. The first back had to ring. That was the rule. As i pulled it out my bag and struggled to get it out its case with my gloves on a text message came through. It was Glenn. Pipped to the post by mere seconds. Gutted!
Beloved Bike stolen from the (so called) secure parking in my block of flats. Car window smashed and bike (along with other expensive items) removed A large number of other cars were broken into in the carpark on the same day.
£100 reward for any information leading to its recovery
In more serious news: I hope the perpetrators kids get aids.
