June 2009

June 2009

Dr Charlie Easmon
Business Blog

People Internal/External: Our new admin assistant is now helping email and mail out databases and this should see an increase in new business enquiries.
At lunch the other day I took the chance to give my card to one of the key hedge fund players and would love to be involved with his charity, ARK. Mid-week we closed clinic for a whole morning and had team-building day based on some of the lessons I learned from Peter Kennedy on his Business Leadership Course (www.theleadershipchallenge.co.uk) – went really well and we all got to know each other better as well as appreciating attitudes that supported each other versus those that do not.

Operations: Planning for my talks to HIV clinic managers in Botswana and Rwanda end August/start July. Had brief meeting Monday 8th June about my one week stint in Rwanda at the end of July, followed by an excellent briefing where staff form the Rwanda Embassy explained how much they appreciated the programme and the amazing Mary K Blewitt OBE told us about her charity and investigative journalist Linda Melvern (www.lindamelvern.co.uk) clarified how well planned the genocide was (shocking now and forever!). In July we also have meets with Centrica and AXA PPP OHS and other existing clients.

Strategic: To Mac or not to Mac! Changing the whole office will cost a lot of money but I am convinced save money over time on maintenance costs. Watch this space. Monday 25th June key event with HR Director went really well – it was a roundtable hosted by myself and Dentist Simon Darfoor (also in 1 Harley Street). We all learned loads about the gap between NHS provision and PMI and many companies could benefit form a sensible ‘medical broker’. It has also become clear that the case should be made for ad-hoc health spending as a business cost versus time saved.

Financial: Ticking along nicely despite the recession. We are winning back some of our market share on the visa medicals. Have another enquiry from a PCT re the cervical cancer vaccine programme in girls 12-18. This is government funded but we as a private provider give the vaccinations and charge accordingly.

Marketing: Mail outs to doctors and engineering firms all in one week. The key event was the HR Roundtable. Have followed up several prospects this week and received some encouraging replies. Am surprised by the lack of interest in anti-virals. Am considering promotional activity with www.circa-club.co.uk , www.velvet-club.co.uk two of the UK’s biggest gay sites and off to an event tonight.

Innovation: Before the end of the year we will host an event on the ‘Health solutions for mobile workforce’.

Best Business Reads this month: Investment Biker by Jim Rogers (he set up the Quantum Fund with George Soros). The Naked Manager by Robert Heller from 1985 good points re marketing and management, which I believe Al and Laura Ries take up in their new book.

Best past business reads: Am a great fan of Jim Collins ‘Good to Great’ and ‘Built to last’.

Quote of the month: ‘The Sixth Truth of Management lays down that there are only two possibilities: either an executive is competent to run the business or he is not. In the first instance, leave him alone. In the second, move him.’ Heller (The Naked Manager)

Charity of the month: www.transplantlinks.org