Seattle sky needle

Great evening on the needle, 41 seconds up and what a view! We then took the sky train and had a good dinner at wild ginger - very nice! Seattle is a great town!
2 more days of training - then home...
Nialls and Jo are having a good time in Penn - all is good.

Shopping tonight!

Frasier

Nialls is clearly enjoying himself in Pennsylvania. It would seem that he and Bobby are each suffering different forms of jet lag. Here Bobby gives us an update of his progress in Seattle: 'Seattle is a great town, and we've had a great time here. 3 days of training down and 2 to go. We've made some real friends - good friends. This is always the way with training. You work with people intensely for 2 days and suddenly, you don't want to say goodbye.'

BEFORE: Why are we holding this gnome?

AFTER: Happy to hold the gnome!

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania welcomes Jo and Jeremy

Jeremy writes One of the few things I go without while travelling is TV. It seems the perfect solo entertainment form and yet I enjoy the abstinence and am almost proud I ignore the set for the entire duration of my stay in whichever hotel I find myself in. I have just done something which might seem cruel or impatient, I rang the front desk to ask them to call the room next to me to turn down their TV. I did this at 3:30 am and as Bob states, here I am as he is often, writing a post during the jet lag phase of adjustment. Oh by the way the TV went off straight away, my neighbour must like to fall asleep to the comforting tones of anchormen, newscasters and weather girls. Not a bad way to drop off, your mind reassuringly telling you that the world is busy, other people are covering things,you're on a break now, sleep. While Bob is in Seattle I am likely to be on here occasionally too, so you get two angles on the travels of the Reality boys, as the double act has split and reformed giving us more breadth, scale and ultimately less travel for the two of us. In our new couplings we can do 50 percent less travelling and 100 hundred percent more work, yes it's odd maths I know. Aside, er aside. Jo and I flew through Newark and onto Wilkes Barre and were collected by Karen, our main contact and Rebecca. We got back to the hotel and went out with one of the other senior guys Scott, and also Chris who seems to be a big fan of Colombia, he has its name on all of his upper body clothing. We went to the Chicken Coop and after discussing Movember we played a game of renaming the other months and what they could become in bringing awareness to causes, creeds and charities. Here's the list. After Decembeard and Fanuary, we offer an alternative Tranuary, we move to Gaypril,then onto Juleye, Sextember and my personal favourite, a month where men restyle what I guess must be their version of the pubis mound, Cocktober. So as you see we got on famously and set the bar quite high for the week. I think that humans often test out each others tolerance levels and want to know that after a hard day of working and discussing work we can all be allowed to be silly without harm or judgement. Jo and I are very lucky to be in with such a friendly down to earth bunch of people. After a good nights sleep and waking at 7:30 we had a great breakfast and Missy and Robert looked after us and commented on our accents, Jo has a light Edinburgh voice which can move from a soft purr of a diesel cab waiting to collect you to a shiny clear lake with sunlight bouncing off the water surface with a full reverberating echo. I've yet to experience the Clyde ship builder but I feel it's there. Mine is more public school boy tones with vast early life experience thrown in and hints of cover up through choosing words you don't think I'll use and what can be a Vine, Clarkson or Mckellen with my intonation. Robert my egg chef wants to be on cruise ships and he knows all about Kate and Wills baby joy and wanted me to know that that the invasion of privacy they experienced that led to her being topless was something that he abhorred. I told him it had made her seem more real and hugely appealing to men and women alike. Which man doesn't want his girlfriend or wife to go topless and how many women might just whip them off to get a proper tan so they enjoy their spectacle in the mirror more which will allow them to say to themselves that they have kept their tan as Autumn fast approaches, which will temporarily distract them from thinking and saying aloud, untrue things about their bodies. I digress, but that is what this blog is, I hope a digression for you as much as it is for me. I better get back to sleep as 53 people are coming to the Jo and Jeremy show in the morning and for the next three days we are changing the way they think about selling so I better lie back and finish my Julian Barnes and then nod off, till tomorrow, n night.

Dr Frasier Crane here and who's my caller on line 1?

'My first caller here in Seattle tonight, is none other than international sales trainer Bob, Bobby, 'Beardy' Morrell. How are you Bobby Boy?' 'Thanks Frasier, well I don't know if you can help me but my problem is very simple - jet lag. I arrived last night after a 14 hour trip via San Francisco from London and after two intense hours of sleep I awoke as if an electric charge had been applied to my backside. I am now frighteningly awake for someone so utterly tired!' 'I can understand that Bobby, so tell us about this trip?' 'Well, I am here in Seattle, and my friend Jeremy is in Pennsylvania in a hotel overlooking woodland and a creek, I overlook a Freeway, but that's fine.... He is working with Jo for the next 4 days in Penn, I am here with Sam in Seattle...we were met by a lovely lady who has escorted us to our hotel and made us feel very welcome.' 'And what is your work?' 'We are training sales agents to more effective on the telephone, and my concern is that my body clock will force me to shut down mid-delivery - any tips Frasier?' 'Well, Bobby you have come to the right place. You may not realise but Seattle is the home of Starbucks, and you can have their coffee drip fed into your system so that the combination of caffeine and adrenaline will keep you awake and alert for the duration of your stay - why don't you blog back here later and tell us how it's going, I'm sure that me, Roz and all our listeners will be fascinated to hear about your progress' 'Thanks Frasier, will do!' Now for those of you who have never watched Frasier that exchange is meaningless - but what do you want I've been up since 4.44 am!

An Account of Madeira

Madeira is a Portuguese Island in the Atlantic, further North than the Canaries but still blessed with sunny weather for most for the year. Simple travel tips for possible Madeira visitors. 1. The Landing at Funchal Airport is always hairy. Pockets of air buffet the plane and you bank over the sea before planting the plane on a procarious runway. 2. Funchal is a lovely town, very pleasant to walk around and has great Cafes. 3. There are currently no smoking restrictions in clubs and bars so be prepared for a bit of retro nicotine air. 4. Madeira cake is quite nice - heavy, and frankly, one is enough. 5. The people mostly speak English. 6. The folk music is truly dreadful, and the folk dancing worse - be warned. 7. The food is excellent if you like masses of meat and garlic. 8. Portuguese wine is pretty good - but strong. 9. The cable car trip up the mountain is excellent value. 10. The basket sledge riding is fun but a con at 30 euros PLUS the cab drive back - another 20? The daytime temperature hovers around the early twenties in November and when the sun is out you can easily catch a sun tan. We arrived and came together on a Friday evening and had a lovely dinner, after a drinks reception on the terrace of a 5 star hotel suite, given by the great hotel Manager. The next day was the business sessions where we spoke for an hour, and then that night a traditional meal in the hills followed by folk dancing. Jeremy was dragged up to dance and that was, frankly, hilarious! Then down to the nicotine infested casino and nightclub. Where, frankly, I mixed my drinks a bit after being constantly topped up by Jeremy and a former champion jockey, Freddie Skelton. The next morning I would have preferred to stay in bed as one chap did, instead of embarking on a treasure hunt (no treasure and not much of a hunt) around Funchal. I was asked to join a top team including two senior people and a sponsor who seemed happy to let me lead them around! My focus was simple, win the treasure hunt, and at the very least, beat Jeremy. And we did! I won a bottle of disgusting local drink. It was presented to me in Reid's Hotel during High Tea - which was very special. The final evening was a gala dinner which was in an amazing marquee, followed by a karaoke night! Some of you will say, it sounds like a holiday.... no it was work. Honestly.

Working hard in Madeira

Saturday's in Madeira are tough hard work .... Did a talk, cocktail coaching by the pool, jacuzzi, dinner, casino, nightclub, life doesn't get much better!

Longer post to follow...

Have some Madeira, m'dear

On Friday we are off to speak at a Top Performers Conference in Madeira - tough gig!!

Who has been there? What's the food like? We would love some tips!

We are speaking and then offering several 'cocktail coaching' sessions by the pool!

Look out for some 'fortified' updates over the weekend!

In Dublin's Fair City

Dublin is a small town - very friendly and the food excellent. For me, it feels very scandinavian.

On our first night we ate at the Town bar and grill - Claire Balding was in there so it must be good! Excellent steak and a duck egg starter with lovely wine. Service was amazing.

We shopped in Grafton Street the next day and had a Guinness and Sandwich lunch washed down with a Jameson Crested Ten whiskey chaser!

That night we partied hard at the Royal Irish Yacht Club founded by the marquis of Anglesey not long after Waterloo. Hog roast and yet more Guinness. It's funny but in Ireland you forget that Guinness is beer!

One thing to note is that the new airport is excellent - illy coffee served at the champagne bar!

We slept on the plane and got home on time - funny I don't really fancy a Guinness now!

Acceptance of The Globe

Over the last 10 years we have worked in many countries both as speakers at conferences and delivering training programmes - listed below United States: Princeton, Hamilton, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Europe: Paris, Montpellier, Barcelona, Cyprus, Madeira, Marbella, Amsterdam, Monaco, Dublin, Asia: New Delhi, India UK: Every major town in the United Kingdom.

Our recent forays into different countries have been challenging and exciting. When I first started my career the idea of working abroad was just a dream. In the eighties and nineties the prospect of a job for life was still possible and therefore, if you worked hard you could feasibly achieve that and possibly work in the same building for your whole career. Those days are gone. My wife is a teacher and every year gap students from international locations come to her school to work. I met one, who at 19 from Zimbabwe, already possessed considerable understanding of the international world she was entering. She is expecting to work eventually in the UK and has siblings already in Thailand and South Africa. They accept that their future, in terms of their careers, is overseas. And here we are working for global companies in international locations, not simply because we enjoy it but because that is where the work is. And the work has mainly found us, and has requested us to go. So we have to consider our international strategy, the international life of our business. After a sales career of over 2 decades I am now reaching the jet-set heights I dreamed of. Some of the realities of this lifestyle are NOT what I thought they would be. They say that 'when the gods want to punish you, they answer your prayers.' others say 'be careful what you wish for, it may come true.' - and I must be clear that I have no regrets, however, if I must balance this life now, with my family, how will it be for our children when they start their careers? The world is getting smaller, travel cheaper, and the reality is that for new career executives in 15 years time it will be possible to travel across the globe more quickly and with greater efficiency than ever before. And I suppose that the one thing that will never change, until they find a way to 'energise' people from one place to another, is that in order to do business you must generally look the person in the eye. And for me, the future will be owned by those who possess the greatest confidence to enter a room full of strangers and communicate, whether they speak the language or not, and succeed through strength of personality. Which is not necessarily something you can train or teach.

Our international work is placing us in a unique position to scale and develop what we do with new trainers and new skills to learn around international business rules and laws. It also takes Jeremy and I out of our comfort zone as we develop new trainers, and teams of trainers. So the future is bright and exciting. What is there to fear when there is a whole world of possibilities out there?

France 2 - allez au Gap!

Our final day of training with senior directors went very well. We had yet another lunch in the sun with an excellent red wine and finished promptly at 5. I then jumped in a cab and headed to the airport to pick up my hire car - a nearly new VW Polo - and hit the road. The drive to Gap takes you up to Nimes, across the top of the Camargue to Arles then across to Aix and up the autoroute to Sisteron and Gap.

Gap is a sweet typically French town on the Route Napoleon and well worth a visit for skiing in winter and lakes in the summer - and it was a beautifully clear morning as I was driven to the Lycee by my host and friend Laurence.

I was very nervous before going on in front of 25 mostly female 18 year olds!

Their English wasn't good and the first silly game was a bit of a nightmare. Soon they warmed up a bit and by the end they were entering into the spirit! As usual these presentations are over before you know it and we were soon ensconced in another great restaurant for lunch (pic attached) where I ate a wonderful mixed fish dish followed by rum babas which were amazing - homemade and soaked in real rum.

I drove back to Montpellier against a backdrop of mountainous landscapes and then because I was early turned of the autoroute and drove across the flat Camargue and saw wild white horses and bulls being bred for bull fighting - as black as sin.

Sitting here now back at La Grande Motte beach the sun is beating down on me for what could be the last time this year - heaven forfend! - Jeremy will just have to book us our next trip toute suite! Can't wait to see la famille now!

Day 2 - Sales Managers, Ghandi and Bowling

This pic shows Jeremy Blake standing next to a statue of Mahatma Ghandi, placed in a shopping square here in Montpellier. We hope it will please all of our new Indian readers!! Montpellier is a growing city in terms of commerce and population. They are building lots of new developments and offices and it is extending towards the Med. The town has ambition and some class, plus excellent food and wine, and links to Spain and the rest of the continent.

Training Sales Managers is very different from training other types of manager. Because in the majority of cases they are required to a) sell and then b) manage. usually with little or no guidance, except 'learnt behavior' from their previous managers, on how to do this. The group we trained today have a great opportunity to unite on several peices of principle that will propel them forward. As usual in France you get an excellent lunch as well... This evening we had a light dinner washed down with some excellent beer brewed on the premises (shades of India again!) and then we went ten-pin bowling. Last time we played in Gurgaon Jeremy whupped my behind. This time I thrashed him 3 times! Oh yes! and I am normally useless!! Tomorrow we do Senior Management facilitation, and afterwards I leave for a 3 hour drive to Gap in the Haute Provence to deliver a talk to 25 female business students on Friday morning whilst Jeremy comes home. For those of you interested in such things I am currently reading 'Le Colonel Chabert' by Balzac (free download from ibooks) - superb! I have also leant Jeremy 'The Alchemist' by Paolo Coelho. Thanks for reading...

French visit 1

We arrived on Monday afternoon to a sunny day and a lovely beach. Jeremy immediately decided to take a dip but has sadly put an embargo on the subsequent photos of him in his underpants - I am open to bribes!

We had a disappointing meal at the beach and a ruinous taxi back to the hotel.

Our first days training with managers was great fun - not least because of the wonderful lunch with rose and red wine!! They know how to do things here! Which meant we went on slightly longer!!

In the eve Jeremy had another swim action shots attached!! We then got the tram into town and went to an excellent and reasonable restaurant Thym et Romarin - thanks to Maya at the Holiday Inn for the recommendation of the restaurant and the wine - Archambault from the Languedoc. We then retired early - full but satisfied!!

We miss home however we have had far worse gigs!

More managers today!

Indian Remembrance

This picture could illustrate something that many of us has suspected for ages: that Jeremy is as camp as a row of tents!

However seeing this pic reminded me of one evening in Delhi when I realised how truly small the world is. Chatting to a young lady from India we touched upon poetry - something I studied for my degree. I was stunned when she started talking about Keats - one of my favourites - and then I almost fell off my chair when she started on Gerard Manley Hopkins!! He is totally amazing and someone I had studied closely - why was I so surprised that this Indian lady should also be a fan? Distance? Culture? The belief that India would have their own poets elevated way and above our weak-willed Romantics?Whatever the reason I realised that great literature, like great music, like great acting, like great stories have no boundaries!

In two weeks we are heading for the South of France for a week so we are happy to take your recommendation for restaurants and jazz clubs in Montpellier - and poets!

Let's see how I do:

India

That first sharp heat, and sights and sounds and frightening rain,
Was tempered by kind clear eyes and smiles - and the possibility became real like an elephant's strength,
And I sit here, no longer the Eastern boy, missing the certain warmth both on me and through me, onwards to an exciting future. Let it not be another 42 years before I rush back once more, to that sharp heat!

Reality - The Return

This is the photo we took before we left London for Delhi. Now that we are home we have changed a little from the chaps you see here. On the final day of our visit Jeremy trained sales coaches whilst I spent a day on the sales floor listening to calls and talking to individuals about the new techniques. It was great to hear them using our ideas and hearing the customers responding positively. I made some additional notes which I then let them have during a quick break-out session. We then repaired to the local restaurant for a final meal with our new friends. As we left we were stopped by one of the 'Quality' guys whose job it is to listen to calls and maintain the quality of customer service. He had, apparently, listened to our 2 day training course, walked into the office, picked up an agents phone and started to receive calls (having never done it before). He wanted to prove to himself that our techniques worked and that he would be able to believe in them whilst working with his team into the future. He took 12 calls. He made 12 sales! a 100% conversion rate from someone who has never done it before!!! We were delighted to hear this and he was just one of several success stories that we heard about that day. So at the final meal we made a couple of emotional speeches (of course) and we were sad to take our leave of this 'extended family' who had adopted us for the last 10 days. Jeremy talked about the changes he had seen in Delhi since his first trip 23 years ago, and I said that we would be taking many memories and a connection with this place, back home. Which is entirely true. When we arrived at the airport we checked in and we delighted to be handed a complementary upgrade!! A great end to a great trip! I am not sure how emotional Jeremy's homecoming was, but mine was amazing. We have quite a few weeks in the UK now before our next trip, which is to the South of France - tough gig! We will continue his blog in early September - keep in touch and thanks for reading!

Group 2 Finished!!

Our Final day with Group 2 was memorable and fun. They really got the product knowledge section and loved the 9 ways to close, especially when we acted out scenarios where I had to play a woman! We did a massive role play at the end that was brilliant and had superb objection handling. Afterwards we went out for dinner and to... Strikers! Where else. Another Indian band were playing - they were great! The whole place was jumping. So, last day today - JB trains Sales Coaches whilst I am on the sales floor sitting with the agents - can't wait. This time tomorrow I will be almost home. How was India? some will say. How do I respond? We are having dinner with everyone tonight and will make some speeches, it will be emotional...

Training Again - 35 new faces

We arrived at the training venue and went straight on. 35 new people who were waiting for us to do our bit! Today I barely noticed the heat which just goes to show how quickly one can get used to it. As we had lunch one of the ladies pointed into the garden 'Do you like monkeys?' she asked. 'Yes, I've got two' I answered, then I looked into the fountain and there, playing around in the water were three baboons. Wild Baboons. I suddenly remembered my nurse's dire warnings. 'Don't go near monkeys - if they bite you the rabies jabs are agony!' They seemed perfectly happy in this open garden full of people enjoying cigarettes and coffee. The talk always gravitates towards food. I think the Indian Nation believes that it creates the best food on earth. Which is probably true when you consider how many of us now enjoy a weekly curry. My new friend Anand, asked me if UK curries are really hot so I told him about Vindaloo, which they have in India and Phall which they had never heard of. I was recommended an Indian dessert called Rabri which is a kind of shortbread pancake cooked in treacle. I had one tonight - amazing. I have also developed a head cold which makes me sound like a growly voice-over artiste. The brilliant Baiju went out and got me some nasal sprays which cleared my head and allowed me to perform to, hopefully, my usual standard - as I said before they are really looking after us. After Day 1 of this group's training we got a round of applause! Yes! I thought. I'll take that! We then had a meeting and as we left the venue a wedding party went by - a loud bright and thrilling parade of the groom on horseback, and his relatives dancing down a brightly lit street. I'll post a photo tomorrow. Our trip to India is on the homeward run, 2 full days to go and home! How I miss my wife and boys, but what memories I return with. Will we be returning to India? If the reaction of the trainees is anything to go by then definitely. I certainly hope so. We turned in relatively early, but the jet lag blues don't shift easily. I will read some more about Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jahnsi and drift into the arms of the Angel of Sleep, don't drop me dear.

Bizarre Days and Raghu Dixit

Okay so yesterday we trained trainers - always fun to meet people that do what you do and work with them. They all had great ideas and I am sure will do a great job with our material. We were so utterly exhausted at the end of the day that we ate in the hotel and crashed. Today was one of those memorable days. We went into Delhi proper. We went to a market and bartered for silk, jewellery, toys etc, then went for lunch at the Embassy restaurant in the middle of Delhi. It was the hottest we have been so far. We enjoyed buying, and also chatting with the stallholders who gave different reasons for offering us a discount - 'first customer today', 'for luck', 'because I like you' etc. We visited the tomb of the unknown soldier and were beset with children begging. I found it very moving and will never forget those moments. Again, in the town we were followed by people begging. My heart goes out to these poor people. I felt terribly guilty and privileged. It is no-one's fault, I suppose. But it feels like mine. Today near the Red Fort, very old Delhi, were some poor guys literally sleeping in the road not caring if they get hit. As we went back to our hotel I was deeply moved and have resolved to do something positive for this amazing country of contrasts. This evening we saw a gig. Raghu Dixit - pictured shaking my hand, played for 2 hours - and he was amazing. What a difference... a modern bar, people dancing on tables, great music and beer.

Raghu Dixit is an amazing singer who sings in 3 or 4 languages including English. I can highly recommend this guy - he should be massive. We chatted briefly afterwards - I had seen him on 'Later with Jools Holland' last year and he had sung with Mavis Staples - she is singing with him in Chicago next month. Sitting here at 1.40am I know the day will stay with me, especially the young girl at the memorial whose face haunts me. This land is changing fast, and yet so much remains unchanged. I hope that our work here will make a difference.

India Day 4

After a very interesting day we went out bowling. The picture depicts the keen runner- up Jeremy Blake, bowling, with the 'hustler' bowler, and winner, Baiju Shaffi, looking on. Baiju's bowling was nothing less than professional. I came a noble and close third followed by the valiant Ruchir Mahajan. This bowling alley was immaculate, the service quick and slick, the snacks delicious and the beer freezing cold. You'd never find this in the UK. I experienced the real Delhi heat for the first time - make no mistakes, this was hot. I also made the mistake of paying 30 rupees for a chicken sandwich thinking it was a bargain, only to find it was the hottest thing I have ever eaten. Jeremy trained Sales Coaches today and quite frankly, made them all fall in love with him. You think I jest? One young lady was making notes, Jeremy went to see what she had written and what was underneath? 'Jeremy Rocks!' It took all my effort to squeeze his massive swollen head through the hotel door after that. So my wide awakeness at 2 am has not yet subsided, however we are looking forward to a fun day tomorrow training trainers, and then 36 or so hours of freedom, let loose on an unsuspecting Delhi...

Group 1 - Late and Happy!

Here is evidence that jet lag is good for you! 1 down, 4 more groups to go!

Reality Group 1 - Success!

After a top night in Strikers (left) we delivered our second day. We started much later because of the Rakhi festival and therefore finished at midnight. We felt okay due to the jet lag dividend. How were we received? Everyone we trained came up to us afterwards and shook our hands - it felt great! One lady said to Jeremy it was 'mesmerising' - which could have been down to the late hour. They loved the section on Objection Handling. We made the point that you can never win them all. However now they have some ideas they all believe they CAN win them all... Today Jeremy is training Sales Coaches whilst I have a pleasant day reviewing their current Quality Assurance and Training Materials... Then one more day training trainers tomorrow and then a day off!! We will visit the sights and markets of Delhi, stock up on some pressies and then hopefully live music Sunday night! We have been able to speak to our families briefly, and we are certainly missing them, however the intensity of the work and the hospitality is making this a new home from home!

Training in India

What a day! We managed to catch up on some sleep, then after a late breakfast in our excellent hotel we were driven through the streets of Gurgaon to the venue. It was a large room with over 70 people in it. We were nervous. First day, new client, new country, new world. We had no idea, if we are honest, about how we would be received. We had a day of meetings before and felt confident about our material - but in truth, you never know. The audience were very responsive and positive. Many of our analagies and stories are true, coming from our own lives. We were told later in the day that this is perfect for the Indian audience because 'family' is so important for them - for many of them, they are the main bread winners supporting their familes and often elderly relatives too. They have a great sense of humour, and also they are ready and willing to soak up ideas and concepts that will make them more successful. They laid out great lunches, fantasic tea and cake sessions and also delicious spicy onion pakoras as a snack - are we in the right place or what!! Then after the training we went to Strikers bar, a brewery, where we got stuck into some german lagers whilst eating the best fried curried snacks. The music in this bar was fantastic - The Doors, followed by Adele, then Led Zeppelin. Best of all, the brilliant Indian singer Raghu Dixit is playing live on Sunday, we'll be there! We are missing our families, of course. However, the hospitality of our clients is making the time fly by. So tomorrow we don't start till 3pm as they have a festival in the day where brothers and sisters meet up to keep in touch - lovely idea. The potential for us, in this country is scary. Our first impressions are that this nation, and in fact, this town within this nation, could use us for years... For those of you interested in our digestive health, so far, so good.

Morning 1 - Delhi

We left in good weather. We managed to get an upgrade to World Traveller Plus. Not quite as good as Virgin Premium Economy but quite adequate. We sat next to two young french girls going to work with young children in India over the summer. They seemed far less worried about their trip than we were. When we landed at Delhi there was, and still is a torrential downpour. The water buckets down. And the motorways clearly don't have adequate irrigation so it pours like waterfalls onto the streets below. Jaipal met us at the airport - there he was with our names on a little board and led us politely to the car park. It was then that the humidity hit us, we were suddenly drenched in sweat. Jaipal put on a chauffers cap and drove us safely on the 10 minute drive to the airport. Only once did we see a small section of real Delhi, down and outs under the flyover. Total and utter poverty is always a shock and this was no different. I suddenly felt very guilty. There were hundreds of poor sods trying to get to work in the pouring rain, all soaked to the skin. I felt for them all. I suddenly realised that we aren't here to sample the sights, we are here to work, and work we shall. There is tight security, armed guards, everywhere. As if they are waiting for something. When we arrived at the hotel they checked under the car for bombs!! and under the bonnet too. Then we were made to go through a metal security check before reception. Now in my room, it's nice. Quite palatial with a nice little desk and a massive bed, seems a world away from what we just drove past - and I suppose it is. So here we are. Someone once wrote that you 'go to India and hate it for a month then love it forever' - let's see how we will feel after 10 days. Now, some sleep before the adventure begins. We suddenly feel a very long way from home.

The India Blog

Some time ago we started this blog to post occasional controversial stories and commentary. Since then our sales training blog does that for us. So I thought it would be a good idea to re-use this blog to monitor and report on our 10 day trip to India. Tomorrow afternoon we fly out to train a client in Delhi, and by the time we come back we will have trained over 100 sales agents, trainers and sales coaches. As well as that we will have experienced, for the first time, the sub-continent. We have had many warnings about this trip and we enter it with open minds and with a bold enthusiasm. Items we definitely have: Visas, Imodium, our jabs, IPads and a lap top. When we started this business many years ago, I always wondered if we would ever make it to India. So far we have been to most countries in Western Europe, and the United States. So to make it to India, for the first time, on our own terms, is an achievement. Mind you, the biggest achievement has been actually negotiating this trip. We have been in discussion about this since March? Jeremy and I have spent days (literally) on conference calls and sent countless proposals and attended meetings and re-negotiated and finally, a last, are on our way. We decided, that whatever hoops we had to jump thorough, we would do it, to make it happen. So now we are off. I shall attempt to update this blog on a daily basis. Please let friends know about this blog if they would be interested. One thing is for certain, we will both be needing the Imodium, the only question is who first? My money is on Jeremy - Day 2.