justinpierpoint's posterous

Using the same idea all over the shop!

Sg

I listen to A LOT of free podcasts. The majority of them have a direct connection to my work and I use them to pick up tips about how to improve what I do.

Thing is, I've found that even though quite often the information is targeted at a specific area, i.e. sales in the case that I'm going to talk about, you can also apply the lessons to other area's in your life.

A good case in point are the podcasts produced by Jeb Blount, a guy in Florida who runs the Sales Gravy website (www.salesgravy.com).  His broadcasts aren't long, so you don't get bored and they point out common sense solutions to sales related issues that sales people face.  Some of them are SO common sense you could say that he's telling you the time with your own watch, but how many of us ignore the obvious solutions to problems until someone else points them out?

Anyway, I've had a few challenges recently, have remembered the things that Jeb has said and used the tips in a non-sales related area of my life.  Some, not all, of them have worked.

Anyway, I don't want to preach or try to sell anything to the huge amount of people who read this blog (27 at last count!) but check him out.  You can find his stuff at the Sales Gravy website (link above) or search for 'Jeb Blount' in the iTunes store where you'll be offered the 2 podcasts he does for free.

What have you got to lose?

By the way, apologies to Sales Gravy for nicking the image I've used with this post from their site!

Why is it so hard to keep a blog?

H

I keep saying "I'll put that on it" or "oh, look at that - that'd be good to blog about".

And then never find the time to do it!

I think this is a reflection on my time management rather than blogging in general.

What I would say is that I use Twitter often - on there I'm justinpierpoint (follow me!).  Make that A LOT.  This is because it's so damned convenient to use on the move - so much so that I think of it very much as a mobile app and hardly ever use a PC to look at it.  Go figure.

I sure there's a moral in there somewhere.  Or a point.  I just can't find it.

And what does the picture have to do with this? Nothing, I just like it.  And I always think Blogs, Tweets etc are better with a picture, even a random one.

This picture isn't quite what it seems....

Nsfw

I know what you're all thinking as to why I've posted this picture up. 

But you're wrong.

I just love the face on the photographer on the far left - that's what I'd do!

The article from which I've taken the picture is actually quite a mean spirited one and for me, without getting heavy (no pun intended!) & boring, sums up the hypocrisy when it comes to papers talking about celebs weight on one hand and then bemoaning the pressure on women to be thin on the other.  Ho hum.

You can read the full article (and see some other not quite NSFW pics) on the Daily Mail site, here: http://tiny.cc/BK3km

Later, all!

FlashForward Episode 2 (not) review - Spoilers may apply!

Ff1

If you're looking for a proper review of the 2nd episode of FlashForward that aired in the UK last night (Monday 5th October 2009) then move right along, there's nothing to see here.  I don't have the time or the skill to write such stuff.

What I have written is a collection of some random thoughts about the episode, roughly in chronological order.  As I only decided to do this after the event (i.e. this morning, in the shower!) it'll be a bit jumbled but next weeks will be better.  Possibly.  Maybe.
  • I really love the premise of the series and really want this to work, but I have to say.......the acting is lapsing into angsty overwrought drama mode, IMHO.  Joseph Fiennes needs to get rid of the pained expression he's now permanently wearing and John Cho needs to be less angry.  Just sayin.
  • Was that whole vignette with Wedeck confessing to where he was when the blackout supposed to be played for laughs?  Don't get me wrong, I liked it but it jarred a little with the tone of the series so far.  I hope that a. they do it some more but b. they spread it around the characters and don't make Wedeck into "comedy mishap" guy.
  • Going back to the toilet black out thing....  Sure I'd pull the other guy out of the urinal.  I probably wouldn't even tell him he was in there "Hell no fella, I just found you on the floor. I don't know how you got so wet..." But mouth to mouth? After where his head had been? [adopts stoner style voice] "Sorry dude, you're done!"
  • Cupcake lady - what in the hell is that shell suit you're wearing.  Be careful, that shit is flammable.  Every time I saw it I wanted to shout "hammer time!"
  • Did you see the size of the forehead on the Homeland Security woman? Setup a website and a task force to investigate THAT - you can see it from space!
  • Note to Olivia.  If you want to avoid Bad Englishman then you can  Trust me.  But you (and the writers) don't really want to do you? Keeping your options open, huh?
  • Bad Man in the doll factory - was that the same geezer that was the Bad Man in The Untouchables (1987 Kevin Costner film)? The guy in the white suit?  I think so.
  • Beautiful establishing shot of what I think was Hong Kong when Mysterious Security Lady phoned Demetri.
  • Being told when you're going to be murdered? Total head f*ck in my opinion.
  • "Darling, why did you make a fire?" "Why, so you can be reminded of your flashforward where the Bad Englishman it sitting in the exact same way, on my couch, having made a fire too. Except I don't know that because only you & the viewers have seen it. Darling."
  • Note to Channel 5.  I can remember which station I'm watching.  Even in the adverts.  There's no need to keep flashing up your logo between every f'ing advert.
  • Throwback to episode 1: A kangaroo?  WTF? Don't get started on that symbolic stuff.  That's the shit which put me right off Lost.
Anyway, that's it.  Any errors & omissions - models own. 

Comment on it, spread the word - I like visitors!

I'm still alive & to celebrate here's my thoughts on F1 today - part 1

Jb1

Hello all!

Haven't posted for a while - pressure of work, life etc - insert lame excuse here.

Anyway F1 has been whirling & changing and I'm planning a few posts today to give my thoughts on what's happened and what's likely to happen.  This is in direct response to the huge number of you who've asked  me to do so - 3 is a huge number, right?

So, part 1 - The 2009 World Champion.

It seems that this year's F1 champ will be the pilot who manages to do the worst job of losing it.

Does Jenson Button deserve to win it? Well, yeah sorta but somebody should tell him to get on with it. I'm sure there's all sorts of reasons for Jenson's form in the 2nd half of the season but as an armchair expert I just think that the truly great drivers keep on winning, even when they're not in the best car (or a shitbox as I recall Gerhard Berger always calling un-loved steeds).  I'm sure Button is a nice guy but a consistent world beater? Not in my book.  Put him in a superb car that is a second faster than everyone else and sure he'll win.  He'll even beat an emotional, self-pitying team mate.  But put him on level terms and he'll still lose.

Regarding how Jenson is trying to wrap up the title, somebody in Twitter posted an imaginary radio message from Ross Brawn to him on the warm down lap of the Singapore GP - something similar to "Well done Jenson, another terrific 5th place".  Seems to sum it up.

Rubens Barrichello could win it but again, I think it would only be if Button fails to keep it together.  Rubens just didn't make it work in the early part of the season and for that reason he doesn't deserve it.  He also whinged about it every chance he got, culminating in that rant in Germany about Brawn losing the GP for him which was (look away children) shite.  Message to Rubens from Drive Faster Than Everyone Else - I didn't see you all race, can you get in touch 'cause I'll help you win.

Vettel could win, especially after Suzuka and who would bet against it after Hamilton & Alonso snatching defeat from the jaws of victory (tm N. Mansell) in '07.  But he won't.

Me. I'd give the crown to Hamilton.  I don't really like him (based on him looking & acting like David Steel's Spitting Image puppet from the 80's) but he's driven well since the McLaren alchemists have fixed his car and he clearly wants to win races - why else would he throw his car into the wall at Monza because he was pushing so hard?

Anyway, enough. This is already twice as long as I meant it to be.  I have to go and do some work now.  I'll post another load of tosh tonight and it'll be about why I think the predicted Kimi Raikkonen move will be perfect for him, McLaren and Hamilton.  And Ferrari. Check back- please.  I like people looking at my stuff!

By the way, anyone with a passing interest in F1 should have a look at James Allen's website - http://tinyurl.com/c8n9xq - it's seemingly well informed, up to date (I could learn a lesson here!) and hella well written.

I should put a disclaimer here I think, just in case any one takes offence, so here goes.  "The opinions on this blog are probably a bunch of arse and any factual errors are because the writer is an idiot.  Sorry".

Exclusive photo of the FIA part way through deliberations on the Renault case...

Fia

All poking of fun aside, I guess I can see the logic in the path the FIA have taken.

Alternatives?

Ban Renault for a period, they use it as an excuse to withdraw from the sport and save money.  With BMW already gone as well you could see Toyota making a swift exit also.  Then you're left with the snappy title of "Formula One World Championship powered by Mercedes Benz.  Oh and a couple of red cars as well".

Using this logic, I have my own theory as to the allegation that Piquet Snr made about telling the FIA about the incident last October.....

Sometimes you don't want to know the truth, as it means you have to do something you really don't want to do.