Sunday 8 February 2009

Come see Seth with me!

For the past couple of months I have been working with the brilliant MikeB (a regular commentator on this Blog, who finally caught up with me in person at last year's Business Start Up Show) to create a new online business coaching service which is going live this Thursday 12 February.

To celebrate the launch we are inviting one lucky subscriber a free ticket (worth £100) to come to see marketing guru Seth Godin with Mike and me for his only UK speaking gig this year - in central London on the afternoon of 17 February 2009. Plus we'll take you for a drink or three afterwards.

Signing up is FREE and will also get you FREE access to my private member's forum - like this Blog, except everyone can post and share as well as help us get to know you and your business better. Already people in my 'mastermind group' are generating lots of extra business (as well as many new friends!) through working together.

So if you'd like to come on 17 February click here now.

130 comments:

Anonymous said...

"The Love Affair is Over Seth"

you see how much integrity this lady has? twisting and turning like a snake. beware.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous, I think you are missing the point somewhat. Rachel may have had an issue with Seth personally recently but that doesn't mean she suddenly thinks all his ideas are crap.

I think Seth Godin is a bit of a egotist but I'm still going to see him in London.

If you only listen to people you like and agree with then you must be quite lonely. How sad.

C

Anonymous said...

bs

Anonymous said...

bs?

What's your real problem with Rachel then?

C

Rachel Elnaugh said...

Who says I'm not going there to throw rotten tomatoes?

And, aha C, you will be in the audience, how exciting, like the Phantom of the Opera - I wonder whether you will allow your mask to slip?

Will you reveal yourself to me? Are you who I think you are?

R

Anonymous said...

shes full of shit. read the posts and you can see shes all over the place. no integrity in that. can't take that seriously.

Rachel Elnaugh said...

No anonymous, you're the one who is full of shit.

Starting with the fact that you are 'anonymous'.

A piece of birdshit temporarily obscuring the beautiful windscreen of life.

Anonymous said...

well stop talking bollocks Rachel. One minute you say this guy is a shit, the next minute you say - come to the meeting at Seths place with me.

thats bollocks

Rachel Elnaugh said...

No, I never said he was shit, I said 'the love affair is over'.

Because he hurt me and upset me.

Doesn't mean I suddenly don't admire his work, and doesn't mean we can't still be friends.

R

Anonymous said...

How awful it is for somebody to waster their sunday verbally and emotionally attacking Rachel.

Why hide yourself? Why not have some balls to show who you are, or if you are a woman some lesbian butchness? I don't believe a rational real business-person would at all slag off anybody whom has clearly been a success.!! Period!

Rachel knows who I am...Well maybe not..

2009

Anonymous said...

wtf.... See Anonymous strikes again.

Whispers in the wind.

Or is it.

Farts in the wind.

Either way.. Its time people stopped taking them seriously. And also - why don't C and Mr A Dragon and 2009 introduce themselves to Rachel, rather than pissing around playing anonymouses.

I suspect they are not anything else they wouldn't slope around at the back playing anonymous games.

Thats what we like about Rachel - she is out there man!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Rachel

"Will you reveal yourself to me?"

I'm game but only if your promise not to press charges!

C

Anonymous said...

Stephen

I think you are missing the point. Does it really matter who makes a post, what surely matters is the value of that post to the debate?

C

PS. I don't think Rachel would want to meet me anyway. Living with the disappointment might be too much.

Peter Cook said...

Hey, why not take 'Anonymous' to the gig - presumably s/he would don a helmet a la 'Stig' on Top Gear - that should get everyone noticed!

Anonymous said...

There are many in the marketing game whose Ideas are so good I read all that they write, and I go to see them every time they present.

Yet I wouldnt give many of them the time of day as people:

Success breeds arrogance - and often it is that arrogance that leads to their downfall - when they cease to listen to or respect others views and they lose the connection to the world which bred their success.

As rachel has remarked on one occasion - Maybe alan sugar would have achieved "world domination" and success on a much bigger scale if he had not lost his connection with ordinary people.

This affliction is not universal.

Amongst marketer/ copywriters - brett mcfall, ted nicholas and ray edwards for example are all very charming people - who will happily spend the time of day with anyone who speaks to them.

Ted nicholas is a factor of 10-100 more successful than Godin...It could also explain why Nicholas' career has such longevity - yet he remains a charming person.

I think in seth godins case...permission marketing was 10 years ahead of his time... I also think success came too easily for him with YoYodyne...and hes been an arrogant SOB ever since.

Still read his books tho.

Anonymous said...

I think you are missing the point. Does it really matter who makes a post, what surely matters is the value of that post to the debate?

Nah.. When "Anonymous" posts shit like above - then thats the value of "Anonymous" or those posting anonymously.

And in a world where people need to stand up and be counted i can't see the point of people speaking out from behind the furniture. Apart from the fact they are hiding something and then - how can you take them seriously?

They are either weak or deceitful.

This is not the secret service for f* sake. You are not going to get tortured for saying who you are?

But if you don't say, then you are really wasting your time speaking because you are probably foe rather than friend - and you won't be taken seriously.

I reckon all those who speak on here should get together with Rachel, shake her hand and go and do some business with her.

It is getting really shitty here recently. Especially that anonymous moron posting above.

Anonymous said...

hey anonymous, if you think Rachel is a snake, then fuck off and go blog someone you like, and I agree with Mr C, How Sad!!

Constructive critisism greatly accepted I believe, but rudness and slagging off, nah don't think so.

And Mr C, I wish I was going to see him also, but it would also be really exciting to see you also, perhaps I'll come down after the event and pretend to be paparatsy, I dare say I spelt that wrong, but you know what I mean Mr C........heehee

The (Official) Dlog

Anonymous said...

Hey anonymous your'e that piece of shit from the other night at the British Library, your'e not trying to get back at Rachel through her, wonderful, blog are you, well guess what, surprise surprise, it won't work, you see even Mr C will stick up for Rachel, and it's not often he agrees with her!!

The (official) Dlog

Anonymous said...

"Whispers in the wind.

Or is it.

Farts in the wind."

Stephen on this occasion I think you are wrong, i think the words you were looking for was Wa****s in the wind.

And I agree with you Mr C, "what surely matters is the value of that post to the debate?"

Unfortunately anonynous has no value to add to this post!!

The (official) Dlog

Anonymous said...

Returning to the subject for the moment is anyone else going to see Tom Peters when he is over in the autumn? Another egotist for sure but probably worth seeing.

As for 'new marketing' or whatever Seth calls it, my favourite author on it is David Meerman Scott. Anyone else I should be following?

C

Anonymous said...

what rubbish about Seth. He couldn't care less if Rachel turned up or not.He couldn't care less what she says about him. Hes a real player, one of the top 5 in internet marketing. He doesnt need any help from her. Neither does he care if she tries to make up stories about any suppossed association. Just to try make herself look important.

You are right theblog... i am not coming back here again. So good riddance to all this rubbish.

And if i was that woman in the audience, i would have made a far better job of it.

Anonymous said...

Missing you already....

C

www.Dream-Marine.com said...

I'm glad you have got that off your chest... Get over it!

Rachel, I will try and make it to Seth's event, but I have meetings in Southampton in the morning. Would like to go though.

All the best,

Chris

Cranberry said...

Darn it – looks like I missed all the fun! You can be damned sure that Anon will be back – just to see what people are saying if nothing else.

Whilst I don't condone what he said, I certainly think that varied views should be encouraged in order to keep this blog interesting. I mean, just look at the Walltastic thread – everyone is all:

“Brilliant”

“Well done”

“Great job”

...and the thread died a very quick death.

Basically, if people are in complete agreement, then things can become somewhat boring pretty quickly – especially in the blog environment.

So Anon – try and get your point across without being unnecessarily rude next time and maybe a proper dialogue can be had.

Anonymous said...

Is this a record for the most use of the word "shit" in a single thread?!

While anonymous may not have presented his arguement well, I believe his general point is a good one.

Rachel last said about Seth:

"I think it's the same sort of American arrogance that has seen George W Bush leave office as the most disliked US president on record (not to mention the damage done to the US brand) and was displayed by Dick Fuld as he nosedived Lehman brothers into the ground last year.

Let's hope Barack Obama brings back a sense of humility to the US people. "

So, if Seth is so opposite with your own values and the values of this new shiny world order where alpha males no longer exist, why would you promote him?

Perhaps for commercial gain? Oh no, that sounds very alpha to me!

C'mon Rachel, take a stand, grow some balls and practice what you preach.

Cranberry said...

Mr Dragon, it seems to me that Rachel was writing in anger and probably didn't mean what she wrote – other than trying to convey that fact that she felt he was being an arrogant Yank.

She obviously admires his work – so I think we can put the contradiction in attitude down to human frailty.

Anonymous said...

"Mr Dragon, it seems to me that Rachel was writing in anger and probably didn't mean what she wrote"

Very true Cranberry, but isnt anger a "very negative emotion" though?

Surely Goddess Rachel cannot be subject to such earthly weaknesses?

Cranberry said...

Indeed Mr A Dragon.

The likes of Seth or the Dragons on DD - so much of it is ego driven regardless of how it's wrapped up. It's no surprise that many people who have achieved business success go on the talks circuit. Yes, part of it is wanting to share their knowledge I'm sure - but the self satisfaction gained from saying “haven't I done well?” and the adulation which that brings will be in equal measure.

I suppose the fact that Rachel is coming from a position of business failure provides her with some greater amount of humility compared to the rest.

I'm not convinced that Rachel buys into her Goddess status – but she's been put there by some of those around her.

Anonymous said...

We all see people in a different light. How you perceive people is very much a reflection of your own life experiences.

I see different qualities in Rachel tha others do not see and vis wersa.

And perhaps to a certain extent i am blinded by that. Who knows?

Why can't people be respectful of that instead of bashing on about Godesses and snakes and what not?

Look for the good qualities, rather than be on the look out for human frailities and what not.

I'm sure even Obama isn't perfect.

Cranberry said...

Good post Stephen – I have a lot of respect for what you wrote.

Anonymous said...

That's half the problem in this world, we all look at the negative side of people instead of bringing out and seeing the good side in everyone.

No matter who you are or where you come from, each every person has good things about them, and that is what we should all be looking for; THE GOOD, in each and everyone, and from there to cultivate that goodness.

Oh what a wonderful place this would be if could do that.

the (official) dlog

Anonymous said...

"Why can't people be respectful of that instead of bashing on about Godesses and snakes and what not?"

I think I made a pretty valid point, and have been no less respectful than others can be on this Blog.

"That's half the problem in this world, we all look at the negative side of people instead of bringing out and seeing the good side in everyone."

Yes, true - the other half of the problem though is people achoeving fame or position based on support by the sheep mentality. It reminds me of Life of Brian "Ah the Messiah!" Everyone is looking for a sign...

Anonymous said...

Mr A Dragon

I agree with you completely. The advantage of being anonymous of course is that you are only judged on your views.

C

Cranberry said...

Agreed. As I've said in previous posts – you've always got to question. Blind faith (as per Mr A Dragon's sheep mentality reference) can be as dangerous as wanton deceit.

Nice to see Stephen making a measured response though - rather than angrily firing-off unquestioning support for Rachel in the face of something that could be perceived as slightly negative.

Anonymous said...

C said...
The advantage of being anonymous of course is that you are only judged on your views.


Anonymous people don't have any views. Anonymous isn't a real person. Anonymous is symbol of inhumanity.
Anonymous murders anonymous unseen.
or
Anonymous is murdered by anonymous unseen.

There are two kinds of anonymous:
Anonymous the terrorist.
Anonymous the victim.

Either way... anonymous is not a good way to be. Best to be who you truly are.

A human spirit - in body, mind and soul.

Anonymous said...

Oops I appear to have flipped Stephen off into his alternative reality again.

Sorry everybody, normal service will be resumed as soon as I can reset him.

C

Cranberry said...

C, if the world of mousetraps ever loses its appeal, go into writing Jeremy Clarkson style life-observation books. I think they would be a fun read!

Anonymous said...

Like i said.

We all perceive the world in terms of our own past experiences.

People should respect that.

What concerns me is that the moral high ground always seems to be held by the most unimaginative and to be frank, the down right corrupt.

We currently all live in that version of reality.

So yes, i do choose an alternative reality, but one that i believe is right.

Anonymous said...

Whilst inaccessible the reset button clearly works.

I don't profess to hold any morals so there's no danger of me being corrupt as by my own measure I cannot be.

However, I'm beginning to think that Stephen may be right and that I should stop being anonymous. I am therefore going to adopt a persona (not DLOGs I hasten to add).

C

Mr C said...

Ta Da!

C

Cranberry said...

C – pull out, you've gone too far – it's not safe being so transparent!

Anonymous said...

Thats a step in the right direction C.

Now lets get to the next stage as soon as we can, where C and/or Cranberry or Mr A Dragon or Anonymous become our good friend Colin or Mike or Julie - or whatever your parents named ya.

And that doesn't just go for you guys - also goes for everyone else who is anonymous on this blog as well.

Lets be havin ya!

And also go and see Rachel and other "blogfriends" when you have time... That's assuming you can travel.

best
Stephen

Mr C said...

Ooooh I feel all naked.

Of course I may see Rachel at Seth's talk. She'll be able to recognise me as I'll be the naked one in the audience. Well that assumes that Seth doesn't have a big following in the naturist community (its that bald head I reckon).

C

Anonymous said...

So Stephen is Mr C (formally C) now not anonymous?

Isnt "Mr C" just a collection of letters like "Stephen" or "DLOG" or "Cranberry"?

I also disagree with your take on anonymous.. Isnt Anonymous pure, because you have no preconceptions to colour the views expressed?

Anonymous said...

Isnt "Mr C" just a collection of letters like "Stephen" or "DLOG" or "Cranberry"?

"Mr C" doesn't exist. Neither does "DLOG" or "MrRobot". But Rachel and Stephen and Leona and Hani do exist. Mr C is just a made up persona. As is Mr A Dragon and Cranberry and all the others.

I also disagree with your take on anonymous.. Isnt Anonymous pure, because you have no preconceptions to colour the views expressed?

To say that "anonymous" is pure is like saying that the man walking away from the road traffic accident is pure, because he had nothing to do with it. But he is not pure because by the very act of walking away, people might die.

In the same way, when anonymous attacks Rachel - It is like a non-thing attacking a real thing.
This non-thing seemingly holds the same rank as everyone else on this blog. The only difference being that "anonymous personas" don't have to take any responsibility for what they say. When the "real" humans on this blog meet up, thats the time when the communication can be trustworthily verified.

Anonymous is a hiding place for scaredy cats.

What appears impartial, objective and non pre-conceived is in fact.

A place to hide.

Anonymous = Fear.

I should know. I have spent many years in this anonymous place.
Very hopeless place indeed.

Cranberry said...

Looks like C is about ready for Seth's talk - Rachel did ask him to expose himself to her after all.

On second thoughts C, that was Rachel's request – I'm not sure if everyone attending wants the pleasure!

hani said...

lol Enjoy your evenning Mr C aka C aka annonymous. I'm sure it would take a lot to surprise Rachel! I do remember a particularly amazonian male model at life drawing classes once, when he stood on the platform and raised his leg on a chair, half the class either fainted or left the room in a hurry!

hani said...

lol Enjoy your evenning Mr C aka C aka annonymous. I'm sure it would take a lot to surprise Rachel! I do remember a particularly amazonian male model at life drawing classes once, when he stood on the platform and raised his leg on a chair, half the class either fainted or left the room in a hurry!

Mr C said...

I'm beginning to think that Stephen wants a full DNA breakdown before he will accept me as not anonymous.

As for being naked, whereas I am perfectly comfortable with the idea, it is a bit cold outside. I suspect the net result would be something that would have a life drawing class reaching for their glasses rather than exiting the room.

C

Cranberry said...

Being a non-anonymous has its benefits. I mean, when you're not anonymous, any old clever-dick can come along to your homepage and provide a helpful critique. Stephen, given that you offer copy writing as a service, you might want to correct these methinks?

Top left:
“Discover what internet marketing programs work and what don't” [replace 'what', with 'which']
“Subscribe to our weekly report” [suggest putting a colon at the end of the sentence or at least a full stop]

Bottom left second paragraph:
“We are a group of highly motivate individuals...” ['motivated' maybe?]

Top centre paragraph:
“However, we provide many other services that compliment...” [wrong spelling - should be 'complement']

Mr C said...

Cranberry you pedant.

Now I am very tempted to come out so to speak. I know it will make Stephen very happy as he's been trying to tempt me out of the closet for a while now.

Why expose myself? Well apart from making Stephen proud, I am about to re-launch the marketing of the company I am buying including its web presence. It would be great to get your critique of my efforts. I'm even going to have my own blog which I hope will attract some attention from Stephen.

C

Cranberry said...

Yup, that's me - just don't ever get me started on the correct use of the apostrophe!

Looking forward to your most excellent outage C.

Anonymous said...

Whats this game you are playing C an?d Cranberry.

You are not thinking about starting an "Anonymous United" football team are you

Sounds a very cosy little place you're in there.

Its not real - you know!

Anyway, enjoy your games.

Cranberry said...

Eh?

C's talking about making himself known.

Surely that's something you'd be in favour of Stephen?

Roland Entrepreneur said...

Flippin eck !, I have been neglecting this forum for a few months and when I come back it is full of 'annonymous' tossers !!!

Reading back through the last few blogs, it seems to me that Rachel has not gone back on what she said re Seth.
Bit OTT but years back I very quickly went off Liam Gallagher due to his stupid drunken antics and I cannot stand the sight of him but I still love his music and continue to listen to him. Whats the difference ?

Anonymous said...

So who are you Cranberry? And Mr A Dragon and that 'Anonymous' nutcase who was having a real go at Rachel?

Who are you guys and what is it you do? Why so secretative?

You might not need any help from Rachel with your business, but you might be able to help others on here. Just give us a sight of who you really are and maybe we can all have a meet up for a laugh - or maybe to do some business.

Mr C said...

Damn where's that reset button again.

Stephen I don't suppose your surname is Schrodinger by any chance? I just wondered because you seem fixated on the idea that if you cannot directly observe something then it might not exist. That's a rather ironic viewpoint for someone who believes in God don't you think?

C

Anonymous said...

Stephen I don't suppose your surname is Schrodinger by any chance? I just wondered because you seem fixated on the idea that if you cannot directly observe something then it might not exist.

The question is not one of existence or observation. It is one of sincere participation.


That's a rather ironic viewpoint for someone who believes in God don't you think?

God did not make anonymous people.
Humans did.

Cranberry said...

Stephen, I've explained previously why I remain semi-anon. I do, at least, run a blog (of sorts) so you can get some idea of who I am.

If C's on the brink of outing himself, why don't you give him all the encouragement in the world rather than diverting your attentions to those who are perhaps not yet so inclined?

Anonymous said...

Hey C, wicked, not only you'll make Stephen happy, but you will make me happy to, heehee!!

thedlog

Anonymous said...

Hey C, wicked, not only you'll make Stephen happy, but you will make me happy to, heehee!!

thedlog

Cranberry said...

So, the red carpet is down, the champagne is on ice, Showaddywaddy is booked and Dale Winton has agreed to be the Master of Ceremonies.

How about a dedicated post from Rachel to celebrate this high profile event?

Cranberry said...

Something to lighten your day...


A woman is paying for her groceries and is alarmed when the cashier looks at her card and immediately picks up the phone:

“I assure you there are sufficient funds in my account”, the woman says.

“Oh, no – your card is fine”, the cashier replies. “I'm just checking that your bank hasn't expired.”


Badabumtish! Thank you very much, here all week – don't forget to try the veal.

Anonymous said...

If it helps, here are some anonymous entities.

1. The British Government for lying to the people over Iraq and causing us to create catastophe upon catastrophe in numerous wars.

2. Banks over the blackmailing and discipling of the general public because of their own mismanagement.

3. The FSA for allowing fiancial regulation to become a laughing stock.

4. Leaders who have allowed genocide.

5. The US Government for breaking the Geneva convention.

6. Mad Scientists and investors in mad science who irresponsibly engineer the destruction of mankind - just to make a quick buck.

7. The Media for fueling fear and paranoia in the mind of the people.

8. Secret sects and organisations that create seperation - not unity.

9. Celebrities who do not represent good role models to our children

10. Certain churches which harbour criminals and breed sick minded people

The People know these anonymous exist, but because they are anonymous they cannot be dealt with.

To go forward we must banish anonymous. We all need to take responsibility for our actions.

Greater transparency should not be supported by technology though.

It should be through face to face communication.

Cranberry said...

C's reset button clearly isn't working. I think a full reboot may be required...

hani said...

A lot of people would agree with Stephen, Cranberry. Perhaps we should all look at our re set buttons? Good to question our own beliefs as well as others. Always room to learn and see things differently.

Cranberry said...

Hani, I'm sure a lot of people would agree with Stephen – that's their look-out. Stephen's basically compiled a list of entities that have some level of responsibility and is claiming that they're all responsible for all evils in the world. It's so simplistic as to be naive.

By all accounts Stephen would like a world where all flows of information are conducted face-to-face because, somehow that would eliminate the possibility of deceit.

Chinese whispers anyone...?

Anonymous said...

I am just trying to prove to you why the "anonymous" entity is so devisive and so dangerous on the Net.

At least in face to face communications you get to look at the guy in the eyes.

Well, unless he is wearing sunglasses or a facemask to dinner of course.

Which is effectively what anonymous does here.

Cranberry said...

I understand what you're saying Stephen but it wouldn't change a whole lot.

An awful lot of scamming and deceit goes on in face-to-face communication as well as on the net.

Anonymous said...

An awful lot of scamming and deceit goes on in face-to-face communication as well as on the net.

Yes, this is true. But like i said to someone who screwed me once. You might have done a dirty thing to me, but if me and mine ever fall on really hard times.

I know where you are!

Such is the power of the

"un - anonymous"

Cranberry said...

Push that up the chain though and isn't that effectively what's happening to Sir James Crosby? He was part of one of these anonymous entities who were on the scam. He's now been busted and the populous is giving him hell – effectively saying “we know where you live”.

That's the thing about scam and deceit, you only know where it comes from once you realised you've been scammed.

It's perfectly possible, likely even, that most of us have been scammed, in some way or another, without ever realising it – and it's possible that we're still in communication, face-to-face or otherwise, with the culprits - still believing them to be upstanding citizens.

Anonymous said...

Yes and this is the interesting thing about FAILURE.

Learning Patterns of failure is seriously important, because you can see much more than those who have "supposedly" only ever known success.

Failure gives you that vision which is the difference between being mediocre or developing into a serious player.

It gives you that intrinsic power to look straight past the illusion created before you - right into the heart of the problem and beyond to the source which lies hidden somewhere behind.

What i have found in people who have known great failure is that they tend to ask different questions than their successful counterparts. These questions, albeit extremely painful are nevertheless designed to extract the pain. It just comes down to whether people are willing to accept pain, in order to achieve success.

Unfortuanately, there are so many organisations which do not wish to ask such questions - but as we now see with the credit crunch :

They have been living on borrowed time.

Anonymous said...

"You might not need any help from Rachel with your business, but you might be able to help others on here."

Yes, as soon as we start talking business on this Blog, I would be happy to help anyone.. I am a regular contributor to several proper business forums..

Also as to you definition of anonymous or otherwise, we dont know were every else lives, so we are all still anonymous, arent we? With or without a real pretend name!

Cranberry said...

What's your line of expertise Mr A Dragon?

Anonymous said...

Now that would be telling..

I know a little about running an internet business..

Apparently the internet is quite big these days and not like the wild west as that web-hater Stephen would have us all believe!

And you Cranberry?

Cranberry said...

Interesting – can you elaborate as to what kind of internet business? You don't need to be specific but what general sector?

I'm a humble rag-trader me.

Mr C said...

Isn't every business pretty much an intenet business nowadays, its just some don't know it yet? Gosh I almost sounded like Seth.

As for failure Stephen I do sort of agree with you. Success does lead to complacency whereas people who pick themselves up after a failure do have a more rounded outlook.

I have been lucky but I know that that luck might run out one day. I am not sure I would have the courage to do what Rachel or Bradley have done. I'd probably just slink off to the Caribbean for a few years snorkelling. You should see me snorkel!

C

Mr C said...

For that matter you should see me slink, I'm world class at the art of slinking.

C

Rachel Elnaugh said...

I tell you what. All you Anonymice commentators go over and subscribe to my new forum www.rachelelnaugh.me - it's free - and not only can you spark off threads to your hearts content, I will organize a grand 'coming out' party in London so we can all meet and get to know one another properly...

Controversy + free booze how can you say no?

Meantime Mr C: MikeB and me will see you at Seth's gig on Tuesday. We expect you to be wearing a red carnation and carrying a copy of the FT...

Rachel

Cranberry said...

Now here's a perspective that I think might ruffle a few feathers on this blog. Enjoy!

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=email_en&refer=home&sid=aZruAW7s2eLI

Anonymous said...

prefer not to read crass ignorance written by heavily discredited people Cranberry.

Prefer to read what is truthful and important to know.

The increasing price of food has spiked the number of hunger-stricken people in the world by 40 million to reach 923 million in 2008.

http://blacklistednews.com/?news_id=3300

Mr C said...

"prefer not to read crass ignorance written by heavily discredited people Cranberry."

Well you read my comments...

C

Mr C said...

Oh and Happy Valentines Day.

Thanks for the cards Stephen and DLOG, at least I assume it was you guys. The Ann Summers vouchers were a nice touch.

C

Anonymous said...

Hope you buy something that really
RAISES YOUR VIBRATION!!!!

thedlog

Anonymous said...

Trust Rachel to ask the first question.

C

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Oi C you should be listening to Seth, not blogging!!

thedlog

Anonymous said...

Nice of her to bring her son along.

Sad though that she still described herself as a dragon. I suspect she suffers from the same problem as me, namely it's hard to describe what you are when you're not in an obvious profession. I think she should describe herself in more flattering terms than dragon though.

C

Anonymous said...

which son would that be then?

thedlog

Anonymous said...

I noted that too. Is Rachel still a 'dragon' in the business angel sense (which confused Seth quite nicely!).

Cranberry

Anonymous said...

I'm guessing that sadly she is still better known for Dragons Den than anything else.

I was going to ask a question but felt slightly out of place running manufacturing businesses. Would have been even worse had I confessed to being an ex-banker.

Sadly not enough time to introduce myself to Rachel so will have to remain in the closet for the moment!

C

Anonymous said...

You and me both C!

Cranberry

Rachel Elnaugh said...

C

There was bags of time for you to introduce yourself C - pre-show networking, the two comfort breaks and straight afterwards.

I'm beginning to think you're like the Wizard of Oz - happy to make lots of posturity and noise from the safety of your anonymity but if we ever met you you would be a sad little man sitting behind a megaphone...

R

Rachel Elnaugh said...

Sorry, meant 'posturing'

Anonymous said...

How sad C that you did not introduce yourself to Rachel, I know I was looking forward to finding out who you were, but then I suppose Stephen is correct in his assumptions about anonyMOUSE.

thedlog

Mr C said...

Plenty of time if you got there early, didn't have to leave straight afterwards and were on your own. As it was I got there just before it started, had a guest with me and as DLOG knows I had to leave immediately afterwards because I had to catch a train.

Mind you, you could of course have recognised me because I was the one with the enormous megaphone...

C

Anonymous said...

Rachel is now discredited - it's official. Not only does she introduce herself as a Dragon ( err, hello, you're not anymore) but she uses the phrase 'comfort break'!

Cranberry

Anonymous said...

So what's your definition of a 'Dragon' then Cranberry?

thedlog

Anonymous said...

An investor on the BBC television programme 'Dragon's Den'. Correct me if I'm wrong but I beleive that's what the term referrs to?

Cranberry

Mr C said...

Rachel is no more a dragon than I am a drag queen. Ok, you'll have to take my word on that one.

C

Anonymous said...

So what you are saying is that no-one can be a Dragon off screen, well what a load of bo&%($#@ that is then.

thedlog

Anonymous said...

Well, in fact, yes dlog. The word is very specific and referrs to people on the tv programme. The fact that that woman at the talk referred to business angels as dragons was a total spill-over from the programme - and inacurate to the point of confusing Mr Godin.

We all know Rachel used the term in reference to the tv programme (in the present tense) so the question is why?

Cranberry

Anonymous said...

Several thoughts

C...What you did yesteday comes dangerously close to stalking - and certainly would be if repeated.. And whilst she doesnt say so here, I suspect that knowing you are being watched is at best very unnerving..and at worst can cause serious emotional stress as stalking cases prove.. Hide and seek on a blog can be fun In public it is something else.

And re the title.

If you asked a lot o people "who is rachel elnaugh of every 100 you found that had heard of her - I am guessing the answer of at least 80 of them would include the word "dragon".

Nobody owns that word. Least of all the BBC

And as for angels, since I have spent a fair amount of time with investors who I have seen wilfully and deliberately SCREWING inventors into unethical deals - I think the word angel should be barred. Most do not deserve it.

Anonymous said...

Wrong. What C did is no different to people on Facebook going to see the same rock group (not everyone on Facebook is who they say they are, you are aware of that I assume?). Stalking, as far as my understanding is making someone fear for their safety. I don't beleive C has said anything to concern Rachel on this front has he?

Rachel used the term dragon as a reference to re programme obviously. I find the most congenial people in life are those that are self effacing. It would have been much more accurate to say ex-dragon - and much more wnderaing also! We're back to the ego, profit, turnover, vanity issue again.

Cranberry

Anonymous said...

Well, sorry but I have to agree with Stephen, he actually got in before me.

Is the word Dragon 'copyright', um NO, so why can Rachel not be a Dragon anymore, maybe you think because she does not invest £'s and take a cut of the company then does not warrant being called a Dragon, well she invests masses of time and effort in helping people grow their business's.

And with reagrd to C, yes Stephen the word STALKER did spring to mind yesterday, and must say it was quite prominent in my mind, not of that I wanting to scare Rachel, but it does seem a bit strange that you C, don't seem to be prepared to reveal yourself, you have to admit it does leave the mind in a cynical position.

I myself have always been open to meeting anyone on this blog, and equally so some people have taken the dive so to speak and agreed to meet, so I do not consider myself to be an anonymouse, just ask Rachel, Stephen, Leona, Hani, Mike B, Alistair.

thedlog

Cranberry said...

Dlog, Stephen (Dlog – how did you know that post was from Stephen give that it's Antonymous?): what's wrong with you two?

You put yourself in the public domain – you say: “hey everyone, I'm going here”. Some people who heard you go also. Is it therefore requisite that those people make themselves known to you? Of course it's not.

Stop being such scaremongers and get a grip.

Anonymous said...

Hello,
I DID NOT POST ANYTHING AS ANONYMOUS.

I am not ANONYMOUS.

Neither are you, so stop playing games,

Please refrain from being stupid everyone.

I am happy to meet anyone on this blog in person at a time of their convenience.

Stephen Ryan
seodragons.com
stephen@seodragons.com

Mr C said...

If I have caused Rachel some concern or fear then I am deeply sorry for that was not my intention.

Stephen - I never assumed it was you anyway. If there is anyone on this blog who will tell me the way they see it it is you!

C

Rachel Elnaugh said...

If you saw the programme about Dragons' Den around the world there are now Dragons in every country, I do not think the idea is limited to only the 5 people currently on the UK show - especially as the first two series are constantly repeated on Dave and have just started airing for the first time on BBCAmerica.

Out of everything I have done I am most famous for having been on Dragons' Den so it only seems relevant to use it as a placer to an audience when you have just a couple of words of introduction.


Rachel

Cranberry said...

Stephen – I will doubtless make myself known to you at some point. Maybe Mr C and I should do it at the same time and then you can be doubly underwhelmed!

PS. Are you ever going to correct those errors on your homepage? I was trying to be helpful rather than obtuse.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps I was wrong, didn't read the post properly, should have realised that it was not Stephen cos he always uses his name.

Anyway, I still maintain that I am not anonymous and free to meet whoever so wishes, I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, in fact am probably to promiscuous at times, hence the name dlog!! heehee

thedlog

Anonymous said...

Ooh, perhaps Cranberry & C are one of the same!!

thedlog

Cranberry said...

So Rachel – can I watch your broadcast today for free or do I have to pay?

Cranberry said...

I assure you we're not Dlog. That would be way too elaborate to manage.

Anonymous said...

Ok

thedlog

Anonymous said...

I can see where Rachel is coming from with the "Dragon" thing.

At the end of the day she has to appeal to an audience and no doubt much of her audience were those who watched Dragons Den.

I am one of those Dragons Den watchers.

Can't watch it now!

Too many abusers in it. I don't equate these dragons as pragmatists. TV has turned them into abusers.

And these are the guys who thought they were so smart playing their games, whilst the economy was sinking into the ocean.

It was only the risk managers who continued to cry fowl and they were either sacked or marginalised in some way. Call it sour grapes, but not everyone agreed with these Dragon games.

Anonymous said...

thanks Cranberry, will check the site out. Its an off the shelf job developed using Joomla and i just said what i wanted and got it for $70. Haven't got to seo'ing it yet..
So no rep there.

cheers

Cranberry said...

No problem Stephen.

On the dragon thing, personally, I think it would make Rachel far more approachable if she said 'ex-Dragon'. It's a small point - but to say 'Dragon' isn't true, it smacks of bending the truth for purely egotistical motives. Everyone would understand exactly what she meant by 'ex-Dragon' and it would add an element of humility – which is one of her mantras no?

Rachel says there are dragons all over the world – by that I think she means that Dragons Den has been franchised all over the world and thus, 'Dragon', in common parlance, refers to investors on the tv programme wherever it is broadcast. As a point of interest, the BBC (as you would expect) have registered the trademark 'Dragons Den' #2390934, so they clearly have an idea about who or what a Dragon is in reference to a business investor.

If you met someone and they said that they were a dragon – what would be your response? Mine would be: “What? You're saying you're on Dragon's Den? I watch the programme and I've seen you sitting in one of those chairs.”

Cranberry said...

Oops - insert the word 'never' in the last sentence.

Cranberry said...

Anyone got any idea as to the largest number of comments in a single thread on this blog? This will be number 120 (unless someone gets in before me). That's got to be good going hasn't it?!

Anonymous said...

Cranberry, there was one which went to about 181 posts, if I remember correctly, I think it was the second half of last year.

thedlog

Cranberry said...

Right, I'd better whack up another post to see if we can beat that!

Oh, I just have.

Anonymous said...

I never had fame Cranberry, so i dont know how it operates in Rachels world. I suspect you tend to hang on and leverage every last ounce for as long as you can.

Whilst this may seem very egotistical the reality is that you won't be heard without the fame ingredient - so you milk it as much as you can.

At the end of the day Rachel is Rachel - whatever shes called.

My mum used to speak quite normally when she was around the house, but as soon as that phone rang she suddenly turned into the Queen of England.

That was her posh voice from the war office... She didn't even know she was doing it.

bless her. She was a darling.

Mr C said...

That's funny because when my mother answers the phone she is the Queen of England.

HRH C

Anonymous said...

Ha, well you don't even want to know what my mother sounds like!!

thedlog

Anonymous said...

Cranberry re broadcast

We are opening up just a couple of broadcasts to all and sundry that care to register (and leave a name and address, so that bars anonymous mr C out)

We want people to experience the idea and feedback for the concept has been brilliant so far...

PS.1...it is great fun. We have ultimate power to MUTE anyone we like!!

PS 2 C ..rachel is confident she knows who you are ...and the phrase "ex banker" gives it away.

Mr C said...

Mike

Shortly, and probably not before time, the world will be full of ex-bankers. These people lack any obvious skills and will need careful placement back into society. Being an ex-banker is no longer an exclusive club.

Rachel does not know me in the biblical or any other sense. In fact her grasp on my identity is about as firm as her grip on the financials at RLD.

C

PS. Mike when you say "we can mute anyone we like" surely you mean the opposite?

Rachel Elnaugh said...

C

I've already told you.

I'd love to meet you.

And I'd love you to join the webinars/forum...

Ball is in your court!

R

Anonymous said...

The only careful placement that bankers needs is "careful placement in prison".

You must be joking C.

Mr C said...

I was
C