This episode was streamed live on Periscope on Paul's account. Recorded in the Republic of Work in Cork by Paul O'Mahony & Roger Overall. We discuss unpredicted topics that matter when you want your business to be genuinely attractive. Attractive to customers, staff, suppliers & shareholders (and your boss). "Our listeners are number one" There's a Story: You hear the story of Peter Cox, Neil McShane, Fiachra Muller, and Roger Overall, a production team and the talents. 1917 (the film) came up - Roger shows off his knowledge of the cast, and empathy for the poor, neglected production team. We also discuss the BBC Radio 4 game Just a Minute. It takes time for us to decide on the main topic for this episode. Paul suggests the topic "what should a big organisation do when it has a lousy reputation among one of its subsidiary companies?" Paul asserts "the EU did not become genuinely attractive". Roger vetos discussion of Brexit. Roger's topic is "what we grappled with in The Laboratory: how can we attract more subscribers to our newsletter?" Roger challenges the wisdom "If you want money, ask for advice. If you want advice, ask for money." We reveal we call our newsletter a Dispatch. [As part of our marketing, we've drafted two friendly emails to people we know. One says "please give us advice", the other says "please give us a subscription." We send emails every Friday.] The advice Roger's received from Karen at Burren Smokehouse & Joleen Cronin, founder of Irish Redhead Convention encourages us to go further into the bizarre with our dispatch (newsletter). We need to include more visuals. We need to include more variety. The poem is not enough. (It's the most radical thing we do.) There's more we could be doing to show the range of our talents. [Go to showandtell.ie to sign up for our Dispatch (weekly newsletter). The Dispatch doesn't cost any money yet] At last, we get an opportunity to dwell on Accountants with Loud Socks in pinstripe suits. Plus what their clients don't realise. There are implications : "Put on a loud colourful tie", a bit like the Yachting Financial Solutions fluorescent green. But there's no need for you all to wear yellow jackets. We've been advised Why Not Be Bold. Don't be afraid to be yourself. Roger says "I thought we were flamboyant & bizarre in our Dispatch." Paul suggests "our dispatch is predictable". To be more bold - every issue should have a new feature. But it's not easy to go from four hours to 30 hours, even by going from weekly to fortnightly. Remember this: if you reduce the frequency of your newsletter, some people will think you're on the way out. Seth Godin sends a daily email, Our listeners can be very influential over the future of the company. Which day of the week would you like your newsletter to arrive? Eventually, we become frivolous: Louis (Paul's English Setter) is the company mascot and team leader, if you like. This is not a vegan podcast, Roger remembers to say. We'd love you to do two things. Please send this podcast to a friend. Please subscribe to the newsletter Dispatch.
