@Ana Beard Thank you, recovery is going really well.

To my recollection, WFR started by Connor and Jon (EBG). For those who purchased the M82 book there were a selection of recordings, presentations and other useful and insightful shenanigans. The other aspect was that we all gained a secure and safe place to say what we wanted, how we wanted with regard to our businesses and efforts to increase sales.

I meant to add - I learned a great deal both from Jon and Connor but also the group. There was some banter and no one was so invested in a given method or opinion that they were unable to change. People applied different skills and techniques, shared feedback and discussed ways to improve or completely change their strategies/actions altogether. I now consciously try to accept ultimate responsibility for everything that goes wrong. I still think a lot of people are twats and will attribute some blame to them - room for improvement. I look for ways to discourage calls from the wrong people, in fact I discourage calls altogether. Website contact form that must be completed in full before it can even be submitted for my review. I charge up front for a site survey (discounted from final project invoice) in order to get rid of time wasters and all the while I am looking for reasons not to work with someone. - I do not want to fit a replacement door handle or hang a shelf for Mrs Higgins so I not only avoid marketing to them but try to make sure they know not to bother asking. I could be wealthier or have more time to myself, I am working to that end slowly and surely. The biggest thing I have gained is a degree of sovereignty. I choose my projects, I will say no to a prospect or client and I am happy to walk away if the job or situation does not suit me or I am not willing to bend to demands even if it means I lose money in the short term. We are a small business and in April 2026 we will have survived for ten years, by the skin of our teeth at times, but we will have made it to a point that approx 10% SMEs reach. Each year we have faced different challenges from Covid, poor management on my part, economic downturn, family illness and my own cancer. We would not be here without the guidance of Jon, Connor and WFR.

@Chris Spruce you could try. 🤣🤣🤣

Q - charges for quotations, site surveys and design. How would you and the gang suggest I respond to clients and prospects who question such charges? We charge for site surveys prior to quotation for all new prospective clients - EBG terms in essence, only refunded upon completion of project or if I decide I can’t or won’t do the job. (£100+vat) Quotations take a lot of time and design work takes longer. I am looking to streamline design process in the next couple of months. I will try and make the livestream but depends on situation on site.

Innaproppriate course delivery - english teachers providing training for SIA (Security Industry Authority) courses for Security Officers, Door Supervisors and CCTV Operatives - The SIA also cover Close Protection Officers though I am not aware of this occurring on that sector. First Aid, Health and Safety type courses, for example, where there is so much scope to a potential injury or situation, there is often a 'right' or wrong way of doing something presented by a course provider but it is not accompanied by notes from experience. Lack of experience and/or knowledge or confidence result in text book answers for textbook examples and no scope for intellectually exploring real life, non-textbook examples. If you know your subject well enough to take payment for teaching/training/assessing then you should be able to discuss the outliers with confidence.. We are told that if someone sustains significant burns we should keep it all clean, sterile and cover in aloe vera to cool the area. What they wont tell you is that if someone has big burns and no aloe vera to hand, you can, and should look for the nearest pond, puddle or other and chuick them in it. The heat and continued burning is killing them now - infection risk comes later, when they are in hospital, under intense monitoring, with treatment, medication, painkillers, and a shit tonne of aloe vera. My point is - I can read a book - I want to interrogate the subject, explore ideas and understanding.