Chris Batten CEO ipatter

I felt quite jaded come saturday morning but knew I had to put the week to bed and concentrate on all the great things we need to get sorted out for next week. So after a quick review of emails and a review of the figures, it was time to plan the week ahead, before concentrating on my other passion, writing. 

It seems the more time I spend designing the operations manual for our...

What a day Friday turned out to be. I remember saying, some time ago, to a group of small businesses that I was helping through my consultancy, that in business they would have days where they would need to deal with every emotion under the sun.

It's been a while since I have had a day like that, but Friday was one of them thanks to some great sales work by one of the team, some...

Another early start to try and get things moving for the new networking launch. I started the day working from home in the quiet hours and then ventured into the office in time to meet our new man from Kent. I have high hopes for him!

I spent  the best part of the morning going through the networking product with the man of Kent and then handed over to Andy for the more detailed...

There's so much going on in our business at the moment, I'm finding it difficult to sleep as there's so much on my mind! So up with the lark. In fact I got so carried away I ended up leaving late for work and getting stuck in traffic. At least that meant I was able to avoid the M3 drivers, but it did mean I got caught up in traffic! That gave me time to let my eyes wander and I...

My day today started as most of them do and I was on the road after my morning administration. Why is it that when you put a man behind the wheel of a BMW M3 they become complete idiots? As you've guessed, my journey in today required me to navigate around a middle aged M3 driver who thought he had the right to drive like a madman because I only have a 6 series. 

You can judge the...

For me the day began at 0500, shower, shave, tea, toast and then emails to the team. The snow is still quite thick on the ground and the journey into Norwich was predictably slow. 

Today was the first day in the new office and the first day for two new consultants and two new office staff. As a result, the day was predictably a mixed bag. My frustrations continued regarding some middle...

I woke to snow this morning and the sudden wish that I had said no to my tame 'Para', who I was to meet on the football pitch across from my house for my weekly military style workout. I remember when I saw him last week he told me to wear kit that I didn't mind getting dirty, really dirty! I dug out my old rugby kit, which reminded me, I really do need to loose some...

Up at 0400 today to catch up on a few things. By 0700 I was back on schedule, turned my attention to the next task, a mug of tea and poached egg on toast. Shower, iron my shirt and off to Norwich for my first meeting. 

It went well, I celebrated by going to the gym before my next meeting with one of my Regional Managers, I managed to take in a 45 minute spin class. The cycle shorts...

I thought I was going to finish and be able to relax at 20:30 last night, however things often don't go to plan, I ended up on the phone till well after the watershed and to be frank it was just as well as I ended up reverting to some well chosen anglo saxon. All done in the best possible taste you understand.

Up with the birds again this morning, yet another rush with no time for...