15 seconds of fame

Andy Warhol once said that everyone would be famous for 15 minutes. Of course he lived in the more leisurely sixties, and if he was still alive today and coping with our ever decreasing attention spans, he would surely have rejoiced in the fact that everybody’s day in the sun would now be much briefer than he ever would have envisaged.

Anyway my 15 seconds have arrived. I was quoted in parliament yesterday during the budget debate, in a speech made by Mary Macleod, the newly elected MP for Brentford and Isleworth. In true deprecating accountant manner, it was not something I actively sought. I was asked by the Hounslow Chamber of Commerce to provide a suitable comment for inclusion in Ms Macleod’s speech, which I did. The rest, as Andy Warhol would no doubt say, is history.

OK it may have been slightly tarnished by the fact that they got my first name wrong, but that isn’t unusual, and at least they spelt the surname correctly. Maybe the gods of fame might take pity on me and allow me another 15 seconds some other day…

2012 and all that

Friday 19 Dec 08 - There may be doubts as to whether the Chancellor’s VAT stimulus is the best way to get the economy going, given its consumer focus rather than business one, but there is another massive injection of cash taking place targeted directly at businesses that should have them salivating.

I refer of course to the 2012 London Olympics. To investigate these opportunities further a couple of us pitched up to a briefing held at Lords Cricket Ground (it’s a tough life etc…..) run by the London Business Network. There we listened to speakers from the London 2012 Forum, UKTI and even the British Columbia Ministry of Technology (I am sure I don’t need to tell you that the 2010 Winter Olympics are taking place in Vancouver).

Case studies were also presented and it was worth noting that it is not just businesses that are involved in construction and sports services that will benefit. Examples were given of small local florists and catering companies who have also won contracts.

One other point that emerged from the Lords briefing was that Olympic and sporting opportunities should persist long after the flame has been put out on the London games due to the transferable skills that will be gained in the infrastructure and support industries. There are world and regional championships being held on a frequent basis that could provide business opportunities for those that keep their eye on the ball.

I am sure that SMART businesses have already registered with the opportunities website but for those that have not quite got round to doing so the link is below.

London 2012 Opportunities