I'm working just outside Zurich for a few days so I thought I'd take the opportunity to explore the city today. I arrive before nine in the morning and the place is empty but then on reflection, Brighton probably doesn't get going until 10 or 11 most days either.

I've been re-reading "Getting The Life You Want by Richard Bandler". It's recent publication is a clever, some might say cunning move from the co-creator of NLPⁱ. He has certainly been learning a lot about presenting himself to the general public from his erstwhile student Paul McKenna.

I'll be saying a lot more about that another time but I was struck by a synchronicity, a co-incident of meaning earlier today. I'd just been skimming the book for good quotes when I came across this in a passage about overcoming fear of public speaking.

I've just watched the most extraordinary film “Man on Wire” about the exploits of the wirewalker Phillipe Petit.

It's a beautiful film. It has all the tension of a thriller with the poetry of an art house movie and at it's heart is an amazing story: how in August 1974 Phillipe Petite and a team of his closest friends succeeded in running a wire between the Twin Towers and staged a 45 minute wirewalk half a kilometer above the streets of New York.

One of the challenges that all businesses face is how to keep ahead of the game by innovating new products and services for their customers.

Back in the last century sometime, I was languishing, one year into a PHD in "learning in complex product systems". The truth was I had got lost in academic theory and I was dying to get out and connect with people again.

Downs Junior School have £4400 for four artists to collaborate on running an Arts Week from the 15th- 19th June. The Theme is Brighton Beach. Budget is to cover fees and materials and artwork will be made out of recycled materials and sourced and built in an eco-friendly and sustainable way. Site visits are first week in February so contact Claire.Brown@brighton-hove.gov.uk if you are interested.

Aspex artist resource centre (Arc) in Portsmouth are offering a £1500 award to artists and designers in the south east.  The award is to develope and show work at Aspex

Deadline for applications is Saturday 28 February and interviews will take place at Aspex in mid March.

Awards for Artists and Designers in the South East, UK

I've just been on a detour of web wide commentary and analysis of the prevailing economic climate and why we are all doomed for years to come.

I'm not going to provide links because i.m.h.o, none of it is relevant anyway.  It doesn't matter what the papers say or what the experts forecast.

Because the things that matter for success in business and in life are exactly the same whether in bust or boom.

Russell Potts is starting a new hypnosis group in Brighton.  He already has one regular group going but this one he says will be focused much more on the esoteric side of what he does.

Surviving a recession is a little like that joke about two guys who meet a bear in the woods.  "We can't outrun a bear!" says one guy and the other replies.  "I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you."

If you run a small to medium sized business employing 5 to 100 people then Fresh Business Thinking have a Leadership Development Forum designed just for you.