Some Rules for Meetings.

 1, Keep them short. If someone wants an hour, allow them 30 minutes. Create a culture of doing the thinking before the meeting and not during it.

2, Have uncomfortable chairs.

3, Switch all phones off. Even better, don’t have Wifi in the meeting rooms.

4, Serve strong coffee and good tea.

5, Agree who is responsible for ‘Next Action’.

6, Agree the deadline for the ‘Next Action’.

7, Write a list of ‘Next Actions’ by whom and by when.

8, Distribute the list to all of those in the meeting (After the meeting).

9, Refer to the list at the next meeting.

10, Finish after 30 minutes, even if the meeting isn’t done. It will encourage people to be more concise next time.

11, Less time in meetings – More time for Doing.

Tickets for The Do Lectures sold out in April. (Before we announced the speaker line-up which was very humbling)

We are limited by a couple of factors. How many we can sleep. And how many we squeeze into the tent.

The capacity of the tent is greater than the accommodation.

That means we are able to offer 5 places to attend The Do lectures as a day attendee.

So what does that mean?

Well, you will have to find your own accommodation in town as the price of the Day ticket (£1K)  doesn’t include accommodation or breakfast at fforest.

But it includes everything else.

So you will see all the talks, do the workshops and music etc.

To apply for an attendee application form: email: info@thedolectures.co.uk

Where do you turn if you want make a start, or change, to your career, pursue an interest, or develop a new skill set? For the most part, it would seem education is the route that many take to achieve their goals. Is this the only answer? What about the apprenticeship? Not volunteering or interning, but a full or part time job – an exchange of time, skills, and enthusiasm between employer and employee. This isn’t about altruism or charity. An apprenticeship provides the employer with an enthusiastic employee who, in return, receives a precious new skill set.

Apprenticeships thrive in some areas, for example among the trades and with more traditional craftsmanship, but surely this model is applicable across the board? Not everyone can actively learn in a classroom. Many people cannot balance the education-work lifestyle. Others are simply put off going into an academic environment for a whole host of different reasons. An apprenticeship fills this gap; the kid just getting out of school, the university graduate looking for direction, the mid-career changers, and those seeking a new chapter after retirement.

I can’t think of an industry that wouldn’t be able to accommodate the apprenticeship model. There are boundless opportunities out there that would bring about enormous benefit to companies, organisations, and individuals. Apprenticeships are ultimately about doing. Perhaps the Do Lectures could help facilitate a Do Apprentice? Ask a handful of speakers each year to commit to providing a structured apprenticeship to recent school leavers, who may not otherwise be presented with such an opportunity.

I have asked friends and family what undertaking they would pursue if provided with the opportunity to engage in an apprenticeship. Answers included landscape gardening, web design, agriculture, film making, human rights advocacy, and journalism. What about you? If you could take up a one year paid apprenticeship what would it be?