Two adages most frequently used in business (or anywhere else for that matter):

“Our best resources are our people”

“It’s not what you know – it’s who you know”

I first dreamed up mycelium some years ago, and would occassionally discuss it with trusted friends, all of whom thought it was a great idea.  However, it wasn’t until creating this website that I realised the web was the powerful tool needed to develop this concept.

I’ve met hundreds (well probably thousands) of people I admire who have skills, knowledge and talents that it’s worth others knowing about.  I meet many people who are making their way in the world doing things they believe in passionately, and I’m very lucky to move in circles where such folks predominate. I also know there are many more people out there not doing exactly what they want.

The concept for mycelium came from discovering the importance of fungi in natural systems.  When you see a mushroom or toadstool it is only the outward fruiting body of a living organism spread by millions of interconnected strands through the soil and flora of its environment.  Every part of the network is connected to every other part, and the function of the mycelium (which is what this organism is called) is to exchange nutrients – aiding the decomposition of old material to create fertile conditions for the creation of the new.

So our virtual network will do the same.   And just like the underground plant that we know as ‘fungus’ because that’s what we see of it, we’ll just carry on building contacts, learning about the resources of our network, feeding each other, quietly.  So when you register at mycelium (and it only takes a minute or two, so do it today!), do take the time to fill in your profile – because as this mycelium grows we will want to share what we have to offer and what we are looking for, gaining mutual benefit.  Later on we will have developed enough to burst into full view and scatter some wisdom and good consequences.  Our ability to inter-trade ideas, goods, services and support will feed that ability.

The spores have landed, and they are starting to germinate and take root. Then the network spreads.  Later it will fruit spreading new spores.  And so on.  I look forward to your contribution to that process.

Graham

I have been working for Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce on a contract basis for over five years, handling their Press & Policy functions.  Publicity is a key part of the Chamber’s strategy to grow its membership.  You can’t be the Voice of Business without a strong understanding of the needs and aspirations of entrepreneurs and how local, national and international conditions affect their ability to succeed.  So to be a spokesperson and manage a communications programme you need to be well informed, up to speed, and cultivate a wide network of contacts to develop the respect that gets your views heard.  The success of this contract is borne out by over four hundred interviews in the last twelve months (that’s nearly two per working day) and a growth in membership of 9% over that period.  You can check out a selection of issues and coverage here.

I started working for The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (psybt) in 1999 and spent six years running the Edinburgh Region (which includes East and Midlothian as well as the City).  Psybt was just coming up to ten years old when I joined.  The purpose of psybt is to help young people to start up and stay in business, and it has a phenomenal success record. I felt it was a great privelege to share the confidence of so many young people (the target group is 18-25 year olds), of whom I helped over five hundred set up in business.  The transition from having a dream to making it work is a huge challenge.  Not everyone turns into the next great entrepreneur, but it’s a fantastic learning opportunity, and one in which I felt my business experience was put to the best use!  I am still a volunteer mentor for the Trust working with Lightweight Medical in particular.  I’m sure I learned as much from my clients as they ever learned from me!

Assistant psybt Regional Manager, Rosie Dowie & yours truly adorn the steps of our Melville Street Offices in 2003.

Steve James:

Graham is a pleasure to do business with and it’s a refreshing change to work with such an organised and professional individual who thrives upon success showing 100% commitment to his clients to achieve excellent results. I would highly recommend his services to anybody and I certainly hope to develop our business relationship further. Many thanks again for all your help and support these past few months!

Steve James
Marketing Director
B2B Data Lists Group

www.B2Bdatalists.com

Liz Cameron:

Graham’s expertise has been invaluable to Scottish Chambers of Commerce.  He has a particularly strong understanding of both commercial and policy areas  with an exceptionally strong network across Scotland and the United Kingdom.  He has produced fantastic results for us, with measurable increased impact in our media coverage, profile and public affairs agenda.  We have even managed to have some laughs along the way and it is always fun doing business with him.  Highly recommended.

Liz Cameron
Chief Executive Scottish Chambers of Commerce

Tim Waddington:

Graham’s continuing work and support on the Business Scotland event is invaluable. Readily offering advice and inspiration in helping develop our business, his skills and knowledge of the business community are second to none. Professionalism and knowledge wrapped with a sense of humour and dedication to our project makes Graham an impressive package to work with.

Tim Waddington
Exhibitions Manager Jobserve Events Ltd

Ron Hewitt:

If you need connected in business you should give Graham Bell a call – he will help you find who you should be talking to and will quickly open their doors for you. Graham is the savvy journalist’s friend, the trusted contact of the key informers in press, radio and TV. He is their first point of contact because Graham can be relied upon to be in the know and they are always assured of a responsible, thoughtful quote delivered with wit and just the right level of sarcasm to make it the headline comment. His broad business background and commitment to help those wishing to develop their business ensures that clients from any market sector can be confident of understanding and support – just what you need when you are feeling threatened or excited enough to tell the world. His reputation as someone on whom you can depend if you need to run an effective PR campaign is second to none and I trust him to look after my closest business friends.

Ron Hewitt, Chief Executive Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

Melanie Harris:

If there is one man in Edinburgh who holds the little black book, it is Graham Bell.  His devotion over many years to helping others in business and in life in general means that he holds the keys to doors that other people don’t.  So in business if you want to reach the right people he is your man, and incredibly effective in creating PR.  As a friend he is invaluable and very special.  I have often asked Graham for favours for community based roles and he never fails to deliver.

Melanie Harris Director, The Training Tree Senator, JCI Scotland

Graham Birse:

Graham Bell’s experience of running his own businesses and mentoring others has provided him with a thorough understanding of the issues affecting the working lives of people in business. Moreover, he has developed an intuitive knowledge of the political and policy landscape of Scotland, enabling him to develop effective campaigns on behalf of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce which have helped us advance the cause of business.

Graham Birse Deputy Chief Executive Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

Colin Donald:

Every journalist has a small handful of prized contacts who never fail to give informed, interesting and spontaneously well-honed comment on any subject that you care to throw at them. For me, Graham Bell is one of them.

As spokesman for the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Graham is as good on the big national picture and on the local detail. He has a hard-won understanding of how business works, how people work, and how things could be run better for the benefit of all. This is combined with a healthy and entertaining cynicism and impatience with shoddy practice of every kind.

I can reliably expect to learn something to my advantage whenever I call him (unless it’s during the Test Match).

Colin Donald, Business Editor, The Sunday Herald

Neil Farish:

I have known Graham since I first started Lightweight Medical. I have always been able to rely on Graham to give straight up honest advice, especially with major decisions. He always went out of his way to help as much as possible and was a real factor behind our success. He really made sure you were making what you believed were the right decisions for the right reasons – not just telling you what to do. I was delighted when Graham offered to become our aftercare advisor through the PSYBT as it meant we could continue a great working relationship. I can wholeheartedly recommend Graham as he is the first person I would contact if I had a problem.

Neil Farish Director Lightweight Medical

Lorna Pellet:

Graham has a creative ear and a twist for every story that I’ve run past him.  Through Graham, I have taken part in a variety of PR opportunities, latest being invited to take part in a debate with a government Minister.  Graham’s contacts stretch throughout all corners of Scottish business, politics and education.   Lorna Pellet, Managing Director, Graduates for Growth “one of Scotland’s largest exports” Lorna Pellet Managing Director T: 0131 226 3775 M: 07763 211 630
Ross Laird: Graham Bell has demonstrated time and again to me his ability to comprehend detailed and difficult issues. His support to Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce members on a whole range of issues – and to me personally – has been first rate and he has emerged as a leading public policy thinker in his own right.   Ross Laird, Director, Grayling

Ann Baird:

Graham has worked with the Chamber for a number of years culminating in his current role of Policy and PR.   Graham has delivered a terrific service on both counts and there’s no doubt his years of experience either running  his own businesses, mentoring senior Directors and managing the Edinburgh and Lothians activities for PSYBT has led to him having an incredible list of contacts both in political and media terms.   Therefore, if one was to put a label on Graham we would suggest: “comes highly recommended”.

Ann Baird, Director Events, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

Sandy James:

There are people in this world who others will go to for help. When these people need help, they go to Graham Bell.

Sandy James, Son

Evelyn Macdonald:

I employed Graham Bell to manage the Edinburgh Region of The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust in 1999.  It was no easy task.  We were struggling to achieve half our target number of young business start-ups and knowledge of our work was virtually non-existent.  Within a year the region had been transformed.  Graham exceeded his target, established links with a huge network of interested individuals and organisations and raised our profile across the city.  He is fiercely intelligent, skilled in business, unerringly articulate (and impossible to manage!) but above all he is passionate.  Give him something to believe in and he won’t just go the extra mile he’ll go the extra hundred miles.  Graham left the PSYBT in 2005 but continues his involvement as a volunteer Mentor with the PSYBT’s Growth Fund.

Evelyn McDonald, Growth Fund Manager, psybt

Callum Macdonald:

For me as an aspiring young entrepreneur, Graham has been a source of inspiration, frustration, guidance, and the occasional much needed beer, for a number of years now. A figure of experience and (alleged) wisdom, Graham is always there when you need someone to call, and although you may not like it, he’ll always have something valuable to say.

Never afraid to shy away from a sensitive topic, or pussy foot around bureaucracy, Graham’s straight and to the point style is a breath of fresh air in these ever more political times. A trusted adviser and friend, Graham is a very valuable name on my contact list.

Callum Macdonald

Ali Morag Ross:

I give Graham my fullest support. We have worked together for over two years, and I find him extremely diligent, and hard working.  He shows and uses his own initiative, communicates well on paper and with people – what more can I say?  He has a good sense of humour and it has been my pleasure to have worked with him.

Ali Ross. Ross Tour Consultants.  Immediate Past Chair ECC Transport Group

Mike Breewood:

I first came across Graham as a volunteer Board Member for the Prince’s Trust in Edinburgh – later I encountered him in his role as the press spokesman for Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. In each role he contributed authority, novel ideas and constructive thinking. I have been happy to recommend him to a number of my clients and intend to continue to do so.

Mike Breewood, Director, Breewood Consulting

Ian Murray (MP):
Graham has a wealth of business knowledge that is unsurpassed when starting and developing a business.  He combines this with a humour, honesty and integrity that makes working with Graham both a pleasure and an experience. His credentials speak for themselves and I would class Graham as both an integral advisor to the businesses I have started and a friend. Ian Murray Councillor, City of Edinburgh Director, Southside Steamie; 100 mph Events

Paul Baxter:
In the six years Delphian has worked in proximity to Graham Bell, he has consistently demonstrated his capacity to shake the company’s approach to public relations. His fresh and often not-conventional approach invigorates and energises perspectives in marketing in PR: Why had we not thought of that before?   Paul Baxter Delphian Records Managing Director

This is a selection of projects with which I’ve been involved.  Some of them I initiated, some I led, some I just made a contribution, and they’re included here because of my high regard for the initiators, the people who delivered or are delivering the project, and the outputs they have achieved.  Not all the projects are current, but in these cases they’re included because they exemplify an approach or we are simply proud of what we achieved.  ‘We’ is inevitable, as nothing is achieved solo.  There are always co-workers, supporters, inspirers and consumers without whom there is no project.

Click here…

Graham Bell Associates  works with a select number of clients and have delivered many projects in recent years. These include:

•  Media work and public policy research for a number of Scottish business representation organisations.
• Media commentary on business and current affairs in the press and on TV and radio.
• A detailed study of the economic and social impact of local infrastructure in rural Scotland.
• Policy development, marketing and strategic advice for a transport business lobby group.
• Research and business advice for two Scottish think-tanks.
• Publicity and customer feedback for a range of trade shows.
• Organising and delivering seminar programmes at public business events.
• Planning and delivering campaigns for business lobbying groups.
• Planning and delivering training courses on a wide range of business improvement topics.

Empowerment comes from within.  I have been lucky in my life to meet many people who have understood this.  They have given me information, encouraged me, and sometimes pointed out where I was going wrong.  Sometimes I listened to them.  Sometimes I didn’t.  On occasion I realised the truth of their offerings years later.  Some of the things I need to learn in life are very difficult and I still struggle with them.  I suspect it’s the same for all of us. But we can all continue to improve- it’s the nature of the human race.

We are all influenced by our environment, our upbringing and our life experiences.

We get messages from everything we do or see – millions of them every day.  The effect is to convince us we’re ‘good’ at one thing, or ‘bad’ at another.

Part of the problem, I believe is that ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are very relative concepts, and not always helpful.  I find it more useful to look at what we do and evaluate the consequences of our actions. Our minds are in fact quite adept at this, but we also have to bear in mind the results won’t always turn out the same. It depends so much on circumstances.

To empower ourselves we have to believe in ourselves, but not too much! While a positive outlook is always good, you should also be willing to listen to others – “a mistake is only a mistake if you do not learn from it.”

A key to self-empowerment is the willingness to engage in lifelong learning.  The old saying ‘You learn something new every day’ is one of the healthiest attitudes to have.

Trusting our own intelligence is very important.  Often when we do things instinctively, it’s not a whim, but is based on our previous memories, which may well be sub-conscious. It’s also good to learn to trust in the wisdom of others, after all, none of us know everything about everything.

 In working with my clients I try to be aware of what will empower them to direct themselves to the best ideas, sources and actions; which will take them to the next place they want to be to achieve their goals. Finding out for yourself can be so much more satisfying than being told the answer, which is why we try to point in the right direction rather than laying everything out. Giving advice is only a last resort; since most people will switch off or mentally criticize when they hear what sounds like preaching.

This slide presentation might help your empowering feelings shine through.

Do you have an empowerment experience?  Log on to the Mycelium forum and share it!

GATEWAYS TO AMBITION

If your goal were the tower in this picture, what would you do to reach it? Open the gate, yes? It seems so simple! Unfortunately business problems are rarely so obvious, and you might need a little help finding a good route to your goal.

Graham Bell Associates can help you find that elusive gateway, and see how to open it.  There are no big secrets.  You maybe just need to:

• plan to open it
• train how to open it
• learn the patterns that will lead you to the opening
• give yourself permission to tell it to open
• get some allies to help open it

Contact us using the details in the sidebar if you’d like to find out more.

Though we have a National stadium in the middle of a chemical works, in the pouring rain, we can still achieve.  Can’t we?

Teaching and learning is one of my biggest passions. For years I have been a teacher, and teacher of teachers. I have also been a learner – I believe firmly in lifelong learning; learning a new thing every day; teaching an old dog new tricks… whatever you like to call it!

Graham Bell Associates offers lecture series and training programmes on the following subjects:

- The media in Scotland

- Public Relations

- Public Affairs

- Trends in public policy

- How government works in Scotland

- Lobbying and business representation

- Media and the Government in Scotland

- Renewable energy and future markets

- Sustainable development

- Managing carbon footprint

- Business planning with a difference

- Making a Marketing Plan

We believe people learn better when they are engaged and interested – and that doesn’t just apply to schoolchildren! We build our training courses to be interactive, dynamic, target-specific, and never longer than necessary. Our teaching methods are flexible, and we are happy to speak at conferences, private businesses, or other functions, on these and related topics. Use the contact details in the sidebar to find out how we can help you.

We are strong supporters of the Business Mentoring Scotland program, engaged as both a mentor and mentee within the system. This is a great opportunity for impartial advice from an assigned mentor, helping you learn about yourself and business in a one-to-one environment.

 For many years I have been a permaculture design course leader – click here for training related to permaculture. <link page under construction – please bear with us while we work through our web updates!>

Research can provide surprising insight into your competitors, consumers, and your business practices. It can help you predict how the economic climate will affect you, or whether you’re really getting the best priced stock. It can uncover strengths and weaknesses you may not even have considered.

Having a strong business strategy helps your business go in the direction you want it to. If your employees always have the big picture in mind, alongside the task at hand, they can always be moving your business towards that end goal – whether that be a worldwide customer base, unrivalled service, or carbon-neutrality – whatever you see for your company’s future.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Graham Bell Associates specialises in research into Scottish economic, business and social issues with an emphasis on original, insightful outcomes that deliver real advantages to the client. Capabilities include:

• Public policy development and public affairs advice
• Economic and market research
• Business analysis and financial modelling
• Management consultancy
• Social attitudes research
• Analysis of economic and government data and policy announcements

We can help you work out your goals and/or strategy; and how to implement them effectively. Just get in touch using the details in the sidebar.

For an interesting take on an all-pervading business goal, learn a little about Microsoft’s ‘Blue Monster’.

Business Planning in a bottle:

Business is like sailing – because if the winds of change are blowing, you’ll veer off course.  And in business, just like at sea, things are always changing – you have to have enough assets to get you back to dry land, even if the worst happens. 

Are your crew good enough? Is your ship well enough designed, is it being properly maintained? Is it robust – do the boards flex in harsh weather or snap under pressure? Is the whole exercise worth it at all?

Of course in business we are talking about product, service, pricing, suppliers, competition, risk management, team building, cash flow, profit and loss.  Business is an immensely complicated system, and you’d better know how to read your compass.

We can help you find true North, and stay on course, because in the past our boats have hit icebergs, mutinied, made deals with Davey Jones – and had fair weather sailing laden with bounty too!

Graham Bell Associates specialises in public relations and media advice, public affairs, speech writing, and media commentary. We have unrivalled connections in the Scottish and UK media and have the capability to draw up media strategies to promote specific campaigns, or to react swiftly to developing events.

Tell Me More

Isn’t that what communications is about then, telling people stuff?

Well, only partly.

There’s an old saying that we have two ears and one mouth because that’s the proportion in which we were meant to use them.  Listening and observing can be as vital as expressing ourselves.  As any successful business person will tell you – sales are made by understanding the clients’ needs, long before you tell them how good you are.

There are lots of ways of communicating.  They include:

Speech – Talking and listening to consumers, so that you know your business is bringing them all they need and nothing they don’t. It’s that second part that so many otherwise good businesses fall down on – assuming they know what people think of them instead of finding out for real.

Writing – Far from obsolete, effective, engaging writing is perhaps more important now than ever before. Being engaged with the media, building a brand-strengthening website, or simply writing a ‘thanks for your custom’ card can help set you apart from the crowd.

Visuals – From having a snazzy store front or advert, to a barman who’s still smiling in the wee small hours, what people see when they think about your business can be just as important as what you say about it.

Body Language – As important for the receptionist as the CEO, because behavioural experts or not, all people can read what you wouldn’t say aloud, in your movements and expressions.

Smells – Why else would supermarkets pump ‘fresh baked bread’ through the air-con system, but because it makes consumers linger longer and spend more money? And we all know how dogs prefer to say hello…

There are lots of reasons for communicating:

To express feelings, desires, threat or counter threat, sharing knowledge, influencing others and companionship would be some basic human needs.

In business we communicate all of those, but may have more specific objectives – to sell ourselves and our ideas and products, to cut a bargain, to get paid, to transmit messages of fact, to ask directions (physically and mentally) to praise or to criticise. 

And there are lots of ways to communicate. Here’s a few ways we’ve aided clients’ communications in the past:

Marketing material

Sales presentations

Media representation

Advertising

Internal communications

Public speaking

Brand & Image

But we’re always looking for new challenges, and in this multimedia age your communications possibilities are almost endless. We can help you decipher which method(s) will work for you and your business, based on your particular issues and the resources you have available.

I’ve earned my living for many years as a communicator.  If you think your business could use a helping hand in this truly vital area, get in touch using the details in the sidebar.

A Team of Young Design Engineers Who are Changing the World

2003 was a fecund year for the birth of young companies.  Well at least as far as Lightweight Medical was concerned.  I was bothered that ‘Lightwieght’ was a poor marketing catch, implying ‘lacking in substance’.  I even got on the blower to check out whether we could actually fund these guys (well, they were predicting NO INCOME for the first twelve months!) – and they were right (nearly).  But twelve months later they won the Shell Livewire award for Scotland …. and after that for the UK.  The stuff was good because it was Lighter!  In particular, their portable baby incubator.  To be launched in September this year this marvellous invention will enable sick kids to be rushed to hospital so much easier than before…. from anywhere in the world.  An offshoot has been Element 6.  Something I have taught practised and believed in for years.  Environmental design! These days I just do some mentoring and the guys keep coming up with great ideas.