Flexible Thinking Forum

Here’s a way of getting free football tickets (if that is your wish) or creating a week-long lecture tour of Wales at about 15 different locations with the minimum of resources (which happens to be Andy Green’s latest wish!)

I am passionate about the power of networks and people coming together to achieve great change.

During a training event organized by Leeds Chamber of Commerce for small businesses called ‘You are never more than 12ft from an opportunity’ I proved how my teachings work.

The course aims to boost opportunity spotting skills. Normally, we do a session on getting connections with a celebrity. On this occasion I added another challenge to the mix: being a football fan I was keen to get a ticket for the sell-out game that evening, the hottest ticket in Yorkshire; the play-off semi-final Leeds United v Millwall. Tickets were like gold dust.

On giving the group the challenge of finding me a ticket, they quickly identified at least three potential avenues – within an hour, I had got a ticket for free!

It was a brilliant atmosphere at Elland Road, reminiscent of the old days, with both sets of fans giving it 110% to get behind their teams.

The Wales Tour 2009
What’s this got to do with a tour of Wales?

I am using the same process to make an extensive lecture tour of Wales happen. (You may know I have a crazy lifestyle, where I have an office in Yorkshire and my family home is on beautiful Barry Island, near Cardiff.)

During the week of June 29th to July 3rd I will be travelling around the Principality in my ‘World’s smallest conference centre’ to speak to different groups to get the message over about how each of us can transform the negative of the global economic recession into new opportunities, possibly even Golden Swan opportunities.

I am offering to do talks completely free of charge as I am passionate about enabling people to overcome adversity and make the most of new opportunities. It’s all part of a bigger venture I am doing, with the launch of a new book, ‘The Upturn: my part in its rise’, planned for publication later in the summer. It’s about equipping people with new skills so they can make the most of now in what I call ‘the age of disruption’.

Already we have a tour consisting of:
Monday June 29th in Cardiff at a major business networking event, with Cardiff City Council, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Admiral Insurance and the Royal Society for Arts
Tuesday June 30th University College Swansea, Dyfed-Powys Police headquarters, Carmarthen, Trinity College Carmarthen
Wednesday-Friday more dates to be added in Aberystwyth and North Wales.

By making approaches to contacts, and also working in partnership with groups including the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, the Royal Society for Arts and social enterprise network Unltd. the whole things is coming together.

Anyone interested in helping, having a talk at their place of work or network group, then do please get in touch. It will be great to hear from you, and make something happen.

Here is a mailer for the events, to describe what is being offered:

‘The Upturn: your part in its rise’
- what you can now to make the most of the age of disruption

A 30 minute talk by a world-leading creativity expert to inspire you, help you be more resourceful, spot opportunities, overcome any negatives and harness any positives in the recession.

At a venue near you, as part of a week-long tour of Wales, June 29th – July 3rd.

What can you do to make your life better with all the economic doom and gloom around?
The answer actually, is quite a lot.

Leading creativity expert Andy Green in his new book ‘The Upturn: my part in its rise’ (due out summer 2009, Tangent Publishing) highlights how each of us is a potential green shoot for recovery, in what he calls ‘the age of disruption’.

In a 30 minute entertaining, inspirational yet practical talk you will go away with at least three new ideas and strategies of what you can do different to be more resourceful in the current economic climate.

You will also pick up valuable flexible thinking and creativity tips and advice – helping you achieve more with less – by identifying new opportunities in these uncertain times.

You need to think and act differently at a time when changes are being thrust upon you. By exploiting your flexible and creative thinking you can be more resourceful for surviving, flourishing – or even taking advantage of what Andy calls ‘Golden Swan’ opportunities.

If ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is a ‘feelgood movie’ then this is a ‘feelgood talk’ with its story of renewal, and looking on the positive side of destiny.
To adapt a Latin phrase, let’s ‘Carpe Disruption’ – seize the disruption.
Andy Green is the author of several books on creativity and communication including ‘Creativity in Public Relations’ now in its third edition and translated into over nine languages. He lectures around the world on improving flexible and creative thinking skills to enable people to achieve more with less. He is a partner with GREEN communications and founder of the Flexible Thinking Forum. Andy now lives on beautiful Barry Island.
To get his message over Andy Green is taking to the road, doing a one week tour of Wales between June 29th to July 3rd 2009 in venues big and small. He will be travelling in his ‘World’s smallest conference centre’ (a two-seater smart car which has hosted luminaries such as Ed Balls MP, and leading architect Will Alsop).

Andy is giving up his time for free for the venture, to spread the word about how each of us can ‘Carpe Disruption’ – seize the opportunities within these challenging times we face.

Further details from Andy Green on 0845 450 3210 or e mail andy@greencomms.com
Can you afford to miss this opportunity? Remember, it’s now, ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going faster’.