Yogi has now relocated to Nottingham and is living in one of the apartments that Nick has just finished, it looks like Aces Trumper will also be having one of those when he moves to Notts in December. Orginally Chuubs was planning on moving aswell, but I don't think its necessary in his role and he has his familiy to take into consideration as well, his Mum and Dad live with him and his kids are settled at school. Its a measure of the committment that people have to DTD that they are willing to up sticks and move for the venture. Nick has almost finished the office space above my pub, there is loads of room, so we have a base to work from for DTD.
Nick's is away in Egypt on a diving holdaiy for 7 days, he's back in the UK next Monday but back at work on Tuesday, setting up the portacabins outside the club. Scotty, Nick's assistant in Matrix is moving over to the DTD project aswell. All 3 of us were in the same class at primary school, funny how thing turn out, who would have guessed we would be doing this 29 years later! I do go against traditional business principles that say you should not employ your "friends and mix business with personal life etc" It works for me, we work together as a team most of the time, and if the XXXX hits the fan, and theres an argumentment, its forgot about (most of the time!). My recruitment business is run by one of my best friends, Tony Minnis, and that works fine for us.
I've had a personal development this week, I have decided to move house, but only 2 miles from my current home, in Strelley in Nottingham. A place has come up for sale that also has a bungalow as well as the main house, its perfect for my disabled sister, Tishie, as she is in a wheelchair. I have had the offer accepted so its all gong ahead, I've lived in my current house for 13 years, so it will be really sad to leave, but I have to think of the future for my familly and although our current living accomoadtion is good, this place ticks all the boxes and is the best long term solution for my family. I won't move in until next April though, as there will some adaptations to do for my sister. Don't worry........it is more than suitable for a Yongsta Home Game!
Busy week next week, loads of DTD stuff to do, lots of people coming to see me about various things. I know we have email and MSN nowadays, but I still like the old fashioned way of doing business, face to face. You can't beat the personal touch in my opinion, cyberspace is a great way to do things quicker, but should not be relied on in my view. Being in business is a minefield, unfortunatley most people want something from you, rather than wanting to genuinely help you, and you have to make sure you sort the "gems" from the "hangers-on". I used to get quite depressed a few years ago when everyone seemed to have their own "angle", but I have learnt to use my own "angles" to get what is best for my employees and collegues, and spot these "opportunists". You can read all the books about being a good businessman in the world, but gut feel is still the best, okay, sometimes you do make mistakes, and I make loads of them, but at least you only have one person to blame, yourself.
With DTD I think I have recruited a lot of good people who genuinely want to help, but I am also realistic, I expect the team to have lost a few people and also recruited a few others, over the next 12 months. I have no qualms in exiting people who are not up to the job, and normally we still remain friends afterwards. Another factor why changes in personnel are necessary is that businesses evolve, and you need different skill sets and qualities when this happens. The best scenario is that the people also evolve with the business, but often this does not happen, so you have to part company. DTD is no small venture, the club and the poker site make up a reasonably sized business, with high running costs and significant financial risk, this is not a "play business" (I would define my pub as a "play business") and I have a responsibility to make sure it operates efficiently and is a success. That's what I am focussed on now, the business side, making sure we can at least get to breakeven, the running costs are frightening for a start-up, but that gives me a kick and a challenge.
I'm planning on going to the EPT in Dublin for a short break with Chubbs and Kev O'Connor, I'm really missing playing tournamant poker, even though I normally don't last that long! I'll also do Amsterdam and St Kitts, so that 3 small treats for me in 2006. I guess I'll address the Grosvenor issue before DTD opens, although they have chosen to ban me from their casinos, I'm still committed to working around their festivals for the overall benefit of both parties and most importantly, the players.
