A few years ago, I read a book called ‘Hope is not a strategy’ by Rick Page. On Sunday morning I decided he was wrong - it is.

I was in Leadgate Methodist Church listening to a brilliant man and one of my great mentors, Rev Barrie Lees. Leesy, as I’ve grown to know him, was talking about St Paul and he quoted him as saying, ‘Let hope keep you joyful’. Aren’t they wonderful words? ‘Let hope keep you joyful’. He went on to explain the different levels of hope: from minor hope - ie. I hope it doesn’t rain or I hope I can get parked, to major hope – ie. I hope they find a cure or hope for the world.

Hope keeps people going.
Hope wins when all else may have failed.
Hope can keep you joyful.

What are you hoping for? In the past, I might have been of the opinion that hope wasn’t enough and I would have encouraged you to take massive action if you wanted results. Today I think there’s room for both.

Travelling home after the service in the car with my family, we each shared a couple of hopes. ‘I hope I get an easy exam’, ‘I hope I get the garden finished’, ‘I hope my appraisal goes well’, ‘I hope I’m being a brilliant Dad’ were just some of the ‘hopes’ we shared.

We felt better. We were in fact joyful. St Paul was right. No offence to Rick Page - his book has some great content - but I think St Paul has outsold him in the best seller listings!

Have a brilliant week and I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter.

Michael

4th November 2008 - Edition #147

MICHAEL HEPPELL ANNUAL SURVEY:

We have a benchmark of brilliance. It's one of our company values and one of the best ways to 'step-up' is to ask our customers what they think we're doing well and what they think we could do be doing better.

We're conducting our annual survey this week so we can learn from you. We're prepared a very short online questionnaire and we'd like to invite you to take just a few minutes to complete it. By doing so you'll make a difference to our company charity the Community Foundation.

For every completed survey we receive we will donate 1 To the Community Foundation which helps community projects and individuals who need support.

To complete the survey, click on this link or copy it into your browser: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=0rYsixog45NPy6e1Er4qVQ_3d_3d

Be Brilliant!

Michael Heppell Team.

Dear Michael,

I'm sure you've been asked this one a lot recently but with the downturn of the economy, the credit crunch and falling investment are we doomed?

Best

Matthew

Dear Matthew,

In short yes - if you keep talking like that. Now is the perfect time to knuckle down, get creative, invest in yourself and plant the seeds for when things do turn around (and they will). While other people are panicking and blaming the current climate, others will be focusing on stepping up, raising their game, being creative and having brilliance as their benchmark. When it all settles down guess who the winners will be?

Be Brilliant,

Michael