Barrie Smale from Inspired2Learn - Summer August Q&A 2021

It's August and the height of summer although the weather may not always reflect that. Often in business it can be a slower month as children are not at school, parents take time off and many people take a break. Will this year be as different as last year? Time will tell.

We've been talking to various business owners about their summer and autumn plans and today we're talking to Barrie Smale who is a director of Inspired2learn which is a company based in Wiltshire offering training and professional qualifications in management, coaching and coach supervision. 

How is August looking in your business? 

Over many years August has normally been a quiet month for us, but this year we are extremely busy. This week we are taking a group of our associates for a curry in Devizes. We cannot operate without the support of our team and it’s important to mix some socialising in with all the hard work!

What are your personal plans for this month?

In our spare time, Clare and I will be walking several sections of the Thames Path route. We are gradually doing the ‘source to sea’ route and thoroughly enjoying it. Refuelling takes place at regular intervals in some lovely riverside hostelries! We can recommend this.

The Olympics – Tokyo 2020 – are drawing to a close now though the Paralympics will be back? Have you seen anything which touched or inspired you?

We are avid watchers of the TV highlights each evening. Tom Daley’s gold medal has been a highlight so far. What a competitor and also thoroughly nice person. 

Excellence in sport does not have to be associated with brash arrogance. Georgia Taylor-Brown’s silver in the triathlon was also incredible. She was on crutches 12 weeks earlier with a stress fracture and also got a puncture on the bike. Respect!

Did you know August 21 is World Entrepreneurs Day? What does this word mean to you and do you apply it to yourself? 

In September 2002 I became an entrepreneur when I resigned from a secure job and took the risk to set up my own business. It has worked out OK with some highs and lows along the way. Am I still an entrepreneur? I don’t think so. 

I wouldn’t have the inclination now to start all over again and, as I draw close to the end of my career, I have become more risk averse. I do recommend it to others though if they are prepared to work very hard and understand that they will need the help and support of others to succeed.

Can you name one business you’d like to give a summer shout out to? 

Without doubt my shout out this summer is to our freelance associate team. A great bunch of talented and experienced professionals who are a pleasure to work with.

As we move further through the pandemic, how are you feeling about the future of business in general in August 2021? 

I’m feeling pretty positive without being complacent at all. I fully appreciate many businesses are facing serious challenges!

Have you got any events planned for the autumn you’d like to shout about – either that you are running or attending? 

September 2021 sees the start of our 20th year trading. We aim to make our longevity and track record a more prominent feature in our marketing.

Have you got any services or special offers you’d like to mention? 

If anyone purchases any of our services and mentions Total Guide we’ll give a 10% discount.

And finally, this week is National Tell a Joke Day? Can you tell us a joke and raise a laugh? 

This one resonates with me because of the recent heatwave and also my regular rants over many years about Microsoft updates screwing up my computer:

What does an air conditioner have in common with a computer? They both lose efficiency as soon as you open windows.....!

For more information visit www.inspired2learn.co.uk