Brad Burton - Life. Business: Just Got Easier

Table of Contents

This edition first published in 2013

2013 Brad Burton

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Burton, Brad, 1973

Life. business. just got easier / Brad Burton.

pages cm

ISBN 978-0-857-08483-5 (pbk.)

1. Small businessManagement. 2. Decision making. 3. Leadership. 4. Burton, Brad, 1973 I. Title.

HD62.7.B847 2013

658.02'2dc23

2013018238

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9780857084835 (paperback) ISBN 9780857084767 (ebk)

ISBN 9780857084811 (ebk)

Cover design: Mackerel Ltd

DEDICATED TO

Wifey. B.b.D.

All those, who never gave up on me,
especially my mum and dad Frank.

@DetectiveDenise never forgotten kiddo. x

Help Many.

Hurt Few.

Live Life.

Braddism

Foreword

I've spent much of my career as a main board Director of PLCs. In that time I've seen some huge changes in the way business is conducted in the UK particularly concerning updates in technology, attitudes to dress, the constantly changing economy and people's feelings on work and authority.

I've known Brad for the last seven years, firstly as a member of 4Networking before becoming a Director in 2007 and now at 62, Chairman.

In recent years, Brad has been ahead of any curve and as such resisted by those who would prefer to keep business in the past and in their comfort zone. Brad's demise as a businessman has been predicted just as regularly as his achievements have been denounced and ridiculed.

But his achievements can no longer be claimed to be a fluke, as he has seemingly been in the right place at the right time, for the last eight years.

At his best, he brings energy and vision, a driver with a clear focus on problem solving, often seeing the solution to any situation well before others even recognise there is a situation. A gift very few possess.

Whilst others may go around the houses, Brad has gone through your front door and out the back. Without stealing your telly. But things may have been different; from his council estate upbringing, he has changed his future.

He made things happen.

The ridiculous thing is that had he approached me for a position during my corporate career, I would have turned him down.

I would have recognised immediately that he would not (and probably could not) have played the politics needed to get on within a traditional business and would have, at the earliest opportunity, wanted to break the mould and do it his way.

That's the reason he started his own business.

He's largely unemployable, true entrepreneurs often are.

He brings such a wide and varied experience of life. Some will say he appears to be at times an intimidating character. Nothing could be further from the truth. He is emotionally hooked up to the world and will go out of his way to take on what he sees to be injustices in life and business, and fight for the underdog.

I've seen top-class negotiators underestimate him. And sit there afterwards scratching their heads as to why it's not gone their way.

I've seen him at his most confident, I've supported him at his very lowest.

At worst he can get too impatient too quickly, switch off just a bit too soon. But he recognises he is as flawed as any human and understands the importance of team and has surrounded himself with people he likes, knows and trusts.

This book is a culmination of his unique thinking on life and business, and if you start by reading this book with an open mind, it may well change your direction, in the same way I've seen his words and teachings change so many.

Including me he's taught this old dog some new tricks and helped steer the way I see today's business world.

Anyone want to buy 30 years of ties?

When things are good, you see what a person stands for, when things are really bad and they are up against the wall, that's when you see how much resolve and belief someone really has.

Is this a book that will change your life/business?

You will soon find out.

@4NTerryCooper

Chairman/4Networking Limited

#Justgoteasierbook

At the time of writing I've tweeted over 150,000 times, amassed 100,000+ followers, so it's fair to say I'm a pretty active tweeter. When I'm on the road it keeps me focused, amused, busy; it's like having my friends in my pocket.

And as you read through this book, you can also join me on that journey. At the end of each chapter you will come across a # hashtag (think of them like filing cabinets for Twitter), as you read this ping me a relevant tweet, feedback, photo, whatever, I'll aim at responding to as many as I sensibly can. It's a bit of a novel idea or is that a modern self-help book idea?

Anyway do @BradBurton me with your thoughts, what is relevant to you, and any breakthroughs and feedback.

www.Twitter.com let's connect today.

The Day It All Changed

I was a seven-year-old boy, playing Space Lego in the front room of our terraced house in Salford, Manchester, whilst my stepdad watched the snooker finals. Suddenly the match went off and the BBC NEWS FLASH title appeared on screen. It switched the coverage over to the Iranian Embassy siege, where a hostage situation was coming to a dramatic and violent ending and for the first time in history the SAS were unveiled to the world's media.