A Case of Mistaken Identity

The 5th Dimension Star

A number of years ago we thought we had hit the big time when it was reported in a national magic magazine that we had been nominated for a prestigious spot on the new Las Vegas Walk of Fame, alongside the likes of David Copperfield and Frank Sinatra.

The official nomination list confirmed the news, there was our name – Fifth Dimension.

We had only recently returned from a trip to Las Vegas where we watched all the great magic acts there and we were lucky enough to meet with a number of them. But we’d no idea we had made such an impression that we’d be worthy of a star!

But, alas, it was a case of mistaken identity as the nomination was for a 70s pop group of the same name.  Luckily, celebrations were not quite in full swing and it wasn’t the dawning of a new age for us.

Never mind – one day – you never know!

The power of encouragement; inspired by Penn & Teller!

Penn and Teller

I have been impressed by the encouragement that Penn & Teller have given to all the artists who performed on their recent TV shows.  After all, P&T are at the top of their game and it should take a lot to impress them.  But they have been so generous in their praise and encouragement, and you could visibly see performers grow in confidence as a result of this.

The eminent psychiatrist Rudolf Dreikurs claimed: “The most important skill for raising a child in a democracy is the ability to encourage that child” (1971). Are we so different as adults that we no longer need encouragement?  I don’t think so.  I think adults and children both need lots of encouragement as they journey through life.

So, as business leaders, what can we learn from this?  Simple…continue to encourage those who work for you and with you.  We all need encouragement from time to time to help us feel appreciated and worthwhile.  When was the last time that you were encouraged by someone?  When was the last time you encouraged someone else?  By creating a culture of encouragement (even through difficult times) we can create an atmosphere that helps people to reach their full potential.

Jeff

An Optical Illusion

How many black dots can you see in the picture below?

Penn and Teller: Fooled Us

Inspecting the glass box

I was hunting through some old photos the other day and came across the two grainy pics you see here. It shows myself, Bill and Jeff inspecting an illusion on the stage prior to the start of the Penn and Teller show in the Rio in Las Vegas a few years back. We were on a bit of a bus mans holiday as we went to watch as much magic as possible, managing to take in 14 different shows.

One of the highlights was without doubt going to watch Penn and Teller. They allowed the audience onstage to inspect the boxes being used in their opening illusion – and we didn’t need to be asked twice.  When they then came on stage Teller was promptly locked inside the glass box which was then locked inside the wooden crate from which he then successfully escaped.

checking out the wooden crate

Needless to say despite having inspected the boxes very carefully we found nothing – to be honest we didn’t know what we were looking for so wouldn’t have known if we’d found anything anyway – if that makes sense.

A fantastic night of magical entertainment where we enjoyed being fooled over and over again.

Ivor

Trauma at the polling station

It seemed such a simple task

So voting became quite traumatic when in trying to poke my voting slip into the pretty full ballot box my wedding ring got caught under the rim of the opening on the top and I couldn’t get my hand out of the box. Of course I tried to be nonchalant and act as if nothing was wrong as one of the voting officers approached me with a ruler saying it was ok she would poke the slips into the box – she not realising that I was now at one with the box. I was now moving my hand from side to side and up and down at a fair rate of noughts, no doubt now looking as if I was trying to steal ballot papers as small beads of sweat started trickling down my forehead – all the time I was also trying to block out the image of me possibly being cut from the box by the fire brigade. However all ended well when with a final tug and a small squeal of pain I managed to get my hand out – what everyone else in the polling station thought was going on I’ll thankfully never know – I hope!

I never thought I’d have to think about doing a health and safety risk assessment in order to cast a vote! 

Ivor

Stick ‘em Up

Keep alert – expect the unexpected

When delivering our Health and Safety presentations, one of the things we always mention is to expect and plan for the unexpected. When talking about this the other day, it brought to mind an incident that happened to me in my first job as a rent boy after leaving RGIT (now RGU). Before I go any further, let me explain: by rent boy I mean that my first full time job was collecting rent, door to door, from elderly tenants of Aberdeen District Council (now Aberdeen City Council).

During my first month I doubled up with Ernie, the guy who was retiring and whose job I was taking over. This allowed me to be introduced to the tenants, and they therefore knew me when I called on them the following month.

And so, the next month all was going well until I knocked on the door of a small cottage…
“Who’s there?” asked a woman’s voice.
“It’s me, I’ve come to collect your rent,” said I.
The door opened, and I found myself facing the barrel of a pistol: “You’re not Ernie.”

She had a point. 

Several minutes later, after trying to show her my ID whilst keeping both hands in the air (not easy, I’ll tell you!), she relented, lowered the gun and let me in.

Expect the unexpected, we say. Well I certainly didn’t expect that!

Ivor

Suit You Sir!

Things are looking up for Jeff

Being the vertically challenged partner within Fifth Dimension, getting a suit that fits can be magic in itself!  I have admired (and dare I say) looked up to Ronnie Corbett and was delighted to meet him a couple of years ago in a restuarant in Edinburgh. 

During our chat, I asked him if he had a tailor and if he would be willing to give me his number.  Ronnie was more than happy to do so and immediately recited it from memory!  I then visited the tailor (based in London) who did most of Messers Corbett & Barker’s suits for their television shows.  Several meetings and fittings later, I am now the proud owner of a tailor made suit from Ronnie Corbett’s tailor – I wonder if he is a specialist in short cuts??????

Jeff