Comments for Lawrence Jones Managing Director of UKFast

Comment on The Birth Of New Era by Lawrence Jones

Lawrence Jones — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:03:30 +0000

Thanks Martin
Its great that a company the size of Microsoft still gets the important things. Your comments are really appreciated along with the support. No doubt we’ll be pushing extra specially hard to grow the Windows over Linux this year for you!
Best wishes back and see you soon.
Loz

Comment on The Birth Of New Era by martin walker

martin walker — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:53:57 +0000

Lawrence – great post, congrats on the business you have built and on the new addition!

Microsoft here to support where we can

Good luck for 2012 an continued growth.

Martin

Comment on Growing the family by Lawrence Jones

Lawrence Jones — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:10:52 +0000

Thank you Damien. There is nothing in business that I value more than the opinion of clients. To hear such kind words is inspiring and makes all that we do worthwhile.

Best of British with your own business and if you ever need anything, please let me know. You are not just a client, you are part of a much wider support network and as such you truly are part of the UKFast family.

Thanks for stopping by.

Lawrence
UKFast

Comment on Growing the family by Damien

Damien — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:27:17 +0000

As a customer of UKFast, I have experienced the feeling of being a member of the UKFast family!

Everyone I have spoken to has had an amazing can do attitude which is very rare in today’s business world. I chose UKFast because of this attitude even though at the time it was really stretching our finances.

You Guys aligned so much with our own business ideals, that a customer comes first, whatever the cost to the business.

If I wasn’t so far from your offices and running my own business, I would consider working with you. Apart from being my own boss a career with UKFast would have been a dream!

I used to work for a successful business as service Director, it was a fantastic job on paper and I did really well there, however the whole company ethos was opposite to my values. I challenged my bosses to offer better customer experiences and never really fit in. I stuck with it for 10 years and had to quit in the end because the battle eventually burned me out and would have probably killed me.

Skills you can learn anywhere, morales and values are entrenched in your personality, I would always choose people based on the latter!

Keep up the great work Lawrence
Damien

Comment on Growing the family by Lawrence Jones

Lawrence Jones — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:40:05 +0000

Well for anyone reading Rich is genius I was referring.

I remember Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes asking a small group of us, who can employ 100 staff each week and maintain the momentum. Tony and Chet were the only 2 with their hands up. Rich is a big part of this success.

Thanks for your feedback. Yours is especially welcome and its lovely to hear from you.

Catch you sooner than you think.

Loz

Comment on Growing the family by Rich Cohen

Rich Cohen — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:12:30 +0000

As usual Lawrence
You nailed it
Two other things I would add is
When it comes to sales reps is:
1-I test their mental toughness in the interview
You may be surprised how many crack under pressure
2-The other thing I always do is let them see why they would not want the job
It’s easy to sell someone on why the job is an outstanding opportunity
As bad as I want to avoid putting a square peg in a round hole I want them to know themself
The hole is round and let them determine if they are a round peg by letting other sales reps tell them and show them the business behind the business
Love ya bro
Rich

Comment on Growing the family by Lawrence Jones

Lawrence Jones — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:49:42 +0000

Thanks Dawn.

I actually posted the wrong blog by mistake and this weeks was more inline with growing the (jones) family, oops. Save it for next week.

Thanks for your comment and lovely to see you on Friday. Loz x

Comment on Growing the family by Dawn Everton, The Legal Place

Dawn Everton, The Legal Place — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:36:40 +0000

Excellent blog as always Lawrence, it’s so important to have a team that all pull together, support you and reflect your vision and values. I think you have hit the nail on the head perfectly, having successfully recruited for Manchester’s top law firms for almost 13 years, the key to our success is that we take time out to get to know our clients, culture and ethos and strive to find the perfect candidate to fit their team. Quality is one of our key values at The Legal Place, something we will never deviate from. Congratulation on expanding your team!

Comment on Under Pressure by Lawrence Jones

Lawrence Jones — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:21:00 +0000

Praise indeed from you Leon. You run a very successful company too so I appreciate your comments.

Loz

Comment on Under Pressure by Lawrence Jones

Lawrence Jones — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:20:02 +0000

Thanks John

I have emailed my managers to see how you got on. I certainly am impressed with you making contact and your point of view.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you make it onto our team.

Best of luck with it.

Lawrence

Comment on Under Pressure by John Carroll

John Carroll — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:04:14 +0000

I’ve just applied for a job at UKFast and stumbled across this post, and I couldn’t help but add my two pence worth and hope it helps others as much as it did me.

Simply….

If you think in negative terms, you will achieve negative results.
If you think in positive terms, you achieve positive results.

We become, what we think about!

If your thoughts are filled with anxiety, worry, doubt, your life will become one of anxiety, worry, fear and doubt. If you think positive, happy thoughts, your life will become happy and positive…and if you think about nothing, you become nothing.

We must control our thinking. Every time a negative thought comes into your head, replace it with your worthwhile goal, soon your habitual way of thinking will change and you won’t have that annoying lump of anxiety, fear and doubt.

Every person is the total sum of his or her own thoughts.

All you have to do is know where you’re going. The answers will come to you of their own accord and at the right time.

Comment on Under Pressure by Leon Millard

Leon Millard — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:57:24 +0000

Sound advice from an experienced individual who has proved that this is a great way of thinking. This article has already changed my thought process for today and I intend to follow it through as much as possible in the future.

Thanks Lawrence.

Leon
WebCreationUK Ltd

Comment on Under Pressure by Gary Chaplin

Gary Chaplin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:05:51 +0000

Another fantastically inspiring blog. It’s all about perspective, attitude and effort.

Why would anyone be a glass half empty person? Enjoy the journey.

Have a great week Loz.

Comment on Under Pressure by Tom W

Tom W — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:19:49 +0000

Hi Loz,

Not sure if you remember me but I used to work for you Jul-Sept 2010.

After leaving Uni I applied to work for UKfast’s sales team, not because I was into Hosting or really even Tech, but because I was inspired by your story and your passion. Shortly after you promoted me you to your main sales team you came back from a trip where you saw Tony Robbins, when you got back you gave a talk to the sales team about how everyone should strive to reach their own personal goals. This put me in a slightly awkward situation because, when I was being honest with myself I didn’t really want to be working my arse to the bone to try to become your sales manager, what I really wanted was to be running my own business and making a difference in the best way I thought I could.

Since leaving UKfast I haven’t missed a blog post you have written and I keep an eye on what you are up to as I still see you as a role model and someone that teaches me a lot.

I wanted to write to you, firstly to thank you for being such an inspiring role model and motivator and secondly to wonder If you wanted to catch up. I am in Manchester a couple of days a month as I hold an non-exec with a law firm there, and would welcome the opportunity to visit City Tower to talk to you about what we are both up to and maybe how we can help each other.

Keep up the good work Loz, I’m sure you are inspiring more people than you know with your stories.

Thanks

Tom

Comment on Under Pressure by Lawrence Jones

Lawrence Jones — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:52:39 +0000

Great insight Mark. You obviously are honing this craft. I fully buy into why its worth learning these skill. Life can be very cluttered. Organising what is and isn’t important has to speed up and make the journey easier. thanks for stopping by. Great to hear from you. Loz

Comment on Under Pressure by Mark Ellis

Mark Ellis — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:32:09 +0000

A great post as usual Lawrence.

I agree that you can only feel one emotion at a time. Especially when you consider that an emotion by definition is short term and as a result or direct stimulus either external or based in memory. However emotions can affect mood and can even change mood very quickly. Belly laughter when you are feeling low, comfort when you are scared. I think mental focus is very much the same. Total mental focus results in wiping out extraneous and unnecessary information so we can deal with the issues at hand. Distraction can be dangerous. People with skills in Emotional Intelligence can postpone these emotional distractions so they can focus on what is needed without the emotional distractions. The Buddhist call this mindfulness. Why do I feel like this? Is this productive? It can take time to master, but very worth while!

Comment on Under Pressure by Jonathan Bowers

Jonathan Bowers — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:42:09 +0000

Great start to the week Loz. The nun’s advice really resonates with me. I was at a talk last week about positivity and the ability to ‘role with the punches of life.’ The more I learn and the more people I meet, I realise that a great attitude is the most important ingredient to success.

Bitterly cold cycle to work this morning. As the light started creeping through an incredible blue sky emerged. Amazing!

Comment on Die Trying by Loz

Loz — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:56:41 +0000

The name of the person is Shawn Anchor and his book is called “The Happiness Advantage.”

Interesting chap. A lot of his message is similar to the ones Tony Robbins talks about, but some really nice intelligent insights into why and how they work.

Not read his book yet though……

Thanks for the comment.

Loz (UKFast)

Comment on Die Trying by Charles Meaden

Charles Meaden — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:08:19 +0000

Was the professor Srikumar S. Rao? Halfway through his book ‘Happiness at Work’ – very interesting so far

Comment on University of Life by Matthew Cartwright

Matthew Cartwright — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:16:31 +0000

As ever Lawrence you provide a real world perspective with humility, which many organizations and leaders, only pay lip service to.

Clearly your straight forward approach and passion struck a chord with those students, who I expect feel their options are limited, which is a crime in this day and age.

Matt.

Comment on University of Life by Mark Ellis

Mark Ellis — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:24:30 +0000

Great post Lawrence! As an individual that never made it as far as university, in fact left school with very little, this resonates with me. There is a great quote “I would hate my education to get in the way of my knowledge.” spoken I believe by a man who started out as a cloak room attendant and came up with a simple little formula. E=MC2.

Comment on University of Life by Sara Slack

Sara Slack — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:12:35 +0000

I agree with you. I went to University, both for a BA and an MA (in English), but I’d be the first to admit that I didn’t /need/ those qualifications to get a job. (Heck, I’ve been finished for 3 months and haven’t found anything yet!) For me, it was the pull of academic curiosity. I absolutely loved the research, the writing, the societies and yes…the socialising. Uni really drew me out of my shell. But now I’m a 22 year old living with my auntie and uncle. I own my own business (something I can thank my MA course for giving me the guts to do), but it’s new…so there’s no income yet.

When I lived with my grandparents, I often toyed the the idea of doing an apprentiship for somethign that was /useful/. My grandfather was a professional wood-turner, and I’ve been able to make items on a lathe since I was 7 years old…but no-one does that sort of thing any more. Like you say, we’ve lost a lot of ‘skills’ in the big rush for everyone to go to Uni…and now so many people /have/ a degree, it’s difficult for the graduates to find work. You’re either over-qualified or under-experienced.

All in all, a really good article. I agree with most of what you said…despite being one of those ‘academic types’.

~Sara

Comment on University of Life by Alice Gibson

Alice Gibson — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:11:00 +0000

Great blog Lawrence! I’m proud of my degree but the teaching in lecture halls didn’t set me up for a work environment – having a job throughout my studies and pushing for work placements helped more than the course that I spent thousands on!
It is great to hear someone pushing the other options for young people for a change.

Comment on University of Life by Paul Oz

Paul Oz — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:51:47 +0000

Fully agree Loz….. I went to Uni, in hindsight because ‘it’s what you do’. Fairly sharp academically… I wanted to go to art college, but was persuaded that being good at physics, maths and design that engineering was the obvious route to success. No-one really posed the question ‘what do you want to do and why?’. I lasted a year.
I learnt most from the next 10 years in sales…. how to communicate for sure the most important…. they dont teach you that at school eh! Ironic too that I had to resit a failed GCSE English to get into Uni…. and I’m known now as being able to write well. How does that work? Well… you answered it above.
For sure I wouldn’t be able to even start down the route I’m now loving without the sales, communication, networking and social media life experience – the actual quality of art doesnt matter if no-one see’s it!

Comment on Going Overboard by Lawrence Jones

Lawrence Jones — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:01:43 +0000

Thanks Anne

I know exactly what you mean. Needing a team and not being able to afford one is something that I don’t think ever leaves you.

As fast as you grow your business and get great colleagues, you find you need that extra dimension.

I’ve been doing this business 12 years and I am still hunting for those extra few people.

Thank you for your feedback, it means a lot to me to hear that someone had a great experience and I will feed it back to Peter and his team, he will be really pleased.

If you do need hosting in the future, twist his arm and make sure he gives you a good price. Tell him I told you he has to.

In the mean time, best of luck and I have a funny feeling you are going to be very successful. The very fact that you are looking for it, tells me you are halfway there.

Enjoy the journey and be a great boss.

Loz

Comment on Going Overboard by Anne

Anne — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:19:04 +0000

I discovered your blog today thanks to a great (first) conversation with one of your team, Peter Kilmartin. What I really liked about my conversation with Peter was that yes it was about hosting but more, he understood where I am as an aspirational entrepreneur with a product at Beta/Proof of Concept – its a place you may have been too I imagine. It’s tough where you are trying to get something new ‘out there’ and doing it pretty much on your own. The team havent arrived yet – you cant afford one, but you need one, as much to help keep your spirit up and confidence high. I therefore look forward to the opportunity to have a teambuilding day!

I am finding your writing quite inspirational, it all helps,

Onwards and upwards!

Comment on A Penny For Your Thoughts by Christine

Christine — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:59:09 +0000

Lawrence, I must confess, I have been trying to reach you in relation to a business enquiry, however, in my quest to find your contact details I have fortunately fallen on your blog…. What music to my tired ears to hear how you work and I would imagine, live. My background has been varied in different sectors, some positions taxing, others a pleasure, however, wherever I have worked, the thought has always occured to me that the gap between the soldiers and management is the gap that needs plugging the most. I can honestly say and right into my current positon after nearly 30 years of being in a work environment, that each and every place I have set foot in didnt see the true potential in the people they had because they quite simply did not know them at all and therefore had no idea as to what their strengths or even weaknesses were. How much more could have been brought to the table is immesurable I guess, and sadly Managers (true managers) like yourself who have the power to adopt and insist on such a work ethic, are few and far between. Inspirational – certainly, dooable – absolutely, a mark of success – almost certainly. I only hope, within your business, that you manage to breed more like you who can go on to inspire the workforce of tomorrow.

Many thanks for your time in sharing and I hope, although I am not known to you as yet, you take pleasure in the fact that your innovation and passion has reached a random person in the mire of everyday life and made a difference.

Kindest,

Christine.

Comment on Thumbs Up on Necker Island by Andrew Warner

Andrew Warner — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:46:52 +0000

Ouch!! Well you certainly don’t do things by half? Most of us would have got a splinter, you nearly take your thumb off!

Congats on the EN award, I was there on the night hoping to see you, but didn’t realise you were still away.

Hopefully catch you at the next ones?

Comment on A Penny For Your Thoughts by ree edwards

ree edwards — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:31:07 +0000

Lawrence, really inspiing to read..

Comment on A Law unto himself by Chris

Chris — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:05:20 +0000

Lawrence,
Last time I saw him, Ashley Paske was hosting pub quiz nights in Sydney (late 2000s). One time, a group of similarly-aged late-30s women were having a drink in the venue and noticed him. They were in the media biz and by their gleeful chatter were no doubt having a similar discussion as you – from screen idol to zero / rooster to feather duster etc.
He’s now the doting father of a (by now) 6-7 year old daughter. Whatever disappointments Ashley had about how his career panned out, he was philosophical about it and rather stoic, in a dignified, brave-faced way.

I too, lost contact with him (not through lack of trying) but understand whatever reasons he had for wanting to lose contact. I bear him no ill-will and would be delighted to reconnect with him again. I hope he googles himself to find this!

Ash, if you’re reading this mate, let’s catchup

Pub quiz Chris
Nov 2011