"Why is Presentation important? Because it is the single most influential activity in your career. I’ve seen highly competent workers doing a great job every day, yet never getting the recognition they deserve...

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Generating ideas for new products and revenue streams is the lifeblood of any developing business. Find out how David Beckett shares his twenty years of Marketing and Sales experience to offer a unique series of Innovation sessions for your company.

Haruki Murakami’s book, ‘What I talk about when I talk about running’ is one of the few books I have bought in hardback.

Part two of a two-part piece. 

I've recently been given new impetus to write, and to run.

Here's the first part of a two-part piece.

 

2011 was an overwhelming experience, and 2012 looks like being another year of new books and developing ideas. Welcome to the Kitchen of Ideas©...

 

 

On 15th December 2011, David Beckett hosted a Kitchen of Ideas© event at The Hub, Amsterdam.

 

"Why is Presentation important? Because it is the single most influential activity in your career." Find out how to get your free workshop and hear about the five steps to improving your presentation skills.

 

The Essence™ for free? Yep, it's for real... read more.

 

 

It's confession time as I sit down to write my new book.

 

 

Kevin Plank, the entrepreneur behind unique sports brand Under Armour, has a revealing story from his early days about the value of publicity, giving some hints for aspiring authors.

 

“Obscurity is a far greater threat to authors and creative artists than piracy.”

 

 

When coming to the end of creating Amsterdam... The Essence, I felt that somebody from the book should have the last word. And who better than Holland's premier comedian, Youp van 't Hek?

 

Meeting Lake Montgomery was the catalyst for 'Amsterdam... The Essence' to take shape. She talks to The Essence™ about her experiences as a musician in Amsterdam.

 

 A movie about the most intriguing artist the city has ever known.

 

 

Want to see and hear what Henk Schiffmacher has to say about Amsterdam? The tattoo-king speaks to The Essence™.

 

Interested in buying Amsterdam... The Essence? Here's a complete dealer list with links to all their websites.

 

A short movie by Philo captures the essence of my new book. Find out what the critics are saying about Amsterdam... The Essence.

 

On Monday 23rd May, AT5 covered the launch of my new book, Amsterdam... The Essence. A host of well-known Amsterdammers and great perfromers lit up the evening.

 

May 26th, 7pm: Waterstone's Bookshop, Kalverstraat 152 (corner of Kalverstraat and Het Spui) Come along to an open event where I will be presenting the insider's view of Amsterdam... The Essence.

 

12 months ago I wandered around Amsterdam, freshly returned from a world trip, with an idea in my head and no clue what to do with it.

 

Major milestones on the way to the emergence of a new brand.

 

 

At my 40th birthday party, my friend Mieke gave me a fantastic package called, "Survival Kit for a 40 year old.” While hunting around for Xmas decorations, I re-discovered this incredibly well-thought out and supportive gift. She put all kinds of objects into a metal basket and attached suggestions to each item for what I might do in the coming years. And those suggestions turned out to be incredibly prophetic.

Part four of the mini-series of travel in England. I drive through the Yorkshire Dales, a different atmosphere and landscape yet still beautiful in the snow. I'm reminded of what the North of England has to offer, and look back on the decision to up root my life move to Amsterdam - a decision taken so lightly, thirteen years ago.

A privilege to be in one of the three most beautiful places I've ever been. Wastwater in the Lake District is a lake surrounded by mountains, and once again today the sunshine brought the snow into lovely contrast. I reflect on the time when I lived in Penrith during 1997, and the time when Morten and I first met and worked together. He was a bit confused by the English pub culture...

Memories of my very first holidays to the Lake District in the early 1990's flood back. I'm in awe of the beautiful countryside and awash with nostalgia for the most attractive area of England. It reminds me of a time back in 1994 where I put a great experience before another grey day at the office.

Part One of a mini-series of travel pieces, this time to the beautiful Lake District in the North of England. But first I have to get through the chaos at Schiphol airport as snow hits Europe - not an easy task, unless, amazingly, you're booked with Easyjet. My delay is a proverbial 'piece of cake' compared to those coming from around the globe and spending up to thirty hours in the frosty airport.

Save the best until last - and the final interview for 'Amsterdam... The Essence'  with theatre and film actress Halina Reijn went perfectly. How do you arrange an interview with a Hollywood actress? With as much professionalism as possible - that's The Essence™ way that we developed as a team. Halina was great and even had her picture taken with my travel book, "After the Ceiling Fell On Us..."

The journey on the way to establishing The Essence™ has involved so many people. Recently I had a chance to present that journey to a group of creative entrepreneurs at the "Show Your Colours" event, arranged by Enter-Trainer Galitta at the Fertile Ground Studio. It was a good moment to look back and realise that what started as a sole pursuit has become a journey involving over fifty people along the way.

How do you create a brand? And is it worth it investing in it as a start-up? My own emphatic answer is a definite "yes" and here are a few of the ways that I chose to establish The Essence™. I looked back and found the first time I ever wrote the word related to this brand of books - in a journal entry while visiting Buenos Aires in December last year.

How far would you go in the interests of researching a book? I went to Amsterdam's Prostitution Information Centre and sat with PIC founder Mariska Majoor in a window for an evening, to get insight into the oldest profession alive. It's all part of the journey that The Essence™ has taken me on, and after the interest shown by publishers after the recent bookfair, the journey looks set to continue.

The Essence™ was conceived in dreams while travelling on the other side of the world, but the business of making it happen is firmly based in Amsterdam reality. My team behind the brand have progressed the project to a stage where a literary agent is now showing the draft chapters to publishers at the Frankfurt International Bookfair. I truly believe the creative and business work we've done together will bring success.

I prepare to interview the most influential Amsterdammer of the last decade - former Mayor of 9 years, Job Cohen. And I have to find trousers that suit the importance of the event - after all, I'm going to the Dutch Houses of Parliament, De Tweede Kamer. It's a massive boost that Mr Cohen is interested to be a part of "Amsterdam... The Essence", and he turns out to be a truly charismatic man - the definition of integrity.

Amsterdam's famous tolerance is being tested, as over the last months there have been repeated attacks on gay people, with attackers rarely being arrested. The queer community came together in the very heart of the city and protested through its busiest streets, spreading the message to city-dwellers and tourists from round the world - this should be a place where you have a Right To Feel Safe.

Back with a bang from the East and it's on with the development of "Amsterdam... The Essence." A lot has happened in a week, with new interviews, new artwork and new promo ideas. Also a new target, the Frankfurt bookfair, and a first contact with the fabulous activist - and fire-eater! - Fya Hopelezz.

After an extensive trip through six Eastern European countries, what is the conclusion? That the region is very special and has much to offer - in terms of the character of the people, the beauty of the architecture. It's a place that's unknown to so many people, yet such a great area of Europe to discover.

Last major stop before home - beautiful Hallstatt. It's a place I've been coming to for 24 years, and where real peace and calm truly exist. It's another UNESCO protected town, the fifth of the journey. This trip comes towards its end and so there is a moment to reflect and be ready for the next steps.

I left Romania behind and took a comfortable 9-hour train journey on to Budapest. My good friend Barna awaited with a ticket to the world-famous Sziget music festival, and we partied through the rain along with Crazy-dog Hungarians. Onto the more sedate surroundings of Vienna and yest another Unesco protected town - Hallstatt.

Two fantastic cities in the heart of Transylvania - one of which is a Unesco site and birthplace of Vlad the Impaler - aka Dracula. Prices continue to be incredibly cheap and surroundings beautiful. Romania has been a great place to visit for these past few days.

Brasov, deep in Dracula country, is a fabulous mediaeval city and has been the beginning of an eye-opening few days in Romania. It's much more developed than my last country, Moldova, and it's impressive how far Romania has come since the early 1990's. Unfortunately, this is the tale of a madhouse-hostel experience - but that can't take away from Brasov's beauty.

Chisinau in Moldova appeared to be a bit of a concrete jungle. But it had a great market and a bar that sold Beer cocktails. It's also next to Transnistria, an independent but unrecognised country that sits between Moldova and Ukraine - a unique chance to step back into Soviet times.

The train journey to Chisinau from Lwow was quite an experience. An eerie waiting room, guards leading me to my carriage at Zhmyrenka and old-style wells at the side of the station. The train was absolutely boiling for a 13-hour journey that left me feeling like the ground was moving under my feet.

Last day in the lovely city of Lwow, Ukraine. I feel like I am leaving too early, so much to do and see. But made the most of the last day, despite a horrible hangover, and saw the magnificent Opera House, an unusual brand-oriented art gallery, and a cemetary. But no more of the sadness - time to read "On The Road" by Jack Kerouac.

Lwow has turned out to be a fantastic city - no wonder it's on the UNESCO protescted list. I found beautiful old buildings, squares and statues, as well as some signs of old Soviet times - like the lovely ancient public telephones. And finally I got whipped at the home of Masochism...

The road trip moves on to Lwow - or is it Lviv, or Lemberg or Lemberik? - in Ukraine. An excellent 10 hour bus journey arrives exactly on time, after a long talk with a German dancer who was born in Ukraine. Finally plans to leave Lwow require hours of work and a bribe to arrange the trip to Chisinau, Moldova.

Hostel life in Krakow takes a couple of weird turns, including a vomit clear-up at 1am. And no, it wasn't mine... The people in the Momotown hostel make it a colourful experience, and the great food and atmosphere of the Jewish Quarter offset a final hit of Krakow's sad history. Next stop, Lwow/Lviv.

Day two of the road-trip took me to Auschwitz. There's no good way to describe it - it's very simply a very hard experience and the scale of Birkenau is absolutely mind-blowing. The day was lightened by meeting a Human Sexuality grad-student and a former drug dealer. The travelling has really started.

Time to hit the road again - this time back to East Europe with planned destinations of Krakow in Poland, Lwow in Ukraine and Chisinau in Moldova. It's great to be back in my favourite country, Poland, the first time in around three and a half years, and Krakow is truly a beautiful city.

Sometimes you meet people who almost overwhelm you with their drive and confidence. Mariette Hoitink – creator of the HTNK Fashion recruitment & Consultancy agency - is one of those people. She's also the creator of the Red Light Fashion Amsterdam project.

To co-incide with Amsterdam International Fashion Week, Mariette talked to The Essence.

So where am I with developing ‘Amsterdam… The Essence?’ It’s now almost four months since I came back from the world trip, full of plans and intent to write my book about Amsterdam. My initial idea was to make it a series of personal insights and observations about my experiences in the city, but I struggled to get started. While I toyed with different ideas, I focused on getting “After the Ceiling Fell On Us…” completed – the book about that world trip.

And in the last two months, something new has happened – the Amsterdam book has taken on a life of its own.

My expectation when I meet creative people is that they will be arrogant or condescending towards those, like me, at the beginning of their trade. But my experience on this project has been the opposite, and especially so with successful film-maker Suzanne Raes. She has 20 years of film-making experience in TV and cinema, and her film “The Rainbow Warriors of Waiheke Island” will be shown on Dutch TV (Ned 2) on 11th July.

With a name like hers, you wouldn’t expect Larae Malooly to come from El Paso Texas. But the woman behind the unique “Amsterdamsel” guided tour company is full of surprises. She has some fascinating stories about living in the Red Light District and giving tours around the city, which will be published in Amsterdam… The Essence later this year. Here, Larae talks about what brought her to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam was once a place where protest was a normal thing. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, marching for student rights, taking to the streets against Vietnam and being water-cannoned on Nieuwmarkt after standing up against the demolition of old building for the Metro was a way of life. In 12 years since 1998, I had hardly heard of any protests in the city. But out of nowhere, this gathering was arranged.

I sit outside a café on Spuistraat, waiting for the anonymous graffiti artist, Laser 3.14. When I began thinking about who might be a good representation of the essence of Amsterdam, he was he first person that came to mind. If his name means nothing to you yet, his work almost certainly will do. 

Photo: Vrederick

Sometimes I feel like I am traveling through around this city with my eyes closed. I have driven down Spuistraat countless times, yet never really noticed the restaurant D’Vijff Vlieghen. But I recently found out that it is a genuine piece of old and recent Amsterdam history. I met with its Director, Albert Veerman, to get some background on what could be described as a “Culinary Museum”.

Henk Schiffmacher’s teeth glint with gold as he booms out his opinions and stories in the middle of his tattoo shop at Ceintuurbaan 416.

He’s a real Amsterdam character and Tattooist to the stars – Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kurt Cobain, Herman Brood and Robbie Williams amongst many others.

I wandered along the canals on Queens Day and heard an excellent singer playing guitar in a first-floor window. Captivated by the sound, I hung on to listen to a few songs and at the end bought her Live In Amsterdam CD. The singer was called Lake Montgomery – and apart from having a fabulous name, I loved the music.

Today, Gilly and I were talking about the difference between writing with a pen and writing on the computer. The difference is in the editing.

When you write on the computer, the possibility to edit work while in progress is so big, which doesn't always give best quality.

I checked in for my 05:15 flight this morning. “You’re lucky”, said the cheerful Transavia check-in girl. “The airport closes at 6am. Yours will be the last flight out.” Iceland strikes again.

“Who knows?” I replied. “Maybe I’ll get stranded in Corfu”. We both laughed and I headed on towards the gate.

Today I joined the first of a two-day fiction writing course at the ABC Treehouse, this time run by Lisa Friedman. While my intention is not to write fiction, nevertheless I feel it's all part of the process of developing my general writing skills, and even exposing some of my weaknesses so I know what to improve.