Nascent Dynamics ( ) Explores Reginald Crichlow

Who: Reginald was one of the first members of sta.rtup.biz to greet me. He presents himself as a Christian and a teacher who prefers kicking back on a beach as opposed to the commotion of a city and enjoys sharing his focus of quality of life with others. I like being one of the first people to greet others too. Many of the things I do are based on my own preference for quality of life and I enjoy sharing what positive aspects of my experience I can for the benefit of others. I've had some experience teaching and this is something I sincerely appreciate for the genuine exchange rather than some people who just go through the motions. I have to say I prefer the country too, though I can understand how people like more direct interaction and to see "busy"ness around them.

What: Reginald has a few interests represented on sta.rtup. His first greeting to me introduced SkypeAssist which appears to be an enhanced interface, innovative lead generating system, and a residual profit model others can get into. I looked into his own page and group and learned he is focussing on helping people to achieve optimal health with a product derived from a berry. I also noted he started a group here called Cricket, Lovely Cricket where he introduces a sport a lot of Americans are unfamiliar with. I've recently started playing around with Skype and think it's a phenominal tool- free. The enhanced services built around it sound like a sharp idea. I tend to stay away from pyramid schemes and am not sure if that is really what this is. Since I'm not really selling anything I didn't look too closely at the offer. Healthwise I think I could enjoy becoming more familiar with this berry. I like to look into the science of these types of things and purchase locally- that local availability kind of substatiates it for me and comforts me that I can try without obligation. A lot of what i want to do is centered on health through exercise and anything else people might get into to reach their optimal potential. One of my big goals is to play soccer and have fun incorporating various sports into my game. I think I'd actually like to try Cricket.

Where: Reginald is in Barbados. I'm in Norther California but love to go to the beaches. The Pacific is quite cold though. Sounds like the Carribean would be a warm experience. One of the things I intend to do is promote and poplarize my area for all that it has to offer. I kind of like how Reginald reminds me of his location and what it has to offer.

When:I'm kind of interested to learn more about this berry and how long it's been a point of focus for him. I wonder if it is relatively new to Americans and perhaps on it's way to becoming a household name. Reginald mentions he has focussed on health the last couple years. Also, the SkypeAssist program seems to have just been rolled out as recently as mid July. My business probably doesn't take off for several years and I'm very young. I like to stay up to date on emerging concepts and technologies. Perhaps this nutritional suppliment is one of them. If Skype Assist is new and just starting, it might be good to learn more about it so I can get in on it early or at least be able to direct people to it who could benefit. I like to think the best is yet to come for me and i look forward to being able to share i've had a similar focus for some years. I can say most of my business components have been in work for over a decade. However, I'm only recently starting to reach out and act on it.

How: I'm sure there is a lot to learn about Reginald. I'm assuming he's putting a lot of time offsite in the SkypeAssist project. He was certainly courtious to greet me when I joined and I kind of like what I discovered when looking into his pages rather than an aggressive upsell or call for attention. I particularly appreciated the invitation to his group on Cricket that had a recreational focus rather than business. The videos, by the way, really got me pumped into the physicality and competitiveness of the sport. I'm very passive in my marketting and advertisement too. I need some time to get my concepts together anyway. However, with social networking emerging now, i couldn't resist getting started and at least using it as a networking and exploration tool for my own research and development.

Why: I gather Reginald has found a way to enjoy life, has enjoyed serving others as a teacher, and now is continuing both by developing ventures aligned with his higher purpose. I think that's where it is at. I fully intend to do what i want to do for a living rather than what is available or even what is currently possible. I know what I want to do and what will allow me to maintain the highest satisfaction so i've set myself about on building that role as my own business. So i think, in the same way I have connected with my own source and am exercising what influence i can over my environment and activities, here is someone else who is doing much of the same. I think ultimately, what I like is giving more than receiving. So if you can turn this into something you do for a living then that can only help contribute to all that is good in the world.

O.K. now to extend Reginald an invitation to join me in the interview.

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Permalink Reply by Reginald Crichlow on August 27, 2008 at 10:42pm: Thank you, Nascent Dynamics. This is a pleasant surprise - probably the best experience I have had online so far.
Of course, you can contact me anytime.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nascent Dynamics ( ) on August 28, 2008 at 10:40am: That's great feedback, Reginald. I can see my brand name is developing a good reputation! Please feel free to call me Anthony.

Reginald, I've spelled out a model for this interactive excercise on the main page of "Modern Business Exploration" if you want to look into it but I've initiated the post in such a way as no reply is necessary, you can comment as you did, or we can continue a two way discussion. I'm sensitive to time constraints so have dedicated about a week to focus on you. Perhaps you could comment on, clarify, expand upon, or add to some of the impressions I have of you. In this way, we could get to know eachother a little better than the normal interaction you might find in this community.

I have more I think I could relate to you and your business model. It serves my interests to find connections and highlight aspects of what I am doing as well. It will be neat if other members join in on the discussion with questions or comments related to what we are discussing about eachother. Perhaps this will lead to other explorations I might undertake or others might take the initiative on. It would be great to come to some form of conclusion between us after a week or so, but also to leave the discussion open for new visitors who may stop by later.

If you are up to an interview, my suggestion is to not worry about getting everything covered in one day. I'd recommend we cover one part at a time- it doesn't have to be limitted/ defined to one week exactly. I'd like to take one part at a time and cover each part until we've caqnvassed each who, what, where, etc. This format would work well with my schedule since i am so busy with school. I can afford you a few minutes out of my day. I think it's worthwhile to get to know you! If you don't have the time that is O.K. too. I'll be exploring another member each week and you might enjoy following/ participating in those conversations to make the best use of your online social networking time. Regardless, your feedback really made me feel great. So thank you for the comment. That is definately the type of service experience I want associated with Nascent Dynamics ( ).

Best,

Anthony; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Reginald Crichlow on August 28, 2008 at 7:12pm: Hello Anthony,

I never had it in mind to be a teacher when I was young. I had actually started studying Accounts and was doing very well, but I realized that this was not for me. My first encounter with teaching convinced me that this was what God wanted me to do and I have been teaching now for over 30 years. Let me explain for the unitiated, that when we say teaching, what we are really doing is moulding lives. The results of the years of interacting with each child, leave lasting impressions (hopefully good ones), and for years after, these students still call you 'Sir'. I think most people remember their teachers not for the subjects they taught, but for the kind of persons they were and how they influenced them, isn't that so?
I think my years of teaching have moulded me into a "people's person" and the things I do now are mostly centred on helping people to experience the best that life has to offer them.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nascent Dynamics ( ) on August 28, 2008 at 11:08pm: Pretty interesting Reginald,

I had a teacher who thought I was taking being a student too seriously. So he had me start helping him teach the classes. Now that you mention it, I've got a lot of great moments like this I can reflect on now after having matured enough to understand. This is something I carried with me into the military. I found leadership was an obligation to serve those in your charge. By doing so, I felt a great satisfaction in moulding leaders who would pass on what I taught them in the same way.

I think there is something to that "initiation" because the first assumption of leadership is probably just telling people what to do and some kind of self-serving gratification with power. I've been dissapointed by some teachers who were strong in subject but weak in character. They were usually the ones who I think jumped on the assumption of what it was to be in those positions rather than the genuine transfer and influence as you mention. Knowing you have this perspective gives me some confidence that whatever it is you are doing now is of a higher standard and worth learning from. In particular, what you choose to teach now at your liesure would be of high interest to me.

I'd hope people would discover the same about my leadership now that I am out of the military. I never would have chosen to teach or lead. I was more focussed on doing what I was supposed to very well as a student or subordinate. I understand now demonstrating that principle qualified me as a good candidate to receive higher teachings. I was literally chosen to those roles against my will. That probably prepared me for all the sacrifice that comes with those roles. Consequently, those duties are what taught me my social skills and perspective on service.

Kind of interesting how you state your years of teaching "moulded" you. I think I get how higher purpose and life become the teacher and why teaching is far more important to people for what it represents in principle than the specific subject matter covered.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nascent Dynamics ( ) on August 29, 2008 at 9:12pm: Reginald, I'd like to learn more about what you are doing.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Reginald Crichlow on September 1, 2008 at 6:43pm: Anthony,
my major online interest is Health products - Himalayan Goji Juice and a number of other products from Greenwood Health Systems.
I have found that the best way to promote your products is by not promoting them. I have used the social networks quite extensively because it's there you get to answer the questions of people who have become your friends. I think people apprecialte when you allow them to make choices rather than trying to insult their intelligence by 'telling' them what to think and do.
Another way I develop my business is to appeal to people's innate desire to help others. My experience tells me that people who are involved in Health and Wellness industry seem to be more gentle in their promotion, but that may be a bias opinion.
Even though everything has become so expensive, and people are stretched to buy the neccessities, there are still a number of customers who are assuring me that even though they can't buy the product now, as soon as things get better they will.
I am still looking at ways to make the products more affordable and recently I was negotiating with another Health Promoter to find a way to make their products a bit less expensive, especially for distributers outside of the USA.
In the meantime, I am having a great time meeting new friends from all over the world and every now and then, someone asks me about the products on my page and I get to introduce them to these wonderful products.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nascent Dynamics ( ) on September 1, 2008 at 7:13pm: Nicely stated Reginald,

I will probably look into those links you shared. I also agree with an approach that respects people's intelligence. There's a little too much shouting/ formality in a lot of the marketing out there I simply ignore. My service concept is intended to bypass the consequential anymosity of transactional relationships. Primarily, my market is specific to people who share my itnerests and preferences anyway.

Actually, I spent the last few years as a General Manager for a healthcare management and consulting firm. When I have some more time, I might be able to give you some suggestions into unexplored avenues along those lines. By the way, do you speak a foreign language? I have some contacts in South America and have long thought about taking advantage of buying/ distributing vitamins and minerals from the region.

One thing that comes to mind in reducing costs is packaging. Too much money is tied up in that process and most consumers- in my opinion- especially after they are familiar with the product, have little interest in the packaging. that usually creates unnecessary wastes anyway. I happen to have some insights into international agricultural product distribution. Even shipping has become very expensive as a result of feul prices. There is also a phenomena where more is coming in to the U.S. than is leaving it- so you may have heard about all the containers being left behind. Somewhere in all this, there has to be an equilibrium point that can be reached if we can start forwarding more products internationally. I think there's something to be said for social networking's power for openning up new trade channels- especially if you have an international focus.

I guess this is a good lead in to discussing the "where" of what you are doing. How's Barbados faring with all the weather in the news?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Reginald Crichlow on September 3, 2008 at 10:11pm: Well as to the where, I have decided to lett the pictures do the talking. We have not been affected by the weather around us as yet, except for higher than usual temperatures.

I think you will enjoy thes pics and if you so desire to see them up close, you are welcome to join our long lists of visitors/tourists who visit our shores every year.

Here is Barbados; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nascent Dynamics ( ) on September 4, 2008 at 1:04am: Oh yeah. barbados looks great! I've done some snorkeling and have some friends that have been into SCUBA. I bet my wife would like me to tack this on our must visit list. Glad to hear the weather is treating you right.

Online Social Networking is a great phenomena for transcending borders. The internet along with websites, etc gives you great avenues to conduct business through virtual storefronts and so on. However, even with being able to associate an online presence with a person, I think it's important to pay attention to where a person is. I like exploring my area for meeting and activity spots. I think, why go brick and mortar when I've got all this beautiful nature I can use as my place of business.

My area in Northern California is an abundant outdoor adventure arena. As i develop my business, I'm looking at all the things I can do locally as well as online. I want to have an integrated balance between my online services and physical services. Some poeple can be exclusively catered to online. Others might only see me in person. Others might combine for the full experience. I could do an event in Barbados and maybe enjoy running into you there. My town is known as a college town. Right now it's bustling. I'm also going back to school and combining this with market research. A simple service i can offer is showing visitting students all the great things our area has to offer. So sometime during this year, or by next year, I plan on starting my roll out of services to this particular local target market.

I think this is a good lead in to the "when" of what we are doing. For me, I'm just getting started and continuing research & development for my business. It fits with where I am at in my life. I look for ways to line up what i am doing, want to offer, for others in the same demographic/ locality. It's part of leveraging resources available to you such as using my area as my office and promoting it alongside my business. You certainly have a good location going for you being in a health and wellness business. Speaking of social networking, I bet you have even more chances of meeting contacts in person as they travel to enjoy Barbados.

So you taught for 30 years and spent the last couple years focussing on health and wellness, right. I assume you are retired? Something that crosses my mind to ask anyone is what their 5 year goal is. If things were to go just how you would like, what would be in store for you over the next 5 years? For me, I'd like to think I got my degree and would be well into starting up my business either full-time, or as a side to a great job.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Reginald Crichlow on September 8, 2008 at 9:25pm: The When. I 'bumped' into online marketing when a friend of mine introduced me to Quixtar. I decided to give it a try but I was such a novice that I soon gave it up after a year of negligible business and long shipment delays. My next try was WorldProfit and again I floundered because of lack of training and guidance. I believe that if i knew then what I know now I would have been more successful.

The health business, Himalayan Goji Juice happened at a time when I was already bitten by the online business bug and I saw the potential for helping so many of my friends and colleagues who, in their middle years were experiencing the aches, pains and conditions that often afflict the Baby Boomers. It started out wonderfully, I think, but due to inexperience I did not develop my client base as I should and even though it went well, eventually economic difficulties has slowed it right down. But I am retaining this business because I am confident that it would do well as soon as the economic climate improves.

Along the way I have broadened my Health and Wellness business by including a number of natural Health products from Greenwood Health Systems. I am looking forward to great things from these products as well.

In five years time, I hope to be retired from my present job and even though I may never give up teaching, I am looking forward to running my health business full time and making a contribution to my country's health and prosperity. I also am looking forward to inviting as many of my new online friends as possible to my country to enjoy the wonderful island life and climate we so often take for granted. Maybe that could be another line of business. Maybe.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nascent Dynamics ( ) on September 9, 2008 at 12:39am: I can see this leads in to the "how" of what we are doing somewhat.

I have a standard I have developed over my years of research into modern business. Over a decade ago I bought into what I'll just call a "scheme" and was very dissapointed. I had access to what I thought were great products I could sell for a great profit and even get financed in advance if I was able to obtain purchase orders. I received a startup kit with all kinds of advice for building a business plan, selling, and so on. However, I quickly came to realize my only real avenues for selling would be people I knew closely. When I made that effort I found myself compromising relationships and people simply weren't interested in what I was selling anyway. My standard now is primarily not to get involed in any such system. Furthermore, if the company or person was so successful in selling their product, then they would be willing to essentially hire you and finance the start up all the way through to the point you were profitable enough to buy in to ownership. That's a paradox in itself because, if a company can afford to profit at that level, then they really have little incentive to sell. The upside is local marketing can work terrifically and the incentive for an "employee" to create their whole distribution branch and do a very good job of sales and service support would be greatest with ownership.

I personally plan on developing service rather than product but do see myself getting involved with products at some point- perhaps on a consulting basis for people selling them. The hard part with service is that you can easily come across as having nothing to sell and such. So if you do have something to retail, then you do have a basis for doing business- then it should just be a matter of how well you do business. I often think about the root cause of transactions for product sales. That is, how is it that somebody wants what you have to sell and is either looking for you or pleased when you bring it to their attention? Health products in particular cross my mind a lot. There are countless local attempts and you see these announcements all the time for do it yourself home-based businesses on job boards. It would seem only natural these are high demand items and all you need to do is let people know you are selling them. Then again, who's buying?

Kind of funny, but my wife is really into these things. She's from a european country and is always looking for natural alternatives. She takes particular interest in items she reads about in her yoga journals and healthy living magazines. She sometimes buys something based on the benefits expressed to her by friends. However, these are almost always items you'd find in a local store or healthfood market. She's probably just as skeptical of all the online promotions and "door to door" type sales of products going around. What impresses me is the verifiable science you see on these things in accredited publications and people who can tell a story about the logistic leverage they develop going straight through to the producers and all the way through to the consumers.

I think you may be on to something and have the right constituent make up to be successful based on my standard. For one, you would seem to be in a location that could put you close to the real suppliers. Additionally, your ability as a teacher should be useful in presenting the information. Your social networking aptitude gives you a chance to develop relationships with people that can easily lead into the conversation. Finally, your own demographic of baby boomers should afford you an ability to directly relate to people who would want the benefits of your products. Additionally, there are more likely to be baby boomers who are into traveling the world or taking nice vacations to your area.

For me, I am focused on presenting and delivering services that I would want and to my preferences. My target market is essentially people like me. I've got a lot of work to put into what I offer and how before it meets my standards, but then I will feel comfortable others will appreciate the genuine value and authentic delivery.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nascent Dynamics ( ) on September 11, 2008 at 11:53am: Reginald,

I'd like to complete our interview by getting into the "why" of what we are doing.

First, let me thank you for your gracious time and participation in this process. I have thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and I would like to extend to you the possibility of continuing it in several ways. I think we covered a lot of points. You clarified several initial impressions I had about you but there is more to discuss/ learn. I was reviewing my initial "exploration" and noted we had not gotten much into the SkypAssist project. I'm still interested in discovering what that is all about and what you are doing with it lately. I also posted some comments and opinions in our discussion that you did not address. I want you to know those are still open for response if you want to go back- and I don't mind counterpoints that can possibly enlighten me or shed more light on your specifics.

Another way I recommend continuing this is involving others into the discussion we already started. i bet there are others who might like to check out our discussion and add in. This group, "Modern Business Exploration" is not intended to be entirely driven by me. It would be nice to see you engage in explorations of people you meet here using the same interview concept. The discussions would give me a way to learn about others in depth with all due respect to my compressed schedule. I could also join in some of the conversations with light comments that won't take much of my time. So I recommend titling the discussion "Reginald Crichlow Explores So and So."

Finally, I'm looking to my next exploration. I just took a look at EdTopgun and was surprised at how potentially aligned he is with you. I'm going to spend a little time looking into his websites and pages and then engage him. I left a comment on his page and I mentioned how he might be interested in looking into our discussion. Perhaps you and he are worth introducing if you don't already know him. It would be nice if you joined us in the discussion if it develops.

So why? Part of my networking strategy is to genuinely network with people in order to broaden my knowledge of the world and people in it. I see there are potential alignments between us and I definitely want to continue a long term relationship with you. It has been a pleasure meeting you. Let me invite you to check out/ join my online social network www.arealight.ning.com . The concept there enhances and is a little broader than Sta.rtUp.Biz. Again, you should find my interests are authentic in supporting quality social networking for its own sake and not some form of selling. I think building a community like this can only serve my broader interests in the long run and having you represented there would add to the special dynamics of my community. Perhaps there could be some opportunity for us to support eachother or find business opportunities we might not otherwise find here. I certainly would like to see your group Cricket, Lovely Cricket represented. We could discuss how to work that out. I think it would also be nice if your products/ services were made available to my community.

I can tell you are a very nice person who shares some of my values. I look forward to continuing our mutual exploration together whether here and/ or there. Once again, it really has been a pleasure and thank you very much for participating in this modern business exploration.

Best,

Anthony; ▶ Reply to This