The G-Spot Column
Hi all: Welcome to Spring (those of us in the Northern Hemisphere!)
I just received this lovely review of my book from the great country of POLAND!
It asks the question too - ‘Nurture or Nature.’
http://jeziorki.blogspot.com/2010/03/nature-or-nurture.html
Graham Webb: A Unique Motivational Speaker
Book Graham to speak at your event here.
Hi all: Welcome to Spring (those of us in the Northern Hemisphere!)
I just received this lovely review of my book from the great country of POLAND!
It asks the question too - ‘Nurture or Nature.’
http://jeziorki.blogspot.com/2010/03/nature-or-nurture.html
Graham Webb: A Unique Motivational Speaker
Book Graham to speak at your event here.
News
- See the full report of Graham's tour to Hong Kong and China here:
http://out-of-the-bottle.com/index.php?page_name=china_%2F_hongkong_report
- Beneath the Surface
This issue celebrates you. Hairdressers are the most generous people in the world. You give time, money and heart to your clients and your community. You open yourselves to personal appeals, even allowing yourselves to be hurt, yet you pick up and give it all again the next day. I can't think of a better way to illustrate this extraordinary courage than to tell the story of Graham Webb.
I met Graham in the 1980s, when he was a successful platform artist and the owner of a chain of salons in the U.K. He told me he came from a disadvantaged background, but when I looked at his Savile Row suits, the beautiful Tudor house he and wife Mandy were restoring in Kent, his booming salons, I thought, "well, couldn't have been that bad." But it was, and worse.
Through his rise as a "brand" with Graham Webb products and academy, to his work as an international ambassador for the company after P&G acquired it, Graham harbored a secret: he suffered from handicaps associated with a congenital defect of the spinal cord, spina bifida. The condition twisted his feet, left him often incontinent, bruised him with chronic pain. In adult life, his stylish suits and bespoke shoes hid the humiliation he'd experienced in his slum school, where his teachers wrote him off as an utter failure.
In an industry where appearances mean so much, Graham became an enormous success. Ironically enough, it was a series of surgeries in the past few years that solved both his orthopedic and bladder problems which prompted him to go public with his story. He wrote a biography, "Out of the Bottle", detailing his struggles and now tours the world raising funds and awareness to fight the disease and support its sufferers, especially those in their teens, in living normal lives.
I heard one of his speeches recently in Chicago at a benefit for the Spina Bifida Association of Illinois. Graham was very frank about how the condition shaped his life, but his message was far from downbeat. "Define yourself in your own way", he urged the audience, "Create your own joy and happiness. Dreams come a size too big to allow us to grow into them".
To face the negative with a brave heart, to share yourself so others can learn, to be the hand that lifts-that's what Graham preaches, and that to me is what hairdressers are all about. It is my honor to work with and for you.
For more on Graham Webb's book and spina bifida, go to modernsalon.com.
- Here is a photo of James of itunes preparing to record another podcast with Graham. Listen to Graham's podcast to go in conversation with Graham as he reads excerpts from his autobiography, Out of the Bottle, and discusses his experience in life and in business.
- Mandy and I will be at America's 400th Anniversary in Jamestown, Virginia, on Sunday May 13 and at America's Cup of Polo on Saturday May 12. - www.americas400thanniversary.com and www.americascupofpolo.com
- Recently I was honoured to be at St James Palace in London to celebrate the raising of 250 million for the NSPCC 'Full Stop' campaign - the initiative started by HRH The Duke of York to ensure that countless children are prevented from child abuse now and forever. I was Chairman of the Appeal in Kent and I joined Patrons, fellow Chairmen, and all those connected to the appeal. Thank you to all those who contributed, and especially to my appeal colleague Bonnie White, and our Kent committee - the appeal has now ended, but the campaign continues !
To view the invitation for the event. Click on the image to the right. - Graham is now on tour in the USA and Canada (March 8 28).
His tour for Graham Webb Products (now part of Proctor & Gamble) begins in Moorhead, Minnesota on Monday March 12 with a series of 'Breakfast with Graham' events, which continue (with book signings) in Duluth, Minnesota, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He also visits other Mid West cities doing 'Meet & Greets' to key accounts, and speaks at the 'Brit Style' show at the Marriott West in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Monday March 19.
On March 23 Graham arrives in Calgary, Canada, and on March 25 conducts four speeches and book signings at 'Calgary Fashion Focus.' He then goes to Los Angeles and arrives back in the UK on March 28.
He will be back in North America on tour again in Autumn 2007.
- Graham took part in a very successful evening at the University of Kent on Friday 26th January as part of the 'Open Lecture' series. His talk was headed:
It CAN be done! From humble beginnings to global entrepreneur
The Lecture Series also includes personalities such as Historian & broadcaster Dr David Starkey; Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies Professor Lord (Robert) Winston; and Professor Lord May of Oxford. So Graham was in impressive company!
To view the flyer from the evening. Click on the image to the right. - Graham with the Governor of Virginia, The Hon Timothy Kaine, at Penshurst Place Castle, Kent UK, at the time of the signing of the Cooperation Agreement between the County of Kent, UK and the State of Virginia, USA. 14 November 2006.
Graham sat on the Governor's table with Viscount and Viscountess De L'Isle - owners of Penshurst Place.
Kent are very involved (in many ways) with the commemoration activities in the UK and USA with America's 400th Anniversary in 2007. See www.jamestown2007.org and www.beginyouradventure.co.uk and www.kenttourism.co.uk
HM The Queen will also now be in Jamestown, Virginia, for the weekend of May 12 / 13 (as will Graham and Mandy !)
See Gallery for photo of Graham with Virginia Indian Chief. - Graham at the Kent Olympic 2012 meeting with Patron and Double Gold Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes.
- Click here to view the road reports from Graham's recent US tour.
- Graham is the celebrity guest on www.oneword.co.uk. (Part of Channel 4 TV in the UK.) on Saturday September 9. The programme is called One Word Countdown, with presenter Frank Stirling, and can be heard in the UK on SKY Digital 0127 (through your TV), on Freeview, NTL893, or on line.
Graham will be talking about five books that have had an impact on him, and Grahams book Out of The Bottle will also be discussed.
Later this year Graham will be reading excerpts from Out of The Bottle on podcasts that will be carried worldwide on itunes. Details to follow in a few weeks time.
- The International Federation for Spina Bifida
Graham Webb to be Keynote Speaker The International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, Helsinki, June 29 July 2 2006...
I have agreed to be a Keynote Speaker during the Opening Ceremony of The Conference of The International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, to be held in Helsinki, Finland, from June 29 July 2 2006. profits from any books sold at the conference will be donated to the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.
Just some of the speaking engagements Graham has undertaken recently include:-
The Institute of Directors for The Princes Trust. UK.
The Kosa International Percussion Camp Vermont, USA.
Young Enterprise Entrepreneurship Masterclass. UK.
Wella / Proctor & Gamble, Oslo, Norway. Two return visits too!
Conference for Clynol (part of Henkle Group) Mandarin Oriental, London, UK
Conference for Schwarzkopf Cosmetics, The Lowery, Manchester, UK.
Annual Conference, Astra Tech UK (Astra Zeneca Group) Manchester, UK.
Speeches Coming Up 2006
US Tour Milwaukee, Madison, Minneapolis, Boston, Los Angeles, Carlsbad. May '06
The World Conference for Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus, Helsinki, Finland, June '06.
'Away Day' Conference for Kent Ambassadors. UK. July '06
The UK Independent Preparatory Schools Head Teachers Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, September '06.
Clydesdale Bank Conference September '06. TBC.
Intercoiffure Atelier. Keynote Speaker. Waldorf Astoria, New York City, October '06
US Fall Tour Chicago, Denver, Omaha - Nebraska, Des Moines - Iowa, Atlanta, Kansas City, Wichita and New York City, October '06.
2007
March 2 :
University of Kent, UK Open Lecture Series, Keynote Speaker and Guest of Honour
Spring: US Tour dates TBA
- On Fri. Dec 9th Graham was interviewed on the BBC World Service programme 'Outlook' - a programme that airs to 50 million listeners worldwide!!!!
Also in Dec, Graham had a major feature in the UK national Newspaper 'The Daily Express'! Check back soon as we will try to get a copy of the article posted to the site. - Graham made an exciting appearance as a guest of presenter Libby Purves on BBC Radio 4 "Midweek" programme. You can listen to the entire programme by follwing the link and instructions below:
To listen to the entire "Midweek" programme featuring Graham:
Please click here and choose the week of 30 November 2005 under the 'Previous Programme' listings.
November was an exciting month all around as Graham was host to 22 guests from the US for a 'London Calling' UK visit! - Graham's series of speaking engagements. Graham speaks about his book, his work, and his life experience.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel, London, UK
Mon Feb 20 2005
With Midge Ure (For Clynol Ltd)
Schwarzkopf UK in Manchester, UK
Sun Feb 28 2005.
Also with Midge Ure
(from Ultravox / Band Aid Live Aid)
Amhurst Rotary Club, Sevenoaks, UK
Weds June 8 2005
Astra Tech UK Conference, Manchester, UK
'In Good Company' Conference
Weds June 15th
Private Function
The Lowry Centre, Salford Quays
Machester, England
Kent Business Awards
Chairman of the Judges
Saga Pavilion, Sandgate
Folkstone, UK
7:00pm
The Kent County Show
Institute of Directors Business Breakfast
Graham will be the Keynote Speaker
Detling, Kent, UK on Friday July 15 2005. 7.30 am.
This event is to support The Princes Trust where last year in Kent alone, over 500 young people had the benefit of being part of the Princes Trust programmes helping young entrepreneurs.
Details www.iod.com/kent
Toronto, Canada
for Graham Webb Products
and Out of the Bottle 'Meet and Greets'
July 19 - 23
Guest Speaker at KOSA 10
drum / percussion camp
July 25 - 31
Castleton, Vermont, USA
www.kosamusic.com
Boston
August 1 - 2
USA Fall Tour
Sept. 22 - Carlsbad
Sept. 23 & 24 - Seattle, Bellevue Show
Sept 26 & 27 - Detriot
Sept 28,29 & 30 - Connecticut
Oct 3 & 4 - Minneapolis, Brit Style Tour
Oct. 5, Wisconsin
Oct. 7 & 8, St. Louis
Oct 9 & 10, Hershey PA, Schoeneman Show
24 hrs after arriving back in England from his USA tour
Graham flies to give a speech in Oslo, Norway
Norway, Oct 13 / 14
- Graham has been receiving lots of wonderful reviews and admiration from fans of the book. Here is a sample of the kind words readers have sent in.
"Dear Graham
Its 11am Christmas Day and I have just finished your autobiography. Fantastic, heart warming. inspiring, and a lifes lesson I have learnt.
I felt you where sitting in your living room telling me your life story. Learning how to be a better person on this busy planet, and how to treat our fellow man or woman.
After reading your book I feel I could achieve anything in life as you did, and I am sure that you will carry on having a successful and fulfilling life.
Although your book is about your business, you still encompass your family and friends lives, which made it so interesting.
Im so glad you wrote the book, as I will use many things that I have learnt from you!
Robin and Jan Page"
Read more reviews on the 'reviews' page. Click here to read them now!
If you have read the book, we would love to hear what you thought of it, you can use the contact page to send us your thoughts.
- We are very happy to announce that Graham has been officially recognised by Her Majesty the Queen, in her New Year Honours List, for his services to business and charity in Kent. Graham was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire). The Investiture took place at Buckingham Palace on June 8th 2005!
- Graham wishes to thank the many people who turned out to hear him speak during his recent USA tour for Graham Webb Products. And thanks to everyone who brought the book.
- There is no shortage of incredible talent and energy in the Webb Family!
Look out for Grahams talented daughters THE WEBB SISTERS album they are in the studio NOW, and their album 'Daylight Crossing' is released in the UK on Mercury Records on June 26. The single 'I still hear it' is released on June 19. www.thewebbsisters.com
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