Today I’ve had one of those days when I start off thinking I’m doing one thing, and end up doing something completely unexpected.
I was called last night by the organisers of One Life exhibition at Olympia in three weeks time. They were selling the last few stands and as one would expect, there was a bargain to be had.
However I need an exhibition in three weeks time like a hole in the head at the moment. We are moving house in a month, although we don’t where to yet and the sale has some tricky legal details. Thankfully it is well worth our while moving. So I disregarded the One Life idea. But this morning I mentioned the idea to my partner Larry, who then convinced me this was a fantastic opportunity – which I kind of knew – but didn’t want to acknowledge.
When there is only one of you running a business, exhibitions are hard work. I don’t like to attend with less than five people on the stand. It’s exhausting, people need breaks, the stand must never be left unattended, and no-one must be left on their own. But I think I’ve found enough people, so I’m pretty pleased. Most difficult was finding someone to look after our two dogs for three days – but I’ve even managed this. I’ll admit a degree of smugness. I wish the solicitors, removal companies, buyers and tenants involved in our house move were as easily organised.
So why was I so interested in One Life? What has changing your life, by retraining, travelling, volunteering, redressing the life/work balance or whatever, got to do with sharing stuff. Well, more than you might think. I’ve realised after talking to lots of people who visit yours2share, that many people who advertise with us are looking to change their lives. They’ve identified what they want to do, and if they can’t afford to do what they want alone, then sometimes they can see a way forward if they could find a partner. They are looking for the needle in the haystack, but then that’s what the internet is for. yours2share helps them to identify the needle.
We have ads from people looking for partners to own and run a dog rescue/kennels/pet shop, own and run a centre for healing, share their farm, share their Provencal home for several months a year, share an ocean-going yacht to travel round the world, and many others. Or maybe they want to learn to fly, sharing a light aircraft is a good way forward, or perhaps they want to ride more often, so they could share a horse.
Anyway I’ll be there on stand 34 at the One Life exhibition, Olympia, London from Friday 29th February to Sunday 2nd March 2008, with four other people (fingers crossed). We would love to see you there.