27th July 2010. Tony Robbins New TV show

I don’t normally do this, in fact, it’s the first time I have ever done this, but I recommend you watch this new show. Tony Robbins is an inspiration, yes he might be a cheesy American self-help guru, which is exactly what I thought when I first heard of him (partially still do). However, I like people who call a spade a spade and this man certainly cuts out all the gibberish from life and gets to the point, the core, the essence of people lives.

Tony Robbins is now 50 and he’s served over 50 million people worldwide. I’m not going to lie to you, he’s made hundreds of millions of dollars selling books, programmes and live shows along the way (and invested a large proportion of this into his own charities) but for the first time, he’s got his own TV show. So you can view this and make up your own mind about whether those people who spend $4,000 for a weekend away get value for money (no, I’ve not done one, but I did buy a £15 book of his and use his ideas on NLP to chat up a girl (Day:67 Tiffany) on my trip around the world in 80 handbags). His new TV show is all about taking people who have faced massive challenges in their lives and making them realise what’s important. Yes, these cases are extreme and yes, even he admits it’s a bit dramatic, but that’s what TV producers like in show! Here’s the link to the site: Tony Robbins BREAKTHROUGH

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30th May 2010. Knox Design - New Office Launch.

Knox design is an award winning branding and graphic design agency. I spoke at the event to celebrate the opening of their new offices. The celebration has been mysterious billed as, “Entertainments and Happenings throughout the day.” This included an object artist, a magician and numeorus musicians.

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7th May 2010. East Norfolk Sixth Form College

At the East Norfolk Sixth Form College I spoke to two classes of pupils studying for their AS Language Course who had done Travel Writing as part of their coursework. The talks included teaching the pupils what the contents of their handbags said about them and an impromptu acting out of part of the book with an energetic pupil called ‘Harry.’ He very much brought to life Babu (a homeless shoe shine boy) one of the characters in the book, much to the delight of the others in the class.

“My students had done their own travel writing as part of their coursework. However I wanted them to see how this activity could move beyond assessment objectives and requirements to something that could be deeply moving and life changing. Will’s engaging and interactive presentation inspired both students and faculty and helped them understand more about their own values and those of others.” Nichole Wilson, English teacher on a Fullbright Teaching Exchange (Sponsored by the British Council in the UK and by the Academy for Educational Development in the USA).

Above: Teacher, Nichole Wilson, on her own travelling adventures.

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6th May 2010. Thirsty Thursday (TT), Nottingham Trent Uni

“Will B’s presentation was huge…probably the best one I have ever seen…if Carlsberg did presentations.”
Simeon Hartwig, TT compere and founder of Bantum clothing.

It was with great pleasure that I returned to Nottingham to talk to a fifty strong crowd of student entrepreneurs who are based at the Hive, a business incubabtion centre where I was based betwen 2005-2008 in Nottingham. I presented a new presentation: “Cars & Girls: A Business Overview” which picks up on the aspects of my life that have conditioned what I have doen with my life. This interactive three part talk included: 1) Talking about the things I have done (including the book). 2) Giving a business lesson. 3) Leaving the audience with a quote to ponder.

After talk networking at TT.

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13th March 2010. Sherborne School, Dorset

Keynote presentation: Around the World in 80 Handbags. I delivered this speech to 600 pupils aged 13-18 who go to this exclusive private school. My aim was to inspire these public school pupils to step outside their comfort zone when the opportunity arises. To learn from the people in the world as well as from books, to take responsibility and to reflect back on their own experiences. To tailor this presentation to the 13-18 years olds I incorporated more audience participation than ever before by involving the children in spreading my key message, “Life is not about what I own, life is about what I do.”

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25th February 2010. Bath FSB Breakfast Club

“Will delivered his psychological presentation with a huge sense of humour. I’m glad he didn’t look in my handbag though!”
Angela Ladd, Chairman of the FSB, Bath Branch.

Keynote presentation: Around the World in 80 Handbags. I delivered my speech to 50 members of the Bath region of the Federation of Small Businesses. The event was held at Homewood Park, an exclusive 4 star hotel on the outskirts of Bath. My talk focused on my alternative perceptions of travelling around the world and aimed to inspire the Bath based entrepreneurs to consider creative ways to promote and market their businesses.

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1st Jan 2010 - Maren Mende Book Review
When I was given this book by a friend I had no idea what to expect. Much like the author judges Lohrey’s ‘The Philosopher’s Doll’ by its title and cover, I was doing the same. I saw a girly travel journal, written by a man I had never heard of. I set out scrutinising every word, questioning the necessity of every paragraph, not caring what the author might think of my overly-critical review and correct-grammar-OCD.

However, as I read my way through the heart-warmingly honest descriptions of each day of Will Baxter’s journey, I began to feel like I knew him. I subconsciously found myself analysing his personality, making comparisons and finding similarities and differences between myself and the people described in this book. I found myself laughing at the first, naïve and fearful shower taken by Baxter in which he tries to avoid what he perceives to be certain death through the contact of a drop of water with his mouth, marvelling at his relationships (or obsession with the lack thereof), and becoming melancholic at the descriptions of the reality of poverty in India.

Yes there is a handbag on the cover. No it is not a book aimed at women. It’s not only the contents of handbags, which facilitate Baxter’s creation of new friendships and journey of self-discovery, but of shoeshine boxes, rucksacks and pockets.

This is not a book written solely for travel tips (although fear not- it is packed with practical advice you’d be pushed to find in many travel-specific publications) and it’s not a “What’s-my-personality” self-help book. What this is, is an honest description of a normal man’s journey around the world, insightful for anyone travelling and hoping to find out a little bit more about themselves (with or without the hippy clichés, male or female, gap-year student or career-breaker). Of course this book has flaws, but those are what make it just as real and sincere as every experience, person and discovery featured within its pages.

Maren Mende, 22, Student, University of Edinburgh

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What would you like to do now?
a) Find out about upcoming events.
b) Read the News archive.
c) Own the book.