Paul Bridle

Bing

2009-07-29T16:41:00.002+01:00

A very interesting article at http://www.pcworld.com/article/169261/what_the_microsoftyahoobing_deal_means_for_you.html

I love the comment, Google is like Mother's love - it is there forever

On a serious note, "I'm just not sure that Microsoft still has any of that kind of turn-on-a-dime mentality anymore." is the real point. Only time will tell.

Did anyone that was around in the early 90's think we would be talking about Microsoft this way????

Press release

2009-07-17T12:46:00.000+01:00

http://soaringpr.com/blog/case-study-based-training-to-help-leaders-and-managers-develop-their-teams-in-the-work-place/

Business Losers

2009-07-16T11:28:00.003+01:00

It surprises me how organizations don’t understand that the small things can make a difference and are not always very expensive. This week I was booked into a hotel for one night in Lancashire England. I phoned up the hotel to check which was the closest railway station and how I could get to the hotel.

The phone rang and the infamous voice recording asking me to press 1 for reception, 2 for restaurant bookings and 3 for central bookings. I pressed one and listened to it ring and ring. Eventually someone picked up the phone and put it down again. I rang again and pressed 1. This time it just rang endlessly. I put the phone down and looked on Google. Exactly the same time I spent on the hotel trying to phone them, it took me to find another hotel and be on the phone to them. Another minute later I had a booking at the new hotel.

Not only did the hotel lose a customer but I spoke at a conference and told a group of businesses leaders about my experience with the hotel.

Why is it that a simple thing like answering the phone is such a major issue? Why is it that restaurants decide to close their kitchens at 8pm. Why do retail shops have staff that don’t want to talk to customers or only want to work in their areas? Why do telephone companies not want to make it easier to do business with them?

All of the above have been personal experiences in the last month. Every one would have brought in more revenue to their business for doing something that costs them nothing but generated more profit. What went wrong? Not being prepared to listen. Putting procedure above all else. Being inward facing.

Most of all not being ‘solution’ focused.

Conversely, on Sunday we went to buy a new car and eventually decided on a particular one. It was the last one they had until September. We told the sales rep we would check the finances and if there was a problem get back to him in an hour. All was well and so the next morning we phoned to ask what he wanted from us next?

Another sales man had sold the car!! I was annoyed. We went up and I said that I was annoyed. The sales man immediately apologized and then said, “There are no issues, there are only solutions. We need to sort out yours for you” and he went on to work with us to find a solution that ended up being better for us and for him.

He listened and instead of hiding behind processes and rules, he looked for solutions.

This months losers:
Stirk House Hotel and Restaurant – Lancashire
O2 – UK
Debenhams – Meadow Hall Sheffield

Best Buy's new CEO

2009-07-07T07:41:00.002+01:00

Newsweek did a great interview with Best Buy's new CEO Brian Dunn. It is worth reading at http://www.newsweek.com/id/165379

My thoughts are Dunn is making all the right noises. However, my experience is nowhere near his comments. Having had a bad customer experience in a Best Buy four years ago, I vowed never to go back. I relented a couple of months ago and went in to buy the new FlipHD camera. The young lady that served me was so unhelpful that I was dumbfounded. I asked if they had one for sale and she said, "I think we sold out". I had to ask her to please look for me. She went to the cupboards under the display and rummaged around each one. Finally she said, "No, we are sold out". I asked her to open the first one again and pointed to a box at the front and said "isn't that the FlipHD?". She picked it up and then said "Oh, well this must be the last one".

I had to tell her how to find it on the system to get the price. Had I not been desperate and in a hurry, I would have walked out.

So Brian's comments, "[Not] all retailers are customer centric, and I think on our best days we are. People get it confused with customer service … For me, customer centricity is taking you as a human being—your wants, needs, desires—and creating solutions." left me wondering if I just had Best Buy on a bad day. Twice!!! I don't think so.

He goes on to say, "There is intrinsic value in every single human being that works for you. One of the sayings I use is that 'Together, we're a group of ordinary people who, when we really come together, can accomplish extraordinary things.'" I think that this is wonderful statement and a brilliant philosophy. I wonder if his managers really understand the wisdom of those words?

Newsweek asked: "When store managers are failing, what's the most common problem, and how do you decide if they can be rehabilitated?"

Brian's reply: "My primary focus is whether they're learning: Are they repeating mistakes? Are the mistakes a result of an error in judgment? Are the mistakes the result of not being interested in creating an environment where people can make a difference? You can teach your way through errors in judgment, but having a lack of interest in creating an environment where people matter is very, very difficult to overcome."

I really want to believe that. I really hope Brian Dunn has the drive to push that philosophy through his company. Best Buy has such great potential but could be soooo much better and it has the ability to be a role model to the retail industry if it figures out the basics. Brian Dunn strikes me as someone that really does want to create this type of organization. I wonder if he can really get his philosophy down to the lowest level of the business? I hope so.

At least his words have me thinking I won't wait another four years to go back. Maybe I will go again later this year!

A great visit to Malaysia

2009-06-24T06:19:00.001+01:00

Had a great visit to Malaysia last month. The first evening was a Keynote at the Hilton Hotel. You can read about it here:

http://www.taylors.edu.my/news/news_landing.php?id=5&news=70

Is there any reason we can't get along?

2009-06-11T21:08:00.001+01:00

Watch this video clip and ask yourself, why can't we get along?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjyb0t5Jm44

Business Leaders identify the three keys to survival this far through these economic times

2009-06-03T22:52:00.000+01:00

Over the first five months of this year we have been asking business leader what are the key principles to remaining in business. Interestingly, the replies were consistent under three headings. The business leaders interviewed said that these were fundamental to ensure that the whole business stayed focused on the right things.

As one CEO expressed it, “At any time a CEO has hundreds of issues that need dealing with. It is important that you know the three to five that are your priority and do not allow yourself to be side tracked from those.”

Communicate, communicate, communicate

At a time when there is a lot going on and people are unsure about what is happening and how it may affect them, it is vital to communicate. The leader needs to be visible because people want to see their leader as well as hear the message. People get a level of comfort from seeing the leader and pick up on the subliminal messages. For example, if the leader seems relaxed, it relaxes them. If the leader seems confident, people feed off that confidence.

Communication needs to be two-way because people more questioning. Listening is important because it creates the dialogue, which in turn engages people. An important part of the communication is the content which must include the strategy or plan of action. Knowing the direction that is being taken makes people feel that there is some leadership taking control of the situation and there is something worth committing to.

Quotes include:
“Be visible and communicate frequently”
“Ensure two-way communication”
“Clearly communicate strategies and actions to employees to ensure higher morale”
“Continue to inspire the entire organisation to succeed”

Redefine Value

At a time of economic downturn, the customer has a good reason to assess what they spend and where they spend it. Customers actively seek alternatives and so the focus needs to be on providing the best value possible. Anything that creates a connection with the customer and shows that they are getting value for money, is vital.

A company needs to believe in itself and what it offers. Any sign of low confidence will impact the value on offer. The enthusiasm and belief in what the company is providing has a direct link to the value being offered. This is a significant shift in terminology from giving “customer service” to “creating value”.

Quotes include:
“Refusing to cut corners on customer service during tough times”
“Create value and make a difference”
“Every employee starting with me as the CEO, must step up and be an advocate of the value we offer”
“Collaborate, be nibble and innovate”

Objectivity and Discipline

Every single person interviewed took a fresh and objective look at their business and what they were doing. They spoke about getting back to core business and being dispassionate about what fitted in the business and what didn’t. Where should time, energy and money be focused? They spoke of stripping out pet projects that were distracting and using up resources better spent else where.

Obviously cost were important, but interestingly, although cash was seen as important, they saw the importance of still spending but spending wisely. “Discipline” was a word used on a number of occasions.

Quotes include:
“Offer high value solutions while keeping a steady and disciplined handle on expenses”
“Conduct a dispassionate review of the business”
“Take strong defensive positions, preserve lots of cash and continue investing lots of cash in R&D for the core business”
“Look at our job with fresh eyes”

What about the future?

A notable difference between this and previous recessions is the focus on spending money through the recession on R & D. Many saw the recession as an opportunity to retrain staff and refurbish the business. Money spent in these areas was seen as fundamental to the business being able to perform when the recession is over.

Although some providers of training and development programs have seen a down turn in their business, many have seen a surge as well. The difference seems to be in the ability of these providers to deliver results and not programs.

A recession or economic crisis has an evolutionary effect on business. Businesses emerge differently with new demands and expectations. We do not know for sure what it will be like when it is all over, but we do see certain signs emerging. The key word will be ‘value’ and the key action will be “measure”.

Your Life Through LinkedIn

2009-06-01T22:02:00.002+01:00

Great article from a really good guy and excellent at networking. Hope you enjoy it

Your Life through LinkedIn - by Will Kintish

We start out in life knowing no-one. Shortly most of us get to know members of our family, then we go to primary and high school then for some it’s off to college and university. Along the way we join clubs, teams and associations. We may attend our chosen place of worship which for some could be the pub or the gym! Then we go to work, sometimes in parallel with our education until we end up in our chosen careers.
When I started work all those decades ago the career you chose was meant to be for life, but this doesn’t seem to be the norm nowadays. In a recent keynote speech Reid Hoffman co-founder of Linkedin said,
“Part of the thesis that LinkedIn was founded on is that every individual is now becoming
a small business. What do I mean by that? A typical job lasts two to four years,
so that there is a sequence of jobs.”
So you move from your first job to the next and so on until we finally retire.
The common thread
So where is the common thread with your journey through life? Of course it’s people. People we meet along the way some we stay in touch with but most simply pass through a period of our lives then disappear. Some of them we don’t like and probably don’t want to reconnect with, some we like and some we like and trust and wish we’d stayed in touch.
Your little black book
As the years move on our personal diaries with friends’ names in, our college address book, and our databases get lost thrown away, details deleted. “I wonder what happened to ‘Haggie’ Harris from school or Gemma who I shared a room with at university” we may contemplate in a quieter moment.
Linkedin can reconnect so many of these past associations and rekindle previous relationships, but unlike Facebook, in a professional and business scenario. Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with Facebook but I see it applies primarily to the social rather than the business scene. On Facebook we all have friends, on Linkedin we are all professional connections.
Networking and using LinkedIn
We have been networking throughout life’s journey – it is simply the process of building relationships. Having that ‘light bulb moment’ late 2008 I realised I could now collect together all those people I have met through my life to date; well the ones who have signed up for Linkedin, anyway! And as I write 40m + connections are now in the system; not all my personal connections, I might add!

The two networks to focus on are the ones we have built over our lifetime and their networks. How many times do we ask or consider asking our existing clients to recommend us to others having done a great job for them? However happy they are, as soon as we leave their presence they get on with what they’re doing and forget us. But when we’re able to look into their little black book and see some of their contacts we can focus on people who we’d like an introduction to. When people in your network like and trust you they generally will be more than happy to introduce you to their contacts.
What to do with your online network
We go to business events for a myriad of reasons- the key ones being
• To meet new people
• To reinforce existing relationships
• To raise our profile
• To gain new knowledge and information
• To find new employees or find a new position

This is exactly what LinkedIn is there for too.

Investment of your time
When I mention LinkedIn and other similar online social media tools I often get the response, “Oh I haven’t got time for all that; I’m far too busy.” The attraction of Linkedin is when you understand it and use it effectively it really is a pro-active, time saving, profile raising, business development tool. When people say they haven’t got the time I reply ‘You mean you haven’t got the time to go to business events or do any networking?’
When you use Linkedin to best effect it really is the best use of your time. No travel time or hassle, no carbon emissions just pure premium time carrying out proactive business development. Like every aspect of our lives the mantra ‘What you put into it you get out’ equally applies to using Linkedin

The key principles of networking
1. ‘What’s in it for you?’
People who are good at building relationships, i.e. networking tend to have a generous spirit and a giving nature. They share their knowledge and their connections and are likely to be open and receptive to requests for assistance. When you transfer those characteristics to Linkedin you will find it can become your best networking partner. Linkedin has a numerous settings for you to decide what you want others to see and know about you. People who set their setting to ensure I can’t see their network of connections aren’t, by and large people I want to deal with. All my settings are ‘open’ and I know it raises my profile within the global community of LinkedIn.
I am conscious there are people who abhor Facebook, Twitter and other online networking tools. And that’s fine but all I can say is don’t waste your time with LinkedIn- it’s not for you.
To emphasise these principles ensure every time you ask your contact for an introduction, keep reminding them to check your network to see if there is anyone in it they’d like an introduction to.
2. Patience and persistence
When you start to build relationships it takes time; it’s the same when you start using LinkedIn. Unless you’re very lucky it’s going to be some time before you get value from it but stick with it and I feel sure you will get a good return on your investment.

The powerful cocktail
Whilst LinkedIn is no substitute for ‘live’ networking, combining the two creates a very powerful proactive business development mix.

My call to action

Join LinkedIn if you want to

• act and not react in this new business climate
• become highly visible
• approach warm leads and avoid cold calling
• gain more business opportunities at virtually no cost
• become a comfortable, proactive, online business developer
• ensure satisfied clients will introduce you to their contacts in an organised and carefully targeted manner.
• encourage colleagues to create more cross selling opportunities.
• be involved in more modern, up-to-date business development techniques.

The author of this article is Will Kintish, leading UK authority on effective and confident networking both offline and online.
If you’d like Will to speak at your conference or training workshops, call him on +44 161 773 3727.
Visit www.kintish.co.uk and www.linkedintraining.co.uk for further free and valuable information on all aspects of networking.

Interesting response from Business Leaders

2009-06-01T16:08:00.002+01:00

A recent survey was carried out. The question asked: What business leaders thought was the result of the Economic Meltdown was having on their business?

The reply showed over 60% thought it was an 'Opportunity to Stand out'.

How long can Zuma last?

2009-06-01T16:06:00.000+01:00

Interesting article

President on a leash - How long can Zuma last?
by Ken Owen
As President Jacob Zuma settles into office, one question - rarely articulated but ominous - casts a long shadow over his prospects: how long will he last? One year? Three? Or a full term of five years?

The answer lies in the hands of the ANC bosses who marshalled 2 300 obedient cadres to behead Thabo Mbeki at Polokwane and put Zuma on the throne of the presidency. What they did once before, they can do again. And the fact that nearly two-thirds of the voters ratified their choice of Zuma makes no material difference. His term will end when the party hierarchy decides.

The events at Polokwane disclosed to us that under SA's flawed constitution, power lies not with the electorate, nor in parliament, nor even in the presidency. It lies in the labyrinthine recesses of Luthuli House where the ANC leaders plot and connive, and decide who will be "deployed" to what job, and for how long.

The process is hidden from public view, reducing the entire constitutional paraphernalia of elections, parliamentary debates and traditions, and checks and balances to marginal relevance. The public clash of ideas between government and opposition in an open forum where (if I may resort to one of the noblest phrases of parliamentary democracy) "strangers may be present" is little more than public theatre.

Parliamentarians pontificate, the opposition denounces and cajoles, the media solemnly records public statements and gathers comments, all the while hiding the brutal fact that the real debates take place in secret at Luthuli House. To discover what happens there requires not simply press freedom but something like Kremlinology, a reading of political tea leaves.

What we do know from the Mbeki example is that the presidency, supposedly the mighty executive branch of government, is but the lackey of faceless men and women in the only important centre of power at party headquarters. In the end, the party will decide from day to day, or month to month, whether President Zuma will survive, and for how long.

For full article go to http://www.leader.co.za/article.aspx?s=1&f=1&a=1326

Hotels and the Gold Coast

2009-05-21T23:42:00.002+01:00

This week I stayed at the Marriott Hotel at Surfers Paradise in Australia. The conference was great and the staff in the conference side were really good. But the rest of the hotel was an example of a hotel that has been overwhelmed by the economic climate. Their focus is on money and that shows in the way they staff perform and the services they provide.

I was very disappointed indeed. Marriott is normally a brand you can trust but this hotel did not live up to the Marriott brand at all. Being a positive person and trying not to complain, I asked to speak to the manager to explain my experience. I did this after I had paid my bill so they knew I was not seeking a reduction on my bill. While polite to me, it was obvious that I was wasting my time. She did not take any notes at all, she defended some of the issues due to the hotel being busy with a conference and she tried to pass off some of the issues on the weather!

Amazing response from everyone at the Marriott Surfers Paradise. It is obvious that they simply are not in tune with the way business is going and what it will be like after this economic climate. I walked away very sad because there is so many things they could do that would make a world of difference. I suppose this is what happens when you are the largest hotel with indoor conference facilities in the area.

I came across a couple that were looking at holding their wedding there and suggested that they do a mystery shopper on the place before deciding.

Today I was delighted to see that some hotels are really trying to embrace technology and find ways to se it effectively. Have a look at http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&sik=1242945540921&aIdx=0&articleID=37174495

Obama and Leadership in the first 100 days

2009-04-28T22:12:00.002+01:00

As the first 100 days passes, it would be useful to look at the Leadership style of President Obama so far.

Well he has been busy! It could be said that he arrived at a busy time with the economic issues, the Iraq and Afghanistan issues and a few other global and local problems on his desk. However, we have seen a man that has not shied away from the issues and in reality seems to have not only taken them head on, but also taken on ones that could have been put to one side for a while.

The size of the agenda he has launched into, is quite breathtaking. He has recognized that an immediate and sharp turn was needed away from the Bush approach to the world. President Obama needed to stamp his position and approach on a world that was largely seeking to make America irrelevant. He carefully sent out a clear signal that there was significant differences between the America of pre 2008 and the America of 2009 and beyond.

As with his campaign, he has recognized that the approaches of the past that have not achieved results, need rethinking. With Cuba, Iran and even Venezuela he has shown he is ready to relook at the situation. Not in a one-way approach to everything that dominated the Bush/Cheny era but with a proactive dialogue that engages and doesn’t distant other nations. He has shown more than once in both his campaign and in the first 100 days that he is open to new thinking and new approaches. This is probably one of the most significant leadership approaches that marks his style.

"Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America" he told the crowd gathered for his inauguration, on January 20, 2009.

It has been acknowledged that USA has not always got it right in the past. He has done this in a way that does not attempt to excuse it but also does not dwell on it either. His recognition that other cultures see the world differently, has been a breath of fresh air across the globe. Generally Americans do not understand the difference in cultures and so are unable to see themselves through the eyes of other people. President Obama is not condoning other cultures and certainly not promoting American culture as the right one. He is acknowledging that there are some differences and, most importantly, that the real issue is about how to co-exist rather than confront.

There is a wonderful expression, “you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”. Obama has certainly embraced this approach while at the same time not coming over as weak or unable to take a stand when needed. This is probably the second more significant leadership approach worth noting. People know where they stand with him but he has also got the ability to view the world through their eyes. People respect that.

Interestingly, his approach to the economy has received mixed reaction. Obviously the opposition party has said it is totally wrong, but even amongst his supporters there is doubts about it. One aspect that has been interesting was how early in the Presidency Tim Guitner was being slammed and now a few short weeks later, he is seen as probably quite astute. Certainly Obama has stuck by his man. His popularity has only dropped 3 points since the beginning of the 100 days but the public’s views of the handling of the economy is a lot lower.

It would appear that the reason people are prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt on the economy. Maybe it is simply that there is no viable alternative course of action is being held up. The Republican opposition has got good at pointing out what they think is wrong but not really holding up any viable alternative approach. Basically, the public see the problem as, do we hit the economy from the left or from the right. That is not a big question compared to do we use a 2 pound hammer or a 10 pound hammer? Do we hit it hard or tap it? Do we hit it at all? Those sort of differences may force people to group behind either the Democrats or the Republicans.

What is notable in terms of his leadership style through the economic crisis has been his willingness to make a decision and go with it without allowing himself to be distracted. He has not tried to find the perfect solution (probably because he recognizes that there simply isn’t one) and rather set a direction and then modify as he goes. A great lesson in knowing when the planning is over and action must begin, but action does not have to be rigid. I think it is called, Ready, Aim, Fire and Steer.

Is it working? Only Americans would be expecting results already. It is that same short term mentality of seeking immediate results that got us into the financial crisis we have. Only time will tell how much will be achieved but certainly the ground has been well prepared in the first 100 days.

America has certainly been granted a reprieve by the world. More countries are wanting to work with America to tackle issues, than they were in the last eight years or so. The approach to the economy is either right or wrong, time will tell but at least the approach is very similar across the globe.

The criticism that he is not being bipartisan is amusing to the rest of the world who are looking in from the outside. He can only be bipartisan if both sides want to find common ground. Bipartisan is not simply agreeing with the opposition. The GOP are jumping up and down saying that he is reaching out too far to people like Chavez of Venezuela, when they are seen as keeping their hands by their sides in Congress and the Senate. The truth is, they cannot be bipartisan because they are too frightened that they will loose their own seats. I imagine that behind the rhetoric and away from the cameras, there is a lot more bipartisanism going on.

Obama’s greatest challenge will be America itself. America thinks it has defined itself when in reality it has not for the modern world. It blames other parts of the world for the religious influence on their society and speaks strongly about democracy. But within America it strongly holds its religious positions despite the democratic will of the people. It holds up it Constitution when it suits and ignores it when it suits. It holds up the rule of law when it suits and then sets it aside when it suits.

There are fundamental flaws that undermine the long term strength of America and these need to be addressed. Americans are quick to pick up on minor issues like a hand shake and ignore more important issues like the desire to bury the past. America is quick to shout about human rights on the other side of the globe while justifying actions on the grounds of security. On these simple points, there are other parts of the world that are gaining ground still on America. China may not have a good record on human rights, but it is not pretending to be either. Cuba may not be democratic but it doesn’t pretend to be and what is the difference between them and Saudi Arabia? Venezuela may be vocal in opposition to America but it is a democracy and America still buys its oil while being vocal about everyone else.

Can President Obama tackle these long terms and internal issues? Only time will tell.

Leadership style so far has included:

Being prepared to consider an alternative approach and be more inclusive
Drawing a line on what has happened and now seeking solutions
Acknowledging past mistakes without dwelling them
Showing what he stands for and winning respect first
Being decisive and taking action
Surrounding himself with clever people
Understanding that there may be a different point of view

World Malaria Day

2009-04-24T08:01:00.007+01:00

Tomorrow the 25th April is World Malaria Day. As someone who had Malaria, managed to survive and will always live with the side effects, I feel attached to this cause.

Please support the effort to eradicate malaria by going to
http://www.malarianomore.org/ and donate $10.

Thank you to everyone and best wishes
Paul

In Memory of Mark Twain

2009-04-21T19:02:00.002+01:00

In Memory of Mark Twain who died today in 1910

A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain.

A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.

Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.

An Englishman is a person who does things because they have been done before. An American is a person who does things because they haven't been done before.

Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.

By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity -- another man's I mean.

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.

Do something every day that you don't want to do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain.

Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live.

Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge.

Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable.

Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't.

For more Mark Twain Quotes go to http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Mark_Twain/

Learn from mistakes

2009-04-18T01:06:00.003+01:00

After the Thatcher era and her predecessor John Major, the Conservatives fell from grace and became lost in the wilderness for 10 years. Admittedly the arrival of Tony Blair and the way he shaped the Labour Party, became inspiring and that did not help the Conservatives. But the main reason the Conservatives struggled to find traction with the public was that nobody knew what they stood for. In addition, all they were seen as doing was knocking the opposition.

It is easy to knock the opposition. It is easy to destroy but it takes real a skill to build. I find it extremely painful to watch the Republican Party knock everything that is being done by Obama. Every time I listen to the news in North America, I hear a GOP Member knocking what Obama is doing. And many times it is so weak and unsubstantial that it is embarrassing.

I suppose this is what happens when the Party lacks a Leader, but the Party is starting to be seen as a Party that knows how to oppose, how to pick fault or scaremonger at every opportunity. If there is nothing of substance to be said, then it is better to say nothing than to reduce credibility.

Learn from the mistakes of the Conservatives in United Kingdom and take the time to regroup and decide what you stand for and what the modern world expects of Government and the United States of America. Stop talking as a Party of values when the Party has undermined many of the Christian and moral values of the world. Focus on finding a credible leader and learn how to build quickly before all you can do is destroy or knock down. Credibility will be as important as Strategy. At the moment the GOP has neither.

Good Government requires a credible opposition. If you don't believe me, look again at how much Labour got away with in UK for the years that the Conservatives were lost in the wilderness. Now UK is broken and weak. A massive loss that will take years to recover from.

The two faces of Ryanair

2009-04-03T15:07:00.006+01:00

I went to Dublin to speak this week. The trip was planned with Ryanair who is not an airline I have traveled with before. I am always wary of these airlines that do it on the cheap because they typically have a "cheap" mentality.

I was very surprised to arrive at East Midlands airport and get a friendly and helpful ground staff. The sign clearly said, 'one hand luggage' and I had two items but they were both small and together did not add up to the size of one bag. They also had sensitive electronic equipment in them and so I was expecting to be challenged, but they looked at the size and obviously realized that they were small and it did not matter. I was impressed.

On board I was delighted with the wonderful and friendly cabin crew who, despite being busy, were prepared to chat and we had some good dialogue all the way to Dublin. I left the plane really pleased.

Yesterday I returned to Dublin airport for my 2pm flight. What a difference!!!! Ground crew that told me off for the two bags (the same bags) and seem to want to dare me to be difficult with them. Anyway, I got past that and on board. Wow, what a difference. Senior cabin crew member Chloe was obviously having a bad day. Even the other crew members were wary of her. I spoke nicely to her and got a curt reply. I tried again later and got an even shorter reply.

She spent most of the flight scribbling some notes. It was clear that there was something she wasn't happy about and she was writing her notes up. Flippant comments like "if she thinks she can throw her weight around, she has another think coming"...... Then she was telling the others what to do while she filled out her reports and paperwork. As passengers we were smiling at each other and even at other crew members and raising our eyebrows. I looked at her and thought what a difference one person makes. In her faded uniform, torn under the arms and hem half down with a massive attitude and chip on her shoulder, she broke the experience I had with Ryanair.

I was glad to get to the airport and leave. I felt sorry for her colleagues who were obviously uncomfortable with her behavior. I would have paid more for a smile and a better attitude.

A great perspective....

2009-03-31T10:13:00.000+01:00

This is simply great and well worth watching:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus&feature=email

2009-03-28T17:36:00.002Z

Every once and a while you come across something outstanding and what really hits you about it is that it is so simple.

I was flying to Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airlines from Heathrow airport. I had apprehension because I had never flown with Etihad before. When I arrived at the check-in desk I was immediately welcomed by Faika who introduced me to Andrew behind the desk. My check-in was the best I have ever experienced. Faika talked to me while Andrew checked me in and got me the seat I wanted.

I went off to the lounge and when it came time to go to the gate, I got up and packed away my computer. Suddenly Faika was beside me and she told me not to rush as there was plenty of time. She told me to sit and relax and she will come and get me when it was time to go to the gate. She was so helpful and made sure I was looked after up until I was ready to board.

The flight was very good, the plane was excellent, clean, tidy and people were very efficient.

I can honestly say that this was the best experience I have ever had on an airline at any time. And it was not rocket science. It was simply a matter of making me feel connected to them in a positive way. I felt they cared.

My experience at the Intercontinental Hotel at Abu Dhabi immediately brought me back to earth with a bump. I was shocked at how they got the simple things so wrong and ruined my experience of the hotel.

It is not the expensive things that make a difference, it is the little things that make a massive difference in our business relationships.

Thanks Etihad and a special thanks to Faika. Sorry Intercontinental, but you have a nice hotel but not the experience that makes me want to come back.

Torino Interviews

2009-03-09T18:28:00.001Z

Where is the industry heading?

LACIE, Apple and CD-writer.com

2009-03-06T12:24:00.000Z

The difference between two companies

We have a number of external hard drives and we have always bought from Apple stores. The LACIE brand was supposed to be good but as always is the case, you really know how good something is when it goes wrong.

Thursday:
The 1T LACIE external Hard Drive ceased working. This is a major problem for us as I am leaving the country for Australia on Sunday and we had work to prepare for the trip.

Can you contact LACIE? ONLY through email!!!!!. You have to email their support desk and then wait. And wait. And wait. And wait. It is now 24hours later and still no reply.

Now let me tell you about CD-writer.com ( http://www.cd-writer.com/ ) and our dealings with them yesterday.

One of the ways around our problem is to buy a DVD writer and copy the material we have taken off the LACIE Hard Drive. We phone (notice the access to a human being) and ask if we can order a DVD writer from them. The lady says it will have to be assembled and that it would be ready tomorrow (Friday) and then shipped to arrive Monday.

We explain our situation and we really need it urgently as I am leaving on Sunday. We ask if they will deliver on Saturday? She explains that there will be an extra charge for a Saturday delivery and we say we will pay it if necessary.

The lady from CD-writer.com then says she is going to see what she can do for us. She will endeavour to have a machine assembled and shipped so we get it on Friday.

Friday morning at 9am Interlink deliver a parcel in immaculate condition with a DVD writer inside from CD_writer.com. Wow. No hassle, no problems and guess how pleased we are?

By the way, when we look on line at LACIE, if we want a new Hard Drive the delivery is 3 to 5 days!!!!!

A big thank you to CD_writer.com and the staff there you are simply the best. We will keep you in mind when we need anything you sell. We recommend you to everyone.

To Apple I say, you are an amazing company and we love the product, the service and the backup you give when we have a problem. Please look at LACIE because they are letting your impeccable brand down.

To LACIE we say, wake up and smell the roses. If I have to tell the world how bad you are to get your attention, then you have a problem.

Meetings under fire

2009-03-03T11:36:00.002Z

It is interesting how legislation, however well meaning, can actually undermine the exact thing that the legislators are trying to support. I am talking about the economy and the laws being passed in USA that require those getting TARP money to curb spending on meetings etc.

There is a massive industry world world wide that depend on the meetings industry and what would happen if our major hotels collapsed due to this law

Go to http://www.tia.org/pressmedia/pressrec.asp?Item=949 and see the call going out to congress in USA to be very careful what they do.

Six Hotels, One Week!

2009-02-11T07:07:00.006Z

It is another week and another round of hotels. In fact, this week it will be six hotels in one week, ouch.. (I must buy a place to live!!!!!!)

We are in the midst of a recession and I sometimes wonder what businesses are thinking. The last three nights have been three different hotels but all very similar in certain ways. All are modern, clean and in good condition. So I cannot really differentiate them on physical attributes, and if I did it would not be fair because they are all very different locations. So we are left with the mentality of the hotel in the service it provides.

Here it is so different. On Sunday night it is the Ettington Chase Hotel nestled in the Warwickshire country side. Wonderful location, excellent parking and beautiful setting if it wasn't covered in snow. Receptionist is delightful and very friendly. The room is good. This is not a cheap hotel at over £100 a night but also not that expensive. So far the experience is great.

In fact I am thinking that this is an ideal place to recommend to a client of mine as a venue for their conference. They would love the setting and the airy layout would be ideal.

I try to log into the internet and guess what. I have to go to reception and get a scratch card with a password on it. That is going to cost me £15 for the day. The first sign of a hotel that is penny pinching. If I can go into MacDonalds or Starbucks and get WiFi for free, and all hotels in the States are internet free, why am I expected to pay £15 at a hotel that charges over £100 a night? On top of that, I am expected to fetch a scratch card from reception to do this? My experience is broken.

In the morning we walk into the conference room to set up. Not only does the projector not work (the wires on the electric cable are so abused through use, they are showing through. Obviously they are penny pinching on the maintenance as well) but the projector is chained to the table!!!!!!!! What sort of clientele do they have in this hotel?

I will not recommend my client to this hotel. First of all, penny pinching by charging for the internet will simply be an insult to my client (as it was to me) and secondly, they are obviously not used to a quality client when the typical client they have wants to steal the projector (that doesn't work).

Ettington Chase Hotel - 2 points (1 for location and 1 for receptionist who they don't deserve to have working for them)

On to Manchester and the Cotton Hotel. Very similar to the Ettington. Out of town, plenty of parking, well laid out, nice room, very good receptionist, friendly atmosphere, good facilities, etc...... Service at the bar is outstanding and quality of food is wonderful. Wow! In reality the hotel is on a par with the Ettington Chase. I could be picky and point out things that were better but that would be unfair because those differences would be because my experience was so good I want to tell you to go there. Don't get me wrong, it is on a main road and it is not the Ritz, but it is simply a more than acceptable place to stay overnight when on business or traveling. AND IT IS THE SAME PRICE AS THE ETTINGTON CHASE HOTEL. Guess what? I was GIVEN a code to access the internet at NO EXTRA CHARGE!!!!! My experience is unbroken from arrival in the car park to the taxi being on time to take me to the airport when I left.

Cotton Hotel - 9

Landed in London at 9.30pm and I am booked into the Ibis Hotel at Heathrow. Now this is a basic hotel and expectations are not high. It is clean and functional. After all it is £52 for the night. Receptionist is excellent. In fact I am amazed at the service bearing in mind the hotel. Room is what you expect from an IBIS, it is clean and comfortable and remarkably roomy. I was expecting to be in a tiny room. Internet is not free and in fact it is expensive at 20Euro. But if you have an account with Boingo, BT, T-Mobile, etc, you can log in using your own account.

However, no iron and ironing board. mmmmm, ah well it is £52 and I can order one from reception. In the morning however, I find there is no hairdryer!!! I phone reception and I can FETCH one from reception. (He is on his own and cannot deliver it). Experience is broken. For the sake of less the £8 for a hairdryer in the room, they broke my experience and I will not return to the IBIS.

IBIS Hotel - 5

There is a recession and yet two out of three hotels broke my experience because they are penny pinching and as a result loosing real business. Ahh well. Off to Brussels and then Amsterdam. Can they make or break my experience?

Inauguration Photos

2009-01-26T09:54:00.001Z

Here are some great photos of the Inauguration in Washington

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/the_inauguration_of_president.html

Inaugeration speech

2009-01-24T11:49:00.005Z

The Inauguration speech in Washington this week showed a different Obama than we have seen over the last year. It was not as inspirational as we have been used to but it was the most purposeful. He has already proved he can pull on people's heart strings, make them weep and create a thunderous applause. He was not aiming at any of those on this occasion. The inauguration speech was designed to make people think.

There was something in there for everyone and people took from it what meant the most to them. Those that wanted to hear him to make a statement about terrorism, got the assurance that he will stand up to terrorists, but also that he was prepared to reach out to those that wanted to work toward mutual "respect'.

To those that wanted to hear him speak about the race issue, they heard a brilliant statement that balanced the issue with the honor.

To those that wanted him to attack the previous Administration, he managed to do it with respect whilst being very purposeful. It would have been easy to blame but rather he spoke about "our collective failure to make hard choices".

Interestingly he only used the word 'change' twice. The theme was about being "responsible" and moving forward. He spoke about America being ready to "lead" again and made it clear what the values were that would make this happen. I don't think it was an accident that the first two were "honesty and hard work".

The speech was aimed at the people of America and the world at large. I cannot recall anyone standing so strongly in the 'center ground' and reach out to the outer limits in both directions.

The more I listen to the speech, the more I marvel at the careful way he crafted a speech that was so personal and yet so meaningful. To those that did not find what they were looking for, they should listen to it again. Maybe they were expecting the Ra Ra of previous speeches and so lost the essence of what it was about. To those that say it lacked content, it was not designed to spoon feed you, it was designed to make you think.

The line I liked was about the use of 'power'. “Our power alone can’t protect us nor does it entitle us to do with as we please. Our power grows through prudent use”. If he can ensure that the power does not get the better of him but uses it prudently to lead the way forward, then he will be a great leader.

President Obama showed that the rousing speeches were over and now he was going to act. And act he has, already...
President Obama

The arrival of Obama

2009-01-18T11:27:00.004Z

The comparisons of Obama to Past US Presidents is inevitable as historians look for parallels. The most significant is the parallel with Kennedy. Both men had to overcome personal issues that stood in the way of them accepted.

Obama is African American. Kennedy was Catholic.

In these days it seems strange to look back at that time and think that Kennedy being Catholic would have been an issue. It seems absurd that there was a time in America that this was a major issue.

We are into a generation that wonders in awe at the age when black people in America were slaves and treated as a second level of humanity.

It is now common that black and other ethic minorities hold political office in various parts of the country. True it is the first time one has held the highest office as President, but I can't help but wonder what people will think when they look back at 2009 and Obama being inaugurated as President of the United States of America?

If we look back as incredulous that being a Catholic would be an issue to becoming President, will people in 40 years time think it incredulous that Obama being black would be an issue to becoming President?

What will the world be like when we can look back and be amazed that such an era existed?

Intent

2009-01-16T06:21:00.003Z

The recent controversy in United Kingdom has been around the Royal Family being racist in their remarks to some of their friends. I don't think that anyone believes that Prince Harry or his Father are racist.

The fact that neither of the people concerned feel that Prince Harry or Prince Charles respectively, have been racist in their remarks or treatment of them, shows that the 'intent' was not racist. In fact, it seems that in one case at least, it was viewed as a term of endearment.

However, in today's society, it seems our intent is not enough. Our intent may be honorable but society now wants more. In the case of the two members of the Royal family, how they behaved and talked in private with their friends is no longer private and so they need to consider how their actions will impact others who see their behavior.

That is perfectly reasonable and I understand that. If you are a public figure you need to remember that what you say or how you behave has an impact on others. But where does the line get drawn?

I have been called a "whitey" before now. I was not offended. Why? Because at the times that it has been said to me, the intent was not negative. I may have felt different if I knew the intent was negative, but it wasn't.

So who makes the decision? Who decides if it is a term of endearment or an abuse of their heritage? Of course, there is no answer to this. Why? Because we are so quick to point the fault out in others, notice what others are doing wrong and seek ways to confront issues. But at the same time we forget to be responsible ourselves.

A responsible person dos not seek confrontation and does not seek to belittle others. They seek to understand the intent and make responsible decisions accordingly.

Did the Prince's intend to be disrespectful of the people concerned? I think not. Did the people concerned take it as disrespectful? Is seems not. Should others viewing it from outside and not involved in the relationship, view it as disrespectful? Do they have the right to form an opinion about a personal friendship and something they were not involved in?

I believe that they have no right to comment without first taking the time to know the 'intent'.

Having said that I am not agreeing with Prince Harry and Prince Charles. The Prince's should be aware that some people with less than honorable intent will use the actions of the Prince's as justification for their name calling. Those are the real racists and they are the ones that need dealing with.

It seems we spend more time finding fault with the people who set a bad example than the people who are really doing wrong. Last week I watched two ice hockey players beat each other up in the rink in front of a paying crowd.

The intent is wrong. The behavior is wrong. The example it sets to the kids (and adults) is wrong. Yet it is tolerated. Sometimes we need to step back and put things into context a bit more. It is about being responsible.

Turino

2009-01-14T10:47:00.003Z

Speaking in Turino Italy. Listen to it here

http://meetingsreview.com/emailers/45/mr-mr-45.htm

Rod Blagojevich and Bill Clinton

2009-01-09T20:46:00.003Z

The embarrassing saga of the Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, is sad enough to watch and is made worse by the fact it is Obama's home seat. But I want to throw up when I hear him use great poems by Rudyard Kipling and Tennyson to justify his behavior.

It has made me reflect on the difference between the impeachment drive on Blagojevich and the drive to impeach Clinton. Both have lied. One lied over something that was naughty and the other has appeared to act illegally. One is a basically good man that was sometimes stupid, and finally acknowledged his lack of judgment. The other if fundamentally a questionable character but then also doesn't care about anything but himself.

Rod, read the poem 'If" again, it also says, "...being lied about, don't deal in lies, being hated, don't give way to hating, and yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:" and also "...and start again at your beginnings, and never breath a word about your loss".

For the sake of your State, GO

Are they Speakers, Trainers or Facilitators?

2009-01-09T04:23:00.000Z

The use of the words “Speaker”, “Trainer” and “Facilitator” have been used intermittently as though they are all doing the same sort of thing. In reality each of these are skills in their own right. To group them all together would be like mixing up singers, actors and dancers and viewing them as performers. They are all performers but each has a skill that is honed and crafted. To assume that one would be able to do the same as the other, would be ridiculous and show no respect for any of the professions. Not being able to differentiate the skills and value the differences, only causes additional issues at a time when there is a call for meetings, conferences and events to show a Return on Investment (ROI).

As the concept of a ‘Meeting Architect’* starts to make sense and take hold, all contributors to the industry need to re-evaluate their role and the contribution they make, not only to the aims and objectives of the meeting, event or conference, but also how they collaborate with all the other contributors. These important players will need to re-evaluate their perception of themselves and of their fellow contributors in the future.

Let us identify the differences.

Training sessions are meant to take someone through a process of being able to learn and then apply the knowledge. It’s about helping someone develop the skill and the competence to do something. Training almost certainly will include interaction between the presenter and the delegate. It will probably require exercises and training can be over a prolonged period of time. In other words, it can take a day, two days, five days or more.

The Trainer has the skill to deliver a training session in a way that involves the participants and will often help them explore their learning, rather than tell them. The Trainer will pose questions to encourage the discussion and then do exercises that will allow people to discover and even practice their learning. The skills of a Trainer can be aligned to those of a coach, as training is often a voyage of discovery. The Trainer knows the outcome and will steer the sessions to achieve the outcome over the given period of time.

A workshop tends to be shorter and is normally no more than a day. A workshop tends to focus on a specific subject or an aspect that a group of people want to explore or discuss. Some workshops could be referred to as a short training session. However, the workshop can also be used as an opportunity to bring thinking together or what some people call brainstorming. In these cases the person running it will be more of a Facilitator than a trainer.

The Facilitator will typically either have specialist knowledge, or the ability to facilitate discussion between people that do have the knowledge, or both. A workshop may bring in a person with expertise knowledge to set the scene for the discussion that follows. This person may well present or at least en-capture the situation, highlight the issues and then articulate the desired outcomes. A Facilitator will then draw out any discussion and debate.

Finally we have the Speaker. A Speaker is typically speaking for 30 minutes, 40 minutes or sixty minutes. There are occasions when a Speaker can go longer but because their role is different, time is imperative. The main skill of a Speaker is their ability to impart information in as few words as possible whilst being meaningful. A Speaker has little or no opportunity for interaction and so their skill is to engage the audience and often give them something meaningful that they can make use of.

Of course there are different types of speakers. At one end of the spectrum a Speaker can simply be an entertainer there to amuse, amaze or in some cases inspire the audience. This speaker is closer to an entertainer and in this case the Speaker is not there to impart knowledge or create a desired outcome towards an objective. In this situation, the Speaker raises spirits and relaxes people or makes them feel good.

At the other end of the spectrum, a Speaker is able to impart information of value or interest, in as short a time as possible. The key here is that the Speaker has ‘content’ to deliver and can put the points over in a meaningful manner that the audience can grasp and use. The Speaker can still do this in an entertaining or humorous manner but the essence of the presentation is to add value, provide information, challenge thinking and give them something they can take away and apply to their lives.

Difference between Training and Facilitation:

Training is the development of people to do something. It has a desired outcome and the Trainer has the skills to steer the participants in a direction so that they can do the required outcome. For example, as a result of the training I have the knowledge and a level of ability to do something different. I will now practice what I have learnt and be able to perform accordingly.

Facilitation is the ability to create discussion and draw out people’s thinking. It is to exchange ideas and thoughts in a structured manner. The outcome will not be the participants capable of doing something in particular, but rather that there is peer learning, clarity, consensus and possibly a direction set. For example, as a result of a workshop I understand a different point of view, realize what further skills I need to develop or I understand how I need to adjust my current approach to take into consideration other people’s situations.

Difference between Facilitation and Speaking:

Facilitation allows and even encourages discussion and draws out the thinking of the group with none or little input from the person carrying out the Facilitating. The Facilitator keeps the discussion moving, ensures lively interaction, stimulates the discussion, keeps it focused and draws it to a logical conclusion. The
Facilitator will summarize the outcome and what steps need to be taken as a result of the workshop. People will walk away knowing what should be done as a result. For example, the workshop highlighted the weaknesses in our approach and we now know we need to gather more information to proceed or amend our plan. As a result, we will pull together the new research and meet again to discuss it. In the meantime, I will adjust my approach in the light of what has come out of the workshop.

Speaking shakes up people’s thinking, challenges them to think differently and imparts some knowledge or a perspective that encourages people to consider new options, new approaches or alternative ways of doing things. There may be no specific conclusions but the delegate attending will have understood enough to go away and be able to approach things differently. For example, I realize we have been stuck in a rut and need to approach things differently in the future. I need to tackle certain issues in particular and then implement a measurable system similar to what was described by the speaker.

In some cases, the Speaker is simply entertaining and inspiring. The take-away value is less about the ‘content’ and more about feeling positive or happy. For example, if he can overcome those sorts of obstacles in life, then I should be able to do a lot better at approaching what I see as problems. Look at how he persevered and kept focused through everything that happened, maybe I am allowing myself to become too distracted and easily intimidated by what is happening around me.

All three of these people can and should add value to any meeting, conference or event. Whether it is a short training session, a facilitated discussion or imparting knowledge and challenging thoughts, the three skills bring added value. The key is the ability of the Trainer, Facilitator or Speaker to be able to do two things.

Firstly, to be a professional and hone their skills to be able to deliver to the best of their ability. Each one of them has a different skill that needs to be crafted and developed so that they can deliver at the highest possible level.

Secondly, to be professional enough to set aside their ego and be able to focus on the outcomes desired by the customer AND work with others to achieve this outcome. For example, a Speaker may challenge the thinking of the delegates and then the facilitator may run a workshop to brainstorm ideas that came out of the speech and the other workshops (small training sessions) may show people how to do things differently.

This joined up approach requires Speakers, Facilitators and Trainers to respect each other’s strengths and differences. All three should appreciate each other’s skills and the differences between the skills. Some individuals will make good Speakers and not good Trainers or Facilitators whilst a good Trainer will not automatically have the skills to be a good Speaker or Facilitator.

Having respected each other’s contributions and the value they can offer, then they need to be able to work together to make a meeting or conference a great success. Not only working together between the three of them but also with all the other players that come together to deliver an end result – the objectives of the meeting, event or conference.

The Meeting Architect is likely to re-invent this industry, make it more professional and bring a higher level of results. It will make the industry more professional and will make ROI the norm and not a burden. Most of all it has the potential to make this industry, including speakers, trainers and facilitators, work together in a way it never has before. The time is right and the demand is there, but can the players work together to make it happen? A good start is to use the same language and then appreciate and value the differences and contribution everyone makes.

Paul Bridle
www.paulbridle.com
Paul is speaking at MPI Europe and Middle East Conference in Torino, Italy, March 1 to 3, 2009

*See Meeting Architecture a manifesto by Maarten Vanneste

Communication

2009-01-07T17:19:00.006Z

In 1927 on this day, a transatlantic telephone link between London and New York was opened. How far the telephone has come in 80 years. Now we can speak clearly and over the internet for free, if both parties are connected with VOIP.

Wouldn't it be amazing if people had advanced as fast as the technology in terms of their ability to communicate? Humans have not moved forward in hundreds of years in learning how to communicate with each other. So once again we begin a year with wars being started and continued. We have more and better systems to communicate with but still lack the content necessary to make a difference.

Maybe we should start taxing countries that go to war. Maybe we need a global rule that says a Government or party cannot run for election if they allowed a war to start on their watch! Ok, maybe these are stupid ideas, but so is what we have been doing for hundreds of years.

On a better note, 7th January 1927 was also the day the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team was founded. Now that was a team worth watching. They knew how to communicate :)

A Balance Perspective

2009-01-06T01:53:00.002Z

Dictionaries are like watches; the worst is better than none, and the best cannot be expected to be quite true.
Samuel L. Jackson

Let us keep a balanced perspective.

Obama will make mistakes
The recession will end
There will be another crisis after this one
Banks will still come out of this on top
Mugabe will die and nothing will change
Israel will always see every issue like a hammer sees a nail
Children will grow up having to learn the lessons for themselves

Change will happen and nothing will change.

A balanced perspective is needed. It is easy to be a radical. It takes guts and determination to be balanced.

...and on politically correctness

2009-01-04T17:22:00.002Z

"I used to think I was poor. Then they told me I wasn't poor, I was needy. Then they told me it was self-defeating to think of myself as needy. I was deprived. (Oh not deprived but rather underprivileged.) Then they told me that underprivileged was overused. I was disadvantaged.
I still don't have a dime. But I have a great vocabulary." -Jules Feiffer

Why do we spend so much time hiding behind words instead of taking responsibility for our circumstances?

In all my years in Africa I never met a black person that was not proud of being black, despite his or her circumstances. However, I have met many whites that are not proud of being white.

In 2009, let us not focus on defining our differences and rather focus on what we all can do to make progress. Don't let the few that use differences between us as a weapon, distract us from making progress and making a better world. The future is about being responsible and not lamenting circumstances.

2009-01-01T05:16:00.002Z

Happy New Year to everyone across the world. Let us hope 2009 is the start of some new thinking with people and countries taking on more responsibility for their actions.
Have a great year. We all can make a difference.
Paul

My Birthday

2008-12-28T14:11:00.002Z

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up."

mmmm I am still thinking, why can't I do both? After all:

"'And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.' ~ Abraham Lincoln"

Move over Hitler, we now have Mugabe...

2008-12-07T21:49:00.002Z

Move over Hitler, we now have Mugabe and he can make you like you never got out of kindergarten.

At least Hitler had brains! He was a misguided and an evil man, but he had an ideology that he was working towards. Even Sadam Hussain who was a wicked man and also ruthlessly killed many thousands of people, at least he had an aim that he was working towards. At least these two evil misguided men where relatively good to their own tribes (all be it that it came with a threat to tow the line).

Mugabe is a common thief, a robber and a self indulgent fool who cares only for himself and his immediate friends. He does not care about his own people and is willing to let them die and suffer any fate, as long as he can live his life on his terms. He has raped his country in every possible way.

When a Government cannot care or defend its people, it is not governing. Hospitals closed down, drinking water contaminated, no currency, no food and looting by the army.

This is Zimbabwe in 2008. This is the Zimbabwe where a man more evil than Hitler and more cruel than Sadam Hussain is the ruler along with his puppeteers. The ONLY people that can help and save Zimbabwe are the rest of Africa.

When will the price for turning back the colonies be paid in full. How much more must the African people (not the West) suffer? Mugabe was fighting for freedom from their “Colonial Masters”. Now his people suffer in ways they never did when Rhodesia was a Colony. They were promised a better life and instead life has NEVER been so bad.

Even Hitler would hold his head in shame at what we see Mugabe doing in what was once a self sufficient country. Even Sudam Hussain would shake his head in amazement at the stupidity of what is now the worlds most worthless ruler.

Too many cars....

2008-12-07T17:52:00.001Z

Too many cars being made by too many people means that something has to give. Add to that mix the way the recent rise in fuel costs has made people think about what they are buying. Even though the price of oil has come down, people know that when the economy picks up the price will likely rise again.

So the current situation does not look good for this industry. Even TATA has been caught short with its recent acquisition of Jaguar and Landrover. Whilst a wonderful move at the right time by Ford, it must be a shock to TATA. Toyota is seeing a massive increases in the cost per vehicle as the Dollar changes to the Yen as well as a reduction in sales. The difference is that Toyota is ideally situated with a good balance sheet and strong reserves of cash to be able to weather the current climate.

So in the midst of this unsettled automobile market place, we see the big three in America go to Washington to beg for some money. What do they do? They each take their company jet from Detroit to Washington to appear before congress!!!!!

Is nobody in these three major companies in touch with the perception of the world outside? Can they not see how ridiculous this makes them look? Wow, I am amazed at how insular people can become at a time when the world is looking for leadership to guide us through the next 18 months.

At a time like this there is a need to consolidate and work together. Why aren’t these people getting together to make massive reductions in wasteful costs. At the end of the day, there is a speed limit on the roads and so an engine only has to be a certain size with a certain level of transmission. Can’t these people see that working together on certain aspects of their business can actually save them? Standardize as much as they can and collaborate.

Boeing has become a designer of aeroplanes now and that has been a major step forward. If they had not made the switch, the likelihood is that they may not have survived till now. The big three automakers need to think what their role is and how they can work together to save their industry AND grow it.

Now is a time to think differently. I was hoping the three of them would have come with a joint plan as well as individual plans to Washington this week.

Maybe it is not that important to them after all!

Mumbai - Stepping back in time to see the future

2008-12-07T16:19:00.002Z

It has taken me a few days to sit down and express my thoughts about Mumabi. First of all let me say that I love Mumbai. It is a wonderful city. Not in the way one talks about Singapore, New York, Sidney or Vancouver which are all wonderful cities for completely different reasons.

Mumbai is like stepping back in time in order to see our future. In many ways it is very run down and there is a lot of poverty but within it is also some extremely modern and very wealthy people. It is a city of contrasts. But the essence of Mumbai is those people of all ages and backgrounds. Everybody is trying to carve their niche and grow their own future at some level. It is like cutting off the top of an ant hill and peering in. As you look in an anthill you see a hive of activity and you may not understand it but you know that every single ant is making a contribution to the whole.

Mumbai is like that. It is a hive of activity and it looks like chaos but in reality everyone is contributing to the whole. Even beggars on the streets are making things out of bits of paper, wood, string and flowers to give to you in return for the money you may give them.

People of Mumbai respect those that achieve and everyone comes to this city to make their fortune or even to find themselves.

Into the midst of this walks a group of young men that have never had the opportunity to discover the true meaning of life. Brainwashed by some radical fools, who will never achieve much in their lives, and who seek to make a name for themselves on the back of the innocent and by reeking destruction on innocent hard working people.

We all saw what havoc these stupid and misguided young men created. It is a great shame that once again Mumbai has been used by the few to make a name for themselves. But there may be a silver lining to this horrible cloud that descended over the city.

It depends on two things. First of all, will the people of India allow the actions of a few misguided people to escalate into full confrontation between them and Pakistan? My experience is that the people of Pakistan and the people of India do not want that. They are sick of that old conflict in the same way that the average person on the streets in Belfast did not want the conflict and the average person in Iran is sick of their Governments conflicts with the world.

I think the people of Mumbai and India as a whole will not allow the actions of a very few people start up a conflict again. There is too much to loose and they have come too far. The days of blaming a whole nation for the actions of a few is gone and I believe that the average man and woman in India understands this. They also realize that the problem between Governments is a two-way issue. There is as much blame on one side as the other. That leads me to the second point.

The second is how the people of India will react to their Government now? Corruption is a problem in India and Government is no exception. India's growth is slower than it could be because of corruption. Given a chance, people will take the easy way out and so systems can easily lapse, procedures are not always followed and the opportunity to make a fast buck is taken when it arises.

The latest news that a Police Officer was part of helping the mindless young people achieve their actions, is an example of how quickly small acts of corruption can lead to deadly consequences.

I believe that the people of India are now sick of the Politicians and the way Government is being handled. Government should be an example of good behaviors and actions. Instead it is just another place that corruption is rife. I hope that the people of India will rise up and force their Government to take a stand and be part of the building of India rather than a referee on the side choosing what to notice and what to ignore.

Certainly the people of India have got the spirit that it takes to rise up. They are a strong minded people, and never more so than in the wonderful city of Mumbai. The peace rally recently showed the first sign of people of all ages and sectors standing up and showing that they want change.

I love Mumbai and it will continue to grow and prosper. This set back will make it stronger and if anything more determined. Those wonderful people have choices to make and I hope they choose wisely.

A New President - now what?

2008-11-05T11:46:00.010Z

It didn't take a genius to realize that Obama was going to win this election. The question was, 'by how much?'. Last night we found out. In a massive turn out people went out and had their say. The vote was for someone they thought may be able to approach things differently.

The reaction by the world leaders says so much about how the relationships between them and the Bush Administration had deteriorated.

Interestingly, in the last four USA elections the candidate that had been a soldier has not won.

Obama used the internet, social networking sites and technology in a way that it has never been used before. This was one thing that endeared him to a whole new generation. This will change the way elections happen in the future. Obama emailed his followers when it was announced that he had won and said 'thanks' and then said he will be back to them as to how they can help going forward. I think we are seeing the type of President Obama will be.

McCain is an honorable man but he spoke in terms of "I". He spoke about what he would do an how he would solve things. Obama spoke in terms of "we". I wish I had counted how many times McCain said "I" in the last debate compared to Obama saying "we". It would seem that Obama will take an inclusive approach to Governing the country.

I think this is a great day because it showed that the new age of Americans are open to change and even want it. Let us see if they can follow through and support their President. He gave an outstanding speech and promised honesty and hard work ahead. Now we will see if America continues their approach of battering and wearing down the people they don't agree with - like they did with Clinton.

This is an opportunity for United States and for the world. We congratulate President Elect Obama on an outstanding election and on his energy, determination and focus.

We thank McCain for his dedication. I believe that he really did want to run a different election and he must have had a lot of problems from within his party on the journey.

Now What? An opportunity. That's what.

Does Experience Matter?

2008-11-02T11:23:00.002Z

Does experience really matter? We are hearing a lot in the US election about how experienced McCain is compared to Obama. I was slightly surprised that this statement was being made.

Experience is valuable in certain circumstances but equally it can be negative in other circumstances. When it comes to skills, for example being a plumber, surgeon, accountant, or any situation where specific skills are needed, then experience is probably of significant value. However, the problem with experience is that it also creates a 'rut' in our thinking. Our experience sets a mindset that can actually LIMIT our ability to see opportunities. Worse than that, it can mean that we take a traditional approach to something without realizing we are doing so.

I think McCain has made a big mistake. Yes he has experience, but it is in a old fashioned way of doing Government. Then there is the experience he has based on his military background. The trouble with fighters is their experience is to fight. Like a hammer is in danger of seeing the world as a nail, a fighter is in danger of seeing problems as being dealt with with by a fight. John MCain has shown that this is preferred method of approach many times as a Senator.

So McCain approaching this election from a position of "experience" is very dangerous. It is made worse because the younger generation are tired of hearing that 'experience' is important - in fact if anything we are seeing this generation out to prove the problems with having experience.

On the other hand, Obama has ridden on a ticket of 'change'. Change for the sake of change is always dangerous. But also, change combined with the mindset that experience is not important, is dangerous.

Both have shown that they are not what they say they are. Mcain failed to show the strength of his "experience" and the problems with making "change" for the sake of change, when he chose Palin. Obama has showed he struggles with "change" and with "experience" when he has offered solutions that have failed in the past.

It is a pity that this election is asking the public to choose between 'change' and 'experience'. Both have an important part to play and, when balanced, are powerful.

Too little too late

2008-10-30T19:51:00.002Z

If there is an example of outstanding lack of leadership, then this week we have seen the BBC allow itself to be made a fool of, through lack of decisive judgment at the top.

Two radio personalities got carried away and behaved badly using offensive language and obscene remarks in a pre-recording of a radio show. The show was not checked (the BBC guidelines were not followed) and the show went out uncut. Five listeners complained. Then one of the Sunday newspapers did a feature article about the show and wrote quotes of what was said. Of course, reading what was said in the paper does not put any of the quotes in the context they were said and so made what was said, seem vastly worse than it was.

The result, there are now 30,000 complaints. These are people that never heard or saw the show but simply responded to what they read or what they heard from others. A range of people from the Prime Minister to the man on the street has been having their say. The BBC Director General did not act for days and now (days later) the Head of the Radio Station has been forced to resign and the most experienced personality has been banned for 12 weeks and the other one has also resigned. And, we are told, that the investigation still has not been completed!!!!!!

Why do leaders make life so difficult for themselves? The Head of the Radio Station admitted that guidelines had not been followed. Other senior figures had also not carried out checks required. This is an offense and does not need to deliberated on for days.

The two personalities, who immediately admitted and apologized for their behavior, needed to be dealt with swiftly and fairly. A hefty fine and a warning is called for. How long does that have to take?

But due to the lack of strong, principled and decisive leadership, the matter was allowed to get out of control and the result is actions that are neither fair to some parties or reasonable.

What about the newspaper that presented the facts in what, at best, could be called questionable if not misleading? Nothing, of course. Irresponsible behavior of two personalities has caused them the loss of their jobs. Irresponsible behavior of a newspaper, no action. Bad leadership from the BBC, no action. Well at least not yet. An independent watchdog is going to review the events and the BBC may well get a fine.

What a great shame that such lack of principled leadership, has to cause such a fiasco and make Britain (from Government to Business Leaders) look inadequate. What a great shame that once again the tabloid press gets away with such poor journalism. Wouldn't it be lovely if the public boycott the newspaper and if leaders would do what they were paid to do - Lead?

Environmental Issues

2008-10-28T18:32:00.002Z

For those that saw my Thoughts on Leadership this month (came out on the 27th) you will see that I broke away from my normal track to make a point about environmental issues. My experience is that some companies are doing some good things and making it profitable or at least not making it costly.

Today I came across this and was delighted to see that the old boss has got his focus in place as well.

As Part of Starbucks™ Shared Planet™, the Company Focuses on Goals for Ethical Sourcing, Environmental Stewardship and Community Involvement

SEATTLE & NEW ORLEANS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) today announced thirteen measurable goals, to be achieved by 2015, as part of Starbucks™ Shared Planet™. As part of this commitment, 100 percent of the company’s coffee will be responsibly grown and ethically traded; 100 percent of Starbucks cups will be reusable or recyclable; the company will significantly reduce its environmental footprint through energy and water conservation, recycling and green construction; and contribute one million community service hours per year.

“Starbucks Shared Planet is not just about how important it is to us that we’re a socially responsible company, it’s to reaffirm Starbucks leadership in the retail and coffee industries and the communities in which we are operating,” said Howard Schultz, chairman, president and ceo of Starbucks Coffee Company. “While these goals are aspirational, we have set substantive measurements that will challenge us to be a better company. During this time of economic uncertainty we realize that we have the opportunity and the responsibility to keep our focus on our commitment to keep our communities strong, and I’m proud of what we’re doing to live up to the guiding principles of this company.”

Starbucks is taking a major step this week towards meeting the community involvement goal by kicking off its 10,000 partner (employee)-strong Leadership Conference, where participants will take part in community service projects to help rebuild the areas hardest hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Additionally, partners will participate in advanced coffee education programs and attend business sessions as the company continues to focus on operational improvements and a commitment to its core – coffee and the customer experience.

Goals Starbucks plans to achieve by 2015 include:

Ethical Sourcing:

* Purchase 100 percent of all coffee through ethical sourcing practices, up from the current 65 percent
* Invest in a better future for farmers and their communities by nearly doubling funding to organizations that provide farmer loans
* Pro-actively impact climate change by offering farmers incentives to prevent deforestation. Pilot programs with Conservation International in Sumatra, Indonesia and Chiapas, Mexico are underway.

Community Involvement:

* Contribute more than one million community service hours per year in communities where we do business
* Engage 50,000 young social entrepreneurs to innovate and take action and, in turn, inspire 100,000 individuals to take action in their communities through the Starbucks Social Entrepreneurs Fund

Environmental stewardship:

* 100 percent of Starbucks cups will be either reusable or recyclable
* 25 percent of cups will be reusable
* Increase recycling available in our stores
* 50 percent energy used in our company-owned stores will come from renewable sources by 2010
* Reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by making our company-owned stores 25 percent more energy efficient by 2010
* Significantly reduce water usage
* All new company-owned stores will be certified green by 2010
* Champion tropical rainforest protection as a solution for climate change

For more information regarding Starbucks™ Shared Planet™ visit www.Starbucks.com/SharedPlanet.

About Starbucks

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com

The world we now live in

2008-10-21T15:46:00.003+01:00

Anybody that knows me would never connect me with Britney Spears and I am hardly what could be called a fan. However, I am stunned by the news that California courts are in deadlock over the case relating to her fender-bender in a car park last year. The issue is about her driving license.
She does not have a California drivers license but she does have a Louisiana license. Now the jury is in deadlock! How can a court be in deadlock over something so stupid. A drivers license is something that you get given when you pass the test to drive. It says that you have passed the test and so can drive a car. So the issue in Britney Spears case surely is, is she guilty of bad driving, negligence, causing damage, or whatever.
I have long said that the laws in USA, Canada, Australia and probably other countries about drivers license for each province, state, district or area, is stupidity and bureaucratic nonsense. Think of the money Governments would save if there was a single license for the country. The whole system has gone crazy and the focus is on the process rather than why the drivers license was invented.
I cannot believe that time and money is being wasted on a Britney Spears court case over a driving offense that happened last year that now comes down to which drivers license she has!!! Are there not more important things to be dealing with at the moment?

How we say it

2008-10-20T16:48:00.003+01:00

Last week David Cameron, leader of the opposition in UK, gave a good speech. This is one of the things he said:

“Politics is about many things, the words you speak, the understanding you have of the problems we face, the vision you have,  the policies you draw up, and your ability to implement them.  But all of those rest on the shoulders of one thing, the decisions and judgment calls you make.”

I would suggest that business is no different. Probably I would change “policies” to “plans”, but in essence the rest is the same. Business is about understanding the problems, having the vision and the plans and the ability to implement them. It is true, your success is often about the decisions and judgment calls you have to make based on the rest.

The most interesting part of this was the first bit; “the words you speak”. For leaders, the words we speak are the bit that says so much about us. Not just the words but the way it is said. Our expressions, and the way we articulate what we say, has a major impact on people and hence on our ability to lead. Look at David Cameron and Gordon Brown or Barack Obama and John McCain. The articulation is slightly more impacting than the content. Content is a close second, but still a bit behind.

Content is important, but how it is said makes it believable, exciting, uplifting, inspiring or, unbelievable, questionable or even untrue. I am not saying it is fair, I am saying that this is what tends to happen.

Presidents Debate

2008-10-16T04:38:00.004+01:00

Having just sat up to watch the final debate in the Presidential election in USA, I am disappointed. Following the last two debates I really hoped we would see the old John McCain take back the center stage.

Senator McCain came out strong, very strong, but he did not win the first 30 minutes but rather Obama was flat for the first 30 minutes and lost it. And then instead of what I hoped to see, the real John McCain, we saw the angry side of John McCain.

It was a fascinating example of how passion poorly demonstrated, can undermine. Passion is so important but at the same time a leader needs to show stable and in control. A leader needs to show he or she can be passionate AND be calm and controlled at times of need.

McCain was passionate in his distaste for Obama and his passion was in attacking Obama. Conversely, Obama (the man who oozed passion when he started) was totally flat but came out looking more of a person in control. The question on people's minds must now be, will McCain be able to stay calm and cool in case of serious issues when being President?

McCain must stop talking about how experienced he is. You are only experienced in things that have happened and not on the things that are happening now. We are in uncharted territory with a global financial challenge. Nothing anybody has done in the past will be a guarantee that they will be successful going forward. Obama talked about the people that he has as advisers and he will use to help him formulate his plans and actions. McCain talked about what HE is going to do and that HE had the answers.

There are a lot of lessons to be gleaned out of this election and a lot of stories about leadership whatever side you support.

The banks need to be bailed out!!!

2008-10-13T17:29:00.002+01:00

The truth is, no matter how much regulation you put in place, someone will find a way around it. And that is what has happened. In America, the banks started selling these packaged investments that were based on property prices continuing to rise indefinitely. What is worse, they sold SWAPS. These are a form of guarantee that if the loans are not repaid, then the investor gets their money back.
Why called SWAPS? Because to call it "insurance" would mean it would fall under the regulatory authority for insurance. But they did not want that. So they called them SWAPS.

So when people are unable to pay their loans, the whole thing started to unravel. That is how banks (or the people in them) will always get around regulations.

It has taken months for the Governments to do what they should have done from the start, take a share in the banks to provide the much needed capital. In this way the Government gets a return on its investment when things turn around.

So now I ask, does anyone really believe that the banks will ever sell back their shares in these banks? mmmmmmm Let me see, times will get better eventually. Government is getting a dividend payment which means it does not need to raise taxes on its people! It is also able to make sure the bank does not get around regulation but rather stays in the 'spirit' of the regulations.

Maybe I am being a cynic. We will see what happens in years to come. I think banks will probably keep the shares.

Hi hopes

2008-10-13T16:58:00.002+01:00

When the American election started (what seems a life time ago) I had real hopes that these candidates would be different. McCain and Obama both said they were not into the old style of politics which was about bashing the opposition and pulling them apart.

I believe that McCain is a really good man and probably one of the most genuine men you could wish to meet. But somewhere along the road he got hijacked by the "system" and started down the same old road that has dominated Republican approach to politics. But on Friday we saw the real man again. The real McCain broke through for a moment and he stood up for decency and honesty when he admonished his supporters for making false comments about Obama. My heart warmed to him again as he stood up for what he believed in and spoke from the heart.

It is such a great pity that ignorance about the world dominates the thinking of so many American people. The man who stood up and said he was worried about loosing to socialism shows his ignorance and lack of understanding of the situation. What the Government is doing by taking over banks and buying majority shareholding in them, would be classified as socialism at any other time in history. The lady calling Obama an Arab and Palin's incorrect comments about Iran, all show how little they understand about the issues and the way the world is at the moment.

I feel sad that America seems hell bent on showing the worst side of democracy with their approach to elections. There are too many comparisons between how America is acting and what is happening in countries like Zimbabwe and Iran. Democracy in name but not in actions.

It is now a win or loose attitude amongst people. It is no longer about what is right for the country. Americans seem to have lost the ability to be objective and seek what is the best for the whole. The few Independents there are in America really try to take the "objective" stance and see what is right for the whole, but there is not enough of them to make a genuine difference.

So while both Candidates enter the final days and go back on their word, I would say to them both, 'the X & Y generation aren't impressed with how good you are at making your opponent look bad, they want to know what makes you so good'.

We see it in business every day. This generation don't respect their managers for the title of manager or for their age or how long they have been around. They respect them for what they can do for them. How can my manager help me be a better at what I do? How can my manager develop my skills and bring out the best in me? How can my manager create an environment where I can fulfill my potential and contribute the most.

Beware McCain and Obama, this generation are not impressed with your ability to knock your competitor, they want to know what you can do for them. So please change your rhetoric.

Airports in London and Washington

2008-10-09T16:44:00.001+01:00

I am mortified at two major airports in what are meant to be two of the major world countries. I am referring to London Heathrow and Washington Dullas airports.
I have been through both of them in the last couple of weeks and I am amazed. Washington Dullas is so old fashioned and dark. I waited by the gate for my flight to Toronto and looked around me. The ceiling was low, the lighting was very poor and the facilities were nearly non existent. Anyone that has been there will know about the vehicles that transport you from one terminal to another which look like something that belongs on the moon.
Heathrow is always an embarrassment. Without fail, every time I land at least one of the moving escalators are not working, the internal partitions are made of cardboard and the staff are simply NOT interested. I now find out that BAA (the airport authority that manages the airport) switches off all plug points so that the public cannot charge up their laptop or phone. They switch them on at night so the cleaners can wander around with a vacuum cleaner on!!! It is that sort of mentality that makes for the the current staff morale and poor services.
Come on guys, this is the first (and last) impression that thousands of people have of Britain and USA. BAA should be replaced for someone who has some pride in London and United Kingdom as well as some business sense.

2008-09-01T22:51:00.002+01:00

I was simply amazed at how some of the Democratic candidates in America were saying on TV that they would vote for John McCain because they wouldn't vote for Obama. They were sore about Hillary Clinton not being the nominated representative of the Democrats.

I am sorry, but people like this undermine the whole system of democracy and make a mockery of it. It is not about throwing your teddy out because your candidate isn't on the final ticket. It is about choosing the right person to lead your country. It has been a long time since there have actually been distinctly different policies and a choice to vote on. People need to take advantage of this and educate themselves about what the options are and the consequences of one over the other.

When someone says "on principle I will not do...... or will do...." it normally means they have thrown away logic and excuse their actions as a matter of principle! Are there going to be Republicans now voting for Obama "with a sad heart" because he has chosen Palin as his running mate? That would be equally illogical and stupid.

Keeping track of things

2008-08-14T10:27:00.003+01:00

Here is a really great product my son found for me. Really useful and easy to use. It enables you to store things you find on the web or even see, so that you can look at them later.

Take a look at www.evernote.com

The Real Golden Rule?

2008-08-13T21:17:00.001+01:00

Some people say that the Golden Rule is a value which simply means "treat others as you would like to be treated."

This rule is encased in religious beliefs

Christianity
Matthew 7:12 "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Luke 6:31 "Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them."

Buddhism
Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.

Islam
“That which you want for yourself, seek for mankind.
In his Last Sermon, the Prophet Muhammad admonished believers: "Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you."

Taoism
"Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss."

Judaisum
Leviticus 19:18 "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself"

The law of karma, says `for every event that occurs, there will follow another event whose existence was caused by the first, and this second event will be pleasant or unpleasant according as its cause was skillful or unskillful.' Therefore, the law of Karma teaches that responsibility for unskillful actions is born by the person who commits them.

Confucius
Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself.

I don't think that it is simply "treating others as you would like to be treated", I think it is also about respecting others like they want to be respected. Treating them
like you want to be treated is selfish. Respecting them as they want to be respected is giving. Respect decides how we will treat people.....

What do you think?

Ford - what has changed?

2008-08-12T16:01:00.005+01:00

Today is the 12th August 2008. On this date in 1908 the Model T rolled out of the Ford Motor Company factory. It was a sturdy 4 cylinder black car that came in two versions, tourer and roadster. Retail prices were $25 for the tourer and $825 for the roadster.

A hundred years later the car has changed significantly. Engines with higher performance, comfort and of course a range of colors and shapes. The sad, and arguably the most vital, aspect has not changed much at all. The Model T gave about 25 to 30 miles to the gallon!

It just goes to show, you get what you focus on. One has to wonder what it would be like if as much effort had been put into giving greater fuel efficiency from the beginning, what we would have today.

United Nations

2008-08-06T03:06:00.004+01:00

I was very pleased to be invited to the United Nations today and be able to visit the Assembly Rooms, see all the great gifts given by nations and then spend some time with a UN Officer and learn more about the UN and what it is doing. He took the time to answer questions and explain some of the activities and philosophies in the UN.

We had a wonderful dinner looking out over the river and then had an excellent speech from Jim Cathcart. I have heard Jim speak before and he is a very talented speaker indeed. Tonight he had a message that I enjoyed and wanted to record.

It was about 'asking'. By asking we show strength and by asking we create a relationship which is of mutual benefit. I know in times past I have feared asking someone and there is no real reason for having failed to do so. I know I have come up with excuses why I have not asked them, but there has not been good reasons.

I thank Jim for reminding me that there is no reason not to ask for help and that it is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength. We all need to be reminded of that at times.

If you want to know more about Jim Cathcart, please go to www.jimcathcart.com

The Future of Work

2008-08-02T15:49:00.003+01:00

Over the last five years I have been speaking about how employers need to be thinking how they will re-structure their workplaces and I am seeing some interesting things happening. For example, Capital One Financial Corporation have a Future of Work program that is looking at how to make the work place more attractive and a place people want to stay.

The type of thing they are doing include: giving all new university graduates an iPod with preloaded books on it like, How to think like Leonardo Di Vinci, which allows people to learn at their own time and speed. Their aim is to provide a productive and rewarding environment to work in. The company recognizes the importance people place on their personal life and aims to provide an environment that allows them to create the balance between their professional and personal lives.

Well done Capital One Financial Corporation. It is time for more organizations to break their mind-set about how our business will look in the future and re-design it.

2008-08-01T02:31:00.002+01:00

If ever there is a question on your mind about the need to be constantly reinventing how you do your business, what you do in your business and the way business will constantly be changing, then this story shows that anything can and will happen.

One of UK's biggest newspapers has decided to go with Google over Microsoft!

http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?email&NewsID=22077

I hope you are thinking carefully about your business and asking yourself good questions about your business. Take nothing as a guarantee of the future.

Zimbabwe

2008-04-14T22:27:00.001+01:00

At a time like this I have to make comment about the situation in Zimbabwe. After all it is the place of my birth and, although I spent a lot of my early years outside the country, we were in the surrounding countries and often visited there. I finished my education there and it was always a special place to me.

In 1980 when I left, it was now under the rule of ZANU PF and Mugabe was the new President. Everyone was wondering what would happen and what the future held. The country was self-sufficient, it could feed itself and export a surplus. It was rich with mineral and was referred to as the “bread basket” of Africa.

For a number of years, nothing really changed. The country continued along the same path but with new opportunities available to anyone willing to make something of themselves. Mugabe was focused on squashing his opposition and ensuring that the Matabele people would not rise up against him. Many people were slaughtered but nobody knew for certain what was going on and it was mainly in the western rural areas, far away from the main cities and industries.

However, eventually the people started to ask what was happening? They noticed that there was no real change and asked what happened to the promise of land. The traditional African tribal people only understand land. A place they can grow some food to eat and raise some cattle or animals.

Mugabe was not willing to allow his position to be taken form him easily and so he promised to make changes to the land ownership. This inspired his people again and he embarked on kicking white farmers off the land and giving it to people who knew nothing about farming.

At the same time the war in Angola was hotting up and he saw the opportunity to gain wealth by supporting Angola. The benefit was diamonds. He stripped the land of food to send to Angola and sent his armed men to fight in the war.

With lack of farming, industries started to fail and there started to be shortages. Shortages meant price rises and food increased significantly. Mugabe demanded that a cap be put on certain foods so that the people could afford to buy what they needed. What happened was industry couldn’t afford to produce and factories started to close down. Hungry people will find food my any means. Crime started to rise and so started the slippery slope that sees us now looking at a bankrupt country with the highest inflation in history and a state of near collapse.

Still Mugabe fights on by any means he can to stay in power. The truth is, he is yesterdays man with a yesterday mentality and old fashioned beliefs that have been proved not to work.

It was once said that “if you are a hammer, then everything you see looks like a nail”. If you are a warrior, then everything that happens requires you to conquer it and win the battle. Mugabe sees enemies in everyone that once supported him, just because they don’t agree with him now. He has the mentality of a fighter and so when things go wrong, he fights back. It matters not whether he is right or wrong, it only matters that he wins.

Unfortunately we have seen this many times before. The trouble with thinking that you are right, is that you don’t get to see the options available to you. You are too busy trying to prove that you are right. Such is Mugabe. Communism does not work, but he has not seen this because he is so busy fighting to make it work.

It is a sin to see a country that was once so prosperous collapse. It is a sin to see the people of Zimbabwe suffer at the hands of a tyrant. These are good people who want to enjoy their lives.

History will look at what happened here and ask why we allowed this to happen? Some of the worlds greatest resources of platinum, gold, tin and many others are being given away to China while the west looks on. Even after Mugabe has gone, we will have to live with the mistake we made.

The only good will be, if South Africa learns the lessons of reclaiming land and sees the damage this will do to a country. Land cannot be used for self-sufficiency farming. Farming is now a science and needs to be handled that way for feeding the population as a whole.

My Visit to I Love Rewards

2008-02-21T14:40:00.002Z

Every once and a while a company comes along and does all the things that it should be doing and reaps the benefits. Such a business is I Love Rewards based in Toronto.

I Love Rewards provides organizations a way of giving recognition for their people in a way that others don’t. For a start, I Love Rewards only earns their income if people are rewarded in their client company. This means that they have to select clients who are really keen and capable of growing their business through their people. If they aren’t capable of doing this, I Love Rewards would not be able to earn a revenue. It is this willingness to put themselves on the line with the client, that differentiates I Love Rewards from its competitors.

The second attribute that makes I Love Rewards very special, is their own belief in giving rewards to their people. It would not be enough to simply say, they practice what they preach. The truth is, they live and breathe rewards in every way.

The two characteristics of doing their business differently and complete belief in what they do, creates an experience to any visitors. People simply come in to find out what is going on. Employees bring in friends to show them what it is like at their company. People are applying to work here and the media are asking for interviews from the CEO, Razor Suleman.

Razor is a mild mannered humble man but don’t underestimate him for a moment. His passion very quickly bursts out showing that this man absolutely believes in what they are doing. The next thing you quickly realize is that he has a very keen mind. I went to interview him and found myself being probed for thoughts, experiences and anything I can share with him that may help him understand and develop his business.

Three days on site and it seems that everyone we interviewed and met was telling us something new and innovative or at very least novel in it approach. Simple things like the book ‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins being mandatory reading by every member of staff and then chapters from the book being reviewed monthly for ideas that could be applied in their business. Simple but powerful concepts like the day HR died and a funeral was held to bury HR. After that one person is in charge of ‘Employee Experience’ and everyone has a responsibility for the development of the culture and the employees.

Growth is happening quickly. While I was there they had sixteen vacancies they needed to fill and this caused over 200 applications from people wanting to be part of the experience. The recruitment process is as rigid as any you will ever find with people from all areas of the business involved at some stage. The focus is on making sure the right people get on the bus!

A combination of efficient and effective, disciplined and dynamic, focused and flexible wrapped up in an innovative environment. This is an organization that I think Jim Collins would be proud of.

Thanks guys for a wonderful visit and best wishes for the future.

Paul Bridle
Feb 08

Assumtions, Leading and Walls

2008-01-21T17:50:00.000Z

This weekend I was in Toronto and had the opportunity to watch US television and some of the delegates in the United States speaking in their attempt to gain the nomination to run for President later this year.

I was quite surprised by some of the comments made. Edwards spoke about making America an example to the world and a country the world wants to be like! It shows a great lack of understanding when a candidate thinks that the rest of the world wants to be like America. In fact some of the countries in the world actually resent America’s assumption that they should be like them.

I remember going to eastern Europe to speak at a conference and being asked before I spoke by the President, “You aren’t coming with any of that American rubbish are you?”. When I challenged him to explain he said, we have had American consultants over here telling us how to run our business and so far it has always failed. I was not prepared to accept that and so challenged further. He then explained that “their ideas are fine but they make no allowances for our culture or desires. So they fail when we implement them. America sees the world as a series of boxes that things fit into”.

In my travels around the world, I hear the world wanting is a stable America that is an example of excellence and not a dictator. I think John MaCain said that America needs to lead the world, and that is also not true (and not possible with the low credibility it has at the moment). It needs to partner the world and be an example of good governance. In the last six years America has done more to undermine the credibility of democracy that it has done to advance it.

I can’t remember any times in modern history when building walls achieved anything other than expert climbers and resentment. The Berlin Wall is a typical example. The problems in Pakistan today are as a result of the British drawing lines, erecting fences and then leaving.

Why is America building a 700 mile wall between them and Mexico? Do people think this will actually work? I listen to statements about sending all the illegal immigrants back. Do people not realize the impact that will have on the economy of America? Would it not be so much more beneficial to help Mexico develop a strong economy so that people don’t want to cross the boarder and seek work in America? It will take time but it will also save money, improve the area and reduce the effectiveness of terrorism.

I was pleased to hear John MaCain acknowledge that Bush may have got things wrong, but he did change the strategy on Iraq and it seems to be having some effect. I was also pleased to hear that negotiation is starting to take place with people in Iraq that they have refused to talk to before and rather held them up as the axis of evil.

More has been achieved through discussion than has ever been achieved through war or building walls for that matter!

January 2007

Passion

2008-01-16T15:56:00.000Z

Every once and a while it is really great to hear someone speak with passion and common sense. Have a look at:

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/204

The US elections

2008-01-14T15:46:00.000Z

This weekend I heard President Bush speak in Dubai. I have got to the stage when I think he says what he says to convince himself! His comment about dealing with Iran "before it is too late" left me thinking, what is "too late"? Does he mean before he leaves office?

As someone who travels the world, I am amazed at how little the President really understands about the culture of the people in the Middle East and the issues there. Does he not realize how foolish he makes the United States appear when he speaks the way he does? The greatest thing I can see coming out of the Bush administration will be the young people who will vote in the elections this year.

I am not sure they want change as much as to make sure the same mistake is not made again. Nobody believes that Government will change but at least they want people that will not be irrational and fundamentalist in their approaches.

What an interesting year it will be. I believe that there has never been a recession in an election year. There are also a whole bunch of first time voters that have never worked in an economy that is so slow!

Obama speaks of "hope". I think people are looking for competence combined with integrity.
Romney thinks that because he has been successful in business, he can be successful as President! He creates the impression of a competent manager when people are looking for a competent leader.

What a great start to what will turn out to be one of the most interesting elections in the history of United States.

It pays to Listen

2008-01-09T17:42:00.000Z

If there was ever any doubt about the importance of listening, then this week in New Hampshire we were reminded again of the difference it makes.

Hillary Clinton changed her approach to campaigning after Iowa and started to listen instead of telling. If you watched her rallies, she spoke and then listened as people asked her questions. For the first time she opened up the person instead of the campaign machine. What a difference it made.

There are people who are saying that the moment when her voiced cracked when answering a question, was the turning point. I don't think so. The turning point was that she was listening and because of that there was one moment when she showed a real person behind the candidate.

Leadership is about being able to listen as well as being able to speak. It is about hearing and it is about answering the questions on people minds.

9th January 2008

Talking about Change

2008-01-06T18:51:00.000Z

So Obama wins Iowa and everyone suddenly talks about the same things he has been talking about!! He spoke about "hope" and about "change" and it is soooo obvious that people are wanting change. They want a different approach to Government and not just a change of face.

Today Hillary Clinton said that change is not about talk it is about hard work. Yes it is hard work but that is not enough. Hard work on its own is not effective.

From a leader it is about facilitating change, from a group of people it is about managing the change, from the individual it is about responding to change.

Doing leadership is about inspiring people to respond to the change, it is about having the right people in place to manage the change and it is about achieveing change through people.

The result of Iowa seems to say that people understand this and are looking for the leader to create leadership in line with this.

It is 2008! And we need new Leadership – please.

2008-01-04T17:03:00.000Z

I am sick of hearing about the “War on Terror”. There is no such thing as a war on terror! That is like saying a war on phobias or a war on bombing. It is a nonsense.

What is terrorism? (Interestingly, no Government has dared to define it). Terrorism is a method of fighting. The method is to create terror in people, which incapacitates them in some way. It does not always have to be physical.

Traditional wars were fought by armies, fighting it out, people getting killed while trying to take control of some ground. Having taken control, the winner implemented an order or regime that was to their liking. That is the way it was done for centuries.

Of course this form of fighting means that the strongest tends to win. Maybe not only strength, but strength has a lot to do with it. So what does the little guy need to do to win? Well, he can find bigger weapons and become stronger! The trouble is the guys with the biggest weapons just keep making theirs bigger as well. They also make it impossible to get the materials and the information to be able to make bigger weapons. Eventually there is a limit to the size of the weapon anyway.

But there is one method of war that has been used over the years in different situations by all sides and has been effective. It is called striking fear into the enemy. If you strike enough fear into the enemy, you can overthrow them without as much violence, or at least minimize the violence.

Japan used it to great effect in the World War II, but then again the British used it many years before in Africa, India and many other places. In fact, striking fear in the enemy has been used by the West for many years as a method of fighting.

Today’s wars are not country against country. They are ideologies fighting an ideology. Afghanistan is not fighting USA or visa versa. There is a group of people that are fighting for what they believe in. They based themselves in Afghanistan but are not the elected rulers of the country.

Of course they have limited access to “strength” or “big enough weapons” in order to fight their fight. They are not physically strong enough or have physical weapons to attack with. However, they have a weapon that can be very powerful if used correctly. It doesn’t have to explode (although if it does it provides visual impact) it doesn’t even have to cost a lot of lives. What it has to do is, scare people enough, so that they don’t function well.

The IRA used it very effectively in United Kingdom for years. The bombings that they undertook were not designed to kill, but rather to scare people. They believed that if the people of United Kingdom were scared enough they would demand their Government give back Northern Ireland.

The war against the colonies in Africa was fought in the same way. Southern Rhodesia and South Africa were typical examples. The aim was not to kill all the ‘whites’; they could have done that because the whites were out-numbered. Instead they tried to undermine the economy of the country so that it had to collapse and then they would be able to take control.

It worked! Of course sanctions from the west were a help, but the fear factor was also a contributing element that made the change happen.

So terrorism is a method of war. It is not a war, as Bush would like to call it, that someone can declare war on! Declaring war on terrorism is like declaring war on war.

The real trouble is that the mind-set of the world that is trying to fight terrorism is using conventional methods of war. This is the mind-set of leaders who were leaders in a different era. What they don’t realise is that they are not fighting a traditional war and that being the physically strongest is now not the most important element of the war.

To show how old fashioned the thinking is they still make their decisions based on their own values and beliefs. They think that killing these people will solve the problem. This premise comes from a western belief that human life is valued and people want to live. The truth is, the people they are fighting don’t hold human life as that important. In fact, these people will gladly die if it is in defence of their beliefs.

This method of war should not be fought with the same mind-set of wars in the past. It requires new thinking and new leadership. Solutions to the current problems are not to be found in simply making bigger weapons or shouting louder.

The real impact of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre in New York was not simply the thousands of people that died, although that was a terrible tragedy. The real impact and outcome has been the way United States has got itself into debt and weakened its position on the world stage. The perpetrators of that dastardly attack achieved what they set out to do. They scared America into acting impetuously and into financially de-stabilising itself. Oh yes, it also got America to take out one of its archenemies that was ruling Iraq, and to de-stabilise that whole region. That was a bonus!

What would have happened if America had not gone off fighting in the Middle East after 9/11? What if America had chosen instead to undermine the people behind the attack and even created enough fear in the region to make it impossible for these people to be supported and to operate?

The truth is we don’t know. But we can take an educated guess and one thing is for sure, America would not be as weak as it is now both financially and influentially.

Recently Gordon Brown refused to attend a summit because Mugabe was attending. This is another example of old type thinking and old style leadership. The British Prime Minister thought he made a stand and achieved some sort of moral victory. In reality, Mugabe’s stature has been improved because he managed to force the British out of the summit. The British were too afraid to attend when Mugabe was there! His influence is stronger in Africa because the British Prime Minister had an old style leadership head on.

Terrorism is not something that will ever go away. It is a powerful method used by bullies in playgrounds and corporations in market places. It is so effective because people react to it.

Look how Bush is jumping around because Iran is making nuclear fuel. President Ahmajinidad is having great fun watching how he is terrorising Bush with his rhetoric about Israel and by pretending to be refining nuclear fuel. He knows that if he can keep America fighting traditional wars, their economy will continue to be effected, their influence will be undermined and in this weakened state they can be brought down to size and dealt with.

It is 2008. This year could be a deciding year for better, or for worse. Let us hope that we will see a new generation of leaders emerge that think differently and are prepared to build, rather then destroy. I hear the American news talking about the need for Presidential candidates with “experience”. I am sorry, but the people with experience are often also those that have the old mind-set. Experience is only of value if placed alongside innovation and fresh thinking. Experience on its own is not enough.

Learn from the past but create the future.

The time has come if the people of America and Iran will elect someone who is not frightened. You see: fear is what makes terrorism work!

January 1st 2008

Proud to be ...........?

2007-10-02T19:08:00.000+01:00

I travel the world and visit many societies, cultures and nationalities. I find it interesting to discover the different attitudes to life, the different beliefs and stimuli that motivate different people.

I am currently visiting North America having been in South Africa and the UK in the last month. Something strikes me on this visit. It has occurred to me that the pride people have for their nation, heritage, culture or who they are, varies a great deal.

For example, Canadians are very proud of being Canadian. This pride is despite their divided history and even their current divisions. They are simply proud of who they are and promote their own products, promote their country and do this whilst embracing a changing world. In fact I would describe Canada as one of the most multi-cultural, multi-ethnic nations with the most tolerant and positive attitude. I can genuinely say that people seem to completely ignore the colour of a persons skin and embrace people for who they are and not where they come from. Maybe this has a lot to do with the pride they have in themselves.

Canada is probably one of the few countries that have this pride in such abundance, and consistently. In the United States, there is a lot of pride in who they were! Listen to Americans, they talk about their history with great pride, and so they should. Their founders did them proud in giving birth to a nation, which provided so many opportunities. However, the talk is about what they have done in years gone by and not what is happening now. I am not talking about the current administration either. They are fully divided on that one! I am talking about pride in their nation and who they are.

The country is so divided now that they are more at war with each other than they are with any other country, or what is laughingly called terrorism. I heard a great quote that sums up the situation here, “America, having given the world democracy, is in danger of being strangled by democracy”. I get the feeling that in America, people have to be proud of being American. To not be proud is seen as being anti-American. There is no middle ground. In a society where we can’t speak out against our country for fear of being anti-xxxx, is a dangerous place to be.

France has always been a nation of proud people. But a little thought about the basis of their pride and we discover that it is based more on an attitude. France is proud of being stubborn!! Maybe that is a bit harsh but not too far from the truth. People of France are very fickle and are proud for being proud rather than for what they stand for. For example, the French care about the pronunciation of what you say and not what is being said. As France teeters on the edge of bankruptcy I am reminded of the expression, ‘pride comes before a fall’.

South Africa is interesting because their first President after apartheid, Nelson Mandela instilled in people that they were a “rainbow nation” and should be proud of who they have become, despite their history. I wonder if he took a look at Canada and came up with that thinking? Certainly the country uses the logo “Proudly South African” on its products, and the people refer to “Proudly South African” on as many occasions as possible, in as many places as it can.

Mostly it is true, people are proud of what they have become. Those that weren’t have mostly moved on. They have a right to be proud as well. The way they have largely settled their past and moved on is an example to so many. If they can sustain their pride in the future and not keep getting dragged back to the past, they will do well.

I am not saying that countries don’t have pride. I am saying that the pride is weak or poorly placed and not an enduring pride that feeds the culture for good.

UK has little or no pride left. Despite various rhetoric by Prime Ministers, the basis is not there. Similar to America, there is a lot of division, the pride is in the history, it is not as evident as it was a generation ago.

In Pakistan I found people that were very proud of their traditions and their cultures. They were keen to share with me the different types of foods and show me aspects of their culture. They were also very humble. Very willing to learn, very keen to discover and also very ashamed of the people that were giving the West a poor impression of who they are.

All nations have a degree of pride but it is what it is based on that makes a difference as much as the level of pride.

Jews are proud on principle!
New Zealanders need to win the rugby to be proud ☺
Australians are proud of being different and being able to swear the most.

As with all things, it is a matter of degree. Certainly, the wrong type of pride can alienate and ultimately undermine you or country. Too little pride gives no meaning and does not create a basis for which people can belong or be motivated to contribute.

Ask yourself this, if you wanted to live with a group of people that are proud of who they are and what they are creating for the future, who would you think of first? How would being with them affect you?

Pride for the right reason is a worthy pride.

Travelling into Heathrow

2007-08-30T17:26:00.000+01:00

Travelling as I do, I see lots of airports. Heathrow is one of my least favourite but on a recent trip out I was really impressed with the service at security. They had obviously done some work both in terms of layout and in terms of staff development. The system was far more efficient and the security people were helpful, friendly and a pleasure to be with.

I left UK with a good feeling.

Today I arrived at Heathrow on my return journey. Whenever I arrive I try to see the first impressions a tourist or foreigner would get of Heathrow and of UK. I arrive at the new wing and so it is clean and looking very nice. However, as I walk the corridors I come across walkways and escalators that are not working (I have never been through Heathrow when all the escalators and moving walkways are working)

I arrive at Immigration to discover the new IRIS system is not working and there is a queue to see the Immigration Officer. The sign says that if you are at this point, it will take 5 minutes, and that is the point I join at.

The escalator to the baggage hall is not working and as I enter the hall I see a group of people stood in the centre where there is the only video display showing which carrousel each flights baggage will be sent to. Being in the middle of the hall it means people congregate there to wait to see where they need to go. This means that anyone trying to get through the hall has a crowd of people to make their way through. As we stand waiting, there is a constant series of “excuse me” as passengers are trying to get through the standing people.

When you have to wait 25 minutes to be told which carrousel your baggage will be on you start to notice that British Airways flights are being given priority. Any BA flight is on a carousel within 5 minutes. I start to feel that I am a second class person for having flown the wrong airline!

I decide to buy my Heathrow Express ticket while I am waiting. Next to the underground ticket machine there is a sign that tells me there are three ways to get to London. Then I discover that there is no way to buy a ticket for the Heathrow Express. Because of the way it is laid out, I can imagine that a number of people have bought a ticket at this machine thinking they can use it on Heathrow Express.

Finally we get told the carousel to use and we make our way there only to wait another 5 minutes. Boredom is setting in and it is at this stage you start to notice how dirty the place is. The cleaner does not get under the carousel or up to the edges of the walls etc.

Bags start to arrive and they flow in ones and twos and then a gap. Finally we get fours and fives coming up the conveyor. The electronic eye (useless invention when it does work) stops the baggage coming off the conveyor because it senses bags on the carousel. The problem is, this one is set wrong and so stops bags and waits until the bag on the carousel is in front of it and then dumps itself on top of the bag. Bags bounce around all over the place. There are times when no bags come up at all! First Class and Priority bags are the last to make it along with bags in transit. Of course transit passengers are starting to pull their hair out and keep looking at their watches with sweat starting to form on their foreheads.

Finally my bag arrives after an hour waiting in the baggage hall! Due to the position of our carousel we now need to be part of the people that say “excuse me”, “excuse me”, “excuse me”…… as we make our way towards Customs and the green route.

As I finally sit down on the Heathrow Express I ponder about my experience. Why is it so difficult to make a good impression? It must take at least the same amount of energy to make a bad impression.

If I were a first time visitor at Heathrow, I would be forgiven for thinking that I had landed in a third world (or at best a second world) country. Why can I say that with confidence? Because I have been to so called second and third world countries and the airports are far more efficient than Heathrow.

A final thought went through my mind. I did not see, or to be specific, hear any English people working at Heathrow. All of them were of Asian or Middle Eastern descent. I am sorry to say that the thought went through my mind, I wonder if they would behave and work the way they do in Heathrow if they were working in their birth country? My experience is that in Asia and Middle East, people take a lot more pride in their work. Why are they not proud to work in UK? Is it because we have learnt to accept mediocrity? Is it because we lack leaders?

I opened the newspaper to read the headline, BAA plan to reduce their staff by 2000 people!!!!!! Oh dear. Can it get worse?

Getting ill while travelling

2007-08-28T06:52:00.000+01:00

I am in South Africa and have an attack of gout. It is not something that happens often to me and my visits to the Doctor has done nothing to help me plan, deal with or learn about my condition. It has been a year since I had my last attack and this came on very suddenly. It is always a worry because the pain is distracting and it can limit my effectiveness as a professional speaker.

What do I do? Going to a Doctor is not something I relish in England, no mind in South Africa. The cost, what will they do, will I catch something, etc.

A close friend insists I go to the Doctor as I limp around in pain. I get loaded into the car on Saturday morning and driven into town to a Doctors surgery. We walk in at 9.35am and explain that I am visiting the country and need to see the Doctor.

The receptionist is not phased and she explains that the Doctor has some pre-planned appointments but she will see what she can do.

Three and a half minutes later I am sat in front of a doctor! He is cheerful and asks me questions which start with, “Have you been drinking too much South African wine?” We laugh and the examination goes ahead with the tone set. He is interested, considerate, and he oozes confidence combined with competence in a way that relaxes me.

Finally he explains (in a way that nobody has ever done before) what gout is, what happens and what he is going to recommend for me.

The recommendation is an injection of a “mix” they do. I cannot even start to pronounce the mix but he goes on to explain that the one will give relief within the hour and the other will kick in four hours later. “That gets you over the initial problem” he says, “and then I will give you a prescription for two things…”

He explains that one breaks down the crystals in the foot and the other is for pain relief if I need it.

Duly dealt with, including an injection and a prescription in hand, I leave the doctors consulting room. (By the way the injection was the least painful one I have ever had in my life) The Doctor hands me a leaflet on gout and as a true patriotic South African smiles and says, “Keep drinking the South African wine hey!”. We laugh, shake hands and he holds the door open as I leave.

Now a new fear clutches me as I realise I will have to pay for the consultation and treatment. I approach the receptionist with my two pieces of paper and she has a look at what is there. A few moments and she looks up and tells me I owe R236.00 (£16.27 or $8.13) for everything. I put away the credit card and pull out cash for such a small amount.

We walk into pharmacy and get a weeks treatment of both items on the prescription which costs me another R180 (£12.41 or $6.20). We go for a coffee and by the time we leave the coffee shop I can walk normally and feel great.

I am gobsmacked at the service I got, the speed I was dealt with and the relief I have in such a short period of time. Never in 10 years of going to Doctors and Consultants in UK have I had the same service and certainly I have never been able to see a Doctor at a moments notice.

I ask my friends if this is normal? “Oh yes, quite normal”. They are British and so know what happens in UK. They go on to tell me how she had a problem and she phoned the Consultant at the hospital directly and asked to see him. He said yes and the appointment was made the same day!

He examined her and said she needed surgery. He then asked when she would like it?! She said next Thursday would be good and he phoned up and two minutes later it was booked!!!!

In UK, if I want to see a Consultant it has to be through a Doctor and I have never seen one within four weeks of seeing the Doctor. In fact the last time the Doctor in UK referred me to a Consultant, I gave up trying to arrange an appointment after three attempts. In future I think I will get on a plane and fly to South Africa.

My friend tells me that increasingly people are coming to South Africa for plastic surgery and dental work in particular because it is cheaper, more efficient and they can combine it with an amazing holiday.

I ask myself, what is wrong with the systems in the West? We seem to have made it too complicated. The health service in UK has become a nightmare of bureaucracy and littered with frustrated people who have lost a common sense of purpose and even possibly even pride in their profession.

Personally? I know where I want to go if I really need medical advise in the future.

Another way...please!

2007-08-26T21:26:00.000+01:00

Those of you who know me will know that I believe that society in the West is being strangled by fear of litigation as people spend more time covering their backs and ensuring that they are absolutely covered in the case of anything going wrong, or an accident happening. This atmosphere, which is being perpetuated by Governments in most cases, creates bureaucracy in organisations that stifles their creativity and in many cases, their ability to compete in an increasing global market.

China is at the other end of the spectrum producing goods that are being recalled from the shelves because they have been produced without the care and quality checks that make them safe. These mistakes are costing corporations dearly and wiping out some of the significant savings of having their manufacturing in Asia.

Recently Mattel had to recall toys because of lead paint being used and a problem with magnets. Already lawyers are seeking class action suits to force Mattel to pay for children to be tested for lead poisoning!

There have been a number of issues with goods being manufactured in China including mattresses, being returned for having been sprayed with poisonous chemicals to avoid infestation. Clothes, toothpaste, faulty tyres, dog food, etc. have all been in the news over the last couple of months with questions about their quality and as a result their danger to consumers.

As lawyers start to hover in anticipation of a chance to add to the problem with class actions suits and ways to make their money, we have to ask ourselves, isn’t there another way? Do we have to resort to this old fashioned method of retaliation that stifles innovation and creativity? For some organisations, creativity and innovation is their ONLY way of making money.

How can we blame China?

China does not have the wealth of experience that the West has in their development. If we look at Japan, it had to be educated (notice the word was not ‘told’) about the importance of quality. Once it understood about the importance of quality, Japan embarked on producing a quality product and, only then, did it seek to find ways of cutting the costs in the process down whilst maintaining the quality.

That education process is a vital link. How can we blame companies in China that are being given target prices to produce goods and so price becomes their primary focus? Quality becomes a secondary issue. But then we scream and shout when the quality is poor and try to blame China!

Dutch businessman Jan Kemeling sums it up well:

"It's like this: a Western company tells the Chinese that they have to make something that costs 10 euros, even though they know that the raw materials cost 15. So it stands to reason that the Chinese are going to take something out to arrive at that price of 10. They are going to look for ways to save a bit of money. Which means buying in cheaper paint or cheaper steel or whatever. And that's when the quality starts to slide."
http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/chi070824mc

In the case of the lead paint on Mattel toys, it seems that the Chinese manufacturing company outsourced the painting to another company that did not have the quality procedures in place! We can’t blame them for outsourcing in this way because we taught them that. We equally can’t blame them for forcing the outsourced company to do it cheaply when that is what the West taught them was the most important criteria.

The West needs to take a more responsible view and learn the importance of measuring the right things or at least teaching China how to prioritize measurements. Price without the quality IS NOT CHEAP.

So I ask as the lawyers add to the problem with their class action suites and scared business leaders frantically attempt to cover their ‘backs’ and limit the damage: Who is taking a step out of this blame culture and seeing where the real problem is?

As you consider that question, let me bring another thought to the table.

On 21st August we saw the return of the space shuttle Endeavour from the international space station after nearly two weeks away from earth. The shuttle was brought back a day early because of the concerns about Hurricane Dean.

Space shuttle Columbia in 2003 with seven crew were lost when entering earth’s orbit because of a hole made in the wing from some foam falling off at take off. Everything was put on hold to rectify the problem! Prior to Endeavour’s launch this time, NASA said that they had sorted out the issues relating to take-off that had caused eventual disasters of previous missions.

On the 8th August, the world was then shocked to discover that the space shuttle Endeavour was yet again damaged on take-off by falling foam. There were anxious moments when the shuttle flew back to earth and re-entered the earth atmosphere. Would another disaster befall this mission?

Fortunately, the shuttle returned to earth safely and NASA announced that once and for all they were going to get to the bottom this issue and ensure that the shuttle was not damaged. Once again more promises!

A friend said to me recently, “How would you like to get in a space craft made of tens of thousands of parts all made by a company that submitted the lowest tender?”

What a powerful question.

There has to be another way! Litigation and the fear of class action suites is not the way forward. It makes the lawyers rich and brings out the worst in humanity.

For China, education and good measurements are vital. Learn from Japan and educate people at every level of the organisation about quality first and then when that is right, seek ways to drive down costs within that framework.

For NASA I have a simple way of solving the foam issue. Every space flight in future carries one of the Executive Boards grandchildren on the voyage!

Madeline Albright speaks

2007-08-03T14:24:00.000+01:00

I had the pleasure of hearing Madeline Albright speak at the SHRM conference. She spoke well and made some excellent comments about the state of the world.

Hear is an official summary of her speech:

Albright Shares Hiring Tips, Middle East Peace Proposals

By J.J. Smith

LOS ANGELES—Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright demonstrated her diplomatic skills by offering tips for HR professionals when hiring an executive—as well as proposals for peace in the Middle East—during her keynote address here March 19, 2007, at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Global Forum and Exhibition.

Albright said that, during her government service, she has had the opportunity to engage some of the most powerful men and women in the world, and that, before she met a leader, she would obtain various assessments from people who met with that person before. These methods can be applied when conducting interviews for top corporate positions, she said.

It is essential to get as much information as possible on a potential hire before meeting him or her, and, by necessity, “some of it is in written form.” However, it is important to talk to people who know that person as well. But even if an HR professional does manage to obtain vast amounts of information on a potential managerial hire, “in the end a lot of it does come down to a gut level, and there is no way to not make a mistake,” she said.

On Dec. 5, 1996, President Clinton nominated Albright as the first female secretary of state. After being confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate, she was sworn in to become the highest-ranking woman in the U.S. government. “I loved being secretary of state,” Albright said. After leaving government service, she entered the private sector, where she has “enjoyed the opportunity to meet with people such as [global HR professionals] who deeply are interested in foreign affairs, but from a different perspective.”

“The truth is, my own perspective has changed since I decided to start a business,” she said. “It’s called the Albright Group, and we offer strategic consulting services in social responsibility issues, especially to companies interested in emerging democracies.”

While in government, Albright said, she frequently turned to the business community for advice when making decisions about foreign policy because business people and diplomats have much in common. “Whether you’re a business person or a diplomat, you have to work in a global environment” that requires knowing “when to hold your tongue and when to be blunt,” she said. “And you have to understand that every time you’re wrong you will be held accountable. But, often, when you’re right, the credit for success will stop one pay grade above.”

Business people and diplomats are expected to have the gift of prophecy, Albright said. “It’s not enough to know what is happening today; you have to be able to predict what is happening next week, next month, next year,” she said. “This is true whether you’re managing human resources or managing world affairs.”

Some people are still predicting that the global economy will take off, and some say it will be brought down by instability and anxiety about the future. Some global forecasters fear that divisions about religion and culture will create ever-widening circles of conflict. And others point hopefully to the lack of tension among the leading powers.

“Given all that is going on, I’m often asked if I’m an optimist or a pessimist. I reply: ‘I’m an optimist who worries a lot,’ ” Albright said, adding that her optimism is based on “faith in democracy, free enterprise and the desire of most people to live free.” However, while she has faith in the resilience of the democratic system, she worries about the plague of terrorism, which remains widespread. “I worry about Afghanistan, where a weak government struggles against warlords and the Taliban with no victory in sight,” she said.

In addition, Albright worries “about the dark side of globalization, which hastens the spread of false and deadly ideas, the proliferation of deadly arms, and … spreads the gap between rich and poor both within and among nations.”

Albright is worried that democracy has slowed in some countries where “nationalization, repression and other failed policies from the past” have resurfaced.

But, above all else, Albright said, she worries “about Iraq and the Middle East because of the efforts of violent extremists to exploit chaos in order to advance their cause.” According to U.S. intelligence reports, the invasion of Iraq has increased the danger of international terror, making it essential for Gen. David Patreus and our forces in Iraq to succeed. “Unfortunately our troops have been caught in the middle of a civil war with the impossible mission to try to protect all sides against violence by all sides,” she said.

Nonetheless, she agrees with President Bush that it would be disastrous for the United States to leave Iraq under the present circumstances, but it might also be a disaster for the United States to stay. “If our forces are not in a position to make a difference, we have an overriding duty to bring them home sooner rather than later,” she said. In addition, the problems in Iraq have reached the point where our leaders no longer have any good options. “Whatever we decide to do, we will face great risks and the possibility of deeper disaster, so all we can hope for is to limit the damage,” she said, adding that there are four steps that should be applied in Iraq and broadly across the Middle East. They are:

• Contain the risk to our troops by giving them jobs that make the most sense; train Iraqis; step up the fight against Al Qaeda; and guard Iraq’s borders to prevent a wider war.

• Encourage a political settlement in Iraq that will give each side more than it would obtain through continued violence. Such settlements must include an equable sharing of oil, the protection of minority rights and the sharing of power between the central government in Baghdad and various regions.

• Pressure Iraq’s neighbors and our allies to do more to create stability.

• Consider the situation in the Persian Gulf as part of a larger strategy that includes revised peace negotiations between Arabs and Israel.

Concerning an effort to engage Iraq’s neighbors in halting violence, Albright said that during her tenure as secretary of state she was confronted with strife in the Balkans in which each faction inside the region had an ally outside the region from which it received arms and support. The solution was to get all the countries with an interest in the Balkans to work together. Something similar should be tried in Iraq, she said. If such a plan is implemented, the involvement of Iran is significant, she said. It is generally forgotten that Iraq invaded Iran during the 1980s, initiating a war that killed more than 1 million people.

“Today, Iraq is divided and weak, while Iran has more influence than at any time in a century and Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has taken advantage of the regional turmoil to try to present himself on the world stage,” she said. By insisting on Iran’s right to reprocess nuclear fuel, questioning Israel’s right to exist and challenging the morality of America’s actions, Ahmadinejad tries to solidify his shaky domestic political base, she said.

The Bush administration deserves support for its efforts to persuade Iran to forgo the option of developing nuclear arms, Albright said. Those efforts are laborious, but the combination of economic sanctions and pressure on oil supplies may cause Iran to look for face-saving ways out. However, the administration has accused Iran of arming Shiite militias inside Iraq. The United States is right to protest and present evidence supporting the allegations, but the administration should not do anything to invite a wider war, she said.

Over the long term, the United States would benefit immensely from improved relations with Iran. There are no objective reasons why American and Iranian goals must clash, because the problems between Iran and the United States are ideological and potentially resolvable, according to Albright. “I fear a war would open wounds that would never close at great cost to us and to the world, so America’s focus should be on how to build peace, not how to justify another war,” she said.

She said one of the United States’ major accomplishments of the past half-century has been to gain the acceptance of Israel’s right to exist by virtually every government in the Middle East, including the Palestine Liberation Organization. “With that principle clearly understood, we should do all we can to encourage the creation of a viable Palestinian partner with whom Israel can negotiate,” she said.

Peace will not be achieved easily as long as there are elements within Islam, Christianity and Judaism who believe that war in the Middle East has been foretold by scripture, and that the decisive battle between good and evil will take place within that region, she said. “Armageddon is not a foreign policy,” she said. Those who believe God is directing events might begin by obeying God’s commandments instead of ignoring them. There’s nothing preordained about murder and mayhem in the Middle East.

Since the attacks of Sept. 11, it has been natural to focus on the threat posed by terrorism and the drama in the Middle East, but the world elsewhere has not stood still, Albright said. “In fact, it has been engaged in a transformation as profound as any since the industrial revolution,” she said, adding, “this may well be one of those periods that people look back on and say history moved from one era to another.” It is called globalization, but it is nothing more than the acceleration of trends that have been going on for decades. Human resource professionals are exposed to these trends every day. More companies are global in scope, and more business people travel overseas or work overseas on a permanent basis, she said.

Need for Training

That has created a need for more training, not only in job skills, but also in such matters as security, language and culture. One of the major trends is a shift in economic and political power from West to East. As countries such as China and India continue to develop, new challenges will arise, such as finding a way for billions of people to emerge from poverty into a middle-class lifestyle without exhausting resources or destroying the health of our planet, she said.

That requires developed nations to pay a great deal of attention to China, Albright said. At one time, Albright believed that all the Chinese wanted from the United States was an assurance that U.S. policy on Taiwan would not change. Now China’s concerns are economic, she said. China’s growth rate remains among the world’s most impressive, but such growth has generated an enormous appetite for natural resources such as oil, minerals and timber. As a buyer on the world market, China is welcomed by those with resources to sell, leading to an expansion of China’s diplomatic and commercial ties on almost every continent, she said. China’s economic clout has given it the confidence to be more assertive on the world stage.

While China is a rising country, it is also a nervous country, for the expectations of the Chinese are growing, unemployment is high and the gap between the rich and the poor is widening, Albright said. There has been a dramatic increase in public protest, and adding to the pressure is that the Summer Olympics will be held in Beijing in 2008, she said. China’s leaders will want to avoid controversy between now and when the games are held, she said.

All of the economic activity known as globalization challenges the U.S. leadership “to establish and maintain rules that enable countries to prosper together instead of at each other’s expense,” Albright said. That will not happen automatically, for it is not likely that governments will make the right choices, and it should not be assumed that the forces of enlightenment and freedom will prevail, she said. “As in Iraq, good intentions can lead to unintended consequences,” she said, adding that “those who feel threatened by globalization can be counted on to make their fears known through nationalism, protectionism and political protest.” Others will see the 21st century as the battle ground for re-fighting the religious wars of the Middle Ages, she said.

For the United States to succeed, it needs to do the best possible job not only expressing its beliefs but also understanding how and why others act as they do, Albright said. The United States has to remain true to democratic principles, “and we have to remember no matter how much we think we know, there’s always a lot more to learn,” she said.

J.J. Smith is manager of SHRM Online’s Global HR Focus Area.

I am back. Sorry for the break

2007-08-02T22:26:00.001+01:00

It has been a hectic year and I have not been disciplined enough to keep my blog up to date. No excuses, and I will rectify that from now on.

What has been happening so far? Well we have had a lot of challenges but also a lot of great things happening. The down side has been the death of my Mother in March. It was not unexpected but it still is a challenge. My Dad and Mom were together for over 50 years and he is feeling the effect of loosing his partner. We are supporting him but it takes time.

I have been to South Africa, Canada, India, USA, Vienna, Amsterdam, Belguim, etc. etc. A lot of fun and met some amazing people. The ones that have been most inspiring have been the opportunity to meet Jim Collins and chat with him. What a lovely man! Also the chance to meet and also listen to Madleine Albright speak.

There is so much happening and it is such an exciting time to be living and to be in business!!!! India was amazing. It was fascinating to see what was going on there.

Anyway, I am going to add a few articles to the blogg and post things as I remember them as well as commit to keeping this up to date.

In hope you are having a good time where ever you are and thanks for reading.

Best wishes

Paul
July 2007

November 2006

2006-11-25T15:57:00.000Z

I spent a full week in South Africa speaking and interviewing with some interesting people.

I had a wonderful meal with Albie Schoeman, who is the HR Director of Clover, the largest milk company in South Africa. Albie was telling me how the Board had been using the ‘Perceptions on bottom line profits’ material I had presented. He said that it had made a significant impact on the team and they had incorporated it into their Conference. We had a delightful meal at the Meat Co in Monte Casino and it was great to see him again.

I had a fascinating interview with Paolo Caveleri, CEO of Hollard in Joburg. What a magnificent Head Office. Modern, with the feel of dynamic people in a fun atmosphere. I found it a useful insight into one of South Africa’s most innovative and exciting companies.

Paolo Caveleri, CEO at Hollards

Looking down on the common area. Note the basketball ring, climbing wall and there was also a Pool table, table tennis tables and more for staff to enjoy.

I also had interviews at Syngenta and South African Breweries as well as meetings at ABSA Bank with my good friend Lawerence Mlotshwa.
Syngenta is an interesting organisation who have done some good things with their leadership team. I am looking forward to going back there and finding out more. Of course, South African Breweries is an amazing story and I am enjoying my research with them which is ongoing.

I had a couple of speaking engagements during the week which went down well.
Paul du Toit had arranged a public event where Ronnie Muhl and I were the principle speakers. Ronnie told his amazing story of climbing Mount Everest and I tried out some new material which seemed to go well. I really appreciate Paul’s efforts to put on the event. He is such a lovely guy and works so hard for the speaking industry.

Also a big thank you to Randal Godden and the members of his group in Joburg who made me feel so welcome. Thanks for inviting me back and I look forward to seeing you next year.

Randal and I at the Golf Club

After an exciting week in SA I was on my way to the United States for three days to do some Institute for Management Studies events in Washington, Philadelphia and New Jersey. Wonderful people and exceptionally nice Chairmen in all three areas. They have invited me back next year, so I must have done something right ☺

Jim was kind enough to give me a whistle stop trip around Washington which was wonderful. The city needs to be seen to be believed. It is very grand and well laid out. It was interesting to meet people a week after the elections where the Democrats had won back The House and the Senate. The great thing about democracy is that people can speak out about how they feel about their ruler and people were very open about their feelings. I think there was also an air of trepidation about what will happen over the next two years.

Back to London and straight into a speech for Vistage that afternoon for Ian Simmonds. Great group and finally got to meet Robert Drew. Everyone seemed to enjoy the presentation and lovely feedback from them all.

The following morning I had a speech for the West Midlands Quality Group and then onto Manchester Police for another speech in the afternoon. All in all an exhausting week but very rewarding indeed.

Having had a successful week we all went to dinner on Saturday night as a thank you to the team. We had decided to restructure the teams responsibilities and everyone was pleased with the new structure and at one of our most successful weeks in sales.

The last week has been a little less hectic but still quite busy. At least I am home and not flying for a few weeks.

My mastermind group went reasonably well. I think we need to bring in some new blood and be prepared to challenge a lot more. I am enjoying the relationship with Roger Harrop and think there is a lot more we could do together.

A fascinating interview with a local business, BGB Engineering. What an amazing company and my thanks go to David Hoyt for sharing their journey with me. I love stories of organisations that think strategically and are also prepared to think differently. Some fascinating insights and I will write an article about them in the next week.

Finally, I visited a school I had worked for a couple of years ago in Nottingham.
I had worked with the Senior Management team as they embarked on their journey to become a college and developing an engineering centre. This was now nearly complete and I had the pleasure to attend a pre-launch event and to say a few words. It was lovely to be able to recognise the hard work of the Head, Peter Brown. He is a dynamic man who had a great vision. Well done Peter, I look forward to seeing a lot more of Top Valley School and Engineering College in the future.

Peter Brown, Head of Top Valley School and Engineering College

The last week of the month will be devoted to writing and planning projects for the next year.

Three Weeks in UK

2006-11-10T17:35:00.000Z

An interesting three weeks in the UK. So many good things are happening and I’ve had the opportunity to speak at some great venues and meet some wonderful people.

I spoke in Edinburgh, which is always a pleasure. I do enjoy Scotland. The people are so friendly but at the same time they are to the point. They will challenge but at the same time they are open to discussion and ideas.

I have been invited to speak in Bristol (another great event), Manchester, Coventry, London, Newcastle amongst other places. I had an interesting day speaking and working with a College in Northamptonshire. Schools in UK are generally struggling to grasp the future and adapt their thinking to be able to prepare their students for that future.

The Manchester Vistage (formally TEC) group was a wonderful meeting. Some excellent questions and discussion. Thanks to Edward for inviting me and I wish you all well.

I had the pleasure of visiting a division of a Japanese company who has had such massive growth in the last three years. It is interesting to see their approach to business and how they have coped with the growth.

A highlight for me was to speak at the Inspire2006 Conference in London that was organised by the Academy of Chief Executives. It was a delight for two reasons. Firstly I got to see two great friends and spend time with them. My friend Mitchell (see picture) was there and it is a delight to see him, chat with him and I enjoy listening to him speak. I need to listen to him from time to time to get myself re-focused and realise that there is so much I can do if I don’t let myself get in the way of me!!!

My other friend, Guy Levine, was also there and I love seeing him. He is such a lovely young man with a good brain and a warm heart. His insight into marketing on the internet is really wonderful.

I also got to see a number of other friends including Robyn Pearce who is the current President of the International Federation for Professional Speakers.

A wonderful experience was to be on stage at Inspire2006 and have the chance to question the four speakers after they had delivered their speeches. They were all Chief Executives of their companies. John Timpson of Timpson’s, Mark Adlestone from Beaverbrooks Jewelers and Claire Owen of Stopgap. They were all consistent in their message about the need to focus and develop people and most importantly the need to recruit the right people. They were very clear that if the person is not right, then deal with it and don’t let it contaminate the organisation.

I was only able to attend the opening of the UK Speakers Association conference but it was wonderful to see some old friends and to make some contacts.

I am off to South Africa now and have a hectic week planned over there.

South Africa and Namibia

2006-10-09T23:08:00.000+01:00

Sunday evening I left for Jo’burg and landed on Monday morning. I hired a car and drove to Sun City, which is two hours from Jo’burg. I was speaking at the IPM Conference and was looking forward to staying at this amazing resort again. Sun City has a number of hotels, a golf course (I hear that there are crocodiles in the river), a casino and some amazing water features.

Elija Lipheko and I

The conference went very well, I ran a small workshop on ‘empowering people’ and then I was the closing speaker for the Conference. The speech went extremely well and the CEO asked if I would speak again next year. People were delighted with the message I gave them as I reminded them that South Africa has come a long way in the last 15 years and they should take pride in what they have achieved. I also pointed out the need to be focused and ‘face forward’ as they continued to build their future. In many ways South Africa is an example to the world in how to overcome adversity and seek reconciliation.

I was delighted to have met some interesting people, including the Director General of the CIPD in UK. I would like to thank Elija Lipheko the CEO of IPM, Shirley Zinn the President, Nicola who did all the planning and took care of me, and all the team who did such a great job.

Wednesday saw me presenting on behalf of Knowledge Resources. This was a packed workshop that went very well indeed. We had a chance to explore leadership and gave the attendees some very useful tips, which each one of them could use in their business.

Thursday took me to the country of Namibia. I had been invited by the Walvis Bay Municipality to speak at their Annual Business Breakfast. This was a new place for me to visit and I was looking forward to finding out about this Port on the edge of a great desert.

I was met by Piet Van Neikerk who organises the event every year. I was delighted to be told I was staying at a Protea Hotel in town. Protea is the biggest hotel group in Africa and I had interviewed Arthur Gillis, their CEO, last year. They are an imaginative hotel group and provide an excellent service as well as some really great accommodation. I was not disappointed. I met the hotel manager; Dave Wylie.

Piet and I outside the Town Hall

Piet, Dave and I headed off into the dunes for ‘sun-downers’. We drove along the main road out of town and literally turned off the road and headed into the sand. Up the dunes we went, until we found a spot over-looking the sea. Here we broke out the wine and the beer and got to know each other as the sun set over the sea. In front of us was the lovely site of the sun setting, to the left was the town of Walvis Bay, where lights came on in the distance as the darkness moved across the land, and behind us the dunes and desert spread out and changed colour as the sun set.

Even though there was a cool breeze on the dunes, the event was something very special. We packed up as the last bit of sun disappeared and headed into town for dinner. They took me to a restaurant on the old Peer. The original Rhodesian Teak boards still provided the restaurant with a floor. What a magnificent meal. Walvis Bay oysters (like cream in the mouth), and medallions of wild game (Ostrich and Gemsbok). We were joined by Jan and the four of us had a lovely meal followed by a night-cap back at the Protea Hotel.

The hospitality of these gentlemen was wonderful. These are lovely people who enjoy being in this town. Both Piet and Jan work hard to develop the town and Dave is doing a wonderful job with his hotel. I was exhausted, but very pleased with my first impressions of Walvis Bay.

I had an early start in order to get set up for the breakfast meeting. Over 350 people had booked, this was the chance a lot of businesses have to buy a table and invite their clients. Once again I had a chance to share with the people what is happening in the leadership world and gave them some pointers to help them in their businesses. I had an overwhelming response from them and many kind words of thanks.

Jan had arranged a trip to a local manufacturing company, which was very interesting. Then they had a treat for me! They would take me into the desert and show me some of the treasures and fun that can be had. We went for a ride, which I could not even start to describe. I saw the campsite where German soldiers camped in the first World War with footprints and tracks fossilised in the clay. Bottles used for shooting practice and even bones from those that had not made it! What can I say? An experience never to be forgotten, and the company of two great guys who were able to show and tell me so much. I want to thank Piet, Jan and Dave for their friendship and hospitality. I want to say a special thanks to Protea Hotel and the staff who were brilliant. To the Municipality and the wonderful people of Walvis Bay I say thank you for making me feel so welcome and for your kind words.

All I can say is, I will be back! To my new friends I say, thank you and a book is in the post.

Sunset in the Dessert

A trip to the States

2006-09-25T09:34:00.000+01:00

The last two weeks have been hectic but also great learning opportunities.

I visited America and had a wonderful response from my trip to St Louis. I stayed at the Hilton St Louis Frontenac. Unfortunately my bags had not joined me on my journey!!!! This is when i discovered Tom, the night supervisor at the front desk. He was so helpful and arranged for a taxi to take me to Walmart at 4am (which is open 24hours) and get something to wear to go on stage the next morning. Thanks to Tom and all the staff at Hilton Frontenac for their wonderful support and a great visit.

St Louis people are so friendly and made me very welcome. A sell out for both days and Jim and his wife Kathy had done a great job in planning the two days. Thanks to them both for a wonderful visit and the opportunity to make some wonderful contacts.

My next stop was New Orleans. It was my first visit back after Huricain Katrina last year. AJ took me around and showed me some of the devestation that still remains a year later. Blocks and blocks of houses still empty with water lines showing how high the water was. AJ was able to tell me so much about what had happened and give me a first hand experience of the scale of the problem. My thanks go to him for this and I really do wish him well as he works hard to build his IMS business. Just call if I can help.

Last week was Dawn's birthday and we had a great party. Dawn runs the office for me and she is doing so well in keeping in touch with our clients around the world as well as making new contacts. I have a great team of people supporting me and appreciate them all.

A trip to the Middle East

2006-09-05T22:20:00.000+01:00

31st August 2006 A visit to Pakistan

I have just spent 3 days in Pakistan starting in Lahore for a day and a night and then on to Karachi. I am not sure what I was expecting as I went with an open mind and an interest in what the people would be like and in particular how they would respond to me.

I enjoyed my visit a lot more than I expected. The people of this country are very hospitable and friendly. I was amazed at the friendliness of the people everywhere I went. From hotel staff to people that attended my seminars, I was greeted and made to feel welcome. I particularly want to thank Octara who brought me to Pakistan and arranged my visit. Their people are professional and very keen to work with me so that the attendees get the best possible seminar.

The audience at all three events asked great questions and talked to me at length about their situation and what they wanted to get out of my presentations. They were hungry to learn and the lucky winners were delighted with the books we gave away. This country faces many issues relating to the infrastructure but it has such great potential. With loads of natural resources, there is so much they could do, given the opportunity.

I look forward to returning and hope that I am able to contribute in some small way to the development of this country. I want to thank Muhammad Arif and Hamza W. Hashmi in particular for their hospitality and the friendship they showed me. I look forward to seeing them again soon.

3rd September 2006 Dubai

Three days in Dubai. Lorna joined me here because she will be in charge of developing relationships in this area of the world. It was her first visit and an opportunity for her to discover this fascinating city.

We had the chance to meet with the Group CEO of Tranzum and CEO of Octara, Jamil Janjua, and had a wonderful lunch with him and his wife. They are a lovely couple and very hospitable. I look forward to doing more with them in the future.

This visit was also about planning for the Global Summit which will take place next June in Dubai. Reg Athwal has a good team in place and we were able to discuss the program and sponsorship as well as look at venues etc. Thank you Reg for your hospitality and we look forward to being back.

A visit to Gold Fields South Africa

2006-08-27T13:57:00.000+01:00

Meeting Ian Cockerill, CEO of Gold Fields SA

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting when I arrived at Gold Fields Head Office to meet the CEO, Ian Cockerill. I was shown into a room, which I took to be the Board Room with a painting of Cecil John Rhodes on one wall and a photo of Nelson Mandella on another wall.

Ian walked through the door and I was immediately struck by the warmth of this man. He was welcoming and within minutes he was showing me around the room explaining the history of Gold Fields and what this room, in particular, represented.

Gold Fields will be 120 years old in February and the history of those years is etched into this room in simple things that denote landmarks or points in time. The latest is a cheque on the wall for R4.1 billion which was the result of the black empowerment transaction, which ensured that 15% of the company was owned by previously disadvantaged people in South Africa.

A year ago this company was in the middle of fighting off a hostile takeover from Harmony. The battle consumed the headlines for over 7 months in a very public and aggressive attack by Harmony. I was here to find out from this man how his leadership style had needed to be adapted, and what he had learnt. I also wanted to know how he saw the future of leadership in the face of ‘going global’.

I found my interview with Ian extremely interesting as he explained the approach he and his team had taken. He explained how he had prepared, the approach he had decided to take and the impact on him and his family. Here was a man that personified one of the characteristics of real leaders – his ability to learn from what happens and move on.

Ian believes the team is stronger and wiser, although a little cynical as a result of their experience. He explained that you see the worst side of people and life in these situations, which makes you a little cynical. But, in no way was I led to believe that this was anything but a healthy cynicism that will add to his and his teams ability to lead Gold Fields in the future.

Ian is a man I could talk to for hours because of his insightful mind, his grasp and perspective on business and the way the world is moving. I think I found in Ian a kindred spirit because he is also interested in Leadership.

I thank Ian for allowing me the opportunity to ask him some questions and in particular for sharing his passion with me, as well as his experiences.

Most of all I want to wish Gold Fields a very Happy Birthday for February.

A visit to South African Breweries

2006-08-27T10:46:00.000+01:00

23 August 2006

A visit to the head office of South African Breweries (SAB) in Joburg

I visit numerous corporate offices and most corporate Head Office
buildings are extremely efficient looking, a lot of glass and marble
and no soul and a definite air of snobbery or the feeling of having
walked into their version of heaven. Even the secretaries in these
places give the air of being an upper breed because they “work in
Head Office” and in here, “we are the top dog”!

Driving into SAB at 65 Park Lane is NOT like that. Even the guard at
the gate is the most helpful, considerate and very pleasant person to
deal with. The receptionist was only covering, and yet had the
efficiency of a person who totally knew what was expected of someone in that position.

The walk into the Directors suite is always interesting as it often
tells you a lot about the organisation. I was very pleasantly
surprised to find a warm, friendly atmosphere that was not overly
‘plush’ but rather shouted out to me – we are proud of being
South African!

The walls have some very large, beautiful paintings of African scenes
that would stir the soul of any person who loved this part of the
world. Of course, painted into every picture is something that shows
South African Breweries, which is done in a way that shows a pride in
being part of this great country.

My interview with Tony van Kralingen, the Managing Director of SAB in
South Africa, was one of those interviews that I didn’t want to
end. There was so much knowledge to be gleaned from this man about this amazing company. The insight I gained from him backed up
everything I knew about SAB from my previous visits to their depots
and regions around the country. I had expected a bit of exaggeration
from Tony but everything I heard I could believe and understood based
on my past experience.

The reason I was here and why I wanted to interview Tony was because I
wanted to know how they generated the culture within their business
where measurement is not to be feared but rather something that is
welcomed. On my visits a couple of years ago to a number of depots within different
regions, the expression, “If it moves we measure
it” was very common. What I wanted to know was how an organisation
(especially one of this size) engenders that culture at all levels.

I was fascinated with what I discovered and appreciated the time Tony
gave me in order to show me a glimpse of what happens behind the curtain of
this progressive global company.

And on to Muscat in Oman

2006-02-12T21:01:00.000Z

After a successful visit to Dubai at the CEO Conference I went on to Muscat in Oman. This was my first visit to Oman and I was really impressed by how this country is also developing and moving forward. Whole areas of Muscat have been torn down and rebuilt. I was taken to see the Palace and the royal ship in the harbour.

I was speaking at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and the delegates were business people from the business community. I was slightly concerned that I would not be understood and how the message would be relevant to their country and their situation.

I need not have worried. They were able to understand me and loved my session. One way I judge a session is by how many questions people ask, and we had to cut the questions because we ran out of time. So it was a success and they were delighted. They gave me a beautiful gift and I spent the afternoon in a Soek, which is a tradtional market.

My week in the Middle East

2006-02-08T14:32:00.000Z

This week has been hectic with very little sleep but at the same time a great experience. On Saturday afternoon I flew to Dubai and arrived on Sunday morning at 3am. On to the hotel and finally into bed at 4.30am. We were being picked up at 9am!!!!!

I was speaking at the CEO Conference being held at the famous Jumeirah Beach complex. There were CEO's from America, China, UK and the Middle East. It was great to be speaking with people I knew and have the chance to catch up with them.

A wonderful event organised by James McGee in Dubai included a visit to the construction site of the tallest building. A visit to the Palm and a boat ride around the construction site.

Probably the highlight of the event was meeting and talking to H H Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum who is the man behind A1 Motor Racing. A visionary man who has a deep passion. He is an interesting businessman and I look forward to seeing him again in the future.

I also met a lovely man, Thomas Power, from UK who runs an excellent internet site www.ecademy.com and he was a pleasure to get to know. I hope this was the start of a long friendship. It was great to get to know Reg Athwall a lot more and of course my good friend and loony Scouse, Guy Levine. It is always facinating to listen to Rohit Talwar and chat to him about the future trends.

So now I am in Oman and tomorrow I talk to the Chamber of Commerce. I met the President of the Chamber today and got to know a bit about the country and the challenges and opportunities of living here.

More update at the end of the week

2005-06-18T15:48:00.000+01:00

I get asked this question over and over again. This is my definition of the difference between management and leadership.