LACIE, Apple and CD-writer.com

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

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!

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

Here are some great photos of the Inauguration in Washington

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

Inaugeration speech

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

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

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

Speaking in Turino Italy. Listen to it here

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

Rod Blagojevich and Bill Clinton

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?

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

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

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

"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.

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

"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...

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....

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

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?

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?

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.