Archive
we need long term thinking, not short term populism
At a seminar last week one of my fellow speakers explained to the audience the true state of our energy production which brought into sharp focus the empty promises that one of our political leaders, and I use that term loosely here, had made a couple of day earlier. Now this is not an attack on any one party, but it is one on the premise that people can really be led by populist talk. Read more…
musings on poor procurement and management on the soccer front
Although I am not a close follower of football these days, the nonsense of making a stadium all seater in the interests of safety and then allowing everyone to stand up is enough to put me off, and then there are those ridiculous shorts! But I do keep a passing interest, and a couple of things caught my attention last week. Read more…
Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right
The quote is attributed to Henry Ford, a man who is both hero and villain depending on how you view him (or both from where I sit). And there you have not just one paradox, but two. Read more…
use what time you have well to try and make a difference
News over the weekend that Mel Smith had died came as a shock, not least because he was two months younger than me. A reminder of my own mortality was hardly necessary as a year ago I was in hospital having just had a narrow escape from ending my innings, but we all have to accept that our time here is limited. Read more…
build trust from the start by trusting others
Writing last week about some of the old projects my teams and I saw through got me thinking about an aspect of leadership that is pretty fundamental. I’ve written about trust before, but this week I want to look at building that with a new team. Read more…
can cowboy stories teach us anything in 2013?
Last week I wrote one of my public holiday frivolous pieces based around the 1950s/60s TV cowboy series Gunsmoke, but the principle of those shows rang a few bells this week especially with me also watching re-runs of Star Wars episodes four and five, similar tales of good versus bad, but taken into the future and to another galaxy. Read more…
Holiday Humour as TCB has a Western Encounter
ThatConsultantBloke hadn’t done the Florida theme parks for some years so a day around one of the old favourites with the Berkshire Belle seemed like a good idea and they had been on a few rides and had a good lunch when, with feet tiring, they found themselves by the Wild West Show. It was not one of their favourites, but the queue was short and the chance to sit down for half an hour appealed so they went on in. Read more…
musings on the pace of change
I’m writing this at almost 11,000 metres above the Atlantic ( 36,000 feet for those of us who are still partially in Imperial mode), my iPod is pumping 60’s Motown into my ears and I’m comfortable in my window seat. I have a drink and my laptop and have nothing much else to do so writing this week’s missive seems a good idea, but what to write about? Well the fact that I’m doing all of the above is still a source of wonder. Read more…
business cycles are a just a natural progression
I wrote some lines a few weeks ago about the classic business cycle whereby today’s fad is tomorrow’s derided practice and next year’s next big thing, albeit that in the latter case it will be re-branded to make it new and exciting even if it is pretty much exactly what we used to do. What goes around comes around as my American friends say. Having been asked the same question again last week gives me chance to expand on this a little. Read more…
holiday humour – could I have sabotaged the Aztecs
TCB checked his tie in the mirror and smoothed down his suit. “You’ll do” the Berkshire Belle told him from the bed where she lay reading the morning paper, adding “It says here that the price of chocolate will be important to you today”. He grinned, “Probably means I’ll fancy a Kit-Kat for the train, but won’t pay rip off Britain prices at the station”. Read more…
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