It’s time for a paradigm shift:  in-thinking; in-acting and in-doing.

Regular, mini retirements that  redress the sole, the mind and the body are an alternative worthy of consideration; I am.

“I’ll be happy when I can…” “it’ll be alright when I am able to…”these are the words of the frustrated and disconnected. Ask yourself what would happen if you never got to the date in question? What a waste of life that would be.

A final thought, if you enjoy what you do for a living, why stop? If you don’t enjoy what you do, change!
-
-

2010 is the 82nd time the gold statues have been awarded so why then has it taken so long for a women to win?

Let’s hope the publicity associated with this important milestone inspires women everywhere; in business as in life itself, success often comes down to personal self-belief and confidence as anything else.
-
-

Evaluating from your audience, customer or potential client perspective can be overlooked all too easily.

How to cope with rejection:
Find someone you can trust to be independent and ask them to evaluate your offering, discover where your holes are and address them. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the enthusiasm of ‘it’s-great-because…’

Certainly hold on to that feeling and do some bench testing before you ‘go-live’ with a real, potential customer. Better still ask someone you don’t really class as a supporter; the feedback may surprise you.

Practice makes perfect? maybe; more accurate to say, change becomes less scary the more you experience it, and by default, easier to deal with.

Homework: do one thing each day which scares you; let me know how you get on.

-
-

Economically, politically and socially our lives are changing. Whatever the result of the general election in May 2010 it’s certain more change will follow; the need to balance the books will remain.

Budget cuts, less job security, more uncertainty; in essence tough-times ahead.

So how best to cope with the bumps in the road?

I’m reminded of the directing staff at basic training: ‘get fit, stay alert and remain flexible.’

Hoping change won’t happen or blaming others, are strategies others may choose; which is one is best? You decide.
_
_

The Business Artisan theme for 2010 is summed up in one word: Utilisation.

Utilisation of:
skill;
experience;
potential;
capacity;
development;
time; and
opportunity.

OK, deep breath, here goes…
-
-

The reputations of both individuals precedes them; Marc Bolland from Morrisons to M&S and Archie Norman who is credited with transforming ASDA, takes over at ITV. Both gentlemen have been at the helm of significant business transformations in highly competitive sectors and during difficult times, why else would have been hired?

The respective pay packages are significant; whether they are pricey or a valuable depends on the results both achieve.

Director and shareholder expectations will, no doubt be high. Of interest to me is how the senior teams will be changed over the coming weeks. New top-guns almost certainly means change and invariably, new personnel too.

Striking the balance between installing new talent and retaining those already demonstrating talent is a fine line. Either way, we the public can look forward to revised service propositions over the coming months.

I wonder whether both will be afforded comparable periods of grace before the results come through?
-

As the undisputed number one in any organisation, whether: a government, incorporated company, or even an entrepreneur start-up, you occupy an enviable position.

The same too applies to the animal kingdom. Spare a thought for this poor chap. The Great White Shark is an apex predator  in the sea, probably going about his business (deluded as it transpires) that he was the number one, until…reality check.

Imagine how big and powerful the shark that inflicted these wounds is.

Corporate big-fish would do well to take note.

photo source: Daily Telegraph
-
-

On reflection, if the work you are tasked with, does not fit with your own values, no amount of coaching, counseling or medication will dull the pain. Leave it to those who are happy to ‘carry-out-orders’; choose instead to follow your own path.

My recent attempts to contact the boss of a successful telecommunications business was less than impressive.

My enquiry: “Hello, I’d like to speak with-so-and-so please”,
the response “I’m a manger here, what do you want mate?”
me: “I’d like to talk with ‘X’ about a business opportunity”,
the response: “oh, he don’t work here no more.”

Amen to that!

Unless the economic landscape changes rapidly they are likely to be disappointed when it comes to securing a real ‘graduate job’ at the end of their course.

First some context parameters; what constitutes a graduate job?
1) One which by a quirk of supply over demand employs people who happen to hold a degree?
Alternatively is it
2) A position, for which, a degree is a pre-requisit?

Last year 408,000* undergraduate places were available, in 2009 this number is likely to increase. Graduates will probably find an excess of supply over demand in the coming years. As the motor industry has found to its cost, keep producing when the market isn’t buying equals a glut of unsold stock.

There is a glimmer of hope though, its never been easier to start a business. Technological advances mean tasks once considered complex and expensive, can be completed for a fraction of the cost. Think what an average personal computer or smart phone can achieve. The consumer market is increasingly sophisticated, creating demand for personalised products and services. It needn’t be the case of invention, innovating something that already exists is an excellent way to earn a living and take control of the economic future.

*Fifty thousand students expected to loose out on university places, July 10th 2009 The Times, Joanne Sugden