‘Once in a Lifetime Offer!’

I read the other day that over 89% of the business books that people purchase and download go completely unread.

Of the remaining 11%, only 1% of those who read the book will actually implement any of the ideas they find in the book – even if they are well aware that doing so will cause immediate and drastic improvements in their lives.

And of that remaining 1% who attempt to use the ideas, an even smaller percentage will use the ideas correctly.

So, the average person has less than a 1% chance of benefiting from any book they download or buy.

I was staggered.  But then, after thinking about myself, I wasn’t quite so surprised.

The power of marketing is to prompt the ‘impulse buy’.  People pay professional copywriters hundreds, even, thousands of dollars to write compelling script that leads us to the big sell; making a decision to buy. And before we know it, our credit card is debited!  They know the power of words, images and a compelling argument. 

And clearly, for the majority of people this tactic works. 

We buy some low cost product that we promptly forget about, whilst the seller repeats the process to hundreds or thousands of visitors … and makes a very healthy profit … mainly on people’s impulse buying.  We think, “I can’t do without this”  when clearly we can, or there would be a much greater percentage of people who would digest and apply every last morsel of information from those unread business book downloads!

In a world of ever increasing speed and convenience, increasing pressure to possess and have, increasing messages of “You’re not successful in life unless …” it is little wonder that so many are drawn in by these ‘Once in a Lifetime’ offers.  We’re afraid of losing out or missing a bargain, when in reality, we’re spending money and gaining nothing … and in the process we join the queues of people on the credit and debt trap.

“Buy now; pay later”.  We’ve all heard it.  But if we haven’t got the money now, will we have the money when the bill comes through in 12 or 18 months?  It’s easy to think “Yes, of course we will!”  Unfortunately, if we fall for the salesman’s slogan once, there’s a good chance we’ll fall for it again.  So, in 12 months we don’t have one item to pay for; we have two, three, five, ten …  and at that point we’re stuck.

I don’t honestly have many real answers to this, and I’m certainly no financial expert, but I would like to share with you some principles that I try to apply and have worked for me.  So please, make of them what you will:

1. Whenever possible I pay in full at the time of purchase.  If I use a credit card I always try to transfer money from a bank or building society account to the card and pay it off.  Yeah! I know the economists will tell you this is ‘bad practice’ because you lose the interest on your money, but honestly, unless we’re talking about thousands of pounds, a couple of weeks interest on on a hundred or even a thousand pounds is worth nothing compared to our peace of mind.
2. If I feel that I’m being drawn into a sale I’m unsure about I either make sure I have some time to think (the salesman worth his salt will grant this time; the shark will bite with “Oh! The offer finishes today”).  For online offers, if I’m reading the script and feel like I’m being drawn in, I take ten minutes, twenty minutes, an hour, or whatever is needed to walk away, have a coffee or tea and really think about what is on offer:  Will I use the product or information?  Do I need it?  Do I need it now?  I try to be very much aware of the ‘call to action’ line that so many marketers add to their copy: “Buy now!”, “Why wait?”, “Do it now?”, “Can you afford to wait?”  The answer in nine out of ten cases is nearly always “Yes I can thank you!”
3. If I am going to ‘Buy Now; Pay Later’ I make sure I have the money in the bank and transfer it to an account where I won’t access it until payment day.  That way, I benefit from the interest and from the peace of mind of knowing that the money is there, ready to do its job when needed.
4. If I’m shopping for larger or more expensive items I try to take someone with me who is not emotionally involved in the sale and can see things more objectively.  If they’ve got experience in the field of what I’m buying, all the better.  But their role is one of being objective; seeing things as they really are, without getting involved emotionally.  You’d be surprised how much easier it is to say “No” when you have someone with you who can help focus on what is going on without themselves being involved.  Marketers and salesmen know that the strongest pull on people comes not from facts but when our emotions are engaged. They craft their copy and words to appeal to our emotions whilst bypassing our reason and logic.  Reason/logic combined with emotions are a powerful force for common sense and keeping out of unnecessary transactions!

I know this may seem obvious but if it worked every time, many slaesmen and online marketers would be out of a job.  They know our vulnerabilities and target them.

Enjoy shopping; buy books, read them and apply their knowledge; enjoy the bargains; benefit from ‘once in a lifetime offers’ but do so from a position of security and control. 

And if all else fails and you’re not sure, practice saying “No”.  The world will rarely come to an end if you do miss a bargain.

Until next time …

 

KudoSurf Me!

UK Government Does It Again!

I just read with interest how, once again, our UK government have proceeded to make decisions that affect the wider British public … without consulting the wider British public.

In their wisdom, they have appointed the head of a ’successful’ inner city school to help decide on sex education for 5 year-olds and upwards. 

Great!  But why was there no public discussion or canvassing of opinion before such a wide-ranging decision was made?

Why? 

It seems that with alarming regularity, our politicians are making sweeping and increasingly significant decisions about the UK, from the safety of their ivory tower and without getting their hands dirty by asking some serious questions of the people that put them in power.

Perhaps it’s because they are afraid: afraid to face issues that others really care about and actually carry feelings that go against the politically correct norm (whatever that is).  Abortion bills rushed through ‘because of lack of time’.  What a great reflection on our society that we don’t have time to discuss the very thing that makes society live … life.  Please tell me what’s more important … MP’s salaries?  Christmas dinner?  The new car?  Choice of buffet lunch? 

Or is it that they genuinely don’t care?  Have they lost sight of reality?  Are they unreachable?   Do they weild too much power without true accountability?  Are they amoral?

Or do we keep quiet on issues that need to be raised and debated?

Yes! I am cynical.

We’re told, “Be polite”, “Don’t cause trouble”, “Enter into honest discussion.”  

But I ask, “When is this really reciprocated?”   My answer is, ‘Near to Election Time’ when they really fear the consequences of public apathy and the possibility of not getting back into power; when they need our support.  That’s when issues suddenly open up for ‘public debate and discussion’!  But until then, we have to put up with minority groups who shout loudest or carry a disproportionate amount of power dictating what the average person in the UK suffers, shaping a ‘future for all’ which does not include all and is far from rosy.

Come on Westminster!  Please stop insulting and fearing the electorate that put you in power and speak to us. 

And if it’s just good old British arrogance you suffer from … get a life and face reality. 

There’s more to this country than your parliamentary careers and public image.  Spin may flow smoothly from the doctors’ lips, but at some stage you will be taken down by the whirlpool it creates. 

Why can’t we have some transparency and accountability?  Or is there just too much to hide?

There is nothing to fear in open debate unless the fear is what will be seen by debating openly.

UK Government Ignores Electorate Again!

I often marvel at the blatant arrogance and disregard for public opinion by our UK government, a public who elected them in the first place.  They put themselves out of touch with the average person in the street and then wonder why so many of us want to tell them where to go in 4 letters!  And in addition to this, they then create spin to fire-fight the backlash to this arrogance. 

Here’s a current one for your attention and hopefully your action …

Last October (2008) the UK Government announced it had decided to place Sex & Relationship Eduction (SRE) on the National Curriculum for children from 5 years and upwards.  Amazingly it did this without consulting parents.  A petition was launched on the Number 10 web site calling for a consultation and subsequently the Government decided to ask parents what they thought.

Yesterday the government released the results of the consultation that revealed that 68% of those who responded were against placing SRE on the National Curriculum and 79% against removing the parental right to withdrawal.

Despite this response the Government have decided to press ahead and place SRE on the National Curriculum for children from 5 onwards and, in a surprise development, have announced that the parental right to withdrawal will stop at age 15.

Perhaps your local MP would like to hear from you. 

I know that if my children were still only 5-years-old, I’d be worried that at a time when they should be playing with teddies they’ll be learning about penises … and almost certainly from a government proscribed angle (depending on who is shouting loudest at the time).

Windows Update Sound Stops Working – Remedy

As with my previous ‘technical’ blog, I will start off by saying that I am definitely not a computer expert.  However, the following has worked for me with both Windows XP (Home & Pro) and Vista Business when an update stops the sound working for no apparent reason.  There is often a red cross by the sound device icon (e.g. a loudspeaker) and if you try to open the device by clicking on the icon, the window that opens tells you that the sound device is no longer there. 

The big advantage with the following is that it’s easy to try and you lose nothing if it doesn’t work.

If it does work you’ll save yourself lots of time, frustration and possibly money.

I’m assuming for the following that you have not consciously deleted your sound drivers.  Even if you have there is a step towards the end that may help.  Anyway, here’s the business:

WINDOWS XP:

1. Locate ‘My Computer’ either by opening windows explorer or clicking the Start menu in the bottom left of the screen.  Right click on ‘My Computer’ and select ‘Manage’.  This will open another window titled ‘Computer Manager’.
2. Find ‘Device Manager’ in the menu on the left of the screen and click on it.   In the right hand pane you will see a long menu of all your computer’s devices.
3. Find ‘Sound, Video & Games Controllers’ and if there is a ‘+’ sign next to the title, clock on that + sign to open a drop down menu which will contain all of the drivers for the various sound cards etc on your computer.
4. If you haven’t deleted your sound driver intentionally, the chances are that it will be listed in this drop-down menu.  Find the device you’re after e.g. Realtek High Definition Audio and Right click on it.
5. A small drop-down menu will appear with a few options.
6.  If one option is ‘Enable’, click on it and our device will be switched on again.  If there is no ‘Enable’ option, select ‘Update Driver’.  Make sure you are connected to the internet as the computer will need to go onto the web to find the drivers if they are not still on your machine.  Once the drivers are installed, everything should work again.

WINDOWS VISTA:

With Vista the process is the same but getting there is just a bit different.

1. Locate ‘Computer’ either by opening windows explorer or clicking the Windows icon in the bottom left corner of the screen.  Right click on ‘Computer’ and select ‘Manage’.  Click ‘Continue’ if a dialogue box opens asking for permission.  This will open another window titled ‘Computer Management’.
2. Find ‘Device Manager’ in the menu on the left of the screen and click on it.   In the right hand pane you will see a long menu of all your computer’s devices.
3. Find ‘Sound, Video & Games Controllers’ and if there is a ‘+’ sign next to the title, clock on that + sign to open a drop down menu which will contain all of the drivers for the various sound cards etc on your computer.
4. If you haven’t deleted your sound driver intentionally, the chances are that it will be listed in this drop-down menu.  Find the device you’re after e.g. Realtek High Definition Audio and Right click on it.
5. A small drop-down menu will appear with a few options.
6.  If one option is ‘Enable’, click on it and our device will be switched on again.  If there is no ‘Enable’ option, select ‘Update Driver’.  Make sure you are connected to the internet as the computer will need to go onto the web to find the drivers if they are not still on your machine.  Once the drivers are installed, everything should work again.

Hope this helps.

Government Departments Lack Common Sense?

A couple of months ago I received a package from the EMA, a UK government department that provides some funding for students whilst studying for their A-levels. It was a pleasant surprise as I hadn’t even realised such funds and grants existed.

So I set about completing the form and pulling together the supporting evidence and documentation.

Having put together what I thought was the complete information package I sent the forms off to the EMA. About 2 weeks later I received the forms back saying that they couldn’t process my application because they didn’t accept my tax return. So I wrote to my accountant and obtained confirmation that my tax return was indeed correct and returned the forms.

Yesterday, 2 weeks after returning the forms for the second time, I received them all back again saying that they couldn’t process my application. There now seemed no problem with my tax return but the evidence I sent of my daughter’s bank account details (which were sent at the time of the original application) were not acceptable.

I was a little confused at this stage:

• On the application form the EMA request evidence from the bank (e.g. a letter) which shows my daughter’s bank sort code and account number, her name address.  In view of this request, I sent a scan of the letter we received from the bank confirming the opening of her bank account with her bank card attached.  At the top left hand corner of this letter was printed her name and address and the scan of the card showed her name, bank name, sort code and account number, all of which lined-up with those I had provided on the application form.

The reason my application could not proceed was that they apparently required a scan of the back side of the card as well as the front.  My first question was, ‘Why?’ … there’s nothing on the back of the card except the security code which was not requested and wich I would not give out anyway.

Okay; if the scan of a card is not acceptable then fine, but my questions are:

• Why did they leave it until after I had already returned my application form a second time to point this out to me.  If they had read the whole form first time around they would have noticed this and could have saved time, postage costs (4 extra 2nd class stamps/payments by them) and frustration by asking all their questions at once?
• Do I need to actually point out in words of one syllable and add annotations as to where my daughter’s name, address, bank sort code and account number (the requested information) are located on the letter and bank card?

What concerns me is that whilst the current government seem ever more interested in what we do and monitoring us, we are totally powerless to access those who administer the various departments.  Sure, we can ring helplines but we are usually told that it is procedure, and anyway, the reason we usually want to ring them is because they’ve already returned our forms etc. 

What bothers me most is that the government departments seem totally unaccountable to the people who pay for them and put them in power …  and there is never anyone who makes a mistake. 

• If they under charge us for tax through no fault of our own, it is our fault for not having noticed it (guys, you are the experts and that’s what you’re paid to do on our behalf). 
• If we send in an application form for a visa and it gets lost after they acknowledge receipt then it’s our fault despite ringing them to chase it up.

People in power, please don’t be too surprised at the hostility and lack of co-operation from the general public when we’ve been on the receiving end of ineptitude with no accountability.  Please, please revise your systems so that they apply some common sense and display the concern you voice in public over cost cutting etc.  Rather than saving money by cutting essential services like education (you may as well cut your own throat if you adopt this approach), an internal independent audit by a body with no government interests may just help your budgets to grow considerably through internal cost savings from improved processes.

I would like to think someone in responsibility may read and act on this entry, but there again,  the moon may turn blue sooner.

Until next time …

Lessons from Buena Vista Orchestra

Last night was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve enjoyed for a very long time.  Eight months after buying the tickets, I witnessed the phenomenon that is the Buena Vista Orchestra (also known as Orquestra Buena Vista & Buena Vista Social Club).

Many of the original stars from that special night in Carnegie Hall in 1998 have since passed on, but what remains is still a testament to the skill, passion and fun of Cuban musicians, many of whom have been formative in the creation of what we now know as Latin music.

Reflecting on why they were so special, I came up with several things that set them apart from other concerts and bands I have seen (and enjoyed):

1. A sense of history - Many of these people have helped to create the music synonymous with Cuba, the platform on which today’s musicians build.  Age is no issue; it’s a strength and a valuable commodity.  Experience is something we often overlook as we clamber to be new and different; often too insecure to learn from those who’ve gone before.
2. A sense of value and heritage – These people are firmly connected to their music and cultural roots. It’s not a problem; it’s a bonus.  They are not afraid of their culture, nor to share that culture and history with their audience, most of whom have little or no connection to it (apart from music).  It’s not about preaching; it’s about showing and sharing; inviting others on board … and judging by the response of the 2500 people at the concert, they were successful.
3. They connected with their audience – Many of us could learn a great deal from the members of Buena Vista Orchestra. They brought something that can be difficult to connect with if you’re not a part of that culture … and enabled us to connect with it. Even musicians often fail to connect with the complex rhythms, how the pieces fit together, how the melodies interweave. Others can’t handle the fluidity and movement in the music, music that doesn’t sit comfortably with a click track yet is devilishly tight. Yet, this wasn’t a problem for the audience as these masters of their art communicated with people’s hearts and souls, calling them on board to experience something new, even if they didn’t understand it.  They felt it, were drawn in by it and stoked the fire for more … which they got!
4. They promoted each other – The musicians were clearly ‘old school’ in their playing, but that is what made it so great.  There were no stars on stage; they were all stars and they created a platform for their colleagues to shine. Their playing was an expression of themselves but was for each other and the audience, not self-indulgent and about themselves … a lesson many of us could learn.
5. They exuded joy – Music wasn’t just something technical to be played; it wasn’t just an exercise in playing the correct notes; being safe or cerebral.  The music they played was part of them; it was their soul; their passion; something to express who they are; from their hearts.  It was something to enjoy and that enjoyment spurred each other on and fired the audience.  Their enthusiasm and passion was infectious, drawing others in.
6. They were themselves – As we passed the stage door after the gig (and there was no-one else around … how rare is that?) the band emerged and were no different to how they were on stage; smiling, laughing and very willing to give time for a brief chat and sign tickets.

It took me a long time to fall asleep last night.  I was full of the gig and my mind raced over and over through the tunes and why I’d enjoyed the evening so much.

Now all I need to do is apply some of what I’ve learnt and hopefully those I meet will benefit. 

Thank you Orquestra Buena Vista.  Long may you continue to inspire those who have the privilege and pleasure of witnessing your concerts (and your music).

STEM Ambassadors

The STEMNET web site defines a STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics)Ambassador as

‘An everyday person from a real working background who volunteers their time for free to act as an inspiring role model to young people’.

STEM Ambassadors help to stimulate the minds and imaginations of young people. They provide a refreshing change to regular lessons and activities for students and staff, bringing a fresh perspective to STEM subjects and careers.

Each Ambassador is registered, trained and CRB checked.

The STEM Ambassadors programme is STEMNET’s flagship programme, relying on over 18,000 volunteers who offer their time and support free of charge to promote STEM subjects to young learners.  It is an invaluable and free resource for teachers, helping them deliver the STEM curriculum in fresh and innovative ways.

The programme aspires to make a real difference to the delivery of STEM subjects to young people.  Key objectives include making every school in the UK aware of the programme and providing over 27,000 STEM Ambassadors nationwide by 2011.

The STEM Ambassador programme is co-ordinated by STEMNET via 52 organisations across the country to fulfil a brokerage role to schools through STEMPOINT contracts.  Through strong links with business organisations the brokerage service aims to ensure that all schools and colleges can offer their students programmes which support the curriculum and increase the quality and quantity of students moving into further STEM education, training and development.

STEMNET aim to be recognised as the leader in enabling all young people to achieve their potential in STEM by:

• Enabling all young people, regardless of background, are encouraged to understand the excitement and importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in their lives, and the career opportunities to which the STEM subjects can lead
• Helping all schools and colleges across the UK understand the range of STEM Enhancement & Enrichment opportunities available to them and the benefits these can bring to everyone involved
• Encouraging business, organisations and individuals wanting to support young people in STEM to target their efforts and resources in a way that will deliver the best results for them and young people.

I recently signed-up as a STEM Ambassador.  If you’re a teacher and the above interests you then you can find more about my particular input to the STEM programme here.

Small Acts of Kindness Make a Difference

If we were to put all the small acts of kindness performed in the World on a set of scales they would weigh nothing.

If we took all of these small acts of kindness out of our World, it would be nothing!

Variety is a Spice For Life

The saying goes,

‘Variety is the spice of life’

I would like to suggest that Variety is a spice for life.

Semantics?  Possibly, but I think there is a meaningful and important difference which means that some of us perhaps miss out on a better life experience.

‘Variety is the spice of life’ seems to suggest to me that if do a variety of different things or we are involved in a variety of activities these will enhance what we already do.  ‘Variety is a spice for life’  seems to capture the idea that if we are prepared to engage in a variety of different activities etc this will open the way to an even broader life experience.  The former focuses on enhancing what we’re doing now; the latter gives opportunities for what we’re doing now to have a much bigger and broader perspective; even to move on to something new.

There are many ways in which this can work and to a large extent, those are down to us as individuals.  But as a general principle, looking for variety in our work, private life, recreation etc puts us on the map to discovering new directions and new ways of achieving fulfilment. 

In my case it led to a career change!

A bit deep perhaps and maybe even a bit obvious to others, but for some of us, variety is a necessity and by daring to broaden our activities we may just broaden our life experience and step into something that we’ve been searching for.

Personal Development & Business Start Up Reading

There are a number of books that I have been reading over the past year-and-a-half that have made a significant impact on my thinking and how I view what I do, what I say, the decisions I make each day etc.  These were all recommended to me personally by friends and other people I have met at business meetings etc (NB.  All book titles are linked to The Book Depository, what I consider to be the best online bookstore; most prices are heavily discounted and all delivery worldwide is free.  I always use The Book Depository: I have never been disappointed and I always use them in favour of Amazon, especially because of the postage I save).

Creativity, Change & Innovation Titles

The Element by Sir Ken Robinson – In all great people there is a spark, an element which enables them to reach their full potential and become world leaders in their field. If we can tap into our element we can reach our full potential too.

Out of Our Minds by Sir Ken Robinson – Creativity is at the heart of talent and success and there is a ‘war’ for talent. Yet just about every education system around the world focuses on only part of intelligence; the intellect. This book is quite deep and very thorough. It explores the need for creative people, both now and in the future, and the need to engage our emotions, not just our reasoning ability as we help people to reach their creative potential.

The Heart of Change by Dan S Cohen – Dan Cohen looks at the process of change and how to manage it effectively so that we take people with us, on our side, rather than alienating them and forming enemies within our own companies. A number of real-life stories provide case-studies on how change has been effectively managed in a range of different situations.

The Ten Faces of innovation by Tom Kelley – Available in Hardback and Softback editions, this book by the General Manager of the World famous design company, IDEO. He explores the strategies they use to foster original thinking and addresses how to overcome the ‘devil’s advocates’ in our organisations.

Personal Development & Enhancement Titles

I Want to Make a Difference by Tim Drake – How to make a positive difference in your own life and the lives of others by changing your mindset.  Making life better for your family, friends, colleagues and customers.

S.U.M.O Shut Up Move On by Paul McGee- Paul investigates how we can move from the pont of wishing to achieving. By taking responsibility for our life we can change our attitude, learn to seize opportunities and even respond to adverse conditions with a positive attitude. humorous and pointed all in one go.

Starting Your Own Business Titles

Anyone Can Do It by Sahar & Bobby Hashemi- The founders of Coffee Republic tell how they moved from day jobs to risking everything as they set-up the UK’s first New York style coffee house and how that expanded to become a top brand with over 100 outlets around the UK and employing over 1000 staff. The story as it was … warts and all.

The Small Business Start-Up Workbook by Cheryl B Rickman- This book leads you through the thoughts, processes and activities required to conceive and start your own business; step-by-step. As the title suggests, this is a workbook and therefore, it contains activities to undertake and checks to help ensure that all necessary bases are covered. Very practical, thorough and well thought-out.

Spare Room Start Up by Emma Jones – This is a really practical help on how to start up your own business ‘in your spare room’ i.e., working from home. Emma uses 3 key themes; business, lifestyle and technology to provide a base on which to build a home business, from scratch and at low cost. Well organised, easy to read, easy to pick-up where you left off.

Start Your Business Week by Week by Steve Parks- The attraction of this book is that Steve Parks breaks down the process of starting a business into week-size chunks, thereby making it accessible and less daunting. Checklists, tasks, targets and useful contacts all help to set-up your own business over a six-month period.

The White Ladder Diaries by Ros Jay- Journalist Ros Jay gives insight into how she set-up White Ladder Publishing with an emotional, touchy-feely quality. The book provides plenty of helpful advice and helps you learn from Ros’s mistakes, providing a diary of the lead-up to the first day of trading and beyond.

Setting Up and Running a Limited Company by Robert Browning – Tackling more specific issues surrounding establishing and running a limited company, this book answers many of the questions you need to ask in order to meet the specific requirements relating to a limited company. Appointment of Directors, accounts, shareholders, meetings, minutes and more; the book takes some of the fear out of these formal procedures providing practical help and advice.

The Financial Times Guide to Business Start Up 2009 by Sara Williams- Formerly ‘The TSB Small Business Guide’ this book has sold well over 1-million copies to entrepreneurs and business owners. A comprehensive guide to starting your own business this is a highly detailed book with lots of useful contacts and advice. Also works as an ongoing business reference book.

I hope these provide you with hours of reading and the help you need to get yourself and your business up-and-running, and to keep you up-and-running.

What We Have Not What We Don’t!

I don’t know about you, but one of the biggest hurdles I’ve had to overcome (and still fight daily) is the idea that others know more than me, especially in areas where I am dubbed an expert.

I think a lot of it goes back to when I was younger, especially in my teen years where, although I was in the top set at school there were those around me who were like a cerebrum on legs: they oozed ability, knowledge and were more concerned with where they’d lost two or three marks in their exams than with where they’d gained them!

The problem with hanging out with these guys wasn’t anything to do with their personalities: most of them were really great people to be around.  It was the toll that it all took on my self-confidence and self-esteem.  My mind had a field day, reinforcing all those doubts that had ever dared to enter my thinking, or had been placed there by others.

It wasn’t until I was in my 40’s that I was forced to go back and revisit these difficult and confusing times when recovering from serious illness.  During the long, slow, often painful process that was called recovery I was forced (in the nicest way possible) to see these things in their true perspective and identify the lies that I had taken on-board and made an integral part of my life and psyche.

One of the biggest mistakes I had made was when I started looking at my abilities in comparison to others.  We live in a competitive world where we are continually compared to others BUT there is no need for us to do it to ourselves.  When we go for a new job, invariably our skill sets, talents and background will be compared to those of others competing for the same job.  That is the interviewer’s job. 

HOWEVER, we want to be at our best in those situations, showing others our true self and abilities. 

If we focus on what we don’t have and what we can’t do as well as others, then we will never see our own unique talents; our own unique skills and the things that we CAN bring to the table that others can’t. 

Here’s a couple of examples from my own life that may help:

• When I left school, I went straight to university but was so clueless and dispirited about what I wanted to/could do that I gave up after a term (though I did return with my first drum kit … but that is another story!).  I worked for 3 years and then decided that I would go back to studying as I had a much clearer idea of where I wanted to go (and where I couldn’t go at that time without a degree).  I entered the first year of my degree expecting to be worse than the fresh young things entering straight after their A-levels.  I looked to the brightest of them for encouragement and help but I was always aware in my own mind that I wasn’t as good as them.  That was confirmed in my exams at the end of the year.  For some reason and I still don’t know why, I decided over the Summer holidays that I would really work for myself and make sure that I understood what I was doing.  This meant re-learning a lot of what I’d not learnt very well during my first year.  The second year was different.  Nothing changed in my ability to work with others, but my internal focus was now on what I could do rather than what I couldn’t.  I really WANTED to learn and understand to the best of MY abilities.  I came top of the year in my second year exams, something I could never have dreamed of.  I wasn’t the brightest on paper (my A-level results wer mediocre at best) but my focus had changed and I’d achieved my potential (albeit with a lot of hard work).  I passed my degree with a higher grade than I would ever have expected and then went on to higher study.  The point I’m trying to encourage you with is that if we look at ourselves it’s very easy to see what we lack.  But we have so much to offer that others don’t, and others rarely see the failings in ourselves that we do!  I’m definitely not trying to propose some self-help mantra but I am suggesting that a change of focus can bring a change of attitude and facilitate us reaching our fuller potential. 
• Another example was when I was working as a member of a Medical Department’s clinical research team in the pharmaceutical industry.  I knew some of my strengths:  people skills, patience, generally up-beat and good to be around etc.  But, it took several years of working with the Dark Side, i.e., members of the Marketing Department, to really bring my core skills to the fore.  Medical Departments generally work to a dinosaur type time-scale; it takes a long time to design, set-up, run, and report clinical trials.  Marketing work very much in the here and now and want results today (or yesterday if possible). Initially I worked to set-up a Medical-Marketing Interface, a group of people from both departments who could get together on a regular basis to discuss what their priorities were at that time, what they were for the next year and the reality of what information was likely to become available or be wanted in that time.  These were not easy meetings but they gradually evolved into a broader set of discussion forums that really helped the two departments work together more effectively.  They opened the way for more constructive interaction rather than shooting at each other from the parapets.  Through them there was also much closer collaboration in the construction of sales and marketing literature and this is where I discovered something that had probably been obvious but I’d never seen it!  My personal ‘gem’ was an ability to make complex and highly technical scientific and medical ideas easy to understand by all, including those from a non-technical and non-scientific background.  This did two things: a) It boosted my confidence; I did have something special to offer and b) it paved the way for my last role in corporate business, that of communicating and building professional relationships with members of the medical and research communities and providing fora in which we could openly discuss  data supporting the use of specific drugs in difficult-to-treat-conditions.  It was also interesting that when I left my job, many of the most moving ‘good-bye’ messages came from these same people.

It took me a long time to realise that it’s not always simply how much we know, it’s a lot more to do with recognising our own skills and talents, developing and using these to the best of our abilities, whilst never missing the opportunity to hear what others are saying about us.  As we refine our path, we will be amazed at what we have to offer and as with my university exams, we may just move from being one of the crowd to being a leader. 

Even if we don’t, I can guarantee that you’ll feel so much better about yourself and be more confident with what you can offer.

The Big Issue

I was wandering around town yesterday and came across one of the Big Issue vendors who are always able to put on a smile.  Having bought my copy I read through various articles over a cup of coffee and impressed to be reminded how each vendor buys their own supply of magazines and then sells them on to the public.  They are mini-businesses.

But I was also reminded of the plight of many of the people, who are still homeless, and the dangers they face daily.  What turned my stomach were the reports of homeless people who had been either assaulted or murdered over the past year, but because they are low on the public list of priorities, their stories go largely unreported, although the same press are quick to highlight stories where homeless people are involved in perpetrating attacks!

 Why do we delight in kicking those who are already down whilst doing sod all about society’s lower life (I use this term to describe attitude not social or financial status) allowing them to get away with murder (in some cases, literally)?

Perhaps society’s sense of right and wrong is so distorted and lacking that people can no longer discern the difference.  However, I suspect that, despite the inner nagging we feel when we read these stories we choose to do nothing about it.  Perhaps it’s the old story of forget the little man.  It’s been happening since man was created.  It’s about our attitude and then the action we take. Thankfully, there have always been those with a conviction and pioneer spirit who were prepared to make a difference and bring about a change in public policy and opinion. 

Many of the Big Issue vendors are taking a positive steps to put their life right, to tackle issues in their life which are not helpful, to make a new start.  If we put that on a large public advertising hoarding, or in a fashionable glossy magazine or sold it to the Government as a business venture for ‘helping people’ it would be backed and supported instantly.  But when the focus of such activity is ‘the public scourge; the homeless’ (unquote) suddenly the ground rules change … and that makes me sick to the stomach.

So, please, smile at the Big Issue vendors, buy their magazine (even if you don’t read it all) and help to help someone change their life for the better.  They’re prepared to try; are we prepared to help?

That is the big issue!