Unfolding plans 145 – Video kills

Video was never my medium.  It just doesn’t work for me.  I fluff my lines and get all tongue tied.  I’m more nervous on video than with any other format.  I don’t know why, perhaps it is the permanence of it all.  I think I get hung up on how I’m coming across rather than … Continue reading Unfolding plans 145 – Video kills

Unfolding plans 143 – Leading the way in Open Data

I’ve been at another conference.  This time it was presented by the Federation of Small Businesses in conjunction with Dynamo and Sunderland Software City.  It was titled ‘North East Leading The Way In Open Data’ and I was asked to speak.  You know that amongst my interests is helping to develop the region so that … Continue reading Unfolding plans 143 – Leading the way in Open Data

Unfolding plans 141 – Teaching people how to learn

At work I would like to teach people only one thing.  I would like them to learn how to learn.  Once you have learned how to learn you never need to be taught anything again. Give a man a fish or teach him how to fish.  I’m sure the same thing applies to women. I … Continue reading Unfolding plans 141 – Teaching people how to learn

Unfolding plans 140 – be mindful of others

A couple of days ago I was telling you about Lee and his stories.  His tale of children and coasts tugged on a few strings.  It brought back memories of childhood, happiness, helplessness and an innocence lost.  It gets me every time I hear it (and I’ve heard it a few times now!). He has … Continue reading Unfolding plans 140 – be mindful of others

Unfolding plans 139 – we need fewer rules

First break all the rules.  That is what the book said.  If this is a rule then should we break it?  First stick to all the rules? It’s all a bit confusing.  There are too many rules, too many regulations.  I can’t be expected to know them all yet every time we are faced with … Continue reading Unfolding plans 139 – we need fewer rules

Unfolding plans 138 – we need more entrepreneurs

I’ve heard it said many times that entrepreneurs are a special breed.  They are vital to the health of the economy.  They create the wealth that this nation relies upon to pay for its hospitals, its roads and all the other good things we’ve come to expect in a modern economy. I agree.  Those people … Continue reading Unfolding plans 138 – we need more entrepreneurs

Unfolding plans 134 – Sonic coats

Lee told some great stories today.  It was at our latest round of presentations.  It was his turn to get involved.  I try to spread the love around.  The theme for this time was trust and no doubt I’ll come back to this in a later blog.  Lee went on to talk about how we … Continue reading Unfolding plans 134 – Sonic coats

Unfolding plans 133 – summit else

The motorcycle outriders held the traffic up at Thinford roundabout.  Their blue lights cut through the dank morning air. Helicopters hovered above as the threat level was set at high.  The limousines with their blacked out windows sped through the empty roads before screeching to a halt outside the Educational Development Centre.  The delegates hurried … Continue reading Unfolding plans 133 – summit else

Unfolding plans 132 – more jobs or fewer jobs

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.  That’s what I have often been told.  We’ve been telling a story about the North East and the technical industry. It is about the number of jobs that the sector carries.  We’ve been saying that there are thirty thousand jobs and two thousand … Continue reading Unfolding plans 132 – more jobs or fewer jobs

Unfolding Plans 131 – A SOWE

I’ve been thinking about how we create a self-organising work environment.  A SOWE.  I’ve been thinking about it ever since I saw Sugata Mitra’s work at the first Dynamo conference and that was well over a year and a half ago.  How do you get your teams to come together and deliver what is required … Continue reading Unfolding Plans 131 – A SOWE