I’ve been reading a book of late called ‘The oarsome adventures of a fat boy rower’ by Kevin Biggar. It was leant to me by Leah from OnBrand Partners. It’s about how he went from being a couch potato (I can empathise) to winning an Atlantic rowing race. It’s a great tale of commitment, team … Continue reading Keep rowing
Sock drawer
My sock drawer says a lot about me unfortunately. It also says a lot about the way life is. It is a microcosm of how order changes into chaos and how entropy always increases. It’s that second law of thermodynamics all over again which states that (forgive me for I paraphrase) ‘In any closed system … Continue reading Sock drawer
What learning a language can teach you
I’ve been inspired by a blog I read today. It was by Benny the Irish polyglot who is convinced that anyone can learn a foreign language and be fluent in three months. I came across his site when I got the urge to learn Dutch for some reason, perhaps with a view to going on … Continue reading What learning a language can teach you
Am I entitled to treatment?
I received a letter this week inviting me to attend an appointment at my local hospital. It is for some treatment for an on-going condition that I have put off for too long and am glad that the letter has now arrived. I can start to plan around it and soon I’ll be like new. … Continue reading Am I entitled to treatment?
Give me the keys that unlock people
Everybody has a key that can unlock them. Most have more than one and they are someone that they trust. It could be a member of their family, their partner or their mother perhaps. It could be a colleague at work or a close friend. It could be an upstanding member of society like a … Continue reading Give me the keys that unlock people
Feelings trump facts
I have been an admirer of Dr Edward de Bono’s work for a long time. I have read many of his books which are always stimulating; in fact I’m just about to finish ‘I’m right, you’re wrong.’ His ‘Six thinking hats’ is one of the books that has had the greatest influence upon me and … Continue reading Feelings trump facts
The story is in the information
I’ve had a long held belief that we should not get hung up on the numbers. We measure so many things at work and make decisions based upon what the numbers say yet all they are telling us is a story. The numbers are an insight into what is happening. They are not what is … Continue reading The story is in the information
Don’t decide day
Leaders and managers of the world, unite with me in celebrating Don’t Decide Day! It must have been about twenty five years ago when I was sitting in my office doing – well I forget what I was doing. It was a nice office though, a sort of S shape with my desk in one … Continue reading Don’t decide day
I need another word for what I do
I spend most of my time at work trying to get the best people into the jobs that they are best suited to, creating situations that allow them to be stretched and develop while trying to clear the right paths to make this happen. Most people would call this manipulation. But that is such a … Continue reading I need another word for what I do
Pain now, pain later
We’ve just finished a roll out of a new telephone system. It took over a year and we’ve replaced fourteen previous systems with a single brand spanking internet protocol system. It has been the best of times and the worst of times. People were up in arms. The new system didn’t work. It didn’t do … Continue reading Pain now, pain later
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 