Digital, is it a curse or saviour? I mentioned last year that a group of us had come together to see if we could use online technologies to help with the regeneration of Stanley. I’d put a report together to try and generate some interest and this week it was my opportunity to present it … Continue reading Unfolding plans 27 – a bit of town planning
Unfolding plans 26 – There are those that tell and those that ask
There are those that tell and those that ask, apparently. No human system is so binary yet most of us fall towards one end of the ask or tell continuum. We may prefer to ask but from time to time find the need to tell. We may feel that we ask when indeed we are … Continue reading Unfolding plans 26 – There are those that tell and those that ask
Unfolding plans 21 – I’m not one for using sporting analogies
So Andy Murray was the runner up at the Australian open. It was a shame. He’d been playing as well as he had ever been but he was up against a formidable opponent. Number six in the world was playing number one. It was sublime tennis. The match ebbed and flowed with each player gaining … Continue reading Unfolding plans 21 – I’m not one for using sporting analogies
Unfolding plans 20 – coming back to apprentices
I said I would come back to apprentices. I’ll keep coming back to them throughout the year as they are important in so many ways. They are also the seventh thing I want to achieve this year. According to the North-East Chamber of Commerce the region faces a "ticking time bomb" due to a lack … Continue reading Unfolding plans 20 – coming back to apprentices
Unfolding plans 19 – the value tree
I was intrigued. The invite said that during the meeting we ‘will capture these (Mission Statement, objectives and priorities) in a “Value Tree” which is a graphical way of presenting the key objectives that requires them to be ranked in order of importance. The Value Tree can then be used at future “Gateways” to check … Continue reading Unfolding plans 19 – the value tree
Unfolding plans 18 – All purchases needed to be approved by Neil
My Christmas gift was a very generous book token. It came with a caveat however. All purchases needed to be approved by Neil, one of my team. The note said that to avoid disappointment it is unlikely that he would approve any non-fictional text in the area of management. The message was clear. I needed … Continue reading Unfolding plans 18 – All purchases needed to be approved by Neil
Unfolding plans 17 – Who remembers the future?
Who remembers the future? We were going to be living in the sky, with hover cars to get us about and robots to do our bidding. We were going to wear futuristic clothes, usually in silver and have pills instead of meals. Do you remember that happening? In the movie ‘Back to the future’ 2015 … Continue reading Unfolding plans 17 – Who remembers the future?
Unfolding plans 16 – Keeping a blog is a gift and a curse
Keeping a blog is a gift and a curse. Having to think of something new to write every day can be a chore. It can become an obsession, a fetish perhaps that consumes all of your waking moments. Everything you see and all the experiences you have are played out in your mind as sentences … Continue reading Unfolding plans 16 – Keeping a blog is a gift and a curse
Unfolding plans 15 – Don’t worry. Zombies don’t knock.
Next time you are walking past a book shop, pop in and buy a copy of World War Z - An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks. It is an historical account of the period during and after the great zombie war. It is a chilling and terrifying collection of interviews from … Continue reading Unfolding plans 15 – Don’t worry. Zombies don’t knock.
Unfolding plans 13 – I’m railing against the machine
I’m ranting again. I’m railing against the machine. I’m banging on and on about those issues that keep tripping us up, the rocks in the stream that disrupt our flow, the sand in our shoe which causes us to limp and the pea under the mattress that gives us a restless night’s sleep. We had … Continue reading Unfolding plans 13 – I’m railing against the machine
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 