Apologies up front to all non Australians reading this post. Context below...
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24948059-661,00.html
Big brother caused me some concern, Paris Hilton's television exploits made me scratch my head, channel 9 has me forever questioning the notion of commonsense and decency but CLEO magazine has got to take the cake....
Ben Cousins, are you people serious??? Ben Cousins as an eligible Australian bachelor of the year? How any adult in a senior executive position in a media company could seriously allow Ben Cousins to make this list simply defies belief...
This has all the worst elements of publicity stunt and so unashamedly shirks the corporate responsibility of a media outlet that shapes the attitude and perceptions of young people. This glides past poor taste, zooms past irresponsibility, eclipses bad judgment and lands squarely in the negligence box.
Let's get the facts:
1. Ben Cousins is not a hardened criminal.
2. Ben Cousins does deserve a chance to redeem himself and win back respect
3. Ben Cousins is a self admitted, recovering drug addict
4. Ben Cousins is the OPPOSITE of a role model, although in a few years if he stays clean and can reach his past football exploits again, he might get there...
5. Bachelor of the Year represents the BEST in the community, the most worthy in the community, the most 'winnable' young men in Australia
I ask you three critical questions:
1. What self respecting woman is yearning for a mixed up, sexed up, recovering addict who has yet to prove to his family, friends, employer, governing body and most importantly himself that he is past the danger point of his particular vice?
2. In an age of increasing equality for women, where girls and young women aspire to the loftiest of goals and can legitimately achieve them, what does it say about a magazine that says you should chase a man based exclusively based on his looks and fame (regardless of moral strength, values, intelligence and manner) because looks and fame are the only criteria by which Cousins could possibly qualify.
3. When will the community say enough is enough of crappy, gutter journalism that positions for the lowest common denominator and chases, hounds and crucifies good people for making everyday mistakes but then champions popular losers regardless of their reckless and dangerous behaviour.
Someone should be fired for this and the magazine should apologize to the women of Australia for treating them with such little respect.
Shame.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
What's the difference? What the f%^#!!!!
So I have been asked a couple of times recently what the difference is between a consultant and an advisor (given I run a specialised advisory firm). Fair question I guess, and the answer is quite simple. One's a teacher, one's a doctor.
I liken a consultant to a highly skilled teacher. They will come in with a specific expertise (HR, Logistics, Leadership, etc) For the most part, the presentations and value is largely consistent (often re branded with some specific new client relevant content) so that it can be presented in a workshop format - time specific, scalable, teachable to new consultants in the business and after a while provides credibility in a specific area.
A consultant is essentially working to strengthen their client organisation so that they reach a point where they can attack the issues internally after 'learning' the skills required from the consulting team.
By contrast, an Advisor is akin to a business doctor. Think of it this way, do you go to the doctor with the intent of being taught medicine so that you can eventually self diagnose and treat yourself? Of course not. You are unwell and you are empowering the doctor to make the requisite decisions to make you well. Sometimes the doctor will work in concert with other specialists, other doctors or nurses. No decisions are made without you the patient, but you bend yourself to the specific experience and expertise.
An advisor is essentially the same. You take on THE RIGHT advisor to find the right cure for what ails your business. You are asking them to develop the strategy AND do the deals that deliver it. You empower the Advisor to produce that little bit of skill set that is not viable to invest in for the long term.
Don't misunderstand me. Consultants can be extremely valuable and can play a critical role in the development of an organisation. Advisors are not more valuable than consultants or vice versa, but they're not the same thing...
PEACE
I liken a consultant to a highly skilled teacher. They will come in with a specific expertise (HR, Logistics, Leadership, etc) For the most part, the presentations and value is largely consistent (often re branded with some specific new client relevant content) so that it can be presented in a workshop format - time specific, scalable, teachable to new consultants in the business and after a while provides credibility in a specific area.
A consultant is essentially working to strengthen their client organisation so that they reach a point where they can attack the issues internally after 'learning' the skills required from the consulting team.
By contrast, an Advisor is akin to a business doctor. Think of it this way, do you go to the doctor with the intent of being taught medicine so that you can eventually self diagnose and treat yourself? Of course not. You are unwell and you are empowering the doctor to make the requisite decisions to make you well. Sometimes the doctor will work in concert with other specialists, other doctors or nurses. No decisions are made without you the patient, but you bend yourself to the specific experience and expertise.
An advisor is essentially the same. You take on THE RIGHT advisor to find the right cure for what ails your business. You are asking them to develop the strategy AND do the deals that deliver it. You empower the Advisor to produce that little bit of skill set that is not viable to invest in for the long term.
Don't misunderstand me. Consultants can be extremely valuable and can play a critical role in the development of an organisation. Advisors are not more valuable than consultants or vice versa, but they're not the same thing...
PEACE
Thursday, January 15, 2009
3 things
Three things I am loving today...
1. Space: to think, to breathe, to feel, to develop, to expand, to explore and to dream
2. Change: of circumstance, of environment, of comfort, of engagement, of status and of energy
3. Control: over time, over direction, over choices and over energy
1. Space: to think, to breathe, to feel, to develop, to expand, to explore and to dream
2. Change: of circumstance, of environment, of comfort, of engagement, of status and of energy
3. Control: over time, over direction, over choices and over energy
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
come on people
The world is getting smaller, right? We hear about it constantly. You can't escape a book store without reading a blurb that describes the frightening contraction all around us. Many of us now count friends, colleagues, clients, bosses and family living on the other side of the planet.
We engage in our daily lives doing ordinary things, but now we do them with people that are not in the next cubicle or office, they're in a different time zone, hemisphere and state of economic development. The average 7th grader can tell you what the current time is in NY, Tokyo, London, New Delhi and Shanghai. Movies are made with international cultural considerations in mind, books are written in multiple languages during their first run, organisations seemingly have more international offices then they do local staff and universities are building campuses on every continent. I'm not dreaming this, right? Then why the hell do we (as a global community) have so many problems?
I understand there is religious difference. I understand there is cultural difference. I understand there is a disparity of power determined by gender, wealth and education. I accept that there is more grey than black or white and that our challenges are vast and complicated. But you see, our resources are larger and more powerful, our intelligence is more nuanced, our empathy is more heartfelt, our time is better managed and responsibility has never been clearer....and remember...the WORLD IS SMALLER.
It simply doesn't make sense!
We as the adults need to ask ourselves whether the hubris we show in our consumerism, popularism, religious fervor, aggression and absolutism is a reasonable burden for the next generation. I'm not happy that my generation will be forever paying for the environmental degradation and cultural animosity brought about by the actions and decisions of the generations before me and I am therefore mindful that my actions and decisions will impact those that will come after me. Surely every parent wants a better life, a better world for their children than they themselves had...perhaps we can start there....
Sorry, I guess these are the ramblings of a young parent with another child arriving very very soon... let's get our house in order people, my kids are relying on us.
We engage in our daily lives doing ordinary things, but now we do them with people that are not in the next cubicle or office, they're in a different time zone, hemisphere and state of economic development. The average 7th grader can tell you what the current time is in NY, Tokyo, London, New Delhi and Shanghai. Movies are made with international cultural considerations in mind, books are written in multiple languages during their first run, organisations seemingly have more international offices then they do local staff and universities are building campuses on every continent. I'm not dreaming this, right? Then why the hell do we (as a global community) have so many problems?
I understand there is religious difference. I understand there is cultural difference. I understand there is a disparity of power determined by gender, wealth and education. I accept that there is more grey than black or white and that our challenges are vast and complicated. But you see, our resources are larger and more powerful, our intelligence is more nuanced, our empathy is more heartfelt, our time is better managed and responsibility has never been clearer....and remember...the WORLD IS SMALLER.
It simply doesn't make sense!
We as the adults need to ask ourselves whether the hubris we show in our consumerism, popularism, religious fervor, aggression and absolutism is a reasonable burden for the next generation. I'm not happy that my generation will be forever paying for the environmental degradation and cultural animosity brought about by the actions and decisions of the generations before me and I am therefore mindful that my actions and decisions will impact those that will come after me. Surely every parent wants a better life, a better world for their children than they themselves had...perhaps we can start there....
Sorry, I guess these are the ramblings of a young parent with another child arriving very very soon... let's get our house in order people, my kids are relying on us.
Monday, January 5, 2009
ding ding....where to get off...
It's all about choice. It's all about choice. It's all about choice.
The bus keeps going around and around. Each stop offers a new, unique, exciting and challenging experience....they're all appealing. They all offer something worthwhile. They all offer opportunity for growth. They all require compromise.
Where do I get off? That is my question of the day.
The bus keeps going around and around. Each stop offers a new, unique, exciting and challenging experience....they're all appealing. They all offer something worthwhile. They all offer opportunity for growth. They all require compromise.
Where do I get off? That is my question of the day.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
convergence...divergence
Ok, so you knew I wouldn't only post one blog....I can't keep quiet for long enough, and even if I wanted to, I don't have the discipline.
A great deal has been on my mind in the days since my last writing session. The impending birth of my second child (only 4 weeks away), the majestic growth of my little boy, my new business venture, the seemingly incurable disposition of the middle east, the disintegration of the once invincible Australian cricket team and the fact that there are never any positive stories on the evening news....but I guess what has kept me really ticking over is the idea of unavoidable change - limitless, overwhelming and ever growing change.
In the past few days I have learned that no less than six people I know well, all successful, all stable and all intelligent are dealing with the challenge of massive life change...it seems that the world has spun a little too vigorously on its axis and is shaking normality loose.
We are watching the dissolution of some of the world's most prolific companies, the change of governments from Asia to Europe, the America's and throughout Africa. We are experiencing the loss of millions of jobs worldwide, the reshaping of the economic, social and ideological landscape.
I can't help but think that life will look dramatically different in a mere 5 years time...Let me illustrate this feeling by a couple of observations....did I mention that you're really patient with me and it's greatly appreciated...
1. There are a plethora of middle and senior management together with executive suite personnel facing the reality of redundancy and downsizing. This group of people is educated, experienced, networked and for the most part capable....most would find work in a normal environment. But here's the kicker, the companies that would normally hire them are experiencing the same heartache and are not putting people on, rather they too are adding to the army of future entrepreneurs...so I predict more than any time in history we are going to see entrepreneurship flourish. We will see the creation of more new business and more 'bosses' than ever before. We will begin to notice astounding innovation born from focused niche activity as well as the release of bureaucracy. I say: It's about time.
2. We will see a closing of the rich:poor gap but not as many hoped...it will not be the poor getting rich but rather the rich getting poorer...not altogether a terrible thing, but disappointing given the prosperity and opportunities of the past decade. I have recently read a number of reports about the amount of hurt being experienced in the not for profit sector. It stands to reason of course, I mean when you can no longer afford your mortgage or food on the table, it's no surprise that there is not enough to go around for the that needy village in Africa or that cancer charity you believe in or even that local church group down the street. I say: what a disgrace, what a tragedy.
Oh, another thing that has intoxicated me this week is the idea of convergence and divergence. One result of the overwhelming shift in the workforce is that many people who were on track to meet one another will no longer do so, and people who were never going to meet due to their previous circumstance will now cross paths. I think this is a delicious prospect. Just think who will enter your life in the next five years as a result of redundancy and the exuberance of start up activity.
Well I think I've shared enough for today.
Peace
AAJ
A great deal has been on my mind in the days since my last writing session. The impending birth of my second child (only 4 weeks away), the majestic growth of my little boy, my new business venture, the seemingly incurable disposition of the middle east, the disintegration of the once invincible Australian cricket team and the fact that there are never any positive stories on the evening news....but I guess what has kept me really ticking over is the idea of unavoidable change - limitless, overwhelming and ever growing change.
In the past few days I have learned that no less than six people I know well, all successful, all stable and all intelligent are dealing with the challenge of massive life change...it seems that the world has spun a little too vigorously on its axis and is shaking normality loose.
We are watching the dissolution of some of the world's most prolific companies, the change of governments from Asia to Europe, the America's and throughout Africa. We are experiencing the loss of millions of jobs worldwide, the reshaping of the economic, social and ideological landscape.
I can't help but think that life will look dramatically different in a mere 5 years time...Let me illustrate this feeling by a couple of observations....did I mention that you're really patient with me and it's greatly appreciated...
1. There are a plethora of middle and senior management together with executive suite personnel facing the reality of redundancy and downsizing. This group of people is educated, experienced, networked and for the most part capable....most would find work in a normal environment. But here's the kicker, the companies that would normally hire them are experiencing the same heartache and are not putting people on, rather they too are adding to the army of future entrepreneurs...so I predict more than any time in history we are going to see entrepreneurship flourish. We will see the creation of more new business and more 'bosses' than ever before. We will begin to notice astounding innovation born from focused niche activity as well as the release of bureaucracy. I say: It's about time.
2. We will see a closing of the rich:poor gap but not as many hoped...it will not be the poor getting rich but rather the rich getting poorer...not altogether a terrible thing, but disappointing given the prosperity and opportunities of the past decade. I have recently read a number of reports about the amount of hurt being experienced in the not for profit sector. It stands to reason of course, I mean when you can no longer afford your mortgage or food on the table, it's no surprise that there is not enough to go around for the that needy village in Africa or that cancer charity you believe in or even that local church group down the street. I say: what a disgrace, what a tragedy.
Oh, another thing that has intoxicated me this week is the idea of convergence and divergence. One result of the overwhelming shift in the workforce is that many people who were on track to meet one another will no longer do so, and people who were never going to meet due to their previous circumstance will now cross paths. I think this is a delicious prospect. Just think who will enter your life in the next five years as a result of redundancy and the exuberance of start up activity.
Well I think I've shared enough for today.
Peace
AAJ
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