IS DOMESTIC BANKING AKIN TO OUR ‘BAR SHY’ FRIEND?

Come on, you know what I mean! The one who gets regular windfalls from their large share options, who arranges all the ski trips, collects the kitty money and who always ultimately benefits by taking the lead. The one we’re grateful to for getting that fantastic group together and sorting all the logistics and who probably manages to get a free holiday out of it. We ignore that and the fact that when it’s their round they’re either at the loo or buy you half a lager instead of your tipple of choice because it’s cheaper.

We do this because we can get on with running our lives and just turn up and have a fantastic holiday. It works for both parties. This situation is akin to the role of the banks, they get on with delivering the services and over-charge for it but we get to focus on ourselves, our family and friends and have fun. We don’t have to think very much about it all.

Then, out of the blue, we realise that there aren’t enough funds for the holiday because the guy who collected the money for the ski trip, instead of purchasing the holiday, put the money down as a deposit on a Ferrari. Not only are we potentially missing out on a holiday but we’ve now got to pay for it anyway because the company (or Government to extend the metaphor) is on our back because of our friend’s mismanagement. Turns out he gave them our name and passport number so we have no option but to pay again but we can’t really afford it and it negatively impacts our significant priorities. What would happen to the friend? Well he wouldn’t be a friend anymore. We wouldn’t trust him and we’d probably make sure we never had to have any dealings with him again in the future.

So what choices do we have in relation to the banking sector? The largest Co-op’s and the Friendly Societies aren’t what they used to be since deregulation. As far as I’m aware much of the original values they stood for have been all but lost and they act much like the rest of the banking system. The small ones appear structurally to be run like Masonic lodges or trade unions rather than providing a valid contemporary option. For my part, I’ll be investigating more widely but if anyone reading this has experience of an alternative, truly ‘ethical’ bank, I’d love to hear from you. In fact, pass on my details, I think they could benefit from some good PR and awareness raising!

So it seems like, on the whole, we can’t turn our back on that ‘friend’ because we’d be very lonely and have no group to go skiing with. We’d probably just fume for the whole holiday but try to put it out of our mind (some might even ask if they could borrow the friend’s Ferrari for the weekend when it arrives by way of compensation!).

On the “ethical” point, the FT has recently reported that Santander is quietly trying to sell off 3bn euro of re-possessed homes. This revelation has come to light in the same week the “ethical banking code” was announced (created by bankers for bankers you no doubt noted). I suspect the banks have been busy getting in lots of ‘unethical’ charges in during the last month to make the most of the ‘free rein’ they’ve generally enjoyed.

An example of this ‘free rein’ is an ‘unauthorised overdraft’. If I went into a shop to buy something for £7 and only had £5 in my pocket, the £2 wouldn’t magically appear in my pocket. The teller wouldn’t say, well now that we’ve manifested £2 in your pocket, that will be £37 please – what?! I’d walk away and make a decision to get the extra £2 I need or decide not to buy the goods. Damn right it’s an 'unauthorised overdraft', it’s a blank cheque for the bank written by the bank but they report haughtily that somehow it was at ‘our’ instigation. You’re very naughty taking an ‘unauthorised overdraft’! Am I? I don’t remember asking you to cover the cost of this if there wasn’t enough funds in my account – I’m confused – unauthorised by who – you or me!?

Some of our other ‘friends’, when they think they have an opportunity to make a charge, stop all correspondence and statements. What if you, when in the queue to buy your goods, realised that the guy behind you had secretly reached into your pocket and taken £2 so that you didn’t have the right money in the first place? Wouldn’t you have a stand up row with him right there and then or be so overwhelmed with indignation, punch him on the nose? Somehow, when it’s displayed as figures on a piece of paper or computer screen and hidden from us, we tend to let it go and I’m sure they’re aware of that which is why it’s now almost impossible to ‘talk’ to these people either face to face or by telephone.

They seem to think we’re all stupid (or too busy to notice). The real probability however is that they are just so completely complacent about their ‘perceived’ power they don’t care either way. To be fair, they’ve done a pretty good job at limiting our options and continue to do so. The recent revolt by ‘middle England’ against the banking sector’s desire for the abolition of cheques is a recent example of their misguided perception.

Maybe they’re right however....how long are we going to be forced to go on holiday with the friend that ripped us off because of inertia or lack of time and interest? Funny how that word ‘interest’ meaning attention and awareness is the same word used to take cash from us because of our lack of it!

Charging “interest” - how ironic!

GLOBALISATION AND ME

I’m not a fan of globalisation. When the term came into being in the mainstream, I thought it was quite exciting. I was off travelling the world, looking overseas for opportunities to excite and entice – I was younger, I saw the world through different eyes. The consequences to those communities, the Peruvians living around the Inca trail, the Samburu in Kenya, the Navajo in Monument Valley etc, reliance on the likes of me to make their living never occurred to me. The fact that standing face to face with me somehow destroyed their way of life didn’t cross my mind. Now my culture, way of life and freedoms are being negatively affected by globalisation, I have a certain connection with those far-away places and people borne out of mutual experience.


I’m not class prejudiced, racist, sexist, ageist and I engage in the whole ‘political correctness’ that somehow has come to reflect ‘class’ – it would be a display of ‘ignorance’ to have any other view of course, would it not? I’ve engaged in ‘regeneration programmes’ and relished working within programmes that bring the ‘excluded’ back into the system but occasionally that can reflect a negative judgement of their choices - is that fair? Does allowing ‘globalisation’ to play its hand in our communities take away their freedom to ‘just be’?

Progress; It would be a very dull world if we were ‘all the same’ and I’m open to new experiences, environments and change but that’s me. Is there a level where ‘progress’ meets freedom of choice and not ‘choosing correctly’ turns into enslavement? Worship of ‘Our Ford’ to quote Huxley’s Brave New World – are we being forced to embrace ‘globalisation’ by small steps where ‘stuff’ and ‘profit’ take priority and ‘consciousness’ is dictated by the ‘blueprint’, whatever that may be?

My world has consciously shrunk over the last 12 months. I spend much more time in the park than in front of the television these days and I’m the happier and healthier for it. There are other changes however that are enforced by globalisation like my business suffering in the wake of the banking crisis, my waking up to the global companies that dip into my bank account on a monthly basis and having to stick with my current mortgage provider because the legacy of the industry’s ineptitude makes re-negotiation pretty much impossible. The tax man however has to remain at the top of the ‘pay list’ not least because it’s the only thing you can be jailed for not paying!

So I’m here and very happy with, my new ‘smaller’ life but let’s look more closely at that big financial ‘top of the list’ priority. I don’t sweat the small stuff, Salford City Council’s £100 a month is well spent keeping me and my community safe, clean and entertained – great job. In my name the global expenditure on science research and defence in one year is another matter however. It could feed the world and all the aid projects combined for 200 years. I’m not intending travelling to space and I sure as hell, given the choice, wouldn’t be funding my Government to ride into every natural resource rich country on the globe with a ‘swag-bag’. I’m sorted with a bus-trip into town and a trip down the Co-op, thanks all the same.

All that said, I’m done pushing against the banks, the UK media and the global companies that help keep a roof over my head (not least because it feels futile) but I am concerned about “the hand that rocks the cradle’s” agenda. Freedom vs globalisation – I’ll take the former, thanks. I don’t want to be a cog in a massive wheel creating ‘stuff’ that has somehow completely lost its meaning (if it ever really had a valid one to begin with). I’d like to just get on supporting the conscientious UK developers and local authorities focussed on creating improved prospects, environments and economic opportunities for communities, the fantastic supply chain that serves them and the journalist network that works tirelessly to bring the real issues to the fore.

World Government has lost sight of what it’s there for – to serve the people. The populous is becoming aware of this loss in precedence worldwide but the Governments seem unwilling or unable to deal with ‘peaceful protest’ and containing that with force seems to be their only response. That’s wrong, and if the population reacts against that force in the same way, they, and we, are the only losers in the longer term.

Regonomics, now there’s a term, alongside Thatcherism, was the start of where we find ourselves today. Regulators then and since have given global companies free rein to slowly but surely to move into the more dominant position of power. Is it too late to halt this now and does the Government realise or care that those policies ignore human beings? People, in spite of the grand plan, just don’t, nor should, live in boxes on flow charts.

More worryingly, and perhaps a more sinister and a personal by-product of ‘globalisation’, is the ‘war on terror’ lawmaking that makes a mockery of our freedoms. A meaningless term used in describing ways in which our Government is ‘protecting’ us whilst simultaneously chipping away at that freedom. What’s worse is that, alongside it, there is a demonisation of groups, perpetrated in part by the mainstream media, setting large swaths of the population in opposition to each other. The ‘Muslim community’, the ‘feral youth’, the ‘NIMBY’s’, the ‘benefit scroungers’, the ‘super rich’, the ‘bankers’, the ‘dirty-trick media’, the ‘corrupt law enforcers’, the ‘ex-offenders’, the ‘drug users’ and the ‘job-stealing immigrants’ (it’s a whole blog in itself). Surely the large majority understands that 99% of people, group or no group, are, on the whole, nice people without a scary, hidden agenda?

Immigration is at an all time high and is eroding our sense of belonging. The large majority of us are afraid to associate or defend our ‘place’ in the world for fear of being labelled, well, just ‘wrong’. Where is our sense of identity? Is it buried in the ruins of the World Trade Centre? Is that OK? We’re desperately looking for a sense of solidarity and connection which is why I suspect the recent #ILoveMcr campaign did so well – it’s an acceptable ‘grouping’ but still indirectly under the guise of ‘fighting’ another group (the scary ‘feral youth’...ooohhh). Why aren’t we allowed to ‘belong’ anymore? Is the only way we are allowed to ‘identify’ with other people by fighting another group (usually pin-pointed on our behalf by the mainstream media)?

The point is that, on a micro level, the dilution of communities and national identity is the end result of globalisation. We’ve seen it happen all over the world but because ‘the west’ was in the driving seat, we sat back and thought ‘it must be OK’ – it’s not OK. Whether you’re Libyan, Egyptian, Irish, Muslim, English, young, old, professional, Salfordian, homosexual, Cumbrian, devout – you should be given the freedom to identify on a large or small scale without being made to feel like you’re wrong to do so. National identity is under attack globally but unless you’re ‘fighting’ in response to another group, it’s not really ‘PC’ to express it or identify strongly with a minority group, religious or otherwise. Negative labels aren’t healthy and we all need to work together for the greater good not fight between ourselves on a small (or large) scale. Clearly, we’d all be much better off if we weren’t fighting on a large scale at all, or should I call it ‘peace keeping’ (the creeping terminology is also another blog in itself)?

When I’m acting on behalf of a developer, there’s a ‘master plan’, it doesn’t mean I ride roughshod over the community or accuse them of being a ‘NIMBY’. I inform them openly what that plan is and why it’s happening and how it will benefit/affect them. I work as a link between that plan and what’s best for the community taking all views into consideration and informing my client (which is bound to operate within established laws). Granted I use the media to inform (not to manipulate) but there’s a bigger plan and a benefit statement that’s openly there for review by everyone.

Where is the flexibility and listening within the Government’s plan? Furthermore what the hell is the plan anyway, other than an apparent shambles? Perhaps that’s the point because we might not actually like the plan if we knew exactly what it was - all we get is propaganda. Does this reflect a democracy?

Apparently, in a ‘State of Emergency’, Government can just change the law because, erm, I don’t know why, just because they’ve quietly amended it so it can happen that way. If you read the Daily Mail with the largest UK readership, it seems as if we’re in a state of emergency on almost a daily basis and that’s not even one of Murdoch’s (but they do have a “Catastrophe Risk Management” sister company so at least they can tell us how to sort it out once they’ve informed us all of it!).

Does all this therefore add up to being in a dictatorship? If not, as a member of a democracy, I’d like to say “Dear World Governments, please may I ‘just be’? If not, what exactly am I paying you for?” I don’t have the option to ‘sack ‘em’ do I? I’m Salford born and bred, as is most of my community, I’m happy here. That doesn’t mean a more diverse community can’t live in peaceful harmony together as long as, as individuals, they allow each other to ‘just be’.

This short film says it all, it has that ‘all American’ feel but it’s still relevant (with fun graphics too) http://www.youtube.com/storyofstuffproject#p/u/22/9GorqroigqM.

WHAT’S NEW....? I HAVE A NEW FOUND KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT’S IMPORTANT!

When times are tough, a realisation comes around that highlights what the fundamentals are in relation to life and business...

Phew! What a year 2010/11 tuned out to be, I honestly am grateful to still be operating in business – tough is an understatement - but personally I’m happier than I’ve ever been. How does that work!?

I have friends who have an esoteric view of the world and say “the Universe will always look after you” and I think they’re probably right! Fear is an emotion that can cripple people when they’re faced with losing “stuff” but it’s one that I’ve managed to look in the face and move beyond – we’re more than our business, reputation, what we do – we’re individuals and all special in our own way...

Those who know me through business will probably be reading this and thinking “what’s she on!?” but it’s so true; family, friends, colleagues, relationships are all brought under the microscope when times are tough and I can safely say that I’m blessed. Conversely I’ve become less focussed on the outside world and what’s ‘expected’ of me and more about what’s ‘right’ for me. The experiences and people that weren’t there for my greater good or somehow stopped me being who I was / aspired to be are gone....and I don’t miss them at all!

What this year’s taught me about myself and my business is that I’m resilient and I will come through. The confident face that we choose show the world isn’t always the reality until it’s put to the test and asked to “sing for its supper”! People also have long memories – you can’t always be 100% ‘spot-on’ but integrity and reputation acquired over time garners support from the most unexpected places.

The support that’s out there for individuals and small businesses is fantastic if you just take your head out of the sand and look. I had great support from Business Link and the NWDA’s Group Mentoring programme as well as support from peer businesses, my supply chain, client base and more and I’m very grateful. As far as group mentoring goes, putting six complete strangers in a room and suggesting that they open up to and help each other in their businesses seems a risky strategy but it works a treat (if you’re open to it)! I hope something of this sort of support continues post cuts....Mr Cameron did promise a focus on “the workers, the doers and the entrepreneurs” after all...

I once did a personality test which said the more pressure I was under, the better I perform which I suspect is why I’m in the PR / marketing field but I don’t think I’m alone. I’ve met lots of people who have come under enormous pressure over the last few years and are the stronger and better for it – starting up new businesses, responding positively to market conditions and pretty much taking responsibility for the situation they find themselves in and going for it!


Challenge and change have never been dirty words to me but I believe that, for the majority of people, this period in time will have a lasting impact which is life-changing. Whether this is positive or negative will depend on their attitude to it. Times are still tough and if all fails, it fails – it’s not because we’re ‘rubbish’ or the economy has let us down, it’s just because it’s not meant to be.


The support I’ve seen shown to companies and individuals that have had a tough time during the economic crisis is heartening. I feel it must be a time however when people stand up and realise the power they have to question “who or what got us into this mess?” and not just say “oh well” and move on. We’re all powerful in our own right and shouldn’t be dictated to by a small minority at the top who think they’ve done nothing wrong and their way is the best way (from whatever statistics they ‘choose’ to use)! Sometimes it isn’t....and frankly ‘your’ way is the ‘only’ way – for’ YOU’!

IF SOMETHING’S WORTH DOING, IT’S WORTH DOING WELL

The above advice was given to me, armed with my two page YTS questionnaire, in my first month in work by Rodney Bick, who was then the Commercial Director at Amec Projects, and it’s a piece of advice that’s stuck with me throughout my career. I’ve attended the international property show held annually in Cannes, MIPIM, in March for the last 12 years as a delegate and I pretty much know it inside out, or as much as one can – this year, I’m staying in Manchester (unless a good reason to attend arises in the next three weeks!).



In 2011 MIPIM’s 21st “Year of Honour” title goes to the UK and the official line from my previous employer is that “if you’re going to go to MIPIM one year in four, 2011 is the year to attend”. The concentration for the event is likely to be on funding - those attending are likely to be the companies with money to spend or schemes to fund and if London is a target for you, then go for it. Boris Johnson and the Lord Mayor of London will be in attendance and there’s more London boroughs represented on the London stand than ever before and the plan is to have national political figures in Cannes too.


All that said about London, the public sector attendance is not ‘silly’ – our great city, Manchester is there with more supporters than ever from the private sector but for obvious reasons Manchester City Council hasn’t put its financial share in the pot. Word on the street is that chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein might stay home, Manchester Airport's new ‘MIPIM flight’ is under subscribed and Women in Property’s planned “How to Tackle MIPIM” event where I was scheduled to speak a couple of months ago sparked very little interest. Birmingham is attending and others are represented on the UK Regeneration (the former British Urban Regeneration) stand and Liverpool, for the second year, won’t have a formal presence.


The fact is that the figures are right down – 2008 was 30,000, 2009 19,000 and 2010 18,000 but because of the “Year of Honour” tag, attendance is expected to rise slightly this year. MAPIC (the retail version) attendance was 10,000 which remains fairly steady and in November 2010 the focus was international retail. One of my clients with a big retail scheme is considering MAPIC for 2011 so maybe I’ll give MAPIC a go instead this year. Another client is attending MIPIM 2011 “under the radar” and my advice remains to ensure they have a packed schedule and an obvious strategy which I’m helping them with. MIPIM News has a double page spread about the UK and I sourced some commentary from Manchester for my Marketing International colleague who writes for MIPIM News annually.


Given the current economic climate and the fact that I have an extremely focussed business strategy for Just PR & Marketing kicking in on April 1st, MIPIM 2011 feels like an unnecessary distraction at this point and I feel that it’s unlikely that companies will be looking to source a good PR consultant through their visit to MIPIM this year. It remains to be seen whether my competitors return to the UK with a clutch of new instructions or just a massive dent in their budget and in need of a champagne detox!


On the positive side, I’m looking forward to taking advantage of some of the networking opportunities that seem to have sprung up in the UK from the “Not MIPIM” crowd. Maybe I could even stretch to a week off but I suspect that’s just wishful thinking! As a sole trader, MIPIM 2008 (where historically I supported the UBS/Lehman Brothers cocktail party through my international partner!) and 2009 had a clear strategy but MIPM 2010 was just a business development exercise for Just PRM and I blogged from the event for the newly formed “Downtown Manchester in Business” and at that point I was keen to attend in 2011. Given the changed landscape, however, all I can sensibly see MIPIM 2011 being is a “bit of jolly” and whilst I’m generally all for that, I’m taking the sensible approach.


MIPIM remains the world’s largest and most successful property event and I’m sure that those who attend with a clear strategy will have great fun and meet some very influential people. If you’re going – enjoy! Most of all make sure that you plan well in advance and ensure that your strategy is in place to yield strong results.


Go here for your “MIPIM survival guide” http://www.mipimtoughguide.com/ and see other links http://www.mipim.com/en/mipim/; http://www.manchesteratmipim.com/ ; http://www.downtownmanchester.co.uk/blog/?p=35; http://ukregeneration.org.uk/2011/01/11/join-the-uk-mission-to-mipim-2011/


About Just PR & Marketing http://www.justprm.co.uk/; http://www.marketinginternational.com/

WHAT’S THE POINT OF ‘THE SYSTEM’?

‘The system’ appears to me to be running scared and therefore now all about control of the masses through financial pressure. Why are large corporates and Governments taking advantage of individuals or leaving them out in the cold under the guise of ‘the global credit crisis’? Call me paranoid but surely you’re asking yourself ‘what the hell is going on?’ too.


I can’t get credit. The reason I can’t get credit is because it’s determined by a computer (or a programmed Experian report). I operate on the basis of being a person who makes choices rather than someone who is fully integrated into ‘the system’ (a distant memory tells me its something to do with being 'human' as opposed to a number). I don’t own a credit card and have very little debt other than my mortgage. ‘The system’ therefore doesn’t know everything I purchase and from what shops, where I eat, what I buy and what time I engage in those activities. To quote 'Little Britain': 'Computer says "No"!'.



In less rewarding ways, I am very much 'in the system'. I’ve been a tax payer since 16 years of age and had a mortgage since I was 25 years old and never missed a payment on either count. That isn’t enough for ‘the system’ however, therefore I’m out!


This morning, Radio 4's Today programme detailed stories about direct action to try and highlight that large corporate dodge billions in tax simply because they fully understand ‘the system’ (or have the resources to pay someone handsomely who does) and that because of draconian cuts, single women in their 20’s and 30’s might find themselves approaching loan sharks this Christmas to borrow £300 in order to buy Christmas presents for their children, potentially paying 1000%+ in interest because they can’t get an overdraft from the bank.


In other news in 2010 we’ve seen an inordinate amount of interviews with people stranded at airports and in-depth reports about the dangers of going outdoors in the snow. TV programmes and engaging in social media is big positive news however. I don’t need a news report on X-Factor or the weather – if I wanted that information, I’d watch X-Factor or the weather report – it’s not ‘news’!


If you take all that seriously and stay home watching TV, staring at Facebook or shopping online, a hidden file that operates in MS-Dos behind Windows called “index.dat”, that is almost impossible to remove, creates a feed through to Microsoft documenting every keystroke made on the computer; every TV licence holder relays information back to the system about what they’re watching and when. We don't fully know what the information is used for.


Where’s this Blog going? Well, I was subjected to a thorough investigation by HMRC in a ‘random’ check in my first year of business for tax avoidance (a person living in the same area since birth, a registered voter and religiously paying into the system for 25 years other than three months spent overseas!). Their 'investigation' was closed in three days and obviously revealed no anomalies. We're also hearing that companies like Top Shop and Vodafone aren’t paying their fair share and they or their leaders aren’t being challenged about their tax haven activities. Is the former 'soft targeting' going to yield best value for Government in difficult times, especially whilst we're simulaneously facing massive cuts to public funding across the board? Surely, they should be tackling cases that will yield £bn+ results - the FSB quotes that 50% of all recent tax investigations were small businesses (under £500k turnover) and 16% of those are earning £25k or less!

I watched ‘V for Vendetta’ and ‘The Matrix’ recently.....with all the world-wide power and money leaned towards a few at the top and the cash being passed between them, are these movies just life reflecting art or a distinct and frightening (near) future reality?!

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!

I promised to be more positive on my Blog and here it is. I met Terry Hodgkinson recently to be briefed on a project for a push on selling the last 100 ticket for the Manchester launch showcase for The Alchemists Foundation http://thealchemistsfoundation.com/showcases/manchester - what a guy!

Terry’s aspiration is to create the leaders of the future by encouraging us to pass on our best tips and knowledge after being inspired by the showcase. I’ll be there but I’m already inspired after a couple of meetings with Terry.

His CV is absolutely amazing being the outgoing chair of Yorkshire Forward and running multimillion pound businesses including Magna Holdings and Lemmeleg Construction, both Yorkshire based. He’s also been at the forefront of thinking on national heritage, employment and training, sustainability, regeneration, property and construction and business growth initiatives which are too numerous to mention. I’m guessing he’ll have to answer to his local contacts about why he chose our great city, Manchester, for the launch of this fantastic Foundation for its national roll-out! Of course, personally, I think Manchester’s business community will always get behind a worthy cause and this is a call to action for you activists! Please send a link to your HR managers and directors – I don’t think they’ll regret the investment. This is billed as ‘life changing’ stuff and having met Terry, I can believe it.

The event is being held on October 21st (the day after the spending review) and also at The Comedy Store (around the launch of Manchester’s Comedy Festival). Timing is everything and I’m sure they’ll be lots of people needing a bit of inspiration after hearing what Mr Cameron has in store for us by way of cuts announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review the day before.

We met at Harvey Nicks for coffee, issued a press release about the event last week and were in Piccadilly Gardens in The Alchemist Shoebox van on Friday for press interviews and general information giving. Terry’s got a great idea and I hope that the Manchester business community will get behind it although we’re all in difficult times at present.

At the event itself, you’ll be presented with speakers from sport, culture and our very own Mr Property, Tom Bloxham (Urban Splash). You might say I’ve heard Tom speak a hundred times but this time, it’s different. The talks are given from a personal viewpoint and cover personal challenges and inspirations. I’m looking forward to hearing what Tom’s got to say from a different perspective, we all know his story about humble beginnings in business but I’ve never heard it from his viewpoint with personal insights.

The relationship with the event doesn’t stop there. Afterwards, you’ll be sent a shoebox (valued about £60), chosen because we all have one in the loft or bottom of the wardrobe with our important personal stuff (well, I do anyway!) which will encourage you to spread the inspiration you’ve picked up. A guide to how to chose another individual to share your own shoebox with will also be enclosed. Don’t think of this just gaining personal inspiration (which you most certainly will) but think of it as an opportunity to pass on your own inspiration. We all know what we give out comes back in droves....

Terry’s book “Beyond Expectations” will also be given which is a personal account of his journey from a single parent family in a terraced house to present day and, for those new to the property and construction arena, it also is a history of how the industry has changed and shaped Terry’s career from the late 1960’s onwards. This fantastic grounding is so valuable, not just for those fresh out of University and operating in this environment, but with great business insights running alongside with recommended reading for inspirational growth.

This blog isn’t just a sales pitch; I genuinely believe this is the start of something new and interesting – The Big Society perhaps?! I’ve heard lots of talk about TBS but little tangible action – this provides something towards it. We’re in difficult times and things have to change, Terry is part of that change and I support him wholeheartedly in his efforts although it will require a whole lot more than just my support to sell 100 tickets in just over a week! Please do get on board and show that us Mancunians, as ever, are at the forefront of change....thank you in advance!

Go here to purchase your life-enhancing tickets... http://thealchemistsfoundation.eventbrite.com/

For more information about The Alchemist Foundation and Manchester Showcase go here... http://thealchemistsfoundation.com/showcases/manchester/

THE THINGS SENT TO ‘TRY’ US

If the system wastes enough of our time, energy and money, does that give them reassurance that our remaining scant resources dictate we’ll never get around to questioning it!?


Has it ever crossed your mind why we are put under so much unnecessary, subtle pressure from Government departments, large companies and financial institutions?


There are millions of people in this country supposedly out of work and we keep hearing that there isn’t enough money to keep them salaried - catch 22! Why don’t we pay people who aren’t set to ‘robot’ an average salary to take normal-rate calls quickly instead of leaving us hanging on an 0845 number for five minutes, going through security for another three minutes and then talking at length to a condescending, time-wasting but mature teenager with a superiority complex! I’ve noticed that a call to the tax man, the bank or a utility company doesn’t take less than half an hour these days – it’s frightening how much time, money and energy those calls drain not to mention the health implications (from eradiating telephone equipment).


It’s interesting how everything has a cause and effect: Problem [created and blamed on someone else] – Reaction [the media carries our indignant woes] – Solution [the problem creators celebrate providing the solution under our noses]. It’s not necessarily recommended in the PR manuals but the Problem/Reaction/Solution model seems to be rife at the moment. Government is causing problems, the public is reacting and Government is creating the solutions (and charging interest!).


What if we all woke up and, instead of frustratingly hanging up on the superior teenager with an attitude, said this is all wrong? Isn’t the answer: you cut the programme, my client/customer now can’t/won’t pay, so I’m not paying you? Isn’t that how it should work? Well, in a way, but “you should have made provision for this” would be the response. Yes, OK, so you think I should have known who was going to win the election, how severe the cuts were going to be, how the Euro-zone was going to fall over...maybe if full information was shared with us pre-election, better provision could have been made?!


There are very few powerful individuals dictating how UK and global business operates. They do have lots of power but they are few in numbers by comparison. Don’t jump off a bridge or take a gun to the police under the pressure of it, just wake up and see it for what it is. Consider money an energy, and FEAR an acronym of ‘feeling excited and ready’!