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’!

PURGATORY LACED WITH FEAR

When the ultimate, ultimate client is Government, if we don’t play fair with each-other, where will it end?


I’m a pretty honest person, as you might have gathered by the header, I was raised a good Catholic girl with Irish grandparents. I was taught never to tell lies, be honest and, if the full truth be known, I’m probably too honest for my own good.


Why then, the more honest I am, the more representatives of large organisations and government departments tend to assume I’m dishonest? Has everyone in this country gone to such a level that they’re lying to the taxman and trying to wriggle out of payments that should be made for services rendered? It seems to be the default position for large organisations and has been for some time. I’m even coming across it in my personal life – the mobile phone company, the gas/electricity supplier, the insurance provider – there doesn’t seem to be an organisation providing a genuine service or listening to honest reasoning these days.


It’s as if small companies and individuals don’t have any rights to control their own income any more. The threats are clear: pay up or we’ll make your life difficult – in these recessional times, no-one wants to be rubber stamped “lacking liquidity” or “a bad payer” - the fear, nine times out of ten, will push companies or individuals into paying and time constraints stop them complaining or taking action against the company.


This country is in purgatory [in Roman Catholic doctrine, the place where souls remain until they have expiated their sins and can go to heaven] until we witness the real outcome of Government spending cuts and, in fact, that is likely to mark the next phase of it! Why then are organisations ignoring external factors and not paying the most needy of their suppliers and taking a ‘me first’ attitude no matter what the cost to their supply chain? There have been some well documented cases where excellent companies in the property industry have gone under due to the dishonest or incompetent dealings of the ultimate client and we were all shocked. Was that the trigger that’s now turned the majority of companies (even the smaller ones) into elbow pushing, me-firsters?


I can’t stand this air of greed and competition when no-one knows how things are going to pan out - all we know is that it’s going to be difficult for everyone and particularly small businesses. Surely purgatory can be peaceful, especially when most of us have not committed any wrongdoings to atone for!?

Cannes View

Reflecting back over MIPIM week, Manchester has again excelled itself in its positioning on an international stage. The stand and presentation content, team Manchester (in which I include all of us in attendance from the city), the additional activity outside of the Palais des Festival and the overall upbeat feeling that abounds today reflects a successful week.

Overall the show continues to be quieter than in its boom years however Manchester’s activity has been reflective of its ambitions as a city. The expertly designed and managed stand changed colour daily and was again open and welcoming with lots of meetings on-stand; the branded ‘Manchester’ bar near to the exhibition centre continues to be a popular feature and the addition of a well-located apartment for events replace the once glitzy dinner and the Manchester yacht. Focused, tight and I suspect more cost effective than previous years, the city’s presence reflected the times but was as ‘in your face’ as ever.

Tom Bloxham’s presentation on Cultural Manchester was first up and the content, I’m happy to report, wasn’t overshadowed by his striking suit! Day two provided detail of the city’s transportation plans and explanation of ‘Corridor Manchester’, the Oxford Road knowledge corridor and Mike Oglesby (MIDAS/Bruntwood) and Paul Lakin’s (NWDA) presentation on how the Manchester’s regeneration has positively impacted the city region and the North West. These presentations flanked the city’s appearance alongside Barcelona, Hamburg and Amsterdam where civic leaders and private sector partners from each city were given a ‘grilling’ – Manchester stood out as being more clearly focused on the people of the city and those it might attract rather than just cold physical regeneration.

Thursday’s activity was kicked off with a presentation by quartet Sir Howard Bernstein, Ian Simpson (Ian Simpson Architects), Roger Stephenson (Stephenson Bell) and David Partridge (Argent) about exciting plans for the Civic Centre including the redevelopment of St Peter’s Square and town hall buildings – a quick scoot over to the Hotel Gray d’Albion where Nick Johnson (Urban Splash) expertly managed an esteemed city panel of representatives covering trade and investment, sport, culture, connectivity under the heading Manchester International. The debate underlined the city’s cohesion of all these elements to provide the Manchester package being sold on a world stage. Sir Howard Bernstein, always looking to the next challenge, highlighted the city’s need to better support indigenous businesses in their international aspirations and promised future improvements. Finally, the moment everyone was waiting for was the city’s announcement of further detail of the much speculated tie-up with MCFC –confirmation that the deal will be done was provided and that Chief Executive, Gary Cooke, couldn’t join the MIPIM team as he was busy discussing plans with ministers in the UK….the city’s dedicated journalists will have to wait a little longer…

With the advent of social media, droves of MIPIM stories were issued from Cannes and the city embraced the mood of the times by having a live Twitter feed #MIPIM on stand which at times made for very interesting reading!

The serious stuff well and truly sown up, everyone headed down to the Ear to the Ground ‘Hang the DJ’ party for a ‘right old knees up’ and I’d award prizes to David Partridge (Argent) for the most enthusiastic dancer and the most appreciated ‘set’ to Tom Bloxham who couldn’t fail with a bit of Manchester’s own Joy Division and Love Will Tear Us Apart…….or bring us together……whatever your view of MIPIM, it certainly solidifies that cocky ‘can do’ attitude and I for one hope to be back next year to support the city!

http://www.manchesteratmipim.com/