Since my last post about the Edgeware course, I have attended two events in program.
The first was a day long session "Backpack" facilitated by Dr Ian Dover of Alitek Consultants.
Ian's approach to business is to summed up by five principles he introduced us to:
1. Use simple thinking and tools, "adding complexity to cope with complexity is a seriously flawed approach".
2. Solve problems consistently. Now, where how. Look at where you are now, assume you are very successful (ie where you want to be) and then devise the strategies that will get you there (the how).
3. Use 80/20 thinking. This was very new to me - but this relates to the idea that the great majority of inputs only have marginal impact, eg "20% of your effort will gie you 80% of the the results". So really target your activities.
4. Understand customer value. That is, understand what your customer wants, needs, desires to be successful.
5. The wisdom of crowds. Great advice here. Ian says planning is a social process so get the opinions of those that you respect. This idea is a favourite of Michael Doneman of Edgeware.
Working in a setting which is not typical, I don't manufacture something to sell, these concepts take alot of absorbing to apply in the context of consulting to NGO's and government. Essentially my product is labour and intellectual property. Although, I am developing training content around 'Understanding homelessness'.
Some of the tools that Ian shared with us were useful in understanding 'where to start' what are my priorities, where am I going.
These tools are so practical they have wider application. NGOs also have to think about what next and how do we get their would find these tools useful.
A valuable day and I got to touch an Iphone for the first time!! Nimer Jaber sells computer equipment including Macs. Nimer let me fondle it! It was beautiful..... But we won't be seeing them in Australia for sometime apparently.
Have a great day to all.
Michelle
24 September 2007
20 September 2007
Moments that change your life
I imagined this blog would be a discussion of ideas related to my professional life. But this week a couple of events have occurred which have made quite an impact.
First, my cousin lost her (almost) 6 year old daughter. Ellie was born with enormous challenges, missing a chromosome and having heart surgery before she turned one. However, she left her mark and was adored by her family. I feel greatly for Ellie, her mother and grandparents. How do you fill your life after losing a child?
Secondly, my husband got a phone call from an old school friend. Unfortunately, the called included bad news as he was informed of the death of an old school friend. Cameron, a teacher, was 41years old and a father of three, the youngest was only born last year. Cameron was riding his motor bike and reports indicate that the 87 year old driver of the car that hit him veered onto the wrong side of the road. The pictures of the accident show it was a lovely blue shy day and the it occurred on a suburban street on the sunshine coast.
Tragic. Tragedy. How hard is life sometimes?
I promise to ALWAYS be nice to my husband. And enjoy each and every day.
(BTW, why is anyone driving a car at the age of 87?)
Michelle
First, my cousin lost her (almost) 6 year old daughter. Ellie was born with enormous challenges, missing a chromosome and having heart surgery before she turned one. However, she left her mark and was adored by her family. I feel greatly for Ellie, her mother and grandparents. How do you fill your life after losing a child?
Secondly, my husband got a phone call from an old school friend. Unfortunately, the called included bad news as he was informed of the death of an old school friend. Cameron, a teacher, was 41years old and a father of three, the youngest was only born last year. Cameron was riding his motor bike and reports indicate that the 87 year old driver of the car that hit him veered onto the wrong side of the road. The pictures of the accident show it was a lovely blue shy day and the it occurred on a suburban street on the sunshine coast.
Tragic. Tragedy. How hard is life sometimes?
I promise to ALWAYS be nice to my husband. And enjoy each and every day.
(BTW, why is anyone driving a car at the age of 87?)
Michelle
18 September 2007
Successful bid for Gold Coast Project
Yesterday I received great news. Together with Dr Wendy McIntosh of Davaar Consultancy we were successful in bidding for a project submitted to Blair Athol on the Gold Coast.
Fantastic. The first project we have pitched for!! What a great feeling. Blair Athol has received funding from FACSIA for the provision of training and resources to frontline health and emergency staff. The project includes preparing materials that will fasciltate the referral of clients by police, hospital staff etc. Interestingly, one part of the project is the development and delivery of community education to private real estate agents.
The project will run between October and May!
Great news. But I need more work to sustain me than just this project, but more on that later.
Ahh, I will enjoy the moment, for just a moment as I seek more work!
Cheers.
Fantastic. The first project we have pitched for!! What a great feeling. Blair Athol has received funding from FACSIA for the provision of training and resources to frontline health and emergency staff. The project includes preparing materials that will fasciltate the referral of clients by police, hospital staff etc. Interestingly, one part of the project is the development and delivery of community education to private real estate agents.
The project will run between October and May!
Great news. But I need more work to sustain me than just this project, but more on that later.
Ahh, I will enjoy the moment, for just a moment as I seek more work!
Cheers.
13 September 2007
Congratulations Premier Anna Bligh
I woke this morning with a pep in my step. Helpful as I trundled along the river. For today was the day that Anna Bligh would be sworn in as Queensland's first woman Premier. What a grand day indeed.
Anna is very talented, warm, passionate, a great speaker (with a great voice) and extremely hard working. She has worked really hard to get to this point. I am elated for her, her family, staff and supporters. The pictures of her and her family at todays ceremony were just joyous.
To be Premier, lots of things have to be in place. Timing and I'm sure something has to be right with the planets too... Some people get the job unexpectedly, like Morris Iemma or Steve Bracks. Which makes this even more remarkable. Within progressive parties circles Anna's leadership abilities have been well articulated for some time, way before Mr Beattie anointed her. Anna was elected in 1995 and became a Minister in 1998. Her colleagues have had plenty of time to assess her abilities and nobble her chances. But given the events today, the assessment has clearly been that she is in a class of her own.
I held my 2 year old daughter Miranda last night while watching the news reports of her election by Caucus. I told her this was a really important moment, that Anna Bligh was going to be the big boss in Queensland. I am sure she was impressed.
I am told Miranda's life expectancy will be close to 100 years old. I just hope in her lifetime 'firsts' such as this become celebrated historical events as it becomes commonplace for women to hold positions of power across all sectors.
All power to the sisterhood....
Anna is very talented, warm, passionate, a great speaker (with a great voice) and extremely hard working. She has worked really hard to get to this point. I am elated for her, her family, staff and supporters. The pictures of her and her family at todays ceremony were just joyous.
To be Premier, lots of things have to be in place. Timing and I'm sure something has to be right with the planets too... Some people get the job unexpectedly, like Morris Iemma or Steve Bracks. Which makes this even more remarkable. Within progressive parties circles Anna's leadership abilities have been well articulated for some time, way before Mr Beattie anointed her. Anna was elected in 1995 and became a Minister in 1998. Her colleagues have had plenty of time to assess her abilities and nobble her chances. But given the events today, the assessment has clearly been that she is in a class of her own.
I held my 2 year old daughter Miranda last night while watching the news reports of her election by Caucus. I told her this was a really important moment, that Anna Bligh was going to be the big boss in Queensland. I am sure she was impressed.
I am told Miranda's life expectancy will be close to 100 years old. I just hope in her lifetime 'firsts' such as this become celebrated historical events as it becomes commonplace for women to hold positions of power across all sectors.
All power to the sisterhood....
11 September 2007
Thanks for the memories Pete & Vaile Dame Anita Roddick
Busy newsweek, and it is only Tuesday. While we are coming to terms with a Post-Beattie age in Queensland, speculation about the position of the Prime Minister continues given the polls showing a landslide loss for the Coalition Government.
Peter Beattie had incredible political timing and judgement for the most part. Policy analysis aside, the Premier was a consummate communicator to the electorate. Many politicians speak in another language, but not Premier Pete who was always plainspoken.
Part of his success is that everyone (oh well most people) has a Peter Beattie story. He has been in public life for a long time and has managed to meet lots of people and his memory for faces is legendary. He might not remember names (at a function in Cairns in a previous life, he asked me the name of a candidate, personally chosen by him, just before he got up to address the audience!), but he has a fantastic memory for faces and recalling where you had met.
In stepping down, Beattie talked about the importance of renewal. Beattie was elected in 1989, and there are still a few 89er's around. Perhaps some of his former colleagues might think about their own future and consider whether to run next time. Because he was the consummate politician, I for one, found it hard to believe that he would do anything else. But he has surprised us and says he is looking forward to his new life.
He had impeccable judgement when it came to calling elections. He has given Anna Bligh a great opportunity to recast the Government two years out from the election. That is the right thing to do to your successor.
Renewal is a good thing. Look at the pickle Prime Minister Howard has himself in at present. Keep watching the news. Mr Howard says he won't go, Mr Costello won't challenge and there is a whole two weeks of Parliament ahead!! Good grief with all that pressure the roof is sure to blow!!
Vaile Dame Anita Roddick
I was greatly saddened to hear of the death of Dame Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop earlier today. She was an early pioneer in the ethical business movement. She established fair trade by buying produce from the third world. She put Greenpeace campaigns in her shop windows and was a passionate advocate for human rights. In Australia, here in Brisbane the Body Shop is a supporter of The Big Issue as vendors, who are homeless, come in to collect and drop off their magazines.
All Body Shop staff contribute one day every year to volunteering for a charity. Good stuff, all the while, making buckets of money.
As I embark on my own micro business she is a great inpiration of creative and ethical entrepreneurship. I am saddened to hear she leaves behind two daughters, in their thirties. She was only 64. We all need our Mums......
Thanks Dame Anita.
Peter Beattie had incredible political timing and judgement for the most part. Policy analysis aside, the Premier was a consummate communicator to the electorate. Many politicians speak in another language, but not Premier Pete who was always plainspoken.
Part of his success is that everyone (oh well most people) has a Peter Beattie story. He has been in public life for a long time and has managed to meet lots of people and his memory for faces is legendary. He might not remember names (at a function in Cairns in a previous life, he asked me the name of a candidate, personally chosen by him, just before he got up to address the audience!), but he has a fantastic memory for faces and recalling where you had met.
In stepping down, Beattie talked about the importance of renewal. Beattie was elected in 1989, and there are still a few 89er's around. Perhaps some of his former colleagues might think about their own future and consider whether to run next time. Because he was the consummate politician, I for one, found it hard to believe that he would do anything else. But he has surprised us and says he is looking forward to his new life.
He had impeccable judgement when it came to calling elections. He has given Anna Bligh a great opportunity to recast the Government two years out from the election. That is the right thing to do to your successor.
Renewal is a good thing. Look at the pickle Prime Minister Howard has himself in at present. Keep watching the news. Mr Howard says he won't go, Mr Costello won't challenge and there is a whole two weeks of Parliament ahead!! Good grief with all that pressure the roof is sure to blow!!
Vaile Dame Anita Roddick
I was greatly saddened to hear of the death of Dame Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop earlier today. She was an early pioneer in the ethical business movement. She established fair trade by buying produce from the third world. She put Greenpeace campaigns in her shop windows and was a passionate advocate for human rights. In Australia, here in Brisbane the Body Shop is a supporter of The Big Issue as vendors, who are homeless, come in to collect and drop off their magazines.
All Body Shop staff contribute one day every year to volunteering for a charity. Good stuff, all the while, making buckets of money.
As I embark on my own micro business she is a great inpiration of creative and ethical entrepreneurship. I am saddened to hear she leaves behind two daughters, in their thirties. She was only 64. We all need our Mums......
Thanks Dame Anita.
05 September 2007
Homeless
A few weeks ago, I got up early, before dawn and drove to Southbank to join the 'get fit' crowd with a walk along the river. Most of the crowd run, cycle or move to the orders being barked by their personal trainers. They all look so fashionable, so healthy. They look so good, they don't need to do this stuff?
I amble along thinking how lovely the morning is. Most mornings I can't help but see people who are homeless sleeping in the boat sheds at Kangaroo Point. One has a bicycle with him. I used to walk along the boardwalk next to the boat sheds. But as I don't want to wake this guy I now go along the path. What a bugger we must be. We have our lives, our homes, enough resources to even think about improving our health and now we noisely make our way into the private, but public places where people sleep.
On this particular morning, I parked my car next to the only other car in the bays. As I got out I looked over to find the driver, a woman sleeping in her front seat.
In Kathleen Noonan's column (Courier Mail, 25-26 Aug 07) she quite rightly tries to dispel the myths behind public perception of 'the homeless'. The truth is the transient bloke who drinks too much is not the dominant demographic in the population. 25,000 Queenslanders were homeless in the 2001 Census*, 16% or 3,869 were rough sleepers, 53% were staying temporarily with friends and relatives, 9% in government funded hostels and a further 22% living in boarding houses.
It is young people, women and families that are the growing homeless demographic. In Noonan's article, Dale Spender correctly identified the slim gap between having a home and no longer having a home:
"No work, no support, no money, can't meet he rent or mortgage, then homeless. It's not such a huge jump'.
No its not.
Today I have done some housework on this blog and have included a link to two blogs from women who were homeless, one in the US and the other in Britain. Excellent, but chilling reading if you dare.
Warm regards
Michelle
* 2006 Census figures due out any day now.
I amble along thinking how lovely the morning is. Most mornings I can't help but see people who are homeless sleeping in the boat sheds at Kangaroo Point. One has a bicycle with him. I used to walk along the boardwalk next to the boat sheds. But as I don't want to wake this guy I now go along the path. What a bugger we must be. We have our lives, our homes, enough resources to even think about improving our health and now we noisely make our way into the private, but public places where people sleep.
On this particular morning, I parked my car next to the only other car in the bays. As I got out I looked over to find the driver, a woman sleeping in her front seat.
In Kathleen Noonan's column (Courier Mail, 25-26 Aug 07) she quite rightly tries to dispel the myths behind public perception of 'the homeless'. The truth is the transient bloke who drinks too much is not the dominant demographic in the population. 25,000 Queenslanders were homeless in the 2001 Census*, 16% or 3,869 were rough sleepers, 53% were staying temporarily with friends and relatives, 9% in government funded hostels and a further 22% living in boarding houses.
It is young people, women and families that are the growing homeless demographic. In Noonan's article, Dale Spender correctly identified the slim gap between having a home and no longer having a home:
"No work, no support, no money, can't meet he rent or mortgage, then homeless. It's not such a huge jump'.
No its not.
Today I have done some housework on this blog and have included a link to two blogs from women who were homeless, one in the US and the other in Britain. Excellent, but chilling reading if you dare.
Warm regards
Michelle
* 2006 Census figures due out any day now.
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