Dear Friend,
It is already spring, a time for new beginnings and reflection on innovations. What innovations are you working on in your life and business? What are you thinking & doing differently this year? How are your thoughts, perceptions, behaviour and understanding of the world different to last year; last month; last week?
Over the course of this year, I will be sending my readers sample chapters of my new book "How to Rock the Boat ... Safely!" which I am publishing as an e-book in the first instance. I would love to receive your comments and feedback on each of the chapters so that I can make amendments as necessary for the paperback copy. Please click on the link below to read the first four chapters.
How to Rock the Boat ... Safely!
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
In the UK, the rising cost of food and fuel is heavily debated in the media and political arenas these days. Perhaps the situation is similar in countries around the world. Are we bothered?
According to Jay Rayner, journalist for the Dispatche s programme broadcast this evening, the problem is not that food prices are going up dramatically; the problem is that food prices have been too low for too long in countries like the UK.
Food for thought?
How much of your salary do you currently spend on food?
Living in London, I spend about 10% of my salary on food. If the price of food doubles, I will be spending 20% of my salary on food. I will still be able to afford to eat even if the price of food triples. However, in developing countries, where people currently spend over 50% of their salary on food, the doubling or tripling of food prices will of course mean that people will no longer be able to afford enough food to meet their needs.
Can you imagine a situation where we have to spend over 50% of our income on food? I cannot. This leads me to contemplate on the message in the Dispatche s programme this evening: food prices have been too low for too long in countries like the UK.
Similarly, have you noticed that the price of clothes has been going down so fast in recent years that it is now quite normal to buy T-shirts and tops for £2 in stores such as the pervasive Primark retail store. My teenage students, most of whom have never worked a day in their lives, can afford to dress in quality outfits, crafted by children earning 50 pence per day in the slums of India. When I see these low income, inner city students, in yet another fancy outfit, I have this conversation in my head:
"What, you didn't know they used child labour to manufacture those clothes for Primark?"
How can you buy an outfit for £2 and not know?
How can you boast that it is cheaper to throw away your clothes after you've worn them a couple of times than to get them cleaned, and claim that you did not know the amount of exploitation that was required to meet your desires?"
The primary purpose of most businesses is to make maximum amount of profit at least amount of cost and both India and China have proved lucrative hosts for western companies such as Primark to meet excessive consumer desires at increasingly competitive prices.
The twist in the business tale occurs when we consider ethics and the power of the media to move our conscience. Just one powerful documentary, one video clip can turn a boastful business remark into a cause for embarrassment and guilt.
Primark boasts that it cuts costs of production through minimal spending on advertising. However, in response to the BBC Panorama documentary on the use of Indian child labour for its clothes production, Primark sacked three Indian suppliers implicated in the breach of ethical standards. No doubt this caused hundreds of job losses in the local area concerned.
What would you have done?
The fundamental economic questions are "What to produce; how to produce it; for whom?" What questions do you ask yourself as a consumer? What to consume? At what price? Where to get the product from? In a free market, our decisions as consumers are expressed powerfully each time and each place we make a purchase.
Happy shopping!
Jesvir
According to Jay Rayner, journalist for the Dispatche s programme broadcast this evening, the problem is not that food prices are going up dramatically; the problem is that food prices have been too low for too long in countries like the UK.
Food for thought?
How much of your salary do you currently spend on food?
Living in London, I spend about 10% of my salary on food. If the price of food doubles, I will be spending 20% of my salary on food. I will still be able to afford to eat even if the price of food triples. However, in developing countries, where people currently spend over 50% of their salary on food, the doubling or tripling of food prices will of course mean that people will no longer be able to afford enough food to meet their needs.
Can you imagine a situation where we have to spend over 50% of our income on food? I cannot. This leads me to contemplate on the message in the Dispatche s programme this evening: food prices have been too low for too long in countries like the UK.
Similarly, have you noticed that the price of clothes has been going down so fast in recent years that it is now quite normal to buy T-shirts and tops for £2 in stores such as the pervasive Primark retail store. My teenage students, most of whom have never worked a day in their lives, can afford to dress in quality outfits, crafted by children earning 50 pence per day in the slums of India. When I see these low income, inner city students, in yet another fancy outfit, I have this conversation in my head:
"What, you didn't know they used child labour to manufacture those clothes for Primark?"
How can you buy an outfit for £2 and not know?
How can you boast that it is cheaper to throw away your clothes after you've worn them a couple of times than to get them cleaned, and claim that you did not know the amount of exploitation that was required to meet your desires?"
The primary purpose of most businesses is to make maximum amount of profit at least amount of cost and both India and China have proved lucrative hosts for western companies such as Primark to meet excessive consumer desires at increasingly competitive prices.
The twist in the business tale occurs when we consider ethics and the power of the media to move our conscience. Just one powerful documentary, one video clip can turn a boastful business remark into a cause for embarrassment and guilt.
Primark boasts that it cuts costs of production through minimal spending on advertising. However, in response to the BBC Panorama documentary on the use of Indian child labour for its clothes production, Primark sacked three Indian suppliers implicated in the breach of ethical standards. No doubt this caused hundreds of job losses in the local area concerned.
What would you have done?
The fundamental economic questions are "What to produce; how to produce it; for whom?" What questions do you ask yourself as a consumer? What to consume? At what price? Where to get the product from? In a free market, our decisions as consumers are expressed powerfully each time and each place we make a purchase.
Happy shopping!
Jesvir
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Usually I write about my personal thoughts/ideas on a topical business issue. This time I am adding a link to a live broadcast I did for Westside Radio last week, accompanied by 4 of my teenage business studies students. The show host asked us to speak about the importance of character in business; how to create powerful teams and deliver effective presentations. She also asked us to justify the importance of a business education. Our answers to these questions are available at this link which will take you to the recording of the radio broadcast:
Westside Radio
In the past, there was a distinct gap between academics and the business world...people went to university to become professionals with "jobs for life" and setting up a business was seen, for many, to be the choice for non-academics. Regardless of whether you are a professional or business person There is a great difference between doing a job to pay the bills and doing work that is fulfilling and rewarding. Doing a job that bores you or stresses you will impact on every area of your life just as doing work that constantly inspires you will. Three of my respected coaching friends have created a free special audio called 'Discover Your Calling' to share what they have learnt on the path towards creating fulfilling work. You can hear this free recording by clicking the following link: The Money Shaman
Let me know your thoughts on the Westside Radio show and also the Money Shaman recording when you have had a chance to listen.
Westside Radio
In the past, there was a distinct gap between academics and the business world...people went to university to become professionals with "jobs for life" and setting up a business was seen, for many, to be the choice for non-academics. Regardless of whether you are a professional or business person There is a great difference between doing a job to pay the bills and doing work that is fulfilling and rewarding. Doing a job that bores you or stresses you will impact on every area of your life just as doing work that constantly inspires you will. Three of my respected coaching friends have created a free special audio called 'Discover Your Calling' to share what they have learnt on the path towards creating fulfilling work. You can hear this free recording by clicking the following link: The Money Shaman
Let me know your thoughts on the Westside Radio show and also the Money Shaman recording when you have had a chance to listen.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
The price of FREE seminars
How often do you get invitations for seminars that are "FREE"?
Does it tempt you to attend, even though it is not something you need, want or can use, merely because it is "free"?
I get several invitations every day to attend personal development seminars that are "free". I put "free" in inverted commas as you & I both know that when something is offered "free" in the business world, it is usually part of a marketing campaign which often leads to over-priced goods/services further along the path.
For example, I attended a very professionally organised "free" seminar last year and was recently sent a trial copy manual priced at £300 by the organisers of that seminar. This manual may have been sold for £10 maximum in the local bookshops but the "trust building campaign" that the organisers have engaged in over the past year enables them to request a much-inflated price. Psychologically, we are inclined to pay much more to those we like, trust and respect.
The two sides to this coin are that: as business people we gain the confidence to demand higher prices from our customers/clients in return for their trust in us; as customers/clients, we are likely to willingly pay more to those who have gained our trust.
That may sound all well and reasonable. Until of course we realise we are being cheated with inflated prices. A customer that feels they are being cheated is very hard to win back. This is the same in all kinds of relationships. Once the trust is breached, we put ourselves into negative equity, perhaps in direct proportion to the level of trust that existed.
So when you are offering or, are offered, a seminar or something similar for "free", ask yourselves:
How am I spending my time? How am I investing my time? How am I wasting my time?
Your time is probably your richest resource and it is finite...whether you spend it, invest it or waste it, you cannot claim it back. There are no business guarantees that will give you your time back.
Most of us are aware when we are WASTING our time. It is harder to see the difference between SPENDING our time and INVESTING our time.
In what ways do you SPEND your time and what ways do you INVEST your time?
One of the ways I am investing my time at the moment is in building up my social and business community. Most of you are already part of my business community at Ecademy If not, please do join....you will receive a one month FREE trial if you click this link Ecademy (and after that we will ask you to pay through the nose!! just kidding!) If you are not a business person and would like to be a part of my online social community, please add me as a friend on Facebook I like the philosophy of openness and transparent communities that Facebook evokes (it is free) and out of the dozens of networks I am a member of, I find Ecademy and Facebook to be the most useful for business and social communities.
Jesvir Mahil
How often do you get invitations for seminars that are "FREE"?
Does it tempt you to attend, even though it is not something you need, want or can use, merely because it is "free"?
I get several invitations every day to attend personal development seminars that are "free". I put "free" in inverted commas as you & I both know that when something is offered "free" in the business world, it is usually part of a marketing campaign which often leads to over-priced goods/services further along the path.
For example, I attended a very professionally organised "free" seminar last year and was recently sent a trial copy manual priced at £300 by the organisers of that seminar. This manual may have been sold for £10 maximum in the local bookshops but the "trust building campaign" that the organisers have engaged in over the past year enables them to request a much-inflated price. Psychologically, we are inclined to pay much more to those we like, trust and respect.
The two sides to this coin are that: as business people we gain the confidence to demand higher prices from our customers/clients in return for their trust in us; as customers/clients, we are likely to willingly pay more to those who have gained our trust.
That may sound all well and reasonable. Until of course we realise we are being cheated with inflated prices. A customer that feels they are being cheated is very hard to win back. This is the same in all kinds of relationships. Once the trust is breached, we put ourselves into negative equity, perhaps in direct proportion to the level of trust that existed.
So when you are offering or, are offered, a seminar or something similar for "free", ask yourselves:
How am I spending my time? How am I investing my time? How am I wasting my time?
Your time is probably your richest resource and it is finite...whether you spend it, invest it or waste it, you cannot claim it back. There are no business guarantees that will give you your time back.
Most of us are aware when we are WASTING our time. It is harder to see the difference between SPENDING our time and INVESTING our time.
In what ways do you SPEND your time and what ways do you INVEST your time?
One of the ways I am investing my time at the moment is in building up my social and business community. Most of you are already part of my business community at Ecademy If not, please do join....you will receive a one month FREE trial if you click this link Ecademy (and after that we will ask you to pay through the nose!! just kidding!) If you are not a business person and would like to be a part of my online social community, please add me as a friend on Facebook I like the philosophy of openness and transparent communities that Facebook evokes (it is free) and out of the dozens of networks I am a member of, I find Ecademy and Facebook to be the most useful for business and social communities.
Jesvir Mahil
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Survival of the Fittest?
Don't we judge people by the language they use?
The language we choose to use, defines us. It forms a part of our identity. The essence of our business is conveyed in our logo, our mission statement, our strap-line (that crucial sentence which needs to persuade people to buy our products or services). The words we choose to use will either attract or distract our potential customers.
The language of our inner thoughts moulds our attitudes and behaviour. Therefore it is useful to periodically reflect on the language we use to define ourself and to consider how this is shaping our behaviour:
Are you a capitalist? A socialist? An idealist?
In a conversation with my business friend, Aini, we spoke about the need for a new political term that defines technology-powered entrepreneurs like ourselves that are neither capitalists nor socialists; she came up with the term "idealism" which seems to fit perfectly. Our businesses are driven and fuelled by IDEAS, not capital.
Ideas, idealist, idealism......the words you resonate with, will guide you to the people who speak "your language"
Some of my friends with rich ideas are Davide de Angelis and Steve Noble (Director of Alternatives). They run regular Prosperi ty workshops and I attended one of these today. Davide explained the difference between "survival of the fittest" and "survival of the indispensable". There is a great difference between these two attitudes.
Think of a business which is built on the attitude of "survival of the fittest".
Now think of a business which is built on the attitude of "survival of the indispensable".
When something (or someone) is "indispensable", their presence supports the existence and growth of those around them. Indeed, their presence is fundamental to the existence and growth of others.
The best way I can illustrate the difference between "survival of the fittest" and "survival of the indispensable" is by asking you to watch this inspirational video of Nick Vujicic
Nick Vujicic, in my opinion, is a perfect example of "survival of the indispensable". Please watch this video: Nick Vujicic
What are the words you are using to define who you are? How is the language of your thoughts shaping the way you relate with the world around you?
Don't we judge people by the language they use?
The language we choose to use, defines us. It forms a part of our identity. The essence of our business is conveyed in our logo, our mission statement, our strap-line (that crucial sentence which needs to persuade people to buy our products or services). The words we choose to use will either attract or distract our potential customers.
The language of our inner thoughts moulds our attitudes and behaviour. Therefore it is useful to periodically reflect on the language we use to define ourself and to consider how this is shaping our behaviour:
Are you a capitalist? A socialist? An idealist?
In a conversation with my business friend, Aini, we spoke about the need for a new political term that defines technology-powered entrepreneurs like ourselves that are neither capitalists nor socialists; she came up with the term "idealism" which seems to fit perfectly. Our businesses are driven and fuelled by IDEAS, not capital.
Ideas, idealist, idealism......the words you resonate with, will guide you to the people who speak "your language"
Some of my friends with rich ideas are Davide de Angelis and Steve Noble (Director of Alternatives). They run regular Prosperi ty workshops and I attended one of these today. Davide explained the difference between "survival of the fittest" and "survival of the indispensable". There is a great difference between these two attitudes.
Think of a business which is built on the attitude of "survival of the fittest".
Now think of a business which is built on the attitude of "survival of the indispensable".
When something (or someone) is "indispensable", their presence supports the existence and growth of those around them. Indeed, their presence is fundamental to the existence and growth of others.
The best way I can illustrate the difference between "survival of the fittest" and "survival of the indispensable" is by asking you to watch this inspirational video of Nick Vujicic
Nick Vujicic, in my opinion, is a perfect example of "survival of the indispensable". Please watch this video: Nick Vujicic
What are the words you are using to define who you are? How is the language of your thoughts shaping the way you relate with the world around you?
Friday, June 29, 2007
Truth and Lies
Have you ever told a lie?
Most people's answer to this will be "Yes, of course!" and then they will justify their reasons for telling the "white lies".
I bet that you can justify every single lie that you have ever told in your life. And so can I.
Gary King, a speaker at the YES group yesterday, told the audience that most people are "basically honest". They lie, cheat and deceive because that is what "basically" honest people do. Honest people do not.
Honest people do not lie, cheat or decieve. Basically honest people do.
This assertion created quite a reaction in the audience with questions such as:
"I didn't tell my family that my father was terminally ill and I still believe that was the right thing to do!"
"When my wife asks me if she looks beautiful, it is kinder to lie"
Please reflect on all the times you have lied in your life for a "very good reason".
This is the question Gary King asked when all kinds of "good" lies were thrown at him:
"How did you feel when you told that lie? Did you feel empowered or disempowered?"
He illustrated how scientific experiments provide evidence that lying is bad for our health. When we lie, the negative, life-destroying mechanism is stored in our cells.
However, in the USA (according to Gary King) some college students are being taught "alternative ethics". They are taught that as long as the outcome is achieved, the means for achieving that outcome, including lying, are ethical.
What do you think?
Have you ever told a lie that truly left you feeling empowered? Did the end justify the means?
If you would like to explore this issue about the "Power of Truth" further, you might be interested in getting Gary King's DVD The Power of Truth The DVDs were on sale at the YES group yesterday but I didn't buy one because I thought this whole "tell the truth!" business was a way of controlling the masses into paying every single penny of their taxes! :) OK, I might be wrong! :)
Have you ever told a lie?
Most people's answer to this will be "Yes, of course!" and then they will justify their reasons for telling the "white lies".
I bet that you can justify every single lie that you have ever told in your life. And so can I.
Gary King, a speaker at the YES group yesterday, told the audience that most people are "basically honest". They lie, cheat and deceive because that is what "basically" honest people do. Honest people do not.
Honest people do not lie, cheat or decieve. Basically honest people do.
This assertion created quite a reaction in the audience with questions such as:
"I didn't tell my family that my father was terminally ill and I still believe that was the right thing to do!"
"When my wife asks me if she looks beautiful, it is kinder to lie"
Please reflect on all the times you have lied in your life for a "very good reason".
This is the question Gary King asked when all kinds of "good" lies were thrown at him:
"How did you feel when you told that lie? Did you feel empowered or disempowered?"
He illustrated how scientific experiments provide evidence that lying is bad for our health. When we lie, the negative, life-destroying mechanism is stored in our cells.
However, in the USA (according to Gary King) some college students are being taught "alternative ethics". They are taught that as long as the outcome is achieved, the means for achieving that outcome, including lying, are ethical.
What do you think?
Have you ever told a lie that truly left you feeling empowered? Did the end justify the means?
If you would like to explore this issue about the "Power of Truth" further, you might be interested in getting Gary King's DVD The Power of Truth The DVDs were on sale at the YES group yesterday but I didn't buy one because I thought this whole "tell the truth!" business was a way of controlling the masses into paying every single penny of their taxes! :) OK, I might be wrong! :)
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Everything is Miscellaneous
Do you remember the days when door-to-door salesmen would invite themselves into your home in order to persuade you to buy Encyclopaedias that would be out-of-date by the time you finished making the monthly payments?
You have most probably heard of and used the online encyclopedia Wikipedi a and I can guarantee that no salesmen knocked on your door to tell you about it, the reason being that this is a FREE encyclopedia and you will have heard about it through word of mouth.
What I find remarkable about this encyclopedia is not that it is free but that anyone can edit it. 20 years ago, would you have believed that we would have free access to an encyclopedia that WE could edit?
There are numerous business issues raised by the "Wik ipedia" phenomenon. The obvious one is that a very lucrative business, supplying knowledge in hard-backed volumes, can be replaced by something that takes up no space at all in our homes and burns no holes in our pockets. Other issues are a little more subtle but just as relevant: who controls the classification of knowledge? Who decides the validity of ideas and concepts and above all, their inter- relationships?
In the physical world we are restricted by the principle that "Everything has to go somewhere: it can only go in one place" and this limitation was projected onto the classification and ordering of knowledge. People in power took the liberty of deciding where information was placed and, crucially, whether it had a place at all.The internet has allowed us to break free and to an extent, make our own decisons about the worthiness of information and connections.
You may be part of a traditional organisational hierarchy where the CEO has a vested interest in remaining aloof and inaccessible to the workers on the lower rungs. This kind of structure, just like the Encyclopedia Brittanica, is doomed for failure. The Internet Revolution gives us the freedom to create our OWN networks and choose our OWN place in the world.
Think about all the social connections you have made since you became an active participant in the Internet Revolution. I guess that, like myself, you are no longer in the little classified box which your job title or business title gave you before you ventured into cyberspace?
"Everything is Miscellaneous" by David Weinberger is a very interesting video which illustrates the breakdown of the established order of ordering. He explains how methods of categorisation designed for physical objects fail when it is possible to put things in multiple categories at once.
How does the principle "Everything has to go somewhere: It can only go in one place." impact your life?
How deeply has the Internet Revolution allowed you and your business to break free from that physical limitation?
Do you remember the days when door-to-door salesmen would invite themselves into your home in order to persuade you to buy Encyclopaedias that would be out-of-date by the time you finished making the monthly payments?
You have most probably heard of and used the online encyclopedia Wikipedi a and I can guarantee that no salesmen knocked on your door to tell you about it, the reason being that this is a FREE encyclopedia and you will have heard about it through word of mouth.
What I find remarkable about this encyclopedia is not that it is free but that anyone can edit it. 20 years ago, would you have believed that we would have free access to an encyclopedia that WE could edit?
There are numerous business issues raised by the "Wik ipedia" phenomenon. The obvious one is that a very lucrative business, supplying knowledge in hard-backed volumes, can be replaced by something that takes up no space at all in our homes and burns no holes in our pockets. Other issues are a little more subtle but just as relevant: who controls the classification of knowledge? Who decides the validity of ideas and concepts and above all, their inter- relationships?
In the physical world we are restricted by the principle that "Everything has to go somewhere: it can only go in one place" and this limitation was projected onto the classification and ordering of knowledge. People in power took the liberty of deciding where information was placed and, crucially, whether it had a place at all.The internet has allowed us to break free and to an extent, make our own decisons about the worthiness of information and connections.
You may be part of a traditional organisational hierarchy where the CEO has a vested interest in remaining aloof and inaccessible to the workers on the lower rungs. This kind of structure, just like the Encyclopedia Brittanica, is doomed for failure. The Internet Revolution gives us the freedom to create our OWN networks and choose our OWN place in the world.
Think about all the social connections you have made since you became an active participant in the Internet Revolution. I guess that, like myself, you are no longer in the little classified box which your job title or business title gave you before you ventured into cyberspace?
"Everything is Miscellaneous" by David Weinberger is a very interesting video which illustrates the breakdown of the established order of ordering. He explains how methods of categorisation designed for physical objects fail when it is possible to put things in multiple categories at once.
How does the principle "Everything has to go somewhere: It can only go in one place." impact your life?
How deeply has the Internet Revolution allowed you and your business to break free from that physical limitation?
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