Blog of a Change Agent

High Force - River Tees, County Durham

2010-10-05T23:46:00.001-07:00

High Force - River Tees, County Durham
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery (AWAY FOR A WHILE)

The Story in Your Eyes - The Moody Blues

I've been thinking about our fortune
And I've decided that we're really not to blame
For the love that's deep inside us now
Is still the same

And the sounds we make together
Is the music to the story in your eyes
It's been shining down upon me now
I realize

Listen to the tide slowly turning
Wash all our heartaches away
We're part of the fire that is burning
And from the ashes we can build another day

But I'm frightened for your children
That the live that we are living is in vain
And the sunshine we've been waiting for
Will turn to rain

Listen to the tide slowly turning
Wash all our heartaches away
We're part of the fire that is burning
And from the ashes we can build another day

But I'm frightened for the children
That the live that we are living is in vain
And the sunshine we've been waiting for
Will turn to rain

When the final line is over
It's certain that the curtain's gonna fall
I can hide inside your sweet sweet love
For ever more

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBsdHoTdOmc

Another song from the soundtrack of my life - this song inspired me to purchase my first album as a 15 year old - Every Good Boy Deserves A Favour (1971). A great song from a great band.

The waterfall is one of County Durham's wonders - this is one of many shots I took at High Force as part of my journey down the River Tees - the river starts as a trickle high up in the Pennines and flows from West to East to enter the North Sea just beyond Middlesbrough.

Standing facing the waterfall is a humbling experience. The roar is huge as the water cascades over the 21 metre high falls.

From here the river travels on towards Barnard Castle and the shots loaded over the past couple of days

It was an amazing day and an amazing journey

My Darling.... April 22nd

2010-04-22T16:46:00.001-07:00

My Darling.... April 22nd
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Thought for the Day...

You have been my lighthouse
In every storm
You have given shelter
You have kept me safe and warm
And in my darkest nights
You have shone your brightest lights
You are my saving grace
Darling I love you.

You have been the pilot
Who guides me home
You have been the my rock
As on the seven seas I roam
And when I was becalmed
You were the strength in my arms
You are my saving grace
Darling I love you.

And when I found my back
Was torn and broken on the reef
You sailed your tiny boat
Across the dark seas of my disbelief.

You have been the anchor
And I the chain
Straining as we hold ourselves
Together in the rain
I have found you ever there
My constant keeper's daughter fair
You are my saving grace
Darling I love you.

- The Strawbs

This is a big thank you to my wife for giving such a wonderful day yesterday (it was my birthday). She has been my lighthouse for more years than I care to think and her support is fantastic, especially as I am about to work away from home for the next 6 months. It is a lovely song and is both a love song and a tribute to an amazing woman - Grace Darling.

The photo business will have to take a back seat for now. So the lyrics and the picture are symbolic of my taking flight and being away during the week. It will also mean that I will have less time for Flickr. So if I am not commenting on your works - it is a lack of time and not personal.

We are always changing - even though we may not see the progress of our life. This particular path is a more of a detour - it will earn the corn needed to feed my habit of photography.

I am taking a contract for 6 months to restore the smile on my bank manager's face. It will help my journey towards being full time. Anyway, to all of you, good luck over the coming months and may you be neither becalmed on your sea or hitting rocks and if you do I hope you will have your Grace.

Craig :-)

There is no stranger, April 19th

2010-04-19T13:36:00.001-07:00

There is no stranger, April 19th
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Thought for the day

"In the cherry blossom's shade
there's no such thing
as a stranger."
- Kobayashi Issa

Cherry blossom symbolises the simple, natural, coming "springtime of enlightenment". Therefore to stand under the cherry blossom, you stand at one with everything and everyone. You are no longer a stranger.

This is a shot of a very old cherry tree in our garden. It casts a great shadow in leaf, however, at this time it provides an amazing sight with the blossom catching the light.

Busy week ahead - preparing for major exhibition at the end of the month. Also lots happening workwide.

It is as if the sun shining has brought a new life to the area and to me and I am enjoying the peace. We are used to planes flying in and out of Gatwick.

Imagine if this was to last.... now that would be a change.

Water is Life, April 15

2010-04-14T16:27:00.001-07:00

_MG_9929_BW
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Quote of the day

“In an age when man has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential needs for survival, water along with other resources has become the victim of his indifference”
- Rachel Carson

Visit by a Group of home ed'ers spending time finding out about how water is treated to ensure it is drinkable. We looked in the Valve tower, went under the dam through a tunnel and find out the different stages of cleaning the water

The process is industrial - yes the water is clean but seeing how they clean our water makes you think. Do we value water as much now we used to before the mechnised approach?

Love of beauty, April 12th

2010-04-12T13:18:00.001-07:00

Love of beauty, April 12th
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Quote for today

“Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

This lovely display was picked by 2 of my sons (Camerin 8 and Angus 4) for their Mum. It is a stunning display of spring flowers from around our garden.

It is a just a simple bowl with only the flower heads and it brightens our dining room table.

The two have created art through their desire to create something of beauty for their Mum.

How easy it is as a photographer, we create beauty and art each time we point our bit of technology at a person, landscape, flower or creature.

Every single photo is a gem of art - a little piece of beauty when it inspires or moves someone else.

Keep making art and beauty

My Wish for You, April 9th

2010-04-09T02:53:00.001-07:00

My Wish for You, April 9th
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Quote for the day
“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.”

- Source Unknown

This photo has languished in my thoughts for sometime - It is the harbour arm at Seahouses in Northumberland (The family will be there next month). The day had been damp and just as we were finishing our tea, the clouds broke and the sun appeared. How often in life does happiness follow sadness? In life, I believe, always. We have to experience both the highs and lows to truly enjoy life.

When we are in dispair or doubt or the clouds are slate grey and the rain is coming down it is easy to fall in to seeing the negative side. A kind word, thought or deed lifts the spirit.

We are living in times of great change and I wish you a kind word and thought for today and this weekend

The greatest hazard..., April 7th

2010-04-07T16:03:00.001-07:00

The greatest hazard..., April 7th
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Thought of the day...

“To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.”
- Unknown Source

Every great adventure that human beings have been involved with has included risks - the story of humankind is of brave souls who took a risk to succeed. In my own life, it is these moments when I have taken a risk that are the most memorable - setting up as a training consultant, moving from amateur to professional photographer and personally.

It is easy to slip into the comfortable glove of not taking a risk - but this leads to becoming beige. So my Spring resolution is to return to wearing Purple (stolen from Billy Connelly). This election that will take place in 3 weeks is an opportunity for the UK to take a risk and vote for change - not to return to two party politics. We need real people in politics and in life.

Vote for risk

Bough Beech Panorama

2010-04-02T15:29:00.001-07:00

Bough Beech Panorama
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Thought for the day...

"It's raining again
Oh no, my love's at an end.
Oh no, it's raining again
Too bad I'm losing a friend.
Oh!Oh!

La, la, la, ...

C'mon you little fighter
No need to get uptighter
C'mon you little fighter
And get back up again
Oh, get back up again
Oh, fill your heart again ... "

It has been that sort of a day. Symbolically, if there is one day that perhaps it should rain is Good Friday. Not my best shot ever, but a shot. It was raining.

We had a nice day - Easter Egg hunt in the rain and the sun eventually arrived - we were at home by then and drying out.

One has to dtay optimistic. It is healthier for you. You suffer less illness if you can be an optimist.

We see the rain as a symbol of sadness and yet it is the thing we as humans need the most. I love walking in the rain and of course one the classic song and dance routine is to be found here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCpOKtN8ME

Enjoy and Happy Easter

UFO Underside, 1st April

2010-04-01T13:19:00.001-07:00

UFO Underside, 1st April
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Quote of the day
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.
Albert Einstein

That chap Einstein clearly knew a thing or two - his thought applies to photography. I thought I would try something really simple - the underside of a UFO.

Change in Sussex, 31st March

2010-03-30T23:28:00.001-07:00

Change in Sussex, 31st March
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Quote of Day:
"Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death."
- Anais Nin

I have chosen the quote above as my contribution to the biggest change that has occured in Sussex for a long-time - The South Downs in the UKs latest National Park comes into effect today.

What has changed? Not the Downs themselves. They remain just as beautiful as always. We now have a coordinating body and perhaps this will enhance the area. We shall see.

Anyway good luck to the new Park Authority.

This is another rework of an earlier photo. The weather has been rubbish over the last few days - no opportunity to get out and take some photos. It looks like it will stay this way for most of this week. Guess I shall crack on with maintenance.

My book is out and available for purchase:

Glimpses of the Forest by Craig Williams | BOOK INFO

Fears, 30th March

2010-03-30T16:03:00.001-07:00

_MG_8943_Frame
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Quote of the Day

“The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our world is full of things that we could be fearful about. I worked with a group of managers today about influence and persuasion. Their principle need was not one of a lack of skills but Fear.

I have been stuck in my own fear - I have found it hard to get out and marlet my training and consultancy company. I have never needed to. Word of mouth always meant work kept coming in. The recession has changed this.

I must get out of my comfort zone and sail on the rough seas beyond the harbour.

This is one of my favourite places in the UK - Seahouses. It was once a small fishing port and now that the fishing industry has gone, the fishermen ply their trade by taking visitors to the Farne Islands.

I now must challenge myslef to find my equivalent. People are not looking for trainers or coaches in the same number - the photography business ticks over, not enough to pay the mortgage.

Quietly I say, 29th March

2010-03-29T13:21:00.001-07:00

Quietly I say, 29th March
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Quote of day
“Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story”
- Max Erham

I was looking at a person spec for a role today and it required someone to restructure, male 30% savings in mnagement costs and resolve major productivity and staff satisfaction issues.

I started to wonder - perhaps they should stop shouting and listen to the people.

I was then browsing through some old favourites and found this lovely fellow - a Razorbill. perhaps he is what is needed - an apt name - lets cut to the chase.

I know I need to stop shouting and listen.

Place for the Soul, March 28th

2010-03-28T02:31:00.001-07:00

Place for the Soul, March 28th
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Quote for Day:
True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's goodness and righteousness.

Here is one of the places I feel most at ease - a place for the soul. It is a wonderful beach - always with interest and then looking South you have the drama of Dunstanburgh Castle (or what is left of it).

Clocks forward today - wooppeee - lighter evenings. More opportunities to get out and take sunsets! Playing around with this old photo - bit of straightening - love the light (taken in May - when the family will be back) - so more shots of Northumberland due.

Have a super Sunday - Button wins GP - life is great!

Wondering, 26 March

2010-03-26T23:37:00.001-07:00

Wondering, 26 March
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Thought for today: "Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering."
- Saint Augustine

I wonder????

This is another shot of some of the Seven Sisters and is taken at Birling Gap. The cliffs in the immediate vicinity are eroding and some of the houses are at threat.

The shot is a rework of an earlier version and it got me wondering. Seeking inspiration, seeking to enhance my abilities, seeking and wondering. Perhaps it is time to look inward and make some decisions.

Have a great weekend :-)

25/March: Contemplation

2010-03-25T03:03:00.001-07:00

25/March: Contemplation
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Thought for Today

“That pleasure which is at once the most pure, the most elevating and the most intense, is derived, I maintain, from the contemplation of the beautiful.”
- Edgar Alan Poe

This quote has fascinated me - Poe's writing is excellent, is it a thing of beauty? Not sure, and maybe this is how Poe balanced his writings and his life.

This climber (yes - a person in one of my photos - a rare thing) was taking in the view across Weirwood, near East Grinstead. He had succeeded at a difficult solo climb.

With the weather today decidely driecht (means dull or dour), I find it can be easy to loose the wonderful beauty of the soft light and mist. Especially when there are job applications to complete, emails to send and newsletters to write.

Still it is my hope that this climber and his journey to his goal, helps other to rise to the challenges of today, so that you too can look across and see what it most important - that it is a wonderful world.

Business Ethics

2009-12-01T01:31:00.001-08:00

With all the turmoil that the great crash of the last few years has created has made me think about ethics. The problems were created by greed. Corporate and individual greed. The more I have thought about this, the more I have begun to feel there is a need for a debate about the ethics of business.

Reading on Wikipedia, I came across the following statement: "If a company's main purpose is to maximise the returns to its shareholders, then it should be seen as unethical for a company to consider the rights and interests of anyone else." The source of this statement is Milton Friedman (The Social Responsibility of Business is to increase its profits).

This approach has dominated the last thirty years. I believe that this is actually unethical. A company that only considers profit and shareholder return, I would consider to be unethical. Companies operate in communities - consideration of local impacts has to be built into decisions.

The impact on the environment is a must do - just putting in a few recycling bins is not enough. There are many ways to raise your "ethical score". Some areas to consider:

- Sourcing of materials/products
- Dealing with waste
- How you deal with employees
- Day to day activity of business - Accountancy, Sales, Marketing, Production

I plan to publish 1001 ways to be more ethical in business. Here is #1

#1 Sourcing products from Prison Service

My local garden centre (Wych Cross near Forest Row in Sussex) has a range of garden furniture made by inmates in Scottish Prisons. Research shows that giving prisoners meaningful work (and in many cases skills) results in a significant reduction in reoffending rates. The Scottish Prison Service has set up a business in making and supplying a range of wooden garden items. The wood is from sustainable sources.

So one simple way to raise your ethical score - buy your next garden shed from SPS and not the local DIY store. The link for more details is: http://www.sps.gov.uk//Default.aspx?DocumentID=44ffe320-1fcb-4be7-93cc-2b26d3bf54ca

I am looking for more ideas (we are only upto #32) do leave a comment

Enjoy the start of Advent - I know that the true meaning is somewhat lost in the chocoloate calendar. That said, I am sure that we all can enjoy preparing for Christmas that Advent signals. Enjoy!

It's not far down to paradise....

2009-08-25T08:58:00.001-07:00

It's not far down to paradise....
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

The early morning when I woke up, felt a bit like the summer was ending and that change was in the air.

I have been working on updating photos - work is hectic and I need something to give my brain a rest and this side of my life helps to balance against the hectic business world.

This photo reminded me of summer, freedom, joy and change. As the detail below says it is from a song and it summed up my reverie.

It's not far down to paradise
At least's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

Sailing by Christopher Cross

I managed to published my latest newsletter and a key element was how team members interact. Here is my top 5 tips

1. Train all team members in the standards of behaviour of the team's communication, response and interaction. Develop a clear set of expectations surrounding:
• Attitude
• Speed of Response
• Gossiping
• Politicking
Break these and it should be grounds for expulsion from the team.

2. Involve the team in choosing the team leader. The team leader has to develop the confidence of the team.

3. Ensure the team know what is important for success. Ensure highly visible recording of success – daily/weekly reporting – that is visible to the team. It is important to keep it simple and engaging for staff.

4. Ensure that the team captures ideas – someone should be responsible for capturing suggestions. The team must be kept informed of what happened with the ideas.

5. Team meetings should be at least monthly and the agenda focused on how the team can work better together. This must be the only item on the agenda. Three items to include in your ground rules (see 1).
- Any unresolved conflicts between team members must be resolved before the next meeting.
- Each team member must bring at least one suggestion that will improve team effectiveness to each team meeting.
- Team meetings are to be exciting and not reporting back sessions. If there are no suggestions from the team – the team leader must come with a problem/idea to discuss.

This will have the benefit of making the meeting more positive and focus on improvement.

Finally, the leader celebrates and recognises successes – allow the team to socialise use the team meetings to improve relationships.

I guess, if you get these things right, the team will be sailing along their "beach".

Under the pier

2009-06-29T03:05:00.001-07:00

Under the pier
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

So another month passes. The world seems to have shifted. MP's expenses dominated the last few months - nice diversion from real life.

How often do we (us) divert our attention from the real issues. We avoid the need to change. MPs felt they could bury their heads and the whole thing will go away. Sometimes this works, in this case it put our collective backs and the "great British" public, via the Daily Telegraph, spoke out.

We live under our "piers" ignoring the fact that they are falling down around. (Hence the photo of Hasting Pier). Change needs action and in the current times, those who can take action will give themselves the best chance to survive.

So0 got go and take action - busy at the moment with 360 degree work for several clients

Spring 2009

2009-04-22T01:38:00.001-07:00

So out with the best of intentions - I was planning to post regularly on the blog and here it is 4 months since the last post - whoops.

Mind you,I have been busy. Although regular work is tailed off - a big worry. I am, like many independent consultants, finding work is patchy. There are still encouraging signs and work in the pipeline. It is just not enough. I remain optimistic. Work always seems to flow in - usually at the point where it is very scary.

So how have I been keeping myslef busy? As a self development project, I have set-up a small photography galley business. This is predominately on-line. The gallery is http://www.craigwilliamsgallery.com/ and has a selection of the best photos that I have taken over the last few years.

I have ejoyed photography over the years. It has always been a passion, though on a hobby basis and fixed around other interests - work, family, trains, football. I am now spending a number of weekends (and lots of time in the week) selling photos at craft and our local village markets. This has been great for sharping my sales technique.

What I am currently offering includes:

- Canvas prints (I can even offer 10% off your own via Photobloc)

- Framed and Mounted Prints

- Greetings Cards ( the picture at the start of the blog is available on-line)

I have now passed the milestone of 53 years. It seems strange - I am only 7 years away from being 60 and yet I don't feel it. It sounds old and yet it is not. There is so much to do. Having young children pehaps helps. We spent my birthday (yesterday) at the Natural History Museum - yes photographs came into the equation - the BBC Wildlife Photography exhibition is being held there. It was great to see all the wonderful photos. What was most humbling was seeing the younger category entries - they were superb.

If you haven't been - go - you only have a few days left. Also the museum is great!

Preparing for next trip - off the Brecon Beacons - part photography, part family event. So better get on with some work!

Currently working on two major 360 degree feedback activities for different clients. Also, just started to develop an outline for a book - teams with purpose. So watch this space.

Craig

Start of Year

2009-01-06T08:49:00.000-08:00

Another year comes racing into being - "so who did fire the starting gun?" As I look back at the year just gone, it was a year of ups and downs - both personally, professionally and globally. The real highs and lows were significant.

Personal:
Ups Downs
Ailsa born in August Spending long periods away from home
Getting personal finances in shape

Professional:
Setting up two regional partnerships for improvement Concern about future
Spending several months meeting Hampstead Heath
staff to discuss how to improve morale

Globally
Change of US president Global economic meltdown
The success of Team GB at the olympics

There were some absurd moments as well - John Sargeant and his dancing; farce over Russell Brand and Jonathen Ross phone calls and the Big Bang experiment - massive expenses and fails on first use.

The ripples of these radiate out into 2009. What message can we take. Here are my key takes:

- Enjoy the moment - we can plan all we like, we have to be sensible over money - we all have to payback in the end
- Remember why we are here - work is only the means of earning money to enjoy our life. We can still enjoy life without money
- Above all - stay positive. Look at the stories of the successful athletes in Bejeing - attitude determines success. If you are positive you will spot opportunities.

The BBC appears to have helped speed the scale of the economic crisis. The BBC has found every bad news story on the economy. On days when the FTSE went up - the BBC would rarely comment. They would run another doom and gloom story.

So a New Year resolution for me is to practice Realistic Optimism. The habit of realistic optimism includes expecting good results; believe in self under stress and ability to learn from mistakes. It is not about being "polyanna". All successful athletes have this and from my research in organisations so do successful leaders.

Times of rapid change - 2009 will bring this. Not only do we have to weather the ups and downs we inevitably face we will aslo have opportunities come our way.

Remember, a smile costs nothing but the ripples will be felt by everyone you come into contact with. The link here provides 10 of the daftest news stories from 2008. Click here

If we can help you shape your goals or make your new year's resolutions stick click here to find out by my coaching facility.

Time Wasters

2008-11-10T12:33:00.000-08:00

I was doing some 360 degree feedback sessions today and one of the participants raised the issue of time management. I sat on the train and thought about this and what Leaders can do. It is often not something that easy to do after all you have to deal with emails, office politics and meetings.

Time is extremely precious in organisational life - there is never enough of it. The following are simple CAN DO things that any manager/leader can action:

Emails - they make us reactive, are often poor or sloppy in how we communicate and maybe expedient but often are poor at conveying sensitive/urgent information.

Stop the cc-emailitis game - never copy anybody else in unless you absolutely have to - it often takes 3 hours to sort out the mess.
Be positive in all emails
Phone the sender of a provocative email (after having counted to 10 before picking up the phone).
Never give bad news by email
Follow simple courtesy in emails:

Always use Dear....
Think about the audience - how weould you react to this email if you received it
Be friendly
End on friendly note

Office Politics - these are often time consuming and usually about avoid taking responsibility. Most large organisations involve blame and politicing. Three simple CAN DOs are:

Agree expectations with your team - ask them what they expect of you.
Take public ownership of everything that goes wrong with your team.
Take no praise for successes - always push this to your team - and name names.

Meetings - There is a wealth of research that shows that managers lose a significant amount of time in unproductive meetings. For example the Guardian reports on some research that discovered two things:

1. The more meetings one has to attend, the greater the negative effects; and
2. The more time one spends in meetings, the greater the negative effects.

Two CAN DOs for improving meetings are:

Always set clear, defined outcomes at the start of the meeting
Always finish with a review of the meeting and the actions to be taken ensuring ownership is clear of the actions.

These simple approaches work.

Success comes in Cans not Can'ts

2008-11-06T02:46:00.000-08:00

I was leaving my local Sainsburys and spotted a plant hire shop door across the road. Above the door was this slogan:

"Success comes in Cans not Cants"

This line has been in my head ever since. It is one of those simple statements that really contain an Ah Ha moment. I was due to train on Influence skills - this is all about Cans. We have seen the success of Lewis Hamilton and Barack Obaman in the last few days - real examples of people that are all about Cans not Cants.

The news media continue to spread their doom and gloom and no doubt there is a real recession and times are difficult. Living in a world of cants will paralyse us all. Living a life of CANS is far more fulfilling. I find that negativity is contagious.

My wife is thinking about her website - babieswelcome.com and how she makes this work. She has been racking her brains. There are a number of CANS:

Make a directory with two levels - free simple listing and enhanced listing which babyfriendly sites pay an annual fee

Sell organic baby products

Travel bookings for parents with young children and babies and earn commissionings on the bookings

I am sure there are many other ideas (let me know if you have any thoughts).

The statement led me to write my first newsletter in a very long time. Click here to access. I have used the CAN DO as a theme. I would really enjoy hearing more stories about how you have adopted the CAN DO approach.

Back to writing a startegy document for a NHS Primary Care Trust. No here is an organisation that has begun to be CAN DO.

Why we suffer more in the West

2008-10-31T02:28:00.001-07:00

I was talking with a close friend about our collective experiences of working with people in other parts of the world and how this contrasts with life in the West, esp. the UK. This got me thinking, how come people in places like Madagascar or Borneo seems so much happier and yet are financially poor? We measure our success in materials ways, in developing countries, the people will measure success in many different ways, it wont be about the size of our car, the latest gizmo or how much my property is worth.

Firstly they have

PEACE OF MIND
We in the West are much more stressed. We have so many things to worry us. I have two young boys - they wake at 8am and by 8pm the light goes out and they sleep. During the day they run, they laugh, they cry but they enjoy their day.

They don't have the stresses that we adults carry around. Research demonstrates that having an optimistic outlook results in significantly less illness. We are gloom and doom merchants. It is OK to be realistic about things.

HEALTH AND ENERGY
People in the developing world tend to live more active lives, working on the land,etc. Of course they get sick as we do. As the research shows (over 80% of illnesses have their roots in stress) combine physical and mental well-being and you will feel better.

We in the West work and then drop in front of the TV. We then are subject to the news, TV soaps and other depressing shows. I am sure that this does not help us to remain active.

HARMONIOUS PERSONAL RELATIONS
We have higher rates of divorce in the West - we have the teachings of Jesus - LOVE - yet we seem unable to sustain. We see fault when there are good in all. The way society appears to be breaking down makes this harder.

Of course, this leads back to peace of mind, health and energy. People in the developing country seem to possess a great warmth towards all. I remember cycling with my wife and being invited into a family christening in Borneo. The father worked at the hotel we were staying and were honoured guests. Neither party could speak the language of the other and the family were not "rich" and yet their welcome was richer than many would be in the West.

PURPOSE AND GOALS
People in the developing world have a clear purpose - feed the family, tend the land - much simpler ways to make a difference to their world. We in the West, despite or maybe because of the complexity, seem to find it harder to have this clarity of purpose and set goals to achieve.

FINANCIAL FREEDOM
Finally we worry about money, I know I do. We have a scarcity mentality. When you have little, I guess there is no point. Look at the housing market - if we stopped seeing our house as an investment and seeing at as our home, then it going up or down in value becomes less of problem.

Living within our means would be a sensible policy to adopt especially in these times of credit crunches.

I know that the above is a generalisation. I believe if we thought about our lives along these five areas and not on material things we must just be happier in the West. It would be great to live with the joy that I see so often in other parts of the world.

Which way - no this way

2008-10-22T09:30:00.001-07:00

Well what a period of change we have all been through.... economies collapsing; credit crunches biting us in many ways; Peter Mandelson back in the UK Govt. and then there is Ailsa - my 7 week old baby girl.

Somehow she has put things into perspective - in these rapid changes it is essential to focus on the essentials and forget the confetti of organisations. The good times will return and if the current situation will teach us anything there will be opportunities for those who have the vision and focus. It is easy to pulled in many different directions and lose the focus needed to get you through.

I have been coaching a senior manager and today we had a break through. He has been disorganised and what was clear after several sessions is that he has never clarified the direction. A simple framework for planning is:

- Where do I want to get to? Where do I want to be? (I use a 5 year timeframe)

- Where am I now? How does this help or hinder achieving where I want to be?

- What do I need to do to get me from here to there?

- How will I measure the progress

Give it a try. Remember it is easy to be pointed in two different directions - how can you make this one.

Welcome to opening blog

2008-07-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Blog of a Change Agent

I spend my days working with a variety of clients helping support their changes. These clients are all struggling with change. I hope by sharing things I am working on or interested in, it will inspire, make you laugh or sometimes make you cry.

Given the current economic situation, we are all going to have to change. Look at the political landscape - Brown in the UK is a PM only willing to turn! 10p tax rise, fuel duty increase - at every turn he is making u-turns.

So where is his vision of a better Britain? Is this not why he became PM? He needs to change and stop reacting to the media. Change needs courage, vision, discussion, simplicity, honesty.

Where is this? Any organisation that lacks these qualities will fail.

One of my main clients (public sector) has managed to attempt a major change of strategy - with limited vision or clarity around what it is seeking to achieve, announced the ending of posts across England (via an email three days before the start date of the new arrangements) and without consultation with those most impacted.

They are now wondering why the teams across England are scratching their heads, their customers are confused and of course, there is a great deal of anger as people attempt to understand it all. It is the worst example of how not do change I have seen and I am powerless to influence.

I am seen as a "hired hand" and I feel a failure. I have three options, grin and bear it, find a way or walk away. My choice is to find a way, I feel a responsibility to help find a way to obtain clarity for those affected by the changes - as always - good people actually doing a good job against the odds. - I will keep you posted on progress.

Better get back to writing a project plan - for the customer!