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March 29, 2006

Racism in Malaysia and the creation of values

Mistrust is created through lack of education, lack of understanding, separation from each other and fear of each other.

Trust is not something that is created out of nowhere. None of the values that we carry with us are created at a late stage in our life. Be it confidence, the need to build relations with others, honesty - all those big, big words.

These values and the identification and naming of feelings has been created in us in the early stages of our life. Between 0-6 years of our life. Consider this. That early. This is the time, when babies and toddlers look up to the older people and simply believe everything that is coming from them. Parents should be very much involved at this stage, but if you look around you will find that a large share of parents are working - who is taking care of the young age group? Maids! Maids, who usually are not highly educated. Don't wonder if your child does not turn out to be like you (not that you want this, in the first place, anyway!).

In the next age group from 7-14, they are starting to compare their identification figure (again, parents), with those from their friends. That is the time when kids realise that their parents have their own failings, are not the superman they pretend to be. They realise that their friend's father is cooler than their own Papa and this is the time, when external value instillation becomes more important. Friends become more important. So if you want to have your kid have many different impressions, mix it with many different experiences.

When they get older, they start to separate from their families. This is then when the children start to identify with their friends - and everything that the parents say goes into one ear and out from the other ear.

Learning? If you want your kid to be great, get it young, and influence it positively!! As young as possible.

How does this relate to the recent survey being Racism Rife in Malaysia's Melting Pot, Survey">published ?


Overall, 50% of the population doesn't trust each other. Additionally, "58 percent of Malays, 63 percent of Chinese and 43 percent of Indians polled agreed that ''in general, most Malays are lazy. 71 percent of Malays, 60 percent of Chinese and 47 percent of Indians agree that ''in general, most Chinese are greedy.'' Sixty-four percent of Malays, 58 percent of Chinese and 20 percent of Indians agreed that ''in general, most Indians cannot be trusted."

And, sadly, "42 percent do not consider themselves Malaysian first."

Even so there is no breakdown by age, it is clear that the current results are not something that happened to take place from today to tomorrow. However, it is clear that the developments in recent years didn't do much to foster integration. Sadly, it appears that the ethnic groups live further and further away from each other.

The challenging question for me is: How can someone name somebody else as lazy or greedy, if they are not lazy or greedy themselves? Isn't it true that we can only recognise those characteristics when these characteristics are also prevalent in us as well?


Here is the full article:

KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 22 (IPS) - Malaysia's first serious survey of race relations, in 50 years, shows that behind the façade of outward unity and peace, racism runs deep in this multi-ethnic 'melting pot'.

The telephone survey of about 1,200 Malaysians also found that the majority of the various races find comfort and security in their respective ethnicity and not in a common ‘Malaysian' identity, as the travel and tourism brochures suggest.

''The findings are not at all surprising,'' said social scientist Chandra Muzaffar. ''This is partly because ethnic boundaries are real in our society and almost every sphere of public life is linked to ethnicity in one way or another.''

The survey, by the independent Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research, also found that negative racial stereotyping was deeply entrenched. For example, minority Chinese and Indians see the majority Malays, who make up 60 percent of the population of 25 million people, as lazy.

Chinese and Indians, who began migrating here in the early 19th century, make up 26 percent and 8.0 percent of the population, respectively.

It found that more than half the population does not trust each other. For a nation that claims to be a 'melting pot', only eleven percent of the respondents said they had eaten often with friends from other races in the past three months. Thirty four percent said they have never had a meal with people of other races.

The survey found that 42 percent do not consider themselves Malaysian first, 46 percent say ethnicity is important in voting, 55 percent blame politicians for racial problems and 70 percent would help their own ethnic group first.

According to the survey, 58 percent of Malays, 63 percent of Chinese and 43 percent of Indians polled agreed that ''in general, most Malays are lazy.''

Meanwhile, 71 percent of Malays, 60 percent of Chinese and 47 percent of Indians agree that ''in general, most Chinese are greedy.'' Sixty-four percent of Malays, 58 percent of Chinese and 20 percent of Indians agreed that ''in general, most Indians cannot be trusted.''

The survey, commissioned by the semi-official New Straits Times newspaper and supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, is the first honest look at Malaysian society and the findings have left Malaysians gasping in disbelief at how firmly racism and racial stereotyping has become entrenched and accepted as a way of life.

The Merdeka Centre said the survey ''gives an honest picture of the country's situation and inter-racial perception'' and warns that extremists can take advantage of inter-racial fears and suspicions in the absence of a meaningful interaction.

The ruling National Front government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi works hard to portray the country as an example of multiculturalism where Muslims, Hindus and Christians live together in peace.

But experts have been voicing concern that, increasingly, the communities were drifting apart and polarization of the races and a lack of social unity were on the rise.

They squarely blame the politicians and the country's race-based politics for the sharp rise in racism. The shocking findings have also prompted civil society to demand a ban on all race- based political parties.

''Let us outlaw all Malaysian political parties that restricts membership on grounds of race, religion or sex,'' said lawyer politician A. Sivanesan who is senior leader in the opposition Democratic Action Party, one of the four registered multi-racial parties in the country. ''It should be written in the constitution that only multi-racial bodies be permitted.''

Others say the few multi-racial political parties are weak and unable to grow because of the strong domination of race based parties over the political system.

''Social problems affect all communities,'' Sivanesan said. ''Poverty, drug and crime are not specific to any one race. All races face the blight.''

''What the survey clearly shows is that the various races live peacefully but separately,'' Sivanesan told IPS. ''Half a century after independence we are further away from knowing each other than when we startedàseparate schools, separate friends, separate lives.''

Curiously, the survey showed that many Malaysians had vague ideas, not only of each other's cultures and traditions but also of their own.

Hari Raya Puasa was wrongly perceived as the Malay New Year by 32 per cent of Malays, 84 per cent of Chinese and 45 per cent of Indians --when the festival actually marks the culmination of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting.

Similarly, the Chinese New Year was thought to be a religious festival by 57 percent of Malays, 53 percent of Indians and a whopping 62 percent of Chinese respondents.

Despite the lack of unity, the country has enjoyed long periods of peace except for one race riot in 1969.

And unlike in some neighbouring countries where uniformity is enforced, Malaysia's minorities are not restricted and are free to practice their own cultures and religions and enjoy a vernacular education.

But, the government officially practices a policy of positive discrimination that favours Malays over other races in many areas -- from employment, education, scholarships and business to cheaper housing and assisted savings.

Private companies must hand over 30 percent of equity to ethnic Malays and a portion of housing and commercial property must be sold to them

These measures, collectively called the New Economic Policy or NEP, were started in 1970 to reduce the yawning economic gap with the Chinese community, which dominates business in this country, as in most of South-east Asia.

Originally designed to last for 20 years it has continued without check, sparking envy and resentment between Malays and non-Malays.

Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was sacked and jailed in 1998, has caused a stir by proposing to reform the political landscape which he says is straining national harmony.

''We need to appeal to the Malays, Chinese and the Indians and the rest that we need to go beyond race-based politics. If you continue to harp and support this racial equation, you will never be able to overcome racial divisions,'' he told supporters at a recent rally.

The government is aware of the deep divide and has taken measures to close the gap. One experiment in racial integration is the 'Vision Schools' initative where students share sports fields, assembly halls and canteens, but attend classes conducted in their own languages.

But the initiative is embroiled in controversy mainly because of the fear among Chinese and Indians that the vernacular education system would suffer and erode their identities.

A popular initiative, the national service programme, started in 2004, puts youths of all the races under a single roof. Students are chosen at random and taken to camps for about three months in the hope that they will learn team work and absorb each other's culture.

But, the experts say racism is too deeply entrenched in official policies and the socio-political system for such 'half-hearted' measures to make impact.

''The survey's findings might be a bitter pill to swallow but it tells us who we really are behind the façade we show the world,'' said Sivanesan. (END/2006)









Posted by Andreas at 06:34 PM | Comments (2)

Online Business Networks

There are different networks online that propagate business. The main ones are Ryze Business Network, LinkedIn, and Ecademy. I am with a profile in LinkedIn and was invited to Ecademy recently. So far, I was not involved with Ryze.

My current experience shows me that member in Ecademy are pretty actively networking with each other.

The whole concept is actually quite interesting - working on the concept of Six Degrees of Separation. This concepts states that everybody is just six links away from you. It means that anything you want is within reach. The web might shorten the whole cycle to even lesser degrees and expands your own reach across the globe.

Fascinating.

My question is - how intensively have these networks been used? have you found a job through those networks, expanded your business, or is it just that ... a link to people that is not utilised.

I have heard that people got more business through the network, and I just interviewed someone for a position in my comany that I found through LinkedIn. Is this the exception?

Whatever it is it is clear that such networks create a new business landscape for certain industries. I am thinking of traditional recruiters, recruitment ads, and similar.

These networks are growing, and the question also is, which one will come up as the dominant provider. Is it Ryze, LinkedIn or Ecademy. So far, it seems that Ecademy is very active. The moment I joined I received plenty of mail and support. LinkedIn, where I am more active, is relatively quiet. I hardly received any request for information. It would be unfair for me to judge Ryze, because my profile there is pretty pathetic. They send me updates, but I usually delete those without checking.

So I am curious what others are thinking of those. What is your experience with these networks? Any opinion to share?




Posted by Andreas at 11:05 AM | Comments (0)

March 27, 2006

Lifestyle changes

I wonder if people really started to change their lifestyle after last month' fuel increase by a shocking 30 cents.

My opinion, as much as it is worth? I don't see much change. I see cars racing and accelerating until a few meters before the traffic light, just to slam the breaks.

SImilarly, I see cars starting to change lane and speed up to be in front of the car that is driving besides them. They might as well have lined up behind.

I see cars inching forward centimeter by centimeter in traffic jams just to avoid letting someone in who really needs to cut in (where is the need - I don't always see this as well). They also forget that this wastes fuel, since these few centimeters require also require fuel - it is a physical law of motion that the first few "moves" require the most energy (or something like that).

I don't see much change. Not even in the LRT where the passenger load is back to normal, after it creeped up initially.

May be the fuel price increase wasn't enough, was it?









Posted by Andreas at 10:52 AM | Comments (1)

March 23, 2006

How many years in life do you spend ....

It has been estimated that you spend about a year of your life looking for things you have lost.

On average a human being spends two weeks of their entire lives waiting for traffic lights to change. (No wonder Malaysians keep beating the traffic lights)

The average person spends about two years of their lives talking on the phone.

The average housewife walks about four miles every year making beds.

The average person spends about 12 years of their life watching television.

That's a lot of time for each of those individual items!!

Find the whole list at Morticom.

Now, thinking of Malaysia:

If you are caught in the traffic jam, just one hour every day (and who isn't?), you wait 5 hours a week, 20 hours a month, 240 hours a year == which is equal 10 days. The whole day, not just a part of it. Its whole 24 hours. Imagine that!!

All in all, don't you want to spend your life a bit more purposeful?

This is about creating a purpose, a mission in your life, isn't it? Okay, some TV can be interesting, but how often do we actually watch something that is enlightening. Isn't it true that often, we come home from work, exhausted, just to switch on the TV to sit in front of it for 2 or 3 hours, without or hardly any movement. Life? For me, it is different.

Posted by Andreas at 04:59 PM | Comments (1)

The sound of love

For some of us, expressing their love is a way of life. It just comes natural and it is tough for them to hold back.

For others, it is so tough to express love or even their simple feelings. It makes them freeze and stumple and most of the time, the wrong words come out. So they bite their tongues, after the event, replaying it and how it could have turned out if only the right words would have come out right on time.

May be we can learn from the whales.

"The love song of a humpback whale sounds magnificently free-flowing and improvised to the casual human listener. Fresh mathematical analysis of shows there are complex grammatical rules. Using syntax, the whales combine sounds into phrases, which they further weave into hours-long melodies packed with information.

During mating season, which lasts six months, all humpback males sing the same song to woo the ladies. Over time, the group's song becomes progressively more complex, although researchers don't know quite why. Presumably, as one whale finds mating success by tinkering with the song style, the rest of the guys imitate it to better their chances." The full article is here.

Posted by Andreas at 07:31 AM | Comments (0)

March 17, 2006

My child's drawings

Children learn with support and own motivation.

My boy always liked to draw but initially his drawings were not that good. He didn't like to draw in colour and the teachers "penalised" him, partially, for this.

My brother-in-law and sis-in-law took a different approach. Both of them are highly engaged in animation movies. Frequently, my boy sat besides them and just observed when they drew animations (interesting, words change from drawing and colouring to animation, probably because it sounds more professional - imagine Pixar as Drawing Studio instead of Animation Studio).

That was when he was about 5 years old. Sometimes, a bit older already, he sat besides them and drew his own pictures. Sometimes, they helped him, holding his hand etc. (I am helpless in drawings - even so this is a limited belief, according to NLP, but I can live with it, since it doesn't handicap my personal development!).

Now he is eight and he draws increasingly nicer pictures. Recently, we bought him Cartoon Animation books - wow, pretty expensive, and ever since, he is drawing and drawing. Not directly copying by putting the paper onto the book!!

He looks at the pictures in the books and copies them onto his page. I believe they are great. Forget about what the earlier teachers said when she asked him to draw in colour. This shows that there is a "life outside school".

What happened now is that my wife is on a yoga retreat over the weekend, and so he followed me to the office. Started to draw pictures and showed them to some of my colleagues. My boss' husband saw them and he actually bought four pictures from him - and, my boy was out of his socks.

Take a look at the combined pic. For the husband, he has separated the individual smaller drawings into one big drawing each.

Nabil March 15.jpg


Posted by Andreas at 12:48 PM | Comments (2)

March 15, 2006

What is success?

Ask people what is success and they come up with all kind of things. Frequently, I hear people say that success is to have a great and rewarding career, a house, a car, beautiful and smart children, a wife, education and so on.

Is this really success? What will you think when you are 65 or 75 and summarise your life. Oh - my life was successful, because I drove 5 different car models, one better than the other, because my career was very rewarding?

What is success? It is not easily defined if you define it apart from possessions. Try it!

"For the Malay female, success apparently is to have children. "In the nationwide study among 1,000 women aged 15 to 67 years, 96% said having children was the biggest success indicator."

It also seems that the females are in a conflict. "Malay women in the country faced a conflict between career and family. 'They want to be assertive and successful but, at the same time, there are cultural constraints. They feel if they’re doing too much or being too aggressive, their feminine side will be lost.'

How do you feel about this? Reading those findings, there are always questions on mind:

- First, where is the conflict? Is it possible to do both?
- What is the connection between assertive and succussful? Can you be assertive without being successful?
- How do you define cultural constraints? Are there any differences between culture in KL, Penang, Pahang or East Malaysia, for example?
- How do you define "femine side" and why should it be lost? Not every women needs to develop into a Marget Thatcher, just because she starts to work - there are plenty of women around me at my workplace and they seem pretty okay.

Whatever the findings it is a clear sign that the Malaysian society is undergoing change. Change is often about being "torn apart" between more "traditional values" and "modern aspirations".

And it is interesting to really think through what success means to you, what values drive or support your success, beliefs and how you plan to achieve it. And this is what life is all about.









Posted by Andreas at 05:05 PM | Comments (2)

March 14, 2006

Jobs going away

It's been a while since I wrote something about job skills. That doesn't mean I don't observe the market and its development.

The last edition of Fast Company (the last edition that I will receive from them!) has a great article about careers and the changing environment for job seekers.

The essence is that more and more companies will approach the job candidate that is still working. They won't advertise anymore because they get too many respondents that just apply for a job for the sake of applying. They will find the job candidate they require.

Don't get me wrong here: It is good to apply for jobs that are above your skill set. That is important for your own personal growth. But when you do so, please tell the company why you are a great fit. In real terms. Not just bla bla. Where is your value? What can you deliver . Heck: why shall I hire you? If you come with great ideas, even those that are way above everything, it shows that you are thinking creatively. I will hire you!

Without adding value I won't hire you.

The article also says that constant learning is required. "Even a degree with a bit more mass appeal, such as communications, shows how quickly things change. If you graduated even three years ago, such emerging niche media as blogs, podcasts, and satellite radio are all new to you. Each requires a different approach, and you have to develop specialized tactics to get your message across. Whatever specifics you learned in school are hopelessly out of date." So I wonder why the New Straits Times celebrates today? I am not belittling those who made great grades, really. They can be proud, for sure.

But have they really learnt the important stuff?

"What you want to learn is how to learn," says a guy who works for Taleo, a San Francisco-based company that produces human-resources software for companies. I sign up for this statement!!

What else will change?

"In the future, [employers] aren't going to advertise job openings anymore," says Warren Bare, CEO and founder of Jobkabob, another job-matching service. "They'll find you." It's a scary prospect for anyone who has ever been out of work. But for the agile, well-presented, ever-learning, constantly networking top performer, it sounds . . . perfect."

How true!





Posted by Andreas at 12:05 PM | Comments (0)

March 11, 2006

No shortcut to coaching

There was a recent article today in the New Straits Times (Malaysian newspaper) that contains some misconceptions about Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP.

It says (and I have to write from the article, since I couldn't find the link in the NST):

"(...) Similarily (the article first talks about training and its disadvantage in coaching: my comment) there are also some neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) practitioners who also feel the same way about becoming automatic coaches too because of their knowledge in NLP.

Undoubtedly, coaching uses NLP, but as one of its many other tools. In other words, coaching is not the other name for NLP. Why? Coaching has a structured model and a coaching process that takes a client from start to finish. On the other hand, NLP is not structured on a continuum like coaching. To me, it is only a collection of tools that an NLP practitioner uses in various situations.

Besides NLP, coaching also uses tools like strategic planning, benchmarking, shadowing coaching, assessment tests etc.

Coaching is holistic so it needs a wide assortment of tools instead of one. This is also to substantiate why coaching is more powerful than many intervention methods."

There is a positive intention in the article of the writer. He surely has the best of his clients at heart.

But, he got the part on NLP totally wrong.

NLP is about helping coachees to identify the resources or strength, the solutions within them - this is inherit in the presupposition in NLP that "the map is not the territory". It means that every individual is different and only through precision questions (in NLP these are called Meta-Questions) can the map of the coachee be discovered.

NLP is about setting goals. In fact it is very much about finding out where one person or one business is in the moment or present and where he, she or the business wants to go. How to do coaching without this question? What is your goal is another important part of NLP. Without this, how do I know where my client wants to go?

It is here, where the continuum of NLP coaching comes in - the development of a plan for a client to move on from here to there and then to identify the possible interventions that exist in NLP and use those throughout the coaching process.

And this makes it clear that NLP is extremely useful in strategic planning, for benchmarking and, of course, shadow coaching. I also use assessment tools in my coaching program.

However, it is the power of NLP to also be helpful with short interventions - to help someone overcoming the Peter's Principle, create confidence in coachees, help them overcoming procrastination, depression, doubt, guilt or whatever.

So it is the power of NLP that helps with short term interventions and long term interventions. Short term interventions for those who simply want or need to overcome limiting beliefs (I cannot present, or, I never manage this interview, how to get motivated, confident, what is my career direction).

Long term interventions on how to move a company into the right direction - strategic planning, communication issues, promotions, motivation and empowerment or a CEO who needs a sounding board and to find the right direction (if I may say so!).

The challenge of a coach is to identify which is better - a short one or a long one.

I am not here to make money of my clients because they have better things to do after my intervention. They want to use their newly developed skills at the earliest! So naturally, I want to bring out all the resources of a client in the shortest time possible - and in a way that it lasts a lifetime.

Of course, I charge for my services - who wouldn't ? - but it is my goal to create satisfied and happy clients who find their purpose in life and business. The faster the better! If they get rid of me, they might even promote my service to their friends? And that is the best for a coach as well - referals.









Posted by Andreas at 06:34 PM | Comments (1)

March 07, 2006

Hypnosis Helps Some Students Improve Test Scores

This is interesting news for those who struggle to meet their challenges in school, college or university. How often do I read in student's blog that they struggle to study, no time, too much to do etc.

Sure, there is a lot to learn but what if there is a magic pill? Or in this case, what would you do if you would know that hypnosis can actually help in getting better grades and test scores?

Ahhhh - curious?

How do we feel when we study? I remember from my time in uni, that as closer I got to the tests or examinations, the more nervous and anxious I became. I would check the books for correct answer every two minutes or so. Close it - try to remember, need to confirm, gosh, I was so paranoid myself, looking back.

What I realised - my method - was that I learnt better when I went to sleep shortly after studying. the subconscious mind learns best when we sleep.

The article linked here outlines beautifully the success that hypnosis can bring to study tests, by describing the case of one boy called Alex.

"I used to be afraid of tests, but now I tell myself there is not a problem anymore 'cause it's nothing to worry about," Alex said." His parents agree and say that they see a noticable difference in their son and his grades.

Clearly, if you are open to it, hypnosis can show results right away.

What holds you back?








Posted by Andreas at 01:42 PM | Comments (0)

March 06, 2006

A counsellor and the unmarried Malaysian women

Adohhhhh - I don't get it.

I am talking about the survey of yesterday's New Sunday Times that stated that 80% of the Malaysian women only want to marry after 30 years of age.

I am not here to discuss the main reasons mentioned by the women as stated in the newspaper: "A lack of sexual desire, career priorities, infertility and a search for rich husbands." This is up to them 1

I cannot comprehend how licensed counsellors from Universiti Malaya can provide the following comments for the data:

- Women are not interested in marrying is because there is a lack of "men of quality" in the country. Many men now are involved in drugs and are gay or soft.

My comment: Huh? What kind of argument is that? How can someone provide counselling service with such attitude?

- Women lack sexual desire because they are very tired after work and are too preoccupied with their careers development and prefer to pursue educational. By the time they want to get married there are very few available single professional men. To help, men should be allowed to marry more than one woman.

My comment: This implies that men don't care for their career and their professional education, and thus want to get married earlier. Or, that men are faster in their development. Both are shallow reasons - i don't agree. And to marry more than one woman doesn't sound very progressive to me. (and don't argue for it as it is based on Islamic teachings. There are very strict rules around this possibility and not many can meet these.)

- Men don't want to marry those women due to the women's demands. They don't need to get married as there are many unmarried women around who they can hook up with as it is common in urban societies for couples to practise free sex without the strictures and morality of marriage.

My comment: No comment. My goodness. Shall I pity the men?

This survey might be interesting in its finding but the reasons and solutions provided are shallow at the best.

Would i want to get counselled by someone like this? A counsellor, according to my opinion (but THAT is my opinion), needs to be free of judgements, question a lot, and don't come up with extremely generalised and bias statements.

All my opionion, of course, but it was too much for me to hold back.








Posted by Andreas at 01:51 PM | Comments (2)

March 05, 2006

The challenges of a magic Thank You

No, no NLP this time.

Just think of the magic words we parents teach our children. Those word are "please", thank you" and "sorry".

My boy knows them well. So well, that they are coming back to "haunt me".

Everytime I am asking him to "go to shower", "brush your teeth", "do your work" or "why don't you eat your vegetables", I hear a "No, Thank You."

How to counter THAT one?

Posted by Andreas at 01:39 PM | Comments (3)

March 01, 2006

Fuel price increase and constant change

It sucks and of course it sucks. The fuel price went up by 30 Malaysian cents. It is argued that it is still cheap compared to other countries, in the region and across the world.

But does it really matter?

Imagine I am the taxi driver who is working 18-20 hours a day already to meet my needs and feed my family - does it really matter to me that my colleagues in Singapore have to pay more? I am not driving taxi there, I am here, it affects me here, in Malaysia.

Or the household that is struggling to send 1, 2, 3, or 4 kids to school by car. Does it really matter to them that the fuel price is cheaper here compared to the UK, or Germany? It affects me here to bring my children to school by car, since there is no public transport. I am not bringing them to school in the UK but if the price increase continues, I am also not able to send my children to university in the UK or even in Malaysia.

Change happens and sometimes it sucks. Suddenly, the ground on which we stand slips, is taken away. Gone is the comfort.

Just when we adjusted to the most recent price increase and could start speeding on the road again, letting engine run and run and run while waiting for someone somewhere. We will get used to this price increase as well, as usual.

Still, it sucks.

It sucks because we were not prepared, even so the government gave enough warning signals, and even so we knew that the oil price per barrel is damn high.

We always hope that the storm passes by and we stay unharmed. It happens elsewhere, not here, not with me.

Prices increase and they always hit us painfully and it won't stop.

We read it in the newspapers, we read it on blogs, or study it in the bookshops on newly released editions of management books - change is the only constant.

The environment is oftentimes the first to change and then we struggle to adjust to the changes. We are forced to adjust our behaviours because we have no other choice. It would have been easier to adjust our behaviour first - what about fuel saving, car pooling, or many other tips, like stopping to smoke - and then, it would have been so much easier to adjust to the environment.

But who is teaching us to adjust our behaviours? Or, even better, our capabilities, because it now is requred that we learn new capabilities to help us create new behaviours to cope with a new environment.

The government is trying to educate us, of course, but then, what we read in the papers is so far removed from us, that we are not concerned. Until it happens. And we have to live throught the pain. Until we adjust again - till the next price increase. It will come, I tell you. Don't fall back and be comfortable. Get ready now and adjust early.

Argh - it simply sucks, does it not?









Posted by Andreas at 08:13 PM | Comments (2)

If Microsoft redesigns the iPod packaging....

A funny movie with serious intentions. What would happen if Microsoft gets its hands on the iPod packaging and starts improving it the Microsoft way.

Watch it and just think of the clutter in your life and the Power of Simplicity. Strip away all the noise around you, all that bugs you and sometimes, enjoy that you don't have what others have, that life can be easier if you just step back for a little while.

Take the Microsoft video as a tool to get behind complexity and develop simplicity - isn't this what coaching is all about as well? To help the coachee to find the path forward? To simply their life?

Oh - my apologies! I digress.

Alternatively - just forget what I wrote here. It is just too complicated, is it?

Posted by Andreas at 07:36 AM | Comments (1)