What are you working on right now? What is occupying your time? Is it revolutionary? Will it set you head and shoulders above your competition? Is it new, innovative, exciting and exhilarating? Is it brilliant? Does it matter? What are you working on that makes you proud? Something or nothing? If the answer is nothing… Why […]
Archives for February 2014
Are You in Control?
Simple Birds It was half term last week. I took my children to North Norfolk. We explored sandy beaches, rolling countryside and panoramic skies. It was as beautiful. The highlight was a walk across the salt marshes and the sight of a flock of startled geese scurrying across the sky. How do the birds […]
The Problem with Protectionism
When I was a teenager… The gadget to be seen with was a Walkman. Modelled by tall blondes on roller-skates cruising along sun-kissed Californian beaches Desired — in my case — by a spotty youth sitting in a bush shelter in rain-swept North Yorkshire The Walkman was so popular it even lead to social scientists coining […]
Target Setting, Cause and Effect
During the 1990s and early 2000s, the UK government relied heavily on target setting to manage the public sector. We had: Targets for education Targets for Healthcare Targets for policing Targets for fire brigades Targets for the tax office Targets for dustbin men No doubt we had targets for the target setters as well. UK […]
Details Matter
POSH Bags There is a rumour about Steve Jobs. It is alleged that he sacked an employee at one of the first Apple stores. Why? Because she bought cheap and nasty plastic bags for customers to take their expensive purchases home in. The story may be a complete fabrication, but history has shown that Steve was […]