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Surfin The Land of
The Bald Eagle
By the Urban Peasant
The Urban Peasant strikes again. This time she goes all
the way across the Pacific Ocean, soul searching in The Land of Liberty and
Eagles with Scalp Deficiencies. From West to East, South to North, by plane,
train and car, she treads the path where no man has ‘never’ been and
files her report.
Part IV - City by the Bay
The Caltrain ride from San Jose to San Francisco takes
about one and half hours, depending on the train number, as some skip small
stations and some stop at every darn one. I rode right to the last stop,
which is 4th and King St, SF. From the train station in the Bay Area I had
to walk at least another 45 minutes up the road to the school. Then 45
minutes back to the station after school, and 45 minutes from station to
home. After five days, my legs were sore (but...ahem! firm).
 The
TEFL Gang on a lunch break
The morning chills and a brisk walk in SF could not have
been more refreshing. The head goes numb from the cold wind, hands freeze
and legs ache. But, I would not have traded it for anything. By the time I
reached the last corner of the last slope I was always about ready for an
ambulance, I mean, a nice breakfast in a small cafe on the street corner:
muesli and milk, Starbucks coffee and a croissant.
I took out the name card of that San Mateo prince
charming I met on the train and asked the guy next to me sitting at the
counter if he knew where the place was. He looked up, and my o my, he turned
out to be an extremely, and I mean, extremely handsome guy. Doug is an
Internet Solutions Architect. Isn’t that so cool? Solutions architect.
(What is it anyway?) Alas, we only had ten minutes to talk and I had to rush
to my class. And once again my prince-to-be turned into a frog.
 The
intriguing Nicole Barkova
“I left my heart in San Francisco.” Sigh. The school
I went to was more than I expected. Transworld School is internationally
recognized for its quality training courses in the field of Teaching English
as a Foreign Language (TEFL). The teachers there are highly qualified, with
Ceri Rich-Odeh as the owner and director. The trainees were from many
different places. Mexico, England, New York, Chicago.
The experience I gained from the course now makes me wish
I had more time (and money) to learn more. It was rewarding, informative,
and gave me an infusion of adrenaline. It was a fulfillment, albeit a brief
one. In other words it reminds one of how much one is dumber than one gives
credit to one. Therefore, if anyone is interested in sponsoring a
scholarship for me, I’ll be on my way back immediately. Don’t forget the
ticket, and some pocket money.
 The
hills of downtown San Francisco
I owe having taken this course to Tom. Had he not
“nagged” me to take it, I would have come home without even this
achievement. He volunteered to drive me to so many places, picked me up from
the airport, and delivered me right in front of the school in time for the
first day’s lesson. Not to mention his and Vannath’s hospitality for
putting up with me, I mean, putting me up in their home.
One classmate that intrigued me was Nicole Barkova - a
multi-talented girl from Bratislava, Slovak Republic, previously called
Czechoslovakia. She has won numerous national awards in music, dancing and
languages in her country. A fighter and a survivor, she braved the violence
within the family, and pleaded hopelessly for human rights in her own
country’s dysfunctional political and social systems in the first 15 years
of her life. Ending up in the US ten years ago on a scholarship, she found
her new world in Flamenco, and never returned again to her homeland.
We only had the last day after school to spend together
walking to the train station, talking and laughing like crazy tourists. I
got off at Red Wood City with her to have a bite of Indian food by the
station before boarding the last train home.
Regretfully, it was finally time for me to leave San
Francisco and San Jose. I had not had enough time to roam SF, only Sutter
Street and the roads to the station. Walking alone, one could have a
terrific time just window-shopping in those cute little shops and big
department stores. Sitting at a table outside a cafe, seeing the daily
panorama: the yuppies passing by, people protesting, the homeless finding
shelter and more.
 San
Francisco Bay with the Bay Bridge in the background
I stood by the Golden Gate for approximately 22 seconds
for Tom to take the pictures...if I had stayed longer, I would have turned
into a frozen peasant. And then there was the historic ocean oriented
industry at Fisherman’s Wharf with fine dining and wining. Sipping wine at
the sidewalk restaurant, watching honeymooners in super stretched limousines
with heart shape windows. Sigh...too romantic, let’s change the subject.
There was just so much more to see and do but time and
tide wait for no man, and my budget was going on a diet, losing weight fast.
There is much more for me to write, but my editor is going to kill me for
overloading the page. Yep, the same American editor in Pattaya I told you
about. That’s the one.
Tom, as usual, drove me to San Jose Airport. What would I
have done without him? We waved goodbye and once again I had to leave
another harbor. Don’t miss the last episode next time: ‘Hollywood or
Bust.’
Cowboys at the Green
Bottle Pub
The Green Bottle Pub celebrated their
seventh annual Cowboy night, with both cowboys and Indians being present.
To kick off the evening’s activities, Sopin Thappajug, the managing
director of the Diana Group, invited the media moguls Chanyut Hengtrakul
(Sophon Cable) and Peter Malhotra (Pattaya Mail) to attend, and the pair,
dressed in wild western outfits and hats, were driven to the Green Bottle
in Jeep Cherokees supplied by Hi-Class Autos of Chonburi.
Cutting the ceremonial cobweb across the doorway, the
cowboy and the Indian made their way into the western themed pub for an
evening of bands, raffles and lucky door prizes, compered by the
inimitable Neera Sirisampan from the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.
 Shots
fired into the sky proclaiming the opening of the Cowboy Night
With all the guests, including Chanyut’s wife Viliwan
and Dr. Prasan and his wife, Jiraporn dressed appropriately along with the
staff in cowboy and cowgirl outfits and cactus plants everywhere, it
really was a western night. Many took home a souvenir umbrella - a most
suitable gift, considering the weather last weekend!
The cowboy theme will continue at the Green Bottle
until November, with free souvenirs for anyone wearing cowboy (or cowgirl)
gear and other offers for the duration of the promotion.
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|
Cowboys
Chanyudh Wayne
and Peter Sanchez use scissors
to cut away the cobweb
blocking entry into the pub. The spider
was not harmed. |
Vitoon
the Kid (left) welcomes guests to the Saloon |
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|
Neera
the fearless with her team
ready to give first aid |
Noi
Oakley and the “Pattaya Cowgirls” |
Shenanigans at
Shenanigans
It’s now official. Delaney’s is gone and Shenanigans
is the name of the game.
The “opening” of the “new” pub was held last
week, with Manager Kim Fletcher and all the usual gang of lads and lassies
to greet us - but instead of a wearin’ the green, they were all
resplendent in bright red, a similar colour to that of my eye balls as I
type this the morning after.
 (L
to R) Mark, Don, Trevor, Izzy and Gerry, the men behind the shenanigans at
Shenanigans, shown here “spoofing it up” during the “opening” of the
“new” pub.
The colour was not the only change - the pub has been
enlarged! The wall moved back, the band is now on an elevated throne area,
and the back room opens out into the bar and dancing area. Looks nice, Kim!
Of course there were some remnants of the old “D”
word still there. The burned in name on the top wooden step of the back bar
had been hastily painted over, but no doubt the Shenanigans team will work
out how to erase it.
During the open house there were all the usual likely
lads (and significant others) in attendance, including Steve and Alan, the
largest Real Estate Agents in town from Northern Thai, several of the
Jesters Charity team (now in recovery mode after the Fair), Mike (the
eyebrows) Franklin, Trevor Allen and Mark Greenwood from Dela...(oops!)
Shenanigans Bangkok, a fair swag of Rotarians from the Jomtien-Pattaya Club,
with Queen Erika and her Prince Consort holding court, and then the real
drinkers like Malcolm Clare and the other professional tipplers.
Later in the night the crowd were treated to guitar
virtuoso Lam Morrison, who manages to play The Doors numbers with plectrum
and beer bottle (the bottle with the truest notes seemed to be Heineken that
evening) and fills the entertainment area with lots of decibels. By that
stage of lateness, most of the dancers needed a well defined beat to be able
to synchronise their left feet with their right elbow while doing fair
representations of people falling out of a speeding baht bus.
No, the good bits are still there, the other bits are
improved, and the name’s Shenanigans. I shall now retire to my bed and try
to get well enough to go to Shenanigans again tonight!
Sichang Island - Once
the Summer Residence of Former Kings
Sichang Island off the coast of Sriracha has a rich and
colorful past. In former times, beginning roughly 100 years ago, kings
from the Chakri Dynasty: H.M. King Mongkut (Rama IV), H.M. King
Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama V) and H. M. King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) all
had summer homes there. The names of the former rulers are immortalized at
different locations on the island, and many historical remnants still
remain.
 The
statue of King Rama V on Sichang Island
The picturesque island was a favorite location among
the three monarchs, and each made a number of visits during their reign.
Members of the royal family gave many of the island’s locations their
beautiful and lasting names.
H.M. King Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama V) started
construction of a summer palace on Sichang Island in the year 1892. The
former summer palace now sits near the shore in an area where a variety of
trees, many over 100 years old, provide a typical tropical spot favored by
naturalists.
King Chulalongkorn also founded the construction of a
Buddhist temple, Wat Jutathidthamsabharam, in 1892.
 Sichang
Palace
One of King Chulalongkorn’s wives gave birth to a son
on the island, H.R.H. Prince Bhanaurangsri Sawangwongse, who later looked
after the construction of the palace and surrounding area. The palace
grounds have four buildings, pavilions, surrounding walls, waterfalls,
staircases, water fountains, waterways, caverns and religious shrines.
The kings from that period of Thai history were
instrumental in protecting the Kingdom from foreign colonization. King
Chulalongkorn, for instance, continued to visit the island until a
confrontation with France concerning the disputed Thai-Indo China border.
Soon thereafter, King Chulalongkorn passed away.
 Overlooking
the town from atop a hill.
After His Father’s passing, H. M. King Vajiravudh
(Rama VI) continued to visit the island. Later, His throne and palace,
built from teakwood, were relocated and reconstructed as museum pieces at
the Wimanmek Palace in Bangkok.
Interesting sights on Sichang Island include an ancient
pavilion built in Chinese style called the “Keng Chin”, which has
mythical dragons and peacocks, and the Chakapong and Chao Pho Khao Yai
caverns. Sichang Island is also home to the white squirrel, an exotic rare
species now protected by preservation laws enacted in 1994.
On the way up to the Chao Pho Khao Yai cavern one will
pass the Sichang Island Assistance Home for the Elderly, first opened in
1993, and managed by Chum Ketkaew. The Home for the Elderly now has 25
residents, four men and 21 women, and is supported from whatever donations
are left by tourists passing by and other generous donors in the area.
 Foundations
of the palace built by Rama V, which was later relocated to the Royal
Palace Museum in Bangkok.
Sichang Island is approximately 18 square kilometers in
size and was formerly under the administrative rule of Samutprakan
Province. In 1994 it received the status of a district administrative
area. Presently, Sichang District also consists of smaller islands, some
of which are Khangkhao, Thaitamyyn, Yaithao, Khamyai, Khamnoi, Raan
Dokmai, Prong and Sampayeu Island.
 An
ancient Chedi on Sichang Island
Fishing is the chief occupation among the inhabitants
of the islands. Many tourists are drawn to the area to test the waters for
game fish. The beautiful beaches surrounding the islands are another
popular tourist attraction.
Sichang Island is about 30 kilometers from Pattaya. The
best way to get there is from the Jarint Pier in Sri Racha, where
passenger boats charge 20 baht for the 12 kilometer trip to Sichang
Island. The trip takes 45 minutes. Speedboats can make the trip in 15
minutes, but cost 1,000 baht. Sichang Island has motorcycles for rent and
other transportation is available to tour the island, with prices starting
from 150-250 baht.
Zugvoegel holds
another successful luncheon
Another well attended meeting of the “Zugvoegel”,
Pattaya’s German language speaking group, took place at the end of
September. 22 old and new members, some of them real “migratory birds”,
gathered for the first time at the Amari Resort, welcomed by GM Jo Stetten
and his wife Johanna. The group had decided to visit this beautifully
decorated “nest” to give Marion and Michael Vogt, the hosts for
innumerable previous gatherings, a chance to enjoy their well deserved
holiday.
 A
happy group of German speaking people met for lunch at the Amari Orchid
Resort.
Marliese Fritz from Tropic Restaurant introduced her
daughter Tamara to the group and Udo Hartung, not less proudly, his wife of
6 months, Jennifer.
One of the Zugvoegel’s traditions is to celebrate
recent birthdays by sharing a birthday cake. Once again the hosts sponsored
the cake. Remarkably, 3 members, Johanna, Elfi and Heinz had their birthdays
on the same day, the 12th of September, and Michael one day later, on the
13th of the same month.
After a wonderful lunch and a lot of chatting the group
decided to hold their next meeting again at the Amari Resort.
District Governor
comes home
 District Governor Prempreecha Dibbayawan addresses the Rotarians
The new Rotary District Governor in the year 2000-2001
for Rotary International District 3340 is well known local lawyer
Prempreecha Dibbayawan. Prem is also one of the founding members of the
Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary Club, which he and other Rotary stalwarts convened
in 1987 - and is still a member of that club as well as a double past
president.
At the meeting last week of the Jomtien-Pattaya club,
newly elected President Erika Keller welcomed Prem on his first official
gubernatorial visit to “his” club. In his address, Prem advised the
local Rotarians to remember the challenge given to all Rotarians worldwide
this year, by R.I. President Frank Devlyn - that of “Create Awareness -
Take Action”.
 District Governor Prempreecha Dibbayawan and President Erika Keller
join the celebrations of Past President Nicolas Demet’s “36th”
birthday |
Austrian crystal magic
now available in Thailand
Colourful and sparkling images mesmerize the onlooker.
The beautifully shaped statues of dragons, birds and other objects are
covered with thousands of little precious stones of all colours, placed
carefully one after the other, side by side to finalize a pattern fitting
the original image.
Walking through the showroom of A.C.D. Thailand reminds
one of the “The Wizard of Oz”- conjuring up sparkling dreams and
reflections of crystal magic.
 This
falcon figure (28 cm high) is covered with over 31,000 crystals and needed a
little over 14 days of work to complete.
A.C.D. Thailand produces these images in their small
factory in Pattaya, with a trained and skilled team of about 14 employees.
The wooden images often need to be carved and slimmed down before placing
any crystals, so as not to lose proportion in the final stage. However, not
only wooden images are used. A special and patented glue allows placing
these precise cut crystals on any surface including glass, bamboo, silver,
bronze and other metals.
A.C.D. Thailand was established in 1999 by Joseph Aigner
and Mark Eder, two Austrians originating from Wattens (Tirol), the same city
where the world famous Swarovski crystal started its tradition.
A.C.D Thailand uses its colourful stones for a wide range
of products: fashion items, jewellery, souvenirs, chandeliers, gifts,
decorations and crystal accessories. “There’s no limit set to the
customer’s fantasies. We are able to produce custom specific items,”
says Mark Eder, Production Manager of A.C.D. Thailand. Now you know where
you can get a pair of shoes like Dorothy’s.
Since last year, A.C.D. Thailand has established several
sales outlets in Pattaya (Royal Cliff, Tiffany, Big C, and Royal Garden
Plaza to name a few) and in Bangkok (including Silom Village and River
City).
“To further grow and expand into all major cities in
Thailand, we are searching for suitable businesses who are interested in
offering our products in their shops, souvenir or gift shops, in hotels or
malls,” explains Joseph Aigner, Marketing and Distribution Manager.
Crystal accessories have already become favourite sales
items and are in high demand from existing distributors, with customers
ranging from Thais to foreign tourists.
The two Austrians believe that the upcoming high season
will be a boom in the crystal business.
The showroom is located in the Pattaya Bazaar in North
Pattaya, 265/32-33 M.9, Second Road, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20260
and is open from Monday to Saturday.
If you are interested in offering crystal items in your
shop, or are interested in setting up a crystal shop, please contact Joseph
or Mark at tel./fax: (038) 421 669, email [email protected] or
visit their showroom.
The Ultimate Bazaar is
on Saturday
The Pattaya International Ladies’ Club (PILC) Holiday
Bazaar 2000 is on this Saturday 7th of October. This event is anxiously
awaited every year by those Pattaya folk who know how to shop for a great
bargain.
With over 70 vendors offering a huge range of goods
from all over Thailand, the Siam Ballroom at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort
will resemble an “All Thailand” market-place with literally something
for everyone.
The event is also a charity fund raiser, with the 100
baht adults’ entrance fee (children are free) going to swell the charity
coffers of the PILC, to be used to support the very many needy children in
Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard. Of course, those “in the know” are
well aware that they will save much more than the 100 baht entry on the
Xmas bargains they can pick up at the bazaar.
One of the problems associated with a “shop till you
drop” event is what to do with your own children. The PILC have covered
this with colouring competitions to keep the youngsters amused while Mum
gets the Xmas bargains. There are 3 age groups, 5-7, 8-10 and 11-13, with
prizes for the winners and runners up in each category. That will keep
junior occupied for some time!
The other problem is dragging around the various stalls
with an ever-growing collection of parcels. The PILC have covered this one
too, with a Parcels Claim room where you can leave the parcels till you
are ready to take them all home.
There is also a coffee and cafe eatery that has been
arranged next to the Siam Ballroom, so you can keep on shopping after
quick refreshments.
The Bazaar will be opened at 9.30 on the Saturday
morning by Atchara Patchimnan, the wife of the Governor of Chonburi and
the doors will swing open for the early bargain hunters at 9.45. There is
no other bazaar like this in Pattaya and it is a once a year bargain
opportunity - while at the same time, it is helping the PILC to help the
less fortunate in our society. No sensible person will miss this chance to
help others and help themselves at the same time!
Foster Wheeler
celebrates project completion
Foster Wheeler celebrated the completion of their
project FW/SHELL MALAMPAYA OGP (Going for Gold) in the beautiful grounds
of the Amari Orchid Resort, where they presented a splendid buffet for
more than 300 people.
 On
stage for the entertainment was the great sound of Satin Soul, with Pop,
Tu, Burm, Murk & Rung and local vocalist Monica Rottman. There was
also a visit from the famous Tina Turner (Malibu), Sayan and Rick &
Harpic.
One of the guests Neil said, “ It’s also a going
away party as the project will now move on to the Philippines.” Foster
Wheeler has been in Pattaya for over 30 years.
The project was a huge success with another cause for
celebration being the ‘no hurt lost time incident’ - there were three
million man-hours without an hour lost for accident; quite an achievement.
Which is probably why Foster Wheeler has the prized ISO 14001.
Bill Avery returns to
Pattaya: his final resting place
by Peter Cummins
Even after he left the Kingdom some 15 years ago, Bill
Avery was still a part of the Thailand he loved - especially Pattaya and the
Royal Varuna Yacht Club where he spent so much of his time, as he used to
say, “just messing around with boats.”
Thus, after the shock of his death in Honolulu recently,
it came as no surprise to any of the Varunians who had the rare pleasure of
knowing “old Bill” that his last wish was for his ashes to be brought
back to Varuna and cast upon the waters of the Gulf. His ashes joined those
of Betty, the wife he adored who had preceded him to a Gulf burial some
eight years earlier.
 Bill
Avery R.I.P. Photo Peter Cummins ca 1980
Long-time and close friends of the Avery’s, Hans and
Daniele Wiedmann held a touching memorial for Bill at Christ Church, which
was attended by many old Varunians. After the service, in true Varuna style,
we adjourned to the upper floor of Delaney’s for a wake. It was a time for
“I remember whens” and there were many precious moments of nostalgia.
His ashes had been brought to Thailand by an old friend
and again Hans ensured that Bill had a worthy send-off, as a flotilla of
Royal Varuna craft did the traditional three circles around the ashes
scattered on the Gulf in front of Royal Varuna.
Thoughts of Bill
There he was, when I walked into Varuna for the first
time, way back in the early 1970s, sitting on the club-house wall having his
day’s first Amarit. The time was about 9.30 (morning, of course!). It did
not take too many meetings until I was admitted to his “circle”, with
his usual cheery greeting, “Hey dad, how about a beer?”
My second impression was of a Cal-28 keelboat, on hard
standing BEHIND his apartment. He had it tied to a bamboo tree which puzzled
me considerably. “You never know when there might be an exceptionally high
tide,” he suggested, with his remarkable twinkle.
Those of us who are Club veterans are most fortunate to
have Hans Wiedmann who was a close confidant and intimate friend of Bill’s
and most of this story comes courtesy of Hans.
Bill was born in Hawaii in 1920 and, at a tender age, the
islands could not contain his restless spirit. He started out as a ‘lift
boy’ - even there early displaying his life-long affinity for the sea -
operating the lifts on an ocean liner.
He moved to the ‘other island’ - continental United
States - and during the course of the years, he acquired some five spouses
(he had some difficulty remembering one or two of them, in later years) and
he thought there were five children.
He came to Thai shores in 1966, as an air conditioning
engineer with the US forces. Fate intervened one night, as Bill was in his
favorite corner of the Oriental’s “Bamboo Bar”. An attractive English
lady just happened by, en route to New Zealand, to settle. Betty never left
and not much later became Betty Avery. They were never separated from that
day on and the oft-married Mr. Avery even conceded that “Betty was not bad
- for a GIRL!
He often said that if he had met Betty first, there would
only have been one Mrs. Avery and Bill pointed out that Betty discovered a
new Avery family about once every five years.
Bill and Betty were totally dedicated to the Royal
Varuna, occupying for some two decades the apartment on the north side under
which Bill ran his famous chandlery. He certainly had the wrong name, for he
NEVER would give anyone a bill. I remember (there we go...!) fitting out an
entire old Enterprise from successive sallies into “Bill’s locker”.
After about a year, I hounded him into an estimation of the cost: his reply
“whatever...!” Of course, the deal was closed over the inevitable
Amarit.
He served under several Royal Varuna Commodores for more
than 20 years as a loyal and hard-working committee member, organized
unforgettable Hawaiian evenings, including the traditional whole pig, buried
and baked in the hot sand for almost half a day, hula dancing and Hawaiian
music. None of us who had the good fortune to attend one of these marvellous
evenings will ever forget it.
His eternal tribute to Betty was plainly displayed on the
CaL-28 (which, at the urging of Hans, eventually became sea-borne) “I am
the captain, but my wife is an admiral”.
This charming couple eventually left the Kingdom in 1987
and settled in Portugal with their five white Spitz dogs. Betty passed away
in 1992 and a grief-stricken Bill slowly went down hill until he, too,
succumbed to a terminal illness.
“Bill was always helpful, generous, laid-back and had
no enemies,” said Hans at the funeral ceremony.
His passing virtually closes a chapter of Royal Varuna
history: a time of wooden boats, good times and an army of dinghy
aficionados who liked nothing better than “simply messing about with
boats.”
Bill Avery R.I.P
Thought for the week: Why
businesses fail
by Richard Townsend,
Corporate Learning Consultant
http://www.orglearn.org
In response to a readers question and in light of the
ever-increasing failure rate of Internet start-ups, perhaps it is
appropriate to review why our business is really here and what we are doing
‘right’ as managers/leaders or… maybe what we are ‘not doing’ as
slaves to the bureaucracy. Is our company heading for success or failure? Is
it time to leave and go somewhere smarter?
According to years of surveys of business failures the
most common cause of their demise is the lack of money. OK that’s a
‘no-brainer’ Richard, everybody knows that, BUT where does the money
come from and what sort of money is critical? Well money comes basically
from three places: capital (investors) - too little and we are doomed; cash
flow from sales (the customers); and efficient and effective operations,
i.e. control of costs and the ability to obtain the maximum outputs for the
minimum inputs (the management and the staff).
Assuming that our organisation has adequate capital lets
look at the other two areas. Firstly to maintain Efficient and Effective
Operations, what are critical money issues for us as managers/leaders?
Record Keeping and Financial Control (the easy stuff
first) - do we and our team really understand how to read the trends in the
financial reports that are prepared either by us or for us? Or do we just do
a yearly budget and wonder at the end of the financial period why we missed
the target? Do we constantly review the budget in light of changing
conditions in our industry, technology or our markets tastes? How often do
we update our projections in light of changing circumstances and do we use
adequate financial control mechanisms? Silly things can happen, are we over
controlling the petty cash and under controlling the major purchases or
project expenses just because they are approved in the budget? It does
happen in real life.
The ability of our team to make the right money or
business decisions - is our business managed by people with sound
industry experience and/or are we educating our staff on the industry they
belong to or do they just specialise in ‘their job’. Businesses managed
by people without prior management experience have a greater chance of
failure than firms that are managed by people with prior experience. Are we
hiring or training to make sure we have effective management or are we
promoting from within mainly based on length of service and loyalty? Are we
just handing out big titles to keep the staff happy and give them an
unjustified salary increase so they won’t leave and make us start all over
again? Don’t laugh, in a couple of countries I work in it happens all the
time! Educated people have a greater chance of making a business succeed
than those who are not educated. What is our company’s ongoing education
policy? Do we provide incentives for our critical employees to improve their
knowledge and expand their perspective? Also, businesses that cannot attract
and retain quality employees have a greater chance of failure than firms
that can. Do we attract quality staff and are we seen as an employer of
choice or do we constantly resort to taking the best of a bad bunch?
Do we plan to make money? - businesses that do not
develop specific business plans have a greater chance of failure than firms
that do. Does everyone on staff know what our corporate vision and mission
is? Do we test our plan against our values? Do we plan at all, or is it just
another day at work? Go outside and ask a few people what the corporate
vision and mission are and when you’re though stressing out (or crying) go
and kick the corporate communications director/manager/officer in the head.
Do we have an action plan for each strategy and then make sure we know who
is to take the action? And by when? And how to measure each action’s
success or failure? And do we then re-plan based on the outcomes? I have
conducted a lot of planning sessions with and for a variety of organisations
and everybody likes visions, missions, goals, objectives and strategies, and
participants readily contribute to the brainstorming. Then when we get to
the actions and I ask who will take the actions… silence… or at best
reluctance. Plans without strictly implemented and monitored actions are a
waste of time.
Worth a thought? More next issue.
To contact Ric mail to: [email protected]
Printing diaries for the staff or customers for 2001? Why
not add some business “Thoughts for the Week” to the back of each weekly
page, just a few tips may help business along! Price US$0.02 (only two
cents) per article per diary for print runs up to 4999, or US$0.01 (yes one
cent) per article per diary for print runs 5000 and above.
Learning... the only way forward!
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[email protected]
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