Whoops!

My mother has returned to the retirement capital of Sth Australia (victor harbor) to find that she had a nasty cough, a barking, whooping one. The docs thought she had legionnaires disease. the drugs that she had to show ID for didn’t do much, and she phoned me this morning to advise that she and my stepfather have whooping cough… thank god for immunisations, otherwise i would have another case of a house of pain…

She thinks we gave it to her, we think it was another retiree in Victor that brought it home from the grandkids…

When Buzz Words & Jargon attack…

What happens when the discussion you have with another person seems to be built around buzz words, acronyms and other such technical jargon?

I was doing just that today on the phone, and I found myself wondering if either of us knew what we were talking about.

What happens when the jargon and tech speak becomes your only form of communication?

How would your family react?

Mine would continue to ignore me. I usually try to explain things to my family – I am certain they just switch off and wait for words that they recognise. My kids are far too young for Buzz Words & Jargon, I don’t want them engaging with me in later life in the same manner – I won’t have a clue about what they are talking about… and it will probably take too long for them to explain.

Is a limited education a disadvantage in today’s Business Environment?

I don’t mean a lack of products knowledge, but, rather Grammar, spelling, an understanding and use of dipthongs, etc, etc. Don’t ask me about Latin, no idea if i can’t look it up on the ‘net.

What level of education is required to be an effective  and successful business person?

What  can be done, so as to improve the level of education and understanding of language and effective communication of your  message to others?

Considering the levels of people ’s education in the maketplace, ranging from basic high school up to university degrees, what is a comfortable balance, considering the access to the internet, spell checkers and grammar checkers?

Seeing an Accident on the side of the road – It isn’t Multiple choice as to what you do…

It seems like there are too many people out there who would rather drive on by, than stop and help. They do this for many reasons, but they are all wrong.

Here are some that I have heard over the years:

“I didn’t want to ruin my weekend” – This is by far the most disgusting thing I have ever heard. The person couldn’t stop, as they thought that it would interfere with their weekend?? why would you mention that you saw an accident, if you were going to just drive on by?

” I didn’t have a first aid kit, so i thought I wouldn’t be able to help” – you can help. anyone can help.

“I thought, why should i stop, I don’t know them” – sad, really.

it makes me wonder, if the shoe was on the other foot, what would the reaction be if they were being left to die?

Moderation – what is a fair level of the Moderator’s personality?

When is it acceptable for a moderator to deny a commenter’s comment? How do we stay impersonal when our blood is boiling?

When should we walk away from the discussion and allow another moderator to make the call on the comment?

Someone was asking yesterday about a lobbyist… Do they still Exist?

In all my time of working in the IT industry in Canberra, I have never seen or used a lobbyist in my working day to day requirements. Now, with the gershon review and NBN project coming, organisations are looking to ensure that their company is in the front running. How do they use a lobbyist to do this, and where can they find one? Not as simple as the yellowpages’ “Lobbyists Section” and calling one. Or looking one up in the white pages, calling them and saying….

“hi, have i got xyz lobbyists are us?”

“yes.”

“oh good. can you do some lobbying work for me?”

“sure.”

“that’s great! can you start straight away?”

“righty-ho.” 

apparently, lobbyists are known to other lobbyists (not much help) and government departments (still no help) and a few competitors (not going to help)

so, where to go and what to do?

Luckily, i know a couple. I don’t use them, but I am certain I can contact them if i ever need to.

Glad i don’t have to think about this on a daily basis….

time to look at a bigger house… but where?

we took the kids today to see gungahlin, and found that the houses are all massive, with little gardens.

now, we don’t know what to do….

sleep on it, may need to rethink our options….

fine. been. done. now for the surgery…

and I will be waiting for a call from the Canberra hospital for the when. note to self, don’t drive on day it is done, can’t drive after it is done.

had a bone density scan, came out ok…

need to focus on some quotes – take my mind off it by immersing myself in my work.

trepidation kicking in….

Today is the day I go to my specialist. He doesn’t scare me, but the thought of the 6-monthly surgery does give me a twinge.

I know i need the treatment, but I really don’t enjoy having it done. It is nasty.

Imagine having a hole cut in your abdomen, and 4 grain sized implants shoved in. I would probably be happier if they let me watch, but they don’t. I am used to it now. I did try the injection that lasts for 3-months, but it goes into the gluteous maximus, and you really have trouble sitting down for weeks….

Oh, well. 

I guess I have to weigh up the discomfort against the potential health risks not having the thing done brings. I will take the treatment.

and now it is the 2nd half of my year

Well, the order I was waiting on came in. 12-months after I started working on it. Talk about a long life-cycle!

Now, i can focus on the other things I need to do. My priorities will be to help out at home more, and take some pressure off my wife, and start to look as to where we should be moving to. whether in Canberra, or not, I need to start to focus on the long term goals we have set and where we are now, as opposed to where we should be.

The future in the IT industry will be defined by the actions of the resellers. If they stick to selling tin, they will never grow. we need to create a future mindset of diversification, and provide all the tools and resources to help them do just that.

I was speaking to a competitor the other day, we were interrupted by one of his colleagues, who demanded to know why he was talking to me. As he said, and i agree, if the opportunity comes whereby we are helping our clients fight against another brand, and we are representing the same brand, at the end of the day, if we succeed, the brand succeeds. and that is better for us all.

Time to get all the ducks lined up. lots to do now, and not much time to do it.