Views in Verse on empathy

The most important factor in delivering a successful presentation... empathy !

You often see pocket lists that address this key aspect of business. I always look intently at these to see whether they have included what I believe to be far and away the most important element. The reason that I feel quite strongly about this? ...I learnt this lesson the hard way.

A member friend Earl Lappen had asked me to present on knowledge management in the clunky old former premises of the Australian Institute of Management in North Sydney. Being a casual member at the time (circa 1998), I had been there once or twice earlier and witnessed speakers struggling with the noisy intermittent air conditioning, the microphones that had minds of their own and the audio visual gear that usually took assistance from the 'techo guy' to both get and keep going.

On the night, I did my best to address all these 'front of mind' things and got through the planned agenda (with the air-con off) - a technical subject I delivered to what I believed to be a somewhat technical group - AIM's member chapter of 'the business systems group'.

Upon asking for questions afterwards, you could have heard a pin drop amongst the fifty odd present as ten or maybe twenty seconds passed; until one member quizzically asked "do you think any of these things are relevant to small business?" A question I was utterly unprepared for as I had assumed the audience to be mainly 'systems oriented' representatives from major corporates.

But hey ...when you've 'dug a deep enough hole you just keep on digging' ...so I then asked "how many of you here are from small business to-night?" A clear majority of hands went up in the room. I then delivered what I thought to be a passable answer to a brave question, but the whole time realizing that both my context and content had both missed the mark on the evening.

The most important element in preparing for a speech/presentation - know your audience!!!

I hopefully made up for this error some ten years later, when as a chapter convenor, I presented a member forum on the same topic using some relevant business colleagues who ((like Earl) remain linked-in up to this day - Duncan Robinson, Pat Lockley and Peter Niven.

During the introduction, I made note of my clumsiness from all those years before and broadly encouraged the audience to stay involved for the duration to ensure that none of us drifted off the radar. Never forget that communication is a two way process.

It often pays to ask background questions of your audience before you start (as well as reading the attendee list as they arrive). This type of introduction, that promotes immediate comments, brings with it a 'buy-in' that gets the group involved right from 'the get-go' as well as making you fully aware of who you are actually sharing with.

It also pays beforehand to be in touch with all the marketing data that has been circulated and to whom - this aspect is not always achievable but does 'throw even further light' on your planned audience.

Good luck with your next presentation! Enjoy!

GF

Reflection

(seeing things through other people's eyes is often not as easy as some like to think!)

The man in the mirror

is toiling away

working off last night's fun

A self-critique

while purging away

reflection on the run:

I pump and I grind

cause I have to really

I carry some weight you see

Cause the man in the mirror

he ventures on out

a little too often that's me

As I work through the sets

thoughts comes on through

a 'little' uncomfortably

I'm the man in the mirror

I'm feeling good but

moving gingerly...

The woman with the hat

was in my face

well ...that was plain to see

A friend of a friend

she was so pissed off

...but hey ...well ...not because of me?

What about Sonia's brother in law?

some argue

even when they're wrong you see

He's better off really

for the 'spray' I gave him

but hey ...deservedly

I was with that blond

...say ...why not?

she captured my interest awhile

The 'hat lady' sank as the

blond headed 'skank'

waved at me and smiled

The blond wouldn't dance

when I offered the chance

said I'd  indulged 'too willingly'

Tried to resolve it

but I couldn't hold it

in speaking ...adequately

More time at the bar

could only but mar

any chance of a budding romance

By now kind of numb

right down from my bum

best suited for sitting ..not dance

Then that fellah

who just kept looking..

staring provokingly

I broke my rule

confronted the 'tool'

sorted it out...gentlemanly?

Sometimes there are things

that are much better

well...left more unsaid

A good shove ...yeah

it works every time

Puts the issue 'straight to bed'

The pain in my shoulder

I can't quite trace though

the bouncers do come to mind

For no good reason

that I can recall

the barman really wasn't that 'kind'

My mates tell me

I could do a little better...

be more careful with what I drink

But those last few...

'wow'!!!

kind'a creep right up on you

you just really can't ...'think'

Anyway...

I'm better for the workout

Now it's time to text the boys

Sunday's a good day

I always reckon

for makin' a little noise...

Reservedly though

yes so reservedly so

I'm a social soul

that's me

Yeh!

Forwarded from my I phone - Grahame J Flynn

views in verse on taking control

Are you a ball of stress by day's end?

Is every conflicted day the same?

Are people at work damaging your health?

Let's see if we can find some ...'consolation in philosophy'


Alain de Botton in his BBC series Consolations of Philosophy used London cabbies to demonstrate that the stress we bring upon ourselves in everyday life is indeed controllable. His views, based upon Seneca's philosophy, were fully explained in his text of the same name.

Seneca had served in the court of Nero; the brutal monster who had murdered members of his own family. Seneca's choice was in knowing that this wild behaviour was consistent and that what we really want in the world is in truth beyond our control - wishing will not change how things are - we must learn daily to accept reality.

His view was that by accepted reality (as it is) and not fancying how we 'wish it would be', we will not suffer ongoing disappointments in our life. Thereby reducing stress, self pity, shock and anger.

He interviewed dozens of London Cabbies and he got the same result. They were all appalled at the end of each day by the driving they had seen during that same day. Thereby, ending each day as 'stress-balls' - by achieving what they had dreaded at the start of the day; succeeding in not changing the harsh reality of London traffic.

De Botton in applying Seneca's method to this, upheld that if they had begun each day fully accepting the day is 'as it is' and not 'as they wish it would be' they would travel a lot more smoothly through the day and would be in a much fitter state by the day's end.


Are you working with a difficult person who rules your day perhaps. You can't change this - but you can learn to manage it. By accepting that person 'as they are' and not continually wishing that they would 'act differently'. See text 'working with you is killing me' Crowley/Elster.

Plenty of tips in here to help get you through your working day!







Would all this help in your daily life? See whether you can adopt a different philosophy in your working day and then benefit from it!




A SENECAN PRAEMEDITATIO

(the wise) start each day with the thought...
'Fortune gives us nothing that we can truly own
Nothing, whether public or private, is stable;
the destinies of men,
no less those of our cities
are in a whirl...
reckon on everything
expect nothing!'

Views in Verse on World Series Champions

Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants - A truly exciting series to go to 7 games - a 3-2 final result. The Royals were magnificent too ...rank outsiders march into baseball folklore - A series to savour - an October to remember - Madison Bumgarner the shining star - the Panda ...not far behind!



Dream OctoberYou say our parting is like losing a best friend
What kind of friend are you to never call at all
You say that people keep on changing without you
But that's not how I thought of you in the fall

Dream October, dream October back to me
Dream October, is that all that it could be
Dream October, see the sun set in your eyes
Dream October, as I say goodbye

Like the glacier at the top of a mountain
With the sun melting what left of the snow
And like the drop carried out to the ocean
It seems some things these days are meant to be let go

Dream October, dream October back to me
Dream October, is that all that it could be
Dream October, see the sunset in your eyes
Dream October, as I say goodbye

Yeah, sometimes I still miss you
Even though, it didn't work out in the end
Once in a while, I think back to when it all began

Dream October, dream October back to me
Dream October, is that all that it could be
Dream October, see the sunset in your eyes
Dream October, as I say, as I say goodbye

Views in Verse on 'walking the walk'

Diabetes Australia

Walk to Work Day 2014

Why not join in? Friday 14th November






Morning in the City

I caste a lazy eye 
as the the bus nears 'The Bridge'
the sun shines bright off Middle Head
The Opera House smiles
as she peeps o'er the brow
I'd be pained to use my vehicle instead




I come in early 
for my 'walk 'cross town'
the ideal start to the working day
An easy pace 
...no need to race
from The Quay toward Castlereagh

Through narrow lanes
of convict stone
I make my way toward the heart
Pitt St will take me
most the way to Sydney South
a steady hill right from the start












Martin Place is stirring;
the 'promotional' zone...
early workers busy on displays
In an hour there'll be shouts
from painted roustabouts
as commuters go along their merry way

A few blocks up 
the retail heart
trucks descend upon the mall
Restocking shops
for the day that's ahead
a greengrocer at his stall









It's a steady rise toward
the top end of town
An eclectic mix there you'll find
Best brands galore
In specialist stores
past the Hilton 
where taxis entwine

Crossing Bathurst St
up at the top 
Say hello to the 'new' Chinatown
Once confined
to 'old' Dixon St
now thriving some eight blocks around






A little further on
the railway arches
I routinely make my way down
Once you cross under
Surry Hills beckons
with the aroma of fresh coffee ground

The side-walks are narrow
where the locals gather
to await barista service with style
Just beyond them
men walk streets
clutching at loose bedding piles







But it's the 'metro' zone now
the place to be seen
I chance to wonder what I'm doing here
But I shot in the key
Enter ...just me
Ready to work ...no fear


from my notebook Grahame J Flynn

Views in verse on "the old fashioned way"

The Gaints - an 'old fashioned' baseball team!


The Giants this week stormed into the World Series under the inspiration of their 'old fashioned' right fielder Hunter Pence. After the Wild Card game that got them into the play-offs, Pence not only wound up his team to "go all the way" but he even grabbed the public address and included the fans to do all they could to see that the Giants win 'the ring' again this year.


They won in 2010 and 2012 - Pence was a key player in these games. But more than that he is their informal leader. In this knee high socks and his untrained swing he looks every bit the boy next door coming up to bat. But last night in what ended a dry spell for him (batting-wise) he posted a (3 run) home run that set up the Giants to a convincing 7-1 win in game one against the Kansas City Royals.


The manager Bruce Bochy also likes to stick to traditional baseball. He adopts a style nearly gone in these 'media mad', 'hit the ball over the fence', image that we have seen in recent decades. The Cardinals in their 4-1 series loss to San Francisco last week hit overall 10 home runs to the Giants 3. The Bochy style is that you bat for the lead runner - he is always the one in the best position to score. And score they do!


The whole Giants team appears somewhat unconventional against the hard core finely tuned professionals of the age. But this makes them very interesting. And given the fact that they can dominate (...when they want to) it makes them a lot of fun to watch. Their 3rd baseman 'the Panda' is worth the entry ticket alone too - great fielder - great batter - great entertainer!


The enthusiasm of the team shows at this time of year. They only had a 60/40 win ratio in the season but here they are! Another World Series win beckons.


Watch out for the World Series this week (7 games planned)!

Take me out to the ballgame

Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out with the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks
I don't care if I ever get back

'Cause it's root, root, root for the home team
If they don't win it's a shame
'Cause it's one, two, three strikes you're out
At the old ballgame

'Cause it's one, two, three strikes you're out
At the old ballgame

Views in Verse on Bigotry

We read graphic details this week of an Australian Academic Professor Spurr who had regularly sent around emails to his peers promoting racism and religious intolerance. This same man had been appointed to review Australia's English curriculum. When challenged on this outrage, he retorted that he was entitled to his own views on such matters and yet be totally objective in setting context and policy in relation to our national learning program for our children. Wrong man ...hand in your guns and get out of town!


In fact this bombardment by 'fire breathing' individuals spreading hate via email has taken on a very unwelcome level of late.

Only this week I received an elaborate chain letter detailing how a Christian Pastor and an Imam had crossed paths at a lecture in an American jail. The story spread by the Pastor tells how he boldly confronted the Imam on the lack of tolerance by Muslims in relation to all non-believers. The Pastor built a healthy case of disdain against what he saw as outright bigotry himself. All was plain sailing and mildly convincing till I got to the Pastors name, church but beyond all of this ...his address: ALABAMA. Hmmm ...stirs a few too many memories doesn't it? 

The question I ask is: do we ever learn? The thing most common to all this hate mail I see is that the authors always sees themselves as coming from a position of absolute righteousness.

Alabama

Oh Alabama
The devil fools
with the best laid plan.
Swing low Alabama
You got spare change
You got to feel strange
And now the moment
is all that it meant.

Alabama, you got
the weight on your shoulders
That's breaking your back.
Your Cadillac
has got a wheel in the ditch
And a wheel on the track

Oh Alabama
Banjos playing
through the broken glass
Windows down in Alabama.
See the old folks
tied in white ropes
Hear the banjo.
Don't it take you down home?

Alabama, you got
the weight on your shoulders
That's breaking your back.
Your Cadillac
has got a wheel in the ditch
And a wheel on the track

Oh Alabama.
Can I see you
and shake your hand.
Make friends down in Alabama.
I'm from a new land
I come to you
and see all this ruin
What are you doing Alabama?
You got the rest of the union
to help you along
What's going wrong?

NEIL YOUNG

The Others

You took me in when I needed help

I know that you are my friend

He vouched for me also at that time 

A ready hand to lend

She too was like a sister to me

Without asking a thing in return

But it's not about them of whom I speak

It’s the others that I spurn

I didn’t mean you, when I spoke of ‘a plot’

I didn’t mean him, involved he’s not

I didn’t mean her, I’d be needlessly hurting

It’s the rest of the others to whom I’m referring

It’s all the others, who offer a threat

It’s all the others, whose intent I get

It's all about them, their motives aren't true

I know this just simply, because …I do!

from my desktop Grahame J Flynn

views in verse on behavioural change

What type of trees do you see?

No it is not a trick question...

they are of course trees typical to Australia :

eucalyptus or gum trees, but ...





In sketches still kept to this day, in colonial times in Sydney Town and in the extended penal colony of Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), the English scribes continually drew their impressions of the forests they saw before them as oak, elm or larch trees. Or indeed any other tree that reminded them of the way things were back home. A case of mind over matter.

So remember when faced with behavioural change issues: never underestimate the human mind's urge to return to what it was comfortable with yesterday despite being faced with a new 'modus operandi' being demanded today. Beware a convenient myopia that may resurface for some time.

Confidence in 'the new' requires coaching, documentation, reinforcement and reassurance in order to ensure complete adoption of the required standard.




Renewal

Release
the past
It's spent
and gone
Accept
my friend
it's done!

Embrace
tomorrow
as a child
plays in rain
The future
holds promise
for some

For those
who open up
their hearts
and trust in
themselves
Good things will come
to them
as if by chance.

To lovers
who caste aside fear
the odd
chortled jeer
and boldly
march up to the floor
and dance

And to those who
take a
selfless route
in fulfilling
their pursuit
Reward will come
to them
with seeming grace...

Live to love 

the day
before wishing it away

on the past
...spent
but never

out of place!

From my I-pad - Grahame J Flynn

Views in Verse on achievement

This guy is one of the really impressive Australians of our generation...Ric Charlesworth. 

Perhaps the pinnacle of his career has now come as an author in the passing on of the knowledge that he has acquired as a high achiever in his career, sport and politics. His profile as a team leader, arguably, unsurpassed in our time.

In his book 'The Coach' he shares with us 10 KEY ELEMENTS that champion teams depend upon to achieve the highest level of success. Ric sees these factors as being equally applicable in business!

Ric is a doctor of medicine, a former captain of the Australian Hockey Team, the WA State Hockey Team and the WA State Cricket Team. He was also in Federal parliament for 10 years. He then 'retired' to take up the position of National Coach of the Australian Women's Hockey Team and then the Men's Hockey team. It goes without saying that these Australian hockey teams have taken all before them over these past twenty years - he has been without doubt the cornerstone of this great success.

The 10 KEY ELEMENTS that champion teams depend upon to achieve the highest level of success Ric defines as being : quality, work ethic, flexibility,growth through adversity,breadth of leadership, continuous learning, a team first attitude, common goals, honesty, ...humility. 

The last being somewhat the key, as it recognises that: today's raw performance alone is, of its own, just not good enough. As without always recognising that 'what you don't know about yourself' today is the biggest threat to still being the best tomorrow. There must be an accepted mantra within the team for constant 'performance improvement'. 



Views in Verse on achievement


Life is jelly-bean colours,
Fireworks in the sky.
A silvery beam is shining...
Out of a wondering eye...

They say in truth we set our goals
far short of what we presume
Instead if we were to 'shoot for the stars' 
We might just 'hit the moon'

(Extract from the poem 'serendipity')

Forwarded from my Iphone - Grahame J Flynn

Views in Verse on the Rabbitohs

Latest betting tells us that Russell Crowe's South Sydney Rabbitoh's will tear into Sunday's Australian Rugby League Grand Final against Canterbury as favourites despite not having won one since 1971. The club emblem is of a rabbit ...why are they then known as the Rabbitohs?





 Since Russell Crowe bought the club they have seen a dramatic and stylish resurgence not in keeping with their historical image which is more reflected in their name - the Rabbitohs.

They were one of the foundation club's of the Sydney focussed league (1908) and effectively from the wrong side of town around Redfern as the area housed mainly the poor in these days - and continued to recent decades. The stories have it that especially during the depression years that rabbit was a low cost source of food and was readily sold in tougher hotels around the south of the city.

The guy who came in to sell them would announce himself as "the Rabbitoh". Thereby to be forever the association with 'the struggler' image.

The club battled hard to survive financially into the 1980's and were effectively removed from the competition much to the chagrin of their loyal supporters, who successfully managed to turn that situation around.  This included marches through the city and up to the town hall steps. Many well known, well heeled supporters came out of the woodwork at that time and would help with that struggle.

This period saw private funding dramatically enter the scene to rescue the club - eventually to end with Russell Crowe's ownership - himself a lifelong supporter. A new trend in NRL circles then emerged along the lines of other overseas sports franchises.

Crowe has dramatically changed the image and in some ways has taken 'the brand' to the world. The team now features two of the best players in the game Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess.

So how will they stand up to the pressure come Sunday against Canterbury? ...a regular premiership winner over the recent decades. Well, we'll see come Sunday. But I reckon most people would love to see them get up again off the canvas (Bulldog supporters excluded of course).


The Anthem in case anyone has forgotten the words:

Glory, Glory to South Sydney
Glory, Glory to South Sydney
Glory, Glory to South Sydney
South Sydney Marches On
When speaking of the champions
One stands above the rest
Of glories old and records proud
When often put to test
Of fine traditions, history
That others cannot best
They wear the red and green
Glory, Glory to South Sydney
Glory, Glory to South Sydney
Glory, Glory to South Sydney

Views in Verse on a 'fair dinkum' society

The Trade Union Royal Commission was brought to a halt this week for a fortnight as a key witness  (the alleged link to the underworld) was excused from attendance given he was suggested to be in need of mental health care in the wake of his recent charge of sending threatening texts and emails to a woman over the prior six months. He was given bail subject to a doctor's letter...


Meantime this week a Sydney lawyer who crashed into an L plated motor cyclist and then suffered a road rage moment will plead that he should not be judged under criminal law as he was 'mentally ill' at the time.

Such absurd 'legal' instances stand as complete anomalies in 'mental health week'. Compare this with a minor news story in the letters section of the SMH newspaper on 2/10/14. Wherein we are told of a seriously ill man who took off his clothes in searing heat and wandered aimlessly around a country city for 36 hours and then was jailed for his incoherence despite his mental health history.

This man has since been locked up in Silverwater jail for 18 months awaiting trial given he was charged with trespassing (go figure?). He can't be found fit to plead given his mental state (meantime he rots in jail!!!). Mr Ingrey in that same letter offsets the case of a Sydney barrister's son who hit a jeweller over the head during a recent armed robbery and only received a suspended two year sentence for his crime.

There can be no doubt at times that the law appears an ass. This is not new. But the disturbing thing is this 'bi level society' is so closely following what we see in the US today as 'the norm'; it truly makes you wonder whether we are going forward or backwards ...back into our own colonial past. It also highlights the truly veiled state of mental health in this country. The law too is being manipulated to its own ends.

One thing is for sure. We are deluding ourselves that we are participating in a 'fair dinkum' society as we would like to think. 'Fair dinkum' being Australian for ...'fair and reasonable'!

The Rose, the Sun and the Sea

She was the kindest of woman

her beauty long lost to the sun

She came to this port as a stranger

for the love of "a wayward one"

Most thought:

 "he'd since died a sailor"

Put it down to his 'late father's bent'

But back to this headland

she'd return each day

Early ...without relent

After this vigil

She'd walk through town

Shoulders thrown back as she'd go

Watching out 

for new arrivals

the Coachman's brow would lo'

In the early years 

neat and composed

Never missing the odd chance to talk

Her appearance waned

with each new year

yet purpose still clear in her walk

She'd stop and she'd chat

to the waifs and the needy

A port town carries it's share

Helping out at the sailor's home too

Plenty of work to do there

She also worked hard for a living

under the Milliner's shop

Until one grey morn'

when the Constable announced:

"her rounds had come to a stop"

It seems the Squire

from a nearby cove

had called that very same day

With ghastly news 

that a body was found

Floating ...face down ...in the bay

Her funeral was said to be touching

All of the children were there

Even the seamen 

made their way up the hill

with flowers ...to rest in her hair

The Mayor declared her (to be)

"of good breeding"...

who came to us 'through the back door"

Describing such situations as "travesties..."

"...such things shouldn't happen at all"

Most would have noticed too

a stranger there...

Sitting amongst the throng

A refined old woman...

Who said not a word...

In a short while she was gone

The Landlord later noted:

"personal things were taken...

...right to the very last one"

All that was left 

in his seaward loft

Was a rose...

...now bleached by the sun.

Forwarded from my I pad - Grahame J Flynn