Auto Destruct
I tried to find a brick wall.
This was the best I could do.
Every so often, the real world slaps you so hard, you lose the breath to cry out.
Enter new car salesmen.
New for Old
The ‘new’, I learnt this week, applies only to cars – not salesmen.
In the decade since [...]
Law of the Letter
Another gym membership down the drain.
What is it with gym memberships?!
Like napalm, they cling and burn no matter what you do.
I was pleased to see the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission agreed with our assessment of that Gold Coin to Join ‘deal’.
Alas, I’ve had less success at my local pool.
Technically, they’re correct.
Morally, I feel [...]
Solar Flare
For once, the sun will set on Empire.
You may recall my enthusiastic bid to switch Empire House to solar power.
Alas, this initiative has failed, but not without imparting valuable lessons.
Perhaps you’ll make a better fist of it than I.
Price Crash
As a long-time fan of Origin Energy’s green credentials, I jumped at their offer to buy [...]
First Impressions
We know first impressions are crucial to human relations. (Just ask Helen.)
By extension, they also impact our business dealings.
Having just visited Bali, I now know first impressions are powerful enough to skew an entire world view.
Hard Landing
We’d been warned to take US$50 for our on-the-spot entry visas.
As we sweated in one of the immigration queues, [...]
Little Things
Not all recruitment firms are the same.
Yeah right!
Speaking of recruitment agencies, when Andrew told me his was ‘different’, I took it with a shovel of salt.
Having dealt extensively with job consultants as a client, supplier and candidate, I’d formed the strong view that in this field:
Confidence
Expertise = Infinity
But when Andrew [...]
Out There
Long-distance communication is hard.
Love triangulation is even worse.
A few weeks ago my bank called.
Well, not really my bank.
They wanted my feedback.
Well, not really my feedback.
At a time that suited me.
Well not really …
Get the idea?
Here’s what really happened.
Backchat
My phone did ring: that much is true.
But instead of my bank, it was an [...]
eBay Learnings
A man dug up these trees and took them away in his truck.
He saved me 4 hours, 2 vertebrae and $140.
And he paid me!
I used to think eBay was just about car parts, beanie babies and signed Gilligan’s Island photos.
Lately, however, I’ve found business uses for this medium.
Some of these may help [...]
What price flexibility?
An elastic workforce can snap back.
Casual jobs are replacing full-time careers.
This is economically rational – especially in tricky times.
But casual labour has disadvantages too.
It may even kill platypuses.
Mail merge
When I got a card from my postie (mail delivery officer) I dismissed it as some boring union drama.
Then I saw a newspaper article about the [...]
Driven to tears
Delivery drivers.
What do you think of them?
Most businesses use couriers or delivery drivers at some time.
We hear plenty about rude, tardy, sleazy, unfit, dishonest and incompetent drivers.
Yet little is said about their situations or challenges.
Here, then, are my observations – from both sides of the fence.
I hope you’ll add yours.
Heat stroke
One summer [...]
No means YES!
Truth is best. And good guys can finish first.
For ten years I never said ‘no’ to a client or prospect.
The other day, I did.
Contrary to my deep fears, the consequences have been wonderful.
I can’t wait to naysay again.
No dice
I was really busy with a big job for a fabulous new client.
This unusual combo saw [...]
