‘Sandhurst is no fun, but it is an experience worth enduring.’ Once upon a long time this is a statement you would expect from one preparing to fight for king and country. Think again. I have just discovered that Sandhurst is a sought after training facility in the worlds of finance and commerce in the 21st century.
Rewind to the statement. I really heard it from a friend who at most is a thirty something year old manager in a finance outfit. She was at the time musing over the events of a week she spent at Sandhurst. The more she spoke about it, the more it sounded as if she was involved in a physical for some kind of combat exercise.
She spoke of multitasking moves; manoeuvres more than waist deep in mud, star jumps and marathon chases. I was baffled. Why would anyone without the slightest inclination for the military want to put herself through exercises at Sandburst. Could be a kind of fad way to loose weight or maybe an outlandish way to impress a suitor? Neither of the above; it’s called ‘The Experienced Manager Programme.’ EMP, she glibly explained is a comprehensive Sandhurst initiative, designed as a leadership and performance development programme, which the Royal Military Academy makes available to the commercial sector.
In fact, the programme, now in its sixth year started when the Academy teamed up with Inspirational Development Group in 2001 to offer what it described as ‘leadership and team working’ training to the private sector. And according to an article in the ‘Wish Stream’ journal, it favours the initiative as a way to enhance the reputation of the academy as ‘global centre for leadership excellence.’
So far, banks, mortgage and other finance institutions have been among the chief takers up of a training programme which exposes senior and middle management staff to at least a week long grooming of new habits that encourage change in their approach to customer service, leadership and team building.
All this sounds good. So good that maybe, just maybe its time for the likes gas and in fact utility companies in general, to seriously investigate the programme. It may be all it takes to establish the kind of customer service most of them long for, but for now, only dream of.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Businessmen of Two UK Towns Promote an Auction as the Perfect Fundraiser
The Altrincham and Sale Chamber of Commerce (ASCC) is out to raise big money in an event that it is promoting as a ‘better way to give to charity. ‘
The ASCC has announced that an auction with a professional auctioneer is to be the main feature at a fundraising Gala Ball later this year. According to an article in Altruism, its business magazine, it is hoping that Ian Crawford could hammer out his magic at the ball.
Before becoming a professional auctioneer, Crawford, recalls for the magazine, how he once found a badly cracked little pottery cat that when auctioned off fetched £3000. In another instance a painting, concealed in belongings left for two sisters by their parents sold for £4,800. The sisters thought the painting was worth five pounds, or at most maybe £50. It is no wonder therefore that Crawford really believes that put under the hammer, items often raise more money than owners think they would and the ASCC is confident that it is on to a winner.
The November 17 Gala Ball is expected to attract around 300 ASCC members and President Michael Lister is said to be hoping it will set a fund raising record. “I can’t think of a better way of giving money to charity,” he said.
In the fundraiser for St. Ann's Hospice, the ASCC is hoping to put, up to two dozen items on the block.
If auctions are a still to be tried and tested freehearted fundraising activity , the upcoming ASCC event may yet be a pace setter in fundraising for charity.
The ASCC has announced that an auction with a professional auctioneer is to be the main feature at a fundraising Gala Ball later this year. According to an article in Altruism, its business magazine, it is hoping that Ian Crawford could hammer out his magic at the ball.
Before becoming a professional auctioneer, Crawford, recalls for the magazine, how he once found a badly cracked little pottery cat that when auctioned off fetched £3000. In another instance a painting, concealed in belongings left for two sisters by their parents sold for £4,800. The sisters thought the painting was worth five pounds, or at most maybe £50. It is no wonder therefore that Crawford really believes that put under the hammer, items often raise more money than owners think they would and the ASCC is confident that it is on to a winner.
The November 17 Gala Ball is expected to attract around 300 ASCC members and President Michael Lister is said to be hoping it will set a fund raising record. “I can’t think of a better way of giving money to charity,” he said.
In the fundraiser for St. Ann's Hospice, the ASCC is hoping to put, up to two dozen items on the block.
If auctions are a still to be tried and tested freehearted fundraising activity , the upcoming ASCC event may yet be a pace setter in fundraising for charity.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
The Ultimate Smokers IQ Test - To Quit or Not to Quit Smoking
The ban on smoking in England may well be the best thing that has ever happened for anyone who has been earnestly trying to stub out the habit.
If you are among those who have given up only to light up again, then you are ready to try what I like to call the ‘Ultimate Smokers IQ Test’. Whether you are among those who smoke 10, 20, or even 40 a day, believe me it is worth a try. It has worked for people like you. It is free and it will work for you; but only if you honestly, earnestly want to quit.
How many times have you been asked this question? Why do you smoke? Or put another way, what do you get from smoking? If you are like most people I know, you probably answered with the psychological cop out- stress or the proverbial just to relax my mind. Now, if you are familiar with these answers, its time to be honest with yourself and take the Ultimate Smokers IQ test.
Find some place where you can be alone, away from all sources of stress for a smoke. Start the test. It’s you against ciggy. (A) 1.Light up ciggy. 2. Ask yourself. Why am I smoking ‘ciggy’? 3. Answer.... (B) 1. Ask ‘ciggy’; Why shouldn’t I be smoking you ciggy? 2. Answer....
Here’s the deal. If you find more reasons to smoke than not to, go ahead and smoke yourself to death. If you find more reasons why you should not smoke, congratulations! you have finally found an honest reason to earnestly kick the habit, so go ahead and kick it. (You know what? I created this test. It worked wonders for me. Try it and pass it on.)
If you are among those who have given up only to light up again, then you are ready to try what I like to call the ‘Ultimate Smokers IQ Test’. Whether you are among those who smoke 10, 20, or even 40 a day, believe me it is worth a try. It has worked for people like you. It is free and it will work for you; but only if you honestly, earnestly want to quit.
How many times have you been asked this question? Why do you smoke? Or put another way, what do you get from smoking? If you are like most people I know, you probably answered with the psychological cop out- stress or the proverbial just to relax my mind. Now, if you are familiar with these answers, its time to be honest with yourself and take the Ultimate Smokers IQ test.
Find some place where you can be alone, away from all sources of stress for a smoke. Start the test. It’s you against ciggy. (A) 1.Light up ciggy. 2. Ask yourself. Why am I smoking ‘ciggy’? 3. Answer.... (B) 1. Ask ‘ciggy’; Why shouldn’t I be smoking you ciggy? 2. Answer....
Here’s the deal. If you find more reasons to smoke than not to, go ahead and smoke yourself to death. If you find more reasons why you should not smoke, congratulations! you have finally found an honest reason to earnestly kick the habit, so go ahead and kick it. (You know what? I created this test. It worked wonders for me. Try it and pass it on.)
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