I’m enjoying Nicholas Bate’s recently refreshed (I think) blog. A couple of favourite posts:
Business with stillness and humanity.
“Stress doesn’t kill us – but it makes everything that does kill us much worse.” Jonah Lehrer
This month’s Wired magazine (US version) includes a fascinating article, “Under Pressure” by Jonah Lehrer which explores different aspects of stress. The article is not on the online copy yet but is well worth a look when it appears (or go buy the paper version).
The article looks at Robert Sapolsky’s research on stress and, as well as discussing the long-term physiological impact of stress and the presence of stress chemicals in the body, it looks at experience of stress within hierarchical structures and societies, starting with Sapolsky’s research on baboon troops in Kenya. As also seen in a long term research project on Whitehall civil servants at all levels, the real damage is done less by having a typically high-pressure, long hours executive job and more by having a role at the bottom of the hierarchy. Whether you are the lowest-ranking male baboon in a troop (females inherit rank from their mothers) or an operator in a call-centre, damaging, long-term stress arises most from the feeling of having no control over your environment.
Maybe this sheds some further light on why executives would contemplate giving up the “security” of a good job with a blue-chip company, for all the “stress, worry and uncertainty” of running your own business. It’s not about the stress, it’s about the freedom.
The news was full of this, yesterday: “only 11% of the police are visibly available to the public” at any time. It’s a quote from the press release announcing the new “Valuing the Police” report published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary. The inference is clear: that the other 89% must be wasting their time on bureaucracy.
I know nothing about policing or ratios of back-office to “feet on the street” policing. However, I hate to see misleading statements and figures given without context. Consider this. If we expect the police to provide a 24 hour, 365 day per year service, then there are 3 (8 hour shifts) x 365 = 1,095 shifts to be covered in a year to provide a single officer on the street at any one time.
If we assume four weeks annual leave plus 8 public holidays, then a single officer can only work 48 (weeks) x 5 days = 240, less 8 = 232 shifts per year.
Therefore, assuming for ease a constant level of policing, the best we should expect is that (232 / 1095 =) 21% of police are on duty at any time. And that does not allow for sick leave, extra leave entitlement, training or any weird “Spanish practices” the police may have.
As I said, I know nothing about policing but “just over half of all available police” (11% out of 21%) is a very different tone of conversation from “only 11%”.
This rather cool and dynamic picture of James at his recent Development Meet…
…was taken by a fellow parent, equally suffering in the unbearable heat but disproportionately talented in the photographic field. Take a look at Saravanan’s photoblog. I love this image which seems to me like an ethereal, female minotaur … or something but hamsters, cats and landscapes are all heartily recommended. Fantastic images.
After the consecutive traumas of having the exam date arrive two months earlier than expected; being volcanically stranded in the US for two weeks and having my current work project extended into June (not entirely a bad thing), I’ve just received the results of my recent exam in Electric Guitar, Grade 5, to find that I have passed. This much against my expectations on the day.
The exam was under the auspices of Rock School whose unfortunately cheesy name masks an OfQual recognised syllabus which combines musical and technical knowledge with tunes you might actually want to play.
Much credit and thanks need to go to my teacher and coach, Nick Hollings, whose patient teaching (especially his guidance on creating the solos) were the only reason I managed to pass.
Now, onto Grade 6.
I have it! The piece I couldn't put my finger on in Raymond's music.
In places, his voice (though not the music) has the smoky, granite quality of Peter Gabriel.
Sometimes you get stopped in your tracks by how good something completely unexpected is.
Such is the case with this. Raymond O’Hare is a colleague from
Microsoft days who I always knew was a talented musician (and in fact I sold my first Fender Strat to him when I swapped to another guitar (in sensible days when I hadn’t amassed too many guitars)). I also recall now that he wrote songs but I had never heard any of them.
Here they are. And I am struck by how good they are. There are shades of Steve Harley (and a dash of Jim Cregan-y guitar), James Taylor and even early Chris de Burgh (the melodic pre Flying Colours stuff) or Year of the Cat era Al Stewart. There are other splashes in there I can’t quite put my finger on. Suffice to say it is astonishingly good.
Put on your most mellow screen-saver and chill out…
http://myspace.com/raymondohare
The UK’s Institute of Directors, in conjunction with specialists Executives Online, have just produced an excellent factsheet on the fast-growing field of Interim Management.
The report is a good, objective overview of the market and explores how interim executives can be applied within a business. The paper is one of a series of reports produced by Executives Online (more here, pain-free registration required) which cover the industry from the perspective of both businesses looking to hire interims and individual interim executives.
http://www.iod.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/pdfs/factsheet_interim_management.pdf
More good news from James’ swimming club. James was in the team which competed for, and won, the Gemini Cup.
This is not James but a team-mate, Ollie Waldram…
Bluefins are the top dogs (From Basingstoke Gazette)
Just before Christmas, I installed one of the new Sonos S5 zone-players in our dining room, thus expanding the reach of music through the house. Now, the beauty of Thomas Blug’s Blue Valley can snake after me across the house or the Grateful Dead’s irrepressible Bertha can shake every room in unison.
The sound-quality from the compact little S5 is incredible; full, deep and rich. The unit was supplied by Andrew Cherry of Digital Living Solutions and, although he set it up for me, installation is beautifully simple as an add-on to my existing system.
It’s just good for the soul :-).
I’ve just discovered the Argentinian artist, Fabian Perez and in particular, this painting: Tinto II.
In general, Perez’ art in mostly of shady men and beautiful women although he has some other themes including Venice, bullfights, flamenco and wine, all evocatively Latin, and Japan, where he lived for a year. This picture is currently released as a limited run of 195 prints and speaks volumes. I love it.
I have just finished Chris Anderson’s latest book which explores the impact of the digital world on the price we pay (think advertising-funded Google, obviously, but also everything from free samples to counterfeit handbags). It’s a nicely written narrative and a thought-provoking subject but somehow, I’m not entirely convinced.
In places, Anderson’s arguments are over-extended and his economics feel flawed. The overall tone of the book is of the kind of hype which precedes the bursting of bubbles. And yet, at core, I think he is largely correct: the ability to extend a “free to user” model that we all know from commercial TV to a vast array of business models will be a true paradigm shift. Many things will go down in the flood. Largely, I think he is right about the bits vs atoms argument: delivering digitally drives marginal cost close to zero. But his arguments seem not wholly robust.
Nonetheless, it’s a worthwhile read.
My guitar teacher/coach/guru for the last five years has just launched his new website, nickhollings.com. As well as being a great teacher, Nick is a fantastic guitarist and the site gives a little insight into his approach and his background. The site also includes testimonials from a variety of players with whom he works from struggling amateurs like myself through to professional musicians.
Well worth a look.
A little after the event, but here is coverage of the Basingstoke Bluefins’ win at the Hampshire and South Coast Junior Cup on 24th October.
Young Fins strike gold (From Basingstoke Gazette)
As one of the youngest in the team (a last minute request to stand-in), James was asked to collect the winners’ shield and is holding it here (on the right).
The answer is probably, “No”.
Sometimes, if you have to ask, then you already know the answer.
Taking the step to abandon the safe predictability of corporate life is enormous and life-changing. Often, by the time you have built the experience you feel enables a “yes”, you have acquired the responsibilities which demand a “no”.
You can’t expect the world to line up the contracts you need to make for a riskless transition. If you want to make the leap, then it is – unavoidably - a leap of faith.
This resonated.
I have reached an age where I possess a fine collection of tools, many of which I don’t know how to use. I even own two hammers. One is what I’m sure my family and forebears would call a “real” hammer: a claw hammer with a fine wooden handle, where the interface between wood and steel is milled to a single, smooth surface. I use this to hit things. A wide variety of things. Hit with relish. I also own a small, delicate, “ladies” hammer with a slim, plastic handle and a head which falls off. I use this for the gentle tapping of small, delicate things held in less small, delicate fingers. And I know of the existence of such exotica as the ball-peen hammer, though in fairness I wouldn’t recognise one if it fell on my toe.
More relevantly, I recently encountered exactly this situation where an organisation which had grown fat and happy pounding nails with its claw-hammer could not even countenance the existence of other hitting devices.
Especially tough when you’ve started trying to sell screws.
It’s a hard life. I came across this article on a music blog and although I’ve not come across Peter Wolf before, I was impressed – not so much by the interview but by the previous columns Wolf had written.
Photo credit: Michael G. Stewart.
After a 19 year relationship with PRS (Paul Reed Smith Guitars), Wolf has recently established his own consultancy, Brandwolf Consulting, to help “music instrument makers with sales, marketing and related strategic concerns such as branding and distribution”. What a cool role!
Actually, what a tough market. Guitar players are notoriously conservative. The top-selling (electric) models remain the preserve of the two leading brands Fender and Gibson. All of those models originated in the 1950s: Fender Telecaster (1950), Gibson Les Paul (1952), Fender Stratocaster (1954), Gibson 335 (1958). Look at the Fender website today (as an example) and there are 57 distinct Fender Stratocaster models and 38 Telecasters. In a recession, how do you convince the market to buy more of the same? Hobby players and professionals alike will make do. Arguably though PRS have been the most successful of the other makers, establishing their high-end models and original designs in the face of conservatism.
Interestingly, in counting up the models for this blog, I see that the much-lauded, innovative Roland computer-ready VG Stratocaster was discontinued earlier this year.
It’s a tough market.
A nice post from Mike Pegg’s Strengths Academy blog which is very relevant not only for freelancers everywhere but for everyone. I particularly like the Christopher Vogler / Joseph Campbell resonance of the imagery.
Where are you now? Where do you aspire to be? The Cottage, the Castle or the Cathedral?
Personally, right now I am very happy in my Cottage providing services to a variety of Castles. But that is no excuse to avoid including a photograph of one of my favourite castles (with a small “C”), Castle Stuart.
This subject was brought somewhat close to home last weekend, when I discovered that my neighbour, Les, was actually Dr Les King, the foremost expert on drugs misuse and a former head of the Drugs Intelligence Unit in the Forensic Science Service. On Sunday, the street was parked up with impatient satellite vans and news crews awaiting their turn.
Jerry Fishenden makes a broader point lucidly on his blog. Just because you don’t like the science doesn’t mean you can say it’s not science. It doesn’t work like that.
And, of course, it was highly amusing to read about Alan Johnson so ably and unwittingly demonstrating the inherent weaknesses in his own Identity Card programme. All praise to the LSE’s Dr Edgar Whitley.
Alan Johnson reveals the design of the British national identity card. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA
The name change is official and henceforth my company will be known as Burning Pine Ltd (rather than Andrew Munro Associates Ltd).
Why Burning Pine?
The image formed before the words.
A wind-carved Japanese Black Pine, tenacious, timeless but vital, touched by a jagged finger of lightning.
There is something wonderfully timeless about trees, amongst which are the oldest living entities on earth. In myth and legend, they symbolise wisdom and a deep, slow but immutable power. In life, they are often restless but always still, always grounded.
In the lightning touch, there is a little bit of Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam and a little bit of the Lightning Struck Tower from the Rider-Waite Tarot; the visceral fear and fascination of the power of nature; the explosive energy of inspiration, of new ideas.
All rendered into life by the talented illustrator, Nicole Urquhart.
In the main, the image represents transformation powered by inspiration. Ideas Words Numbers.