Ancient Kingdoms and Hope for the Future …

Egypt has been a truly interesting exercise and just as have other countries, she has shown herself to be a land of true contrasts…

The city of Cairo has got both international banks, hotels, business and people walking around with modern technology and laptops while at the same time a couple of blocks away, there are donkey-drawn carts and traditional vendor/small specialist shops and crowded bazaars co-existing and competing with modern commercialism.

We went to some very interesting places and our last guide, Ibrahim, was both a professional guide and international university lecturer in Egyptian history.  www.highrock.com/Ibrahim.  Good stories, no nonsense shopping + real historical and cultural insights.

The Pyramids, the size of the blocks they were constructed of, the hard sell from the hawkers and the number of people visiting them was amazing. Our impressions of Cairo … the friendliness of the locals, the absolute chaos of the traffic (adventure tourism is just crossing the street because there are no pedestrian crossings!!) and the sand/smog in the air.

Ibrahim gave his view of Egypt’s future prosperity being dependent on the people continually investing in their own education, especially several languages (ie having excellent communication skills and a can-do attitude) and finding the thing that makes them different and of value (their niche). All are messages similar to those I use in my coaching.

Take care and talk to you soon ….

The Times They Are A-Changing …...

I’ve just heard on the news that Sotheby’s is auctioning the handwritten-lyrics of that song written by Bob Dylan back in the 1960’s. Who would have thought it? They expect the selling price to be approx UK500K. Obviously there’s a lot of money floating around somewhere, looking for a home. Speaking of which …

Terry and I have both loved, but been very concerned with our visit to Greece – the antiquities (such as at Delphi and the Acropolis) have been absolutely amazing and it’s been great to see the amount of restoration work that going on at each heritage site.

On the other hand, we were talking with a couple on our bus tour, who were forced to change hotels because there was rioting and shooting down the street from their hotel. The same day we were talking with them, there were national strikes amongst government employees about the level of national debt. There were no buses or trains operating; many of the shops closed in support. People were openly taking drugs on the street. There has been no refuge collection for several weeks due to industrial action.

None of the above enhances the city as a tourist Mecca nor does the excessive tagging.

The following evening outside our hotel – which is in one of the main, up-market squares, we personally witnessed a Communist Political rally involving 1000’s of people singing and protesting. Luckily it dispersed peacefully.

during gathering

 before communist party gathering

 Thinking about it, in NZ we’re relatively lucky in that we have a stable environment. We may not have the ancient history, the monuments or past glories, but then we don’t have the world-wide reporting of riots, and dire economic conditions that are creating the above issues and stresses for the Greek people.

It’s good to be able to appreciate from afar what we do have and while we may moan about it on occasion, at least our national debt is not over 100% of our GDP (Greece is!) They must change and those changes may be incredibly painful – worse than NZ in the 1980’s.

Possibly this reinforces in our own businesses and our own lives that we are creating something that adds to our economy. The past won’t save us - it’s what we do today and tomorrow that’s important. If we can operate in our current, local challenging environment, what’s the possibility for tomorrow?

Talk to you soon …Gaylene

A Chance To Reflect …

After some frantic sightseeing in Rome, we retreated to the quiet village of Greve, Chianti in Tuscany to taste the local wines, view the beautiful scenery and to rest before the next league of our travels.

We nevertheless found ourselves in some tight spaces as the picture reflects – I’m pleased to say there were no scratches on the car as we maneuvered the cobblestone streets and narrow alley ways!

I was reminded today, how often we find ourselves feeling that same squeeze in our daily lives … there’s so much pressure on our time and our resources generally. I think there’s a real need to take some time out to reflect and nurture ourselves, just as the grapes are doing here in Italy at present over the winter period.

This is a place that reflects simpler times but still exists and thrives in our modern world. The trick for us is to bring that simplicity into our lives if that’s what we want.

So in this really hectic season, I encourage you to make some time for yourself to reflect on what’s important for you. Enjoy the festivities leading up to Christmas, keep up with that 51-day challenge … & talk to you soon ….Gaylene

My 7 Tips for Success Shared ........

I loved the energy and enthusiasm of the students I presented to at the Arnhem Business School last Friday and I don’t think it was just because of the NZ chocolate I threw into the audience (that reminds me … I must learn to throw properly or practice more as I had some near misses and Terry tells me I throw like a girl!!! whatever that means)

Many of the students are in their 3^rd or 4^th year of their studies in International Business or Marketing (with perspectives in Finance, Marketing or HR) and are actively looking for placements around the world to complete their studies or to fulfill the international component of their studies.

If you have a piece of research or a project that you’ve been putting off, these students could provide you with the ideal opportunity to make these happen. They’re smart and technologically savvy while also being able to work independently with minimal supervision – just ask me, I’ve had 8 of them over the last few years, and the caliber of the work has been outstanding!

The 7 tips I shared with the students, to further ensure their success, were:

1)      attitude – choosing a can-do, positive frame of mind, which creates energy and opportunities;

2)      being disciplined and focused;

3)      being passionate about what you do;

4)      playing Above the Line and being aware when you’re Below the Line;

5)      being confident and doing all that you can to build on this if you’re not;

6)      setting goals and writing these down (+ reviewing them on a regular basis); and

7)      steeping outside your familiarity-zone or comfort-zone and trying things that provide you with stretch.

Isn’t it interesting that these same tips are those I often share with my coaching clients to ensure their further success in life and business!

Which one of these do you need to pick to work on over the next 2-3 weeks?