No stereotypes here

Use the phrase “Essex girls” and you will frequently get a sniggering response, what a shame that we succumb to stereotypical images. All accountants are dull, all politicians are self serving, all inhabitants of xxxxxxx country have less than average intelligence.

Of course none of these statements are true and should you want to meet some females in Essex that blow the first mentioned myth out of the water go and visit the Advance Dental Clinic in Chelmsford.

I was lucky enough to spend a day with Andrew Moore and his team ylast week and found that the winners of the Best New Practice at the Private Practice Awards in 2004 are not the sort to rest on their laurels.

One of the great pleasures of my job is spending time with motivated an committed high performers like the gang at Advance, thanks for your company.

To see ourselves as others see us….

The report in The Times yesterday about NHS clawbacks has caused ripples in the media world wide. Read the original piece here.

One opinion here includes this lovely paragraph: This is how socialized medicine works. Bureaucrats determine what treatments are allowed and how much they will cost. There is no negotiation between doctor and patient about treatments. Is it any wonder that dentists are opting out of the National Health Service? Eventually, either there will be only a few dentists left in the system (the bad ones) or the system will collapse entirely.

Nick Daley’s case is featured here.

Meanwhile money is squandered in Cornwall (amongst other places).

PS Some feedback in a letter to The Times here.

Amazing Design

From the Cool Hunter

 www.thecoolhunter.co.uk/kids

The Monday Morning Quote #16

“Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.” Aristotle

The Weekend Read: 12 – Shackleton’s Way

A fantastic narrative of Shackleton’s Transantarctic expedition – with frequent references to the metaphor in business leadership and team development.

This is one of the best books on leadership I have read.

Available from my Amazon shop here.

Another Travelodge 2

This time at Stansted, Essex where I arrive at 10pm and sit in a corner of the bar writing my journal and people watching.

I realise that I am amongst several small groups of football supporters most of them are booked on an early flight to Hamburg with the intention of getting a train from there to Berlin where Germany are playing England the next evening. Two of the fans are Welsh and heading for Denmark.

I am not a great football fan, although soccer was the first sporting event I watched, taken by my maternal grandfather to watch Drumcondra at Tolka Park after Mass one Sunday when I was aged 8 or so. There followed several years of following Cardiff City at Ninian Park, I especially liked the games under lights and I have memories of the young John Toshack and the older John Charles playing for the Bluebirds. But it was rugby that drew me away and it’s no surprise when comparing City in the old second division with arguably the best club playing on the most famous ground in world rugby.

To return to the fans, and that’s what they were, genuine supporters of unfashionable clubs. One of the Welshmen had visited all 92 league club grounds but was having to revist some of the clubs that had moved to new stadia. These guys loved the game, not for them the prawn sandwiches at Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge.

I found my 30 minutes or so of eavesdropping refreshing, and both teams won their games so the travellers will have returned happy.

Highs and Lows

The high – the first edition of my ezine was published today. It’s not a work of art but it’s a start; I don’t imagine there will be huge offers for my subscription base but that’s not why I write it. If you’re reading this please subscribe to the ezine list here.

The low – I find myself banned from Tony Gedge’s acolytes chat room, I have never been banned from anything before in my life. Presumably it has something to do with this blog entry. 

Hey ho, I’ll get over it. As Seth Godin wrote: If you are willing to satisfy people with good enough, you can make just about everybody happy. If you delight people and create change that lasts, you’re going to offend those that hate change in all its forms. Your choice.

The Monday Morning Quote #15

When you make a mistake, don’t look back at it long.

Take the reason of the thing into your mind and then look forward.

Mistakes are lessons of wisdom.

The past cannot be changed.

The future is yet in your power.

Hugh Lawson White

US politician (1773 – 1840)

Where to invest in 2009 – back to basics

I make no claims whatsoever to be a financial expert, please never ask me for financial advice as I’m not qualified to give it. Sure I can read a balance sheet and profit & loss account as well as the next man – and a whole lot better than many. It’s that I leave the experts to do what they do.

I have mentioned Ray Prince & Graeme Urwin before as a couple of people who DO know what they’re talking about and you can find out more about them and subscribe to their ezine & blog here.

They sent me this link a few days a go, It’s a bit US-centric but worth a read.

The Weekend Read 11 – Onora O’Neill – A Question of Trust.

This slim volume is the transcript of the Reith lectures given by Baroness O’Neill in 2002. Easily readable, it presents a philosopher’s view of trust and deception and asks whether and how trust can be restored in a modern democracy.

What’s that got to do with Dentistry? Business? Coaching?

Everything.

A challenging, provocative read for everybody in a position of trust and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Available through my Amazon Page.