Blog has moved
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Sunday, 02 November 08 - 03:55 PM (GMT +12:00) By Marie-Claire Andrews in General |
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Right I've grown up and got myself a new website. Yay. Thanks to the Decisive Flow team who also helped me work out what exactly my business was about, at the same time - nothing like seeing the words on the www to wonder if they're true or not!
Anyway thanks for reading, and its all carrying on from here:
so please do continue to read, enjoy and post your comments 
Calling in the experts
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Friday, 24 October 08 - 08:23 AM (GMT +12:00) By Marie-Claire Andrews in Business |
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I am now completely sold on the idea of calling in the experts. When you run your own business its so tempting to JFDIY (just, well, do it yourself) because it saves money. Well, maybe, but it certainly doesn't save you time if you're bashing away at a website that would take someone else three hours to create. Time is money, and its more valuable.
That argument has been had and won before. BUT there's one more layer to add, now. And that is, calling in the experts exposes you to a level of skill that you just don't have, that can take your business somewhere you hadn't dreamed of. That's why they're called experts, stoopid.
Example - I'm moving offices, and moving in with Frances to a cool new pad on Boulcott Street. Hurrah! I had a vision of some nice matching furniture and a couple of pot plants and, well, simply our own space. This is what we're renting:
And this is what Roz Paterson has designed for us
See I love it so much its my desktop background 
Aren't we lucky! And aren't you looking forward to the office warming....
Your funds are safe
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Thursday, 16 October 08 - 11:34 AM (GMT +12:00) By Marie-Claire Andrews in Buzz |
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toothpastefordinner.com
What's the right ratio?
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Tuesday, 14 October 08 - 04:33 PM (GMT +12:00) By Marie-Claire Andrews in Business |
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The projects my confederates and I work on are all about solving business owners problems. This is challenging, rewarding work with real results.
Unfortunately I'm in this interesting situation where, in order to secure a contract, we practically have to solve the problem in our proposals. Because the client isn't completely convinced that we know what their problem is until we've articulated it and described the methodology we'll use to remedy is, plus some possible outcomes. Actually that's not true - it's not because they doubt our abilities, but because they don't know what their problem is until someone else begins to articulate it!!!!!
Which means if the client then goes away for a while, gets snowed under with other things, or gets distracted in the million ways that business owners can, we've put in DAYS of work for no return. OK so that's not true either, the return will be downstream because a happy customer is a happy customer, even if they haven't parted with any money. It's not about the money (repeat ten times).
One day (soon) our track record will be so deep, wide and impressive that we will be able to incorporate the problem solving proposal into the contract itself - because honestly that process is so valuable and inclusive that it really is a service too.
In the meantime (next few weeks!) grateful for your reassurance that its normal, and what exactly a good ratio of hours to propose versus value of contract might be! 
Hail a Baxi
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Monday, 13 October 08 - 07:52 AM (GMT +12:00) By Marie-Claire Andrews in Buzz |
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Baxi launches this month..brainchild of the mad and fabulous Vicky Ha you'll now be able to hail a baxi and be biked across town to your next destination.
Human powered pedicabs, how much greener can you get?! And no competition for the taxis - I mean, someone still has to take people up Boulcott Street and Mount Vic 
Each Baxi® can take two grown ups in comfort and considerable style. And you get to choose what you pay - there will be no set tariff. Passengers will be able to negotiate their fare with their Baxi® pilot, or to decide at journey’s end what the trip was worth.
This fantastic new start up is launching at Southern Cross on Tuesday 21st, from 5:30pm. Great media opportunity (the bikes will be there) and if you're keen on becoming a pilot (yeah thighs of steel!) or want to advertise on the baxis, contact Vicky. haha@baxi.co.nz
Changing the world one man at a time
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Tuesday, 30 September 08 - 12:56 PM (GMT +12:00) By Marie-Claire Andrews in People |
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My partner returned on Sunday after a weekend away with the boys. Not any old weekend away though, this was a New Warrior Training Adventure and man, it's pretty cool living with a New Warrior! I am amazed at how much it's affected him, in a positive, glowing, shiny eyed, uplifted, energised, connected, authentic, fantastic way! He hasn't told me much about it, they're not supposed to - and I get that as words take away the magic - but from the little I've gleaned, its affected him profoundly.
The adventure is run by the Mankind Project, which is a not for profit community of men from all backgrounds that support each other to live fulfilling lives. Like I say, when you try to put it in words it sounds a bit simple, wierd almost. What's wierd though about connecting with other men, finding great mates, getting outside your comfort zone and sorting our your mission in life. I mean, wouldn't you want to get all that sorted in one weekend!
Before he went, we tried to research the weekend more, and discovered what we should have known already - that you find what you're looking for on the internet - so found stuff that made him nervous about going. Turns out it was all crap, and that it's the kind of experience you can only appreciate by doing, not by reading.
Interestingly at the graduation last night, there were lots of women there who said that it was through them that their men got to know about MKP. It doesn't seem to come so well from a bloke to another bloke ('hey, what you saying, there's something wrong with me?!") so here's a call to action, ladies, have a read through the website - talk with me - and let's get more New Warriors out there in the world.
Wellington where were you?
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Friday, 19 September 08 - 09:22 AM (GMT +12:00) By Marie-Claire Andrews in Being a pom |
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Last night I was treated to hear the NZTrio perform at St Andrews on the Terrace. They're internationally acclaimed, unbelievably talented musicians who create sounds that transport you. Violin, 'cello and piano in complete connection.
I was one of 35 in the room. That's all our capital city could muster up for this amazing demonstration of artistry. We're supposed to be the arts capital, the culture capital. And a little bit of rain kept you away?
It's not like chamber music is uncomfortable. It's beautiful and, for anyone who's ever picked up any instrument, no matter to what skill level, being up close and seeing the connection between the musicians, the raw, live, active listening and watching they continously do to stay together and create more intense sound than you can imagine.....is breathtaking.
OK there was one uncomfortable piece involving hand held fans being brushed along strings and Sarah Watkins, the pianist, leaning inside her piano to hit the strings with a stick etc (hey, its still 'playing' the piano, right?!) but otherwise the Beethoven, Brahms and suprisingly the Ross Edwards ('one of Australia's best known composers....er?!) were awesome.
Yes, it was a late start (8pm - 7 would have been better) and yes it was a crappy night. But come on Wellington, Chamber music is not for pommy ponces, next time come on out and appreciate the talent New Zealand has.
Leadership is not Doing Everything For Everyone
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Thursday, 18 September 08 - 08:26 AM (GMT +12:00) By Marie-Claire Andrews in People |
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I love Wednesdays, they start with a 'business development breakfast' with Frances, where we put the world to rights and then, for the last five mins, sort out the projects we're working on and talk tactics for getting more. I also work out of a client's office on Mondays and Tuesdays so I belong to them, Wednesday's herald the start of 'my' week.
Unfortunately yesterday wasn't such a good Wednesday. Too many little commitments getting in the way of the big thinking required. Too many people ringing me for little things they could have sorted themselves. Too many emails checking to see if its OK to do this, or that. It made me feel exhausted, unable to focus on anything at all, and sapped my oomph. Not good.
I worked out that its partly because as General Catalyst To Get Shit Done, i tend to wade in and Get Shit Done more than remembering to be a Catalyst. I do, rather than lead. And that creates relationships where I'm depended on, and relied on for answers, where people don't feel able to Get Their Own Shit Done without calling me. It's not flattering, its exhausting and not good for either party.
So I'm re-reading my leadership books, spending more time with some leaders whose style I admire, and trying to put the balance back into those relationships. Leadership is not about doing stuff, its about creating an environment where lots of stuff gets done by happy people who are also leaders. Please yell at me (gently) if I wade in too much in the coming weeks, this is a whole new muscle I'm exercising!
Sustainable Political Business
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Friday, 12 September 08 - 08:58 AM (GMT +12:00) By Marie-Claire Andrews in Business |
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In true Sects in the City style (if you don't know what that means you're not reading mine and Frances' column in INBusiness, so suggest you get out and buy the magazine RIGHT NOW!) Frances and I were at the Sustainable Business Awards networking party last night.
Last year it was fantastic, lots of brilliant businesses celebrating being sustainable - truly living and breathing the concept - an enthusiastic committee of people who really care about business' impact on the environment and actually doing something about it.
This year, well the champagne was nice, the venue was lovely, the enthusiastic committee was still there in force but we got politics.
Apparently the SBN has decided to embrace the concept of sustainable business = ethical business = upholding the position of Maori as tangata whenua. And so we had a powhiri to begin, and a keynote from a Maori business lecturer. All good in principle - fascinating topics and appropriate angle for the SBN in NZ to take.
However, the powhiri began with the man stomping his staff on the ground to remind us of the drums that sounded when his land was taken from him. Cue embarrassed shuffling and extremely uncomfortable glances. The keynote went on to discuss the issue that Maori language and symbols belong to the Maori and should only be used with permission so that benefit can be derived back to the Maori. OK now skating on thin ice here, but hey that's what blogs are for. Those kind of statements drive me mad. Especially when delivered by someone who identifies as Maori AND apparently has Indian heritage, however that's possible. To the point I got up and left the Awards after the first one was announced (under cover of the applause). The atmosphere was ruined, looking around I could see many other people feeling completely unwelcome and very uncomfortable.
The language I speak most often, English, is a mish mash of many. It has been borrowed and adapted by countries all around the world. And yes, forced on some too. Isn't is great that countries don't behave like that any more (er....whole other topic there!) I am honoured to hear other people use it, and flavour it and enhance it with additions that will ultimately change it into something new. In my opinion, I don't own the language, it is not rooted in England, or English people, or in me. I don't expect to derive benefit from others using it, even if they use it for commercial purposes to make money.
So - disappointed that the SBN started with admirable goals, of respecting and providing a space to discuss and embrace Maori culture and business within it's network of members, but that the delivery on the night of the awards was aggressive, political and served only to identify differences.
No answers
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Friday, 22 August 08 - 12:13 PM (GMT +12:00) By Marie-Claire Andrews in People |
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My boss at my last permanent employment (Positively Wellington Business) committed suicide last week. He was suffering from a serious illness. Depression.
It is unbelievably tragic. Even more so for his wife and children. There's so much that I could write about here, about the sadness and the futility and that even now we still seem to consider depression as a strange affliction rather than an illness like cancer that has a course of treatments and can be talked about openly. But I want to share my anger with the church. Well, why not...
At Phil's funeral (which was witty, intelligent and a little irreverent just like Phil), the Reverend stood up at the end and said:
"Phil's wife asked me yesterday to make sense of it all. Well I can't. There is no sense to be made of this. We just have to get through it one day at a time".
I'm sorry? What? I know I don't have much faith (and even less now) but frankly if the insitution of the church can give us one thing, its comfort when people die. Their ceremonies and systems can give some sort of meaning to the big issues we have to deal with. That's why most of us go to funerals, as a formal ceremony to guide the grieving process.
Whilst I can't stand the platitude: 'its Gods will', at least that's some kind of an answer, a way to make sense. Even 'he's gone to a better place'. Something, rather than that pathetic cop out. If she was unhappy about the fact he had committed suicide and felt that it was some slight on God, she should not have taken the service. If that wasn't the reason for the lack of comforting words there's no excuse. I was appalled and have written to the reverend.
Probably one of those letters I should have re-read before sending. Ah well.
... More items are available in my News Archive
