Are the Banks our Berlin Wall?

I remember crossing through "Checkpoint Charlie" into the East when Berlin was still a closed city and the wall was a blight on the landscape and the lives of the people it separated. Going from affluent to poor and from lively and energetic to depressed and oppressed was a sobering experience.

I was at the BBC, as an audience member for 'Question Time', on the night in Nov, 1989 when the wall came down and it became another landmark in the calendar of things that change the world; the day when the worst extremes of communism were expelled by the people and the east embraced capitalism.

Interesting isn't it that this week a Russian billionaire (Banker) and former KGB agent has bought the London Evening Standard. Wow, how times have changed.

I was musing yesterday and wondering if we will have witnessed a similar moment in 2008 and lived through the time when the worst extremes of capitalism have been exposed and the greed of the few has brought hardship on its loyal followers for years to come?

I have always prided myself on being 'apolitical' and seeing the selective strengths in all societal models but the effects of the last twelve months will last for a long, long time and the financial burden it will place on the whole world will take decades to recover from.

Gareth

It appears I created my headstone message in a meeting this week. No I'm not on my way out (well at least I don't think so) but I summarised what our response to the economic downturn needed to be, which is to be creative, innovative and do more of the same.

My team won't let me forget this and my co-director Gareth Osborne very kindly translated into Latin - Partum innovatium quod magis of idem eadem idem - any Latin scholars out there please confirm what this really means LOL!

But seriously, we are in economic decline but don't forget we have had 16 years of quarter by quarter growth, so just like 'whatever goes up can come down', 'whatever goes down can, and in the case of the economy, will come up', so dig yourselves in and be creative, innovative, and if you strongly believe you are working hard and smart, do more of the same.

Let's Talk The Economy Up

Many would agree the press have done an exceptional job in talking down the UK and global economies during the recent economic downturn, but would confidence be as low as it is if they had talked things up rather than down.

Come on Webspace, let's start talking things up and being positive. The sun still shines and the rain still falls. Cars, vans, lorry's and motorbikes can still be seen on our roads. Office and shop doors are still opening and closing at the beginning and end of a hard day's work. People are still living. I even heard people are sharing more intimate time together!

In all of your blogging, networking, marketing and promotion, talk things up. Let's fight negativity with positivity and who knows it might not actually be as bad as we read every morning.

C.

Bonus Culture

Forgive me if I am wrong but if the Public hadn't bailed out the banks, they would have gone into administration and the majority of those working for them would have lost their jobs.

Surely the reaction is "phew, I still have a job, what a result because in normal circumstances I would be looking for another and in the bankng sector they are few and far between", not "I am really dissapointed I'm not getting my contractual bonus this year"!

Oh, that's alright then ....

Good news, our Head Bankers have apologised! That will probably make it OK then; normal service will be resumed and everyone will feel safe and secure in the knowledge that it was just a simple miscalculation. Funny how that excuse didn't work for my cash flow projections in the past!

Lord Stephenson, the former Chairman of HBOS said "The fundamental mistake of HBOS was the failure to predict the wholesale collapse of the wholesale markets."

It's a start but I think we need to see an awful lot more sincerity and greater humility in the coming weeks if they hope to regain the smallest shred of dignity.

Gareth

Oh Sir Digby do not touch me!

I have to say I always thought putting the great Lord Jones of Birmingham into Whitehall was like putting Mother Theresa in charge of a brothel - destined to create revelation. It was a brave decision by Gordon Brown but Digby was always likey to fight his corner and apply business thinking; and an outstanding business champion he was as well! But if anyone was destined to see through the smoke and mirrors of the UK Civil Service then Digby was.

Now I have to admit that great Civil Servants are mighty impressive, and I met a few good ones during my time at REC and before, but they are few and far between. And like Digby, I feel passionately that there are too many of them, and too many duffers hiding behind (and definitely creating) piles of paperwork and process. I personally believe we could neutralise many of our economic woes if we slimmed down the public sector (and don't get me going on Local Authorities or I'l tell you the story about the Council that wanted to build a model railway museum, with European funds, because one officer liked toy trains!).

Thank goodness Digby received his honours before he threw his sucker punched against those who have the power to approve or reject them.

Digby Jones 1 : Civil Service 492,000 (full time equivalent posts)

Gareth

Extend opportunity to every willing heart

I’m a sucker for a great orator and must admit to finding Barak Obama’s Presidential acceptance speech thoroughly energising. Now I am well know for being apolitical (neutral), which has served me well in the past, but I thought his statement of hope could be the new call to arms for the UK recruitment industry (and especially the public provision, Job Centre Plus).

When he said, “We want to extend opportunity to every willing heart,” I thought the message was profound, insightful and extremely clever. You get our wholehearted support; if you want to succeed. We are here for those who are engaged; and committed. Resolve is a great personal asset and one the recruitment industry can place every day of the week. Intransigence, disinterest and apathy are the trait that caused the demise of many great industries; like manufacturing.

Instead of funding training programmes UK Government could also learn from this message and fund courses in prolonged passion (you know what I mean).

Gareth