My App. Idea,

Even though I am anti-Apple and anything "i", I get a surprising amount of app. ideas.

Was a bit bummed a few weeks ago when i realised that someone already developed my latest idea ... so i will share it here since its already released.

It's a app. that you put on so you don't drunk dial/text someone. We've all made the horror calls and left cringe worthy messages. My app. (in theory) would let you save some of these phone numbers in the app and wont let you dial unless you pass a drunk test or in an ideal world, after your BAC is taken.

Employee Branding - As important as external branding?

This is my raison d'etre. Employee satisfaction through the embodiment of what the organisation stands for and values.

Human Capital Magazine - Australia - Is employee branding as important as external branding?

Is employee branding as important as external branding? You bet! (If not more!)

If you work for the greatest company in the world and you don't know it, is the business still classified as the greatest company?
If a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it, does it still make a noise?

A company is set up, develops their misson and establishes what they value. They hire people, go to market, they start to run their business.
Do you;
a) Have employees who know just what they need to know to do that immediate job? They don't know what happens in other departments, they don't know the futre of the brand and they don't identify with what they sell.
b) Have employees who know a little bit of everything, with a focus on what they need to know for the job they do at that moment. They know the new products being launched, know what it looks like. They have tried the products and know what distribution channels they are using. They may not love the product but they know what it stands for and know that the product meets the needs of the target market.

I know what I would prefer if I were running a company more importantly, as a consumer, I know who I would rather interact and trade with.

Jailbird Celebrities

Maybe its because of our history, but once again, a criminal (a dead one at that) is making making more headlines in the news than the fact that we have major hospital reform!

Founded as a country of criminals, we want to know them, watch them and even laugh with them.
One of our highest rating tv show right now is Underbelly. The whole shows premise is on the underworld of criminals, drug smuggling and hits. We laugh at a comedian impersonating a serial killer.

We live in a strange country where there the celebrity of criminals takes precedence over reforms made by our goverment. I guess it will continue, hey, I'm blogging about it!

Public Servants - 9 to 5 only?

If I got a dollar for everytime I saw Kevin Rudd interviewed after he has attended church, I would be well on my way to dining at Tetsuya's! Yes he is the PM, yes he needs to comment on what is happening but its Sunday and it should be just for him and his family.

Today ... it was reported that Christine Nixon went out to dinner with 2 friends "...during the worst hours of black Saturday...".  I know that it would be ridiculous if the firemen and women who were fighting these fires wanted to stop for food instead of saving a home or life. Come on! Give her a break. If she is off shift, or she wanted a couple of hours away why cant she?


Why do we have such high expectations of our public servants? Why should they be on 24/7? I'm not working that long? Are you? Are you paid to work 24/7? Are they?


Reference:
http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/brumby-pm-back-embattled-nixon-over-black-saturday-dinner-20100406-rper.html#poll

Freedom of Speech & Freedom to have an Opinion

Sometimes, the internet scares me.

Not in the fact that someone will steal my credit card details or someone will hack into my email. No. What I am afraid of is if one of my opinions comes backs and bites me.  I am afraid that some future employer or some lobby group decides that in a land of free speech, my comments will be taken in the wrong way or that I will be judged on them because when on the world wide web, they last forever! 

I have some strong opinions.  Some PC and some un-PC.  I feel that I cannot write them or really verbalise it as it may be used against me.  Yes, they are my opinions and I will always stand by then, I will also change my opinion when presented with logical argument that will sway my opinion and is in line with my values.

I may not agree with the opinions of others, but I do respect freedom of speech.  If it's how you feel, say it. However, I do also believe that with freedom of speech comes responsibility, especially people of influence.  Healthy discussion yes, brainwashing and conditional loveor respect, no.

Rehabilitation Vs Correctional Centres

People do good and bad things.  Some of those who do bad (I'll rephrase, do something illegal) get caught and go to jail.  When you do the crime, you do the time. However, once you have paid your dues, you have done your time, when is it time to let go and let them give life a second chance?

This topic comes up time and time again in our family while watching Border Security.  People want to come to Australia for a holiday but they come with the wrong visa or they tick a box honestly saying, I have spent time in jail and they are on the next flight out.

(Disclaimer, I haven't done my research, so this is just my opinion on the limited amount of knowledge I do have.)

Our country is founded from the British convicts and criminals of the 1780's.  How can we not forgive people and give them the benefit of the doubt once they have tried to get their life back on track?  I don't think that 100% of the past and current prison population are repeat offenders (there may be a fair chunk, but I don't have the stats).

After a few years, you have your life back on track, aren't you entitled to travel and not be barred from a holiday?

Picture from:
http://www.fa-ir.org/ai/graphics/PRISONER.gif

Why I'm not "Just do(ing) It"

Do you ever feel that you want it all?
That you want to do everything and that you aim to do it all within a small period of time and then ..... reality and the everyday mundane-ness hits you?
Wake, work, home, sleep.  Wake, work, home, sleep.

I long to do something more with my time but when I get home, the last thing I want to do is to sit infront of my laptop again.  I want to do x,y & z but sitting on my butt watching tv seems like the better option.  Thankfully my weekends don't end up like that, but I always find myself allocating down time on the weekend too.

Is this really the life I want? No. Is this how I see myself accomplishing what I want from my private life? No.
Why do I do it? Why does it seem like the best option? Why is pizza and wine better than an big night out with drinking and partying? Why don't I take up some mid-week hobby like I want to? (and keep telling myself.)

Yes I am lazy, but maybe its something more?  I want to do more sailing, start Toastmasters ... its the first few steps into the unknown. That is why I have not done it.  Its speaking to people I dont know and establishing a rapport with them - something I am uncomfortable with. Why do I priortise going to the gym more than that? Its because its familiar and the safer, risk-free option.

I feel I live so much of my life in the safer, risk-free area.  Once in a while I will push and rebel against it, but somehow I will end up in that place again. I will do something totally out of the ordinary, move halfway across the world, but who's ordinary is it?  Am I just benchmarking myself against other people and not bechmarking me against myself?