creative « Able and How

On Britishness

SURREY (I think) — I know I still speak with a nasal, uncouth sounding accent. I know I will never pass too easily for Bob Hoskins or Anthony Hopkins. But I am increasingly growing into my second citizenship. I have a fondness for pastel coloured trousers. And curry.

An article on Britain in a recent Sunday Times brought me to tears. Am I allowed to say that? I think I am. I wish you could read it, but it’s behind Mr Murdoch’s paywall and I don’t want you giving him any more cash. (Wo-ho maybe you can see it. On my machine it is here.)

However, what it says is that:
- we have a political system that works
- an open, fair and increasingly multi-cultural society
- an interest in knowledge over ideology
- a dynamic and interesting set of traditions
- and so on

All good.

Does it sound smug to say all that? Do you worry that I’ll go all soft and start singing?

Well that’s the bit that increasingly feels more and more comfortable. It’s a lack of cod-nationalism. No jingoism. It’s almost guile-less

Two weeks ago when a Briton won the Formula 1 race in Germany — beating a reigning German champion – he did the strangest things…

Guess what he did?

…600 years of historic antipathy between the countries…

And he complained that the British anthem wasn’t long enough to really enjoy the moment. And so a quiet debate ensued.

I like that.

Good communications doesn’t draw attention to itself. It isn’t brash or boastful. It just does what it needs to do.

And sometimes has a good time doing it.

/df

Staying relevant in business — The Harry Potter challenge

SW LONDON — “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

That used to be my stock answer to things I didn’t understand. I thought of it as a knowing wink to the way that old people talk. But as my own age has been rising faster recently than East Coast temperatures, it has become less funny and more fact.

And there’s an issue with people in business staying relevant. I take that bit seriously. And there’s almost nothing that isn’t relevant.

So this week I set out to work my way entirely through my children’s Harry Potter film collection. There are 7… plus one in the theatre. If I can get through them all then I’ll go see number 7.5 in the cinema.

Why?

I’ve never been good at science fiction. I couldn’t read JRR Tolkien or even CS Lewis. I wish I could have, but no.

However, in Britain, H. Potter is not only a major export, it has employed all our great actors, boosted boarding school enrolments and driven tourists to run into walls at train stations.

That’s something that cannot be ignored.

Problem is I am three nights in and not yet finished Harry Potter 1.

It could be a long week.

/df

Conviction and determination: Playing the long game in your career

BY THE THAMES — I’ve been keenly watching one of my oldest friends, John Cowling, this week. He’s running for the 4th time as the Green Party candidate for the town of Stratford, Ontario in this year’s Canadian election.

He is without a doubt one of the most interesting and amusing guys I have ever met. (And I’ve me a LOT of people.) And his candidacy in 2011 is inspirational.

He recently posted a note on Facebook early in the UK morning – so the middle of the Ontario night – to say he’d just come from his garage where he’d finished building his campaign secret weapon. “Stay tuned as it is unleashed at the Stratford Farmers Market on Saturday,” he promised.

And sure enough his “Truth Booth” showed up on Saturday as threatened.

Although it is state of the art, fully mobile and with wifi, Candidate Cowling did say “the truth is it is almost impossible to use a laptop in bright sunlight.” Honesty from the outset.

I am filled with admiration for John’s conviction. And for his creativity and determination. I like the way he is unbowed.

And you’d have to be very unsympathetic not to recognise that the world has moved closer to John over time — rather than his having to bend to it.

I read a great line somewhere today that said: People will only criticise your leadership skills if you’ve managed to get yourself into a position of leadership in the first place.

And we know that getting into leadership roles in business and in public life actually means that you’ve had to be very good at working with others and building consensus… read ‘compromise’.

So whether it’s into the Canadian Parliament, or when running a local hardware chain store, you have to applaud people who can stick to their convictions and champion what they believe to be true consistently. Without wavering.

Canada would be a better place with John Cowling in Parliament. When the people of Perth-Wellington vote for him in, his determination and conviction will finally be rewarded.

/df

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