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Those poor happy people...

I was talking to an ex-colleague the other day who fulfilled her dream and went to Costa-Rica. She said that she stayed with a really poor family by some beech for 2 weeks, and they were the so incredibly happy.

Poor happy people!

Then I found a recent article that states a full 27 Million Americans are now on anti-depressants. 10% of their entire population.

Rich unhappy people!

Maybe poor people don’t take anti-depressants because they can’t afford them. I am sure there are plenty of sad poor people around. OR maybe if we, (Western culture ‘we’), weren’t so worried about climbing the socioeconomic ladder, we wouldn’t be so sad.

Maybe then, we would focus on doing things that bring true happiness and not focus on buying things that brings happiness.

Maybe…

 

Tipping Points. Positive and Negative!

Malcolm Gladwell’s book ‘Tipping Point’ speaks of single events that then trigger other unrelated people to do similar things. I have been wondering if the Hawkes Bay Police siege might be a Tipping Point.

There have been a couple weird shootings that Police have been involved since the siege in Hawkes Bay with Jan Molenaar.

Last month, Shayne Sime, a paraplegic man was shot, and a connection made to the Hawkes Bay shooting and it was referred to in the media as "suicide by cop".

This week actor Rob Mokaraka was shot when he 'engineered' a confrontation with Police. He has a distant connection to the Jan Molenaar shootings.

Gladwell talks of a high profile person committing suicide in a car crash, and then the number of car crashes increasing, as people almost have permission to do the same.

I hope that Jan Mollenaar’s actions in Hawkes Bay aren’t a tipping point for people wanting to go out in a ‘blaze of glory’. I hope the media coverage doesn’t put more police personnel in harms way.

So now to the implication of this post…

It seems many Tipping Points are negative ones. I wonder what it would take to create a truly positive Tipping Point.

One that really makes a positive difference in the world.

One that the media would follow with as much interest as police shootings.

I am not sure it is possible?

Power companies are greedy!

There was some coverage earlier in the week about potential power shortages later this year. This from stuff:

National energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee said "things are very, very tight". "If we don't get rain in significant volume by the end of the month, going into the first week of May, we could be in considerable trouble." and "It was too early to think about a public savings campaign."

Firstly the RED line doesn't look that good. If that was sales in a business, it would be bad, wouldn't it?

Secondly, of course its too early to get the public to make savings. That would drive demand down, which would drive the price down.

It makes far better business sense to wait until there is a full on shortage, when spot prices are really high, then loss in revenue from savings, is more than offset by the increase in prices. Yeah its a hassle for their customers, but profits are stunning!

Conclusion: NZ still has some huge infrastructure issues! - Thanks Aunty Helen & Uncle Mike. Thankfully one of my family gets more out of the power companies than we pay.

The most trusted of 2007...

There I was waiting. Killing time, hanging around for my appointed time at the doctors. Having parked myself on a padded bench seat not much more comfortable than an old church pew I search for something to read.

I flick through a readers Digest (June 2007) and discover an article about the most trust New Zealanders and Brands.

Top Brand is Cadbury, which is interesting because unlike Whitakers they don’t make “good honest chocolate”. In the bottom slot at number 25 was Palmolive. A couple brands of interest to me are New Zealand Post at #14 (a number I am sure they would like to improve), and Farmers at #24 (which actually really surprises me given their history).

Anyway the #1 most trusted person in NZ in June 2007 was …#1 Sir Ed (No surprise). He rates above Sir Peter Snell (#4), Queen Elizabeth (#19), Sam Morgan (#30), Helen Clarke (#58 ironically the most trust politician), Matthew Ridge (#71).

Now of the 75 people who were on the list, who do you think is at number #75? None other than Bishop Brian Tamaki.

Yip.

Want to say more but wont.

Makes you think a little about what it is that make people trust you or your brand.

I think words like consistent, authentic, connected, reliable and considerate would come to most people’s minds.

These are words that normal kiwi’s don’t associate with politicians or Palmolive or Brian Tamaki.

I am sure they all think they are trustworthy its just people don’t believe them.

If people don't believe your message. They dont trust you.

Becoming an expert at what you do!

I read listen to this on a Brian Tracy CD yesterday about being productive.

We live in a knowledge based, information based society.

Successful people are simply those who know more than their competitors. One of your most important responsibilities is keeping up to date with your chosen field and staying ahead of the pack, by continually taking in more information.

The amount of knowledge in every field is at least doubling every 7 years. That means you must double your knowledge every 7 years just to stay ahead.

The basic rule is; to earn more you must learn more. Or to put it another way; you are earning all that you possibly can today with what you now know.

You need to become an information gathering person to achieve and maintain excellence. If you want to be the best you must pay the price in terms of reading, listening, learning and growing.

You have gone as far as you can with what you now know. If you want to go further than you are now, you can only do it by taking in and applying new information.

He goes on to say that everyone who wants to get ahead should read for at least an hour a day. If you do this he suggests you will be regarded as a national authority in your field within 5 years.

In terms of the quote above. I think that there is portability to every role. Imagine if you wanted to be a leading sales person, what would happen if you studied that field for an hour a day. Just by the mere fact you are learning new things and continually challenging yourself you must improve!

What if you want to be an awesome mum and studied that topic for an hour a day. What about a leader or a pastor or an accountant?

The hard part. Resolving to do it!

In other news 200 people die in Iraq...

Imagine living in Iraq at the moment. Imagine going to the markets and always having to scan the people around you, always wondering if that guy is the next suicide bomber.

Think for a moment about the shock and outrage as news filters around the city of another 200 people being killed in your city that day.

500 people in your country this week!

Over 62000 people since America arrived!

You have already had more than a few of your friends and family die or been injured.

‘We are ‘fighting terrorism’ in Iraq, that is why we are there, said Tony Blair this week. This story has changed so many times: first we were removing the WMD threat, then we were removing a dictator, then we were bringing democracy and free elections, and now we are fighting terrorism. ‘It is a worthy cause,’ echoed Dick Cheney.’ ^

How would you feel about Tony Blair “fighting terrorism’ for you?

How would you feel if you found out that the media in a small country in New Zealand found the ruthless, unnecessary and sad death of 33 Americans 4 days ago more important that 200 people in your city today? The 200 people dieing was the third news story in and only made it to that slot because it was one of the bloodiest days in months.

What the media reports is in direct response to what we want to see. We want to know about the US shootings, just as people would if it happened here. ‘The shootings happened in a free country’ we resonate, ‘What happens in Iraq is sad, but that’s what happens in the Middle East.’

How would you feel if you lived in Iraq?

Did you choose to get born in Iraq?

Did you choose to have America invade?

Did you choose to have an ill-equipped police force and poor intelligence that cant stop the bombings?

Wouldn’t you long for the freedom and the life you once knew?

How would you feel?

Implication: It blows my mind how insensitive we have become to real issues in the world. It appals me. But I don’t know what I can do about it.

The values our kids are being taught

Recently I attended the parent information evening at the Rototuna Primary School. I have always felt that the school was doing a great job, but that evening reinforced it for me. 

The school motto is "He Rawe Mo Aka Tonu - Our Best Always"

They teach values through the "Rototuna Learner" pictured here. The six key values are:

Communicator - Give and receive - Kids are taught to be great verbal, written and verbal communicators

Researcher - Figure it out - Kid are taught to be naturally inquisitive and to problem solve.

Thinker - Think about it - My favorite, kids are taught to think. My kids are often doing mind maps at home.

Risk Taker - Have a go - Kids are taught to step out of their comfort zone and give heaps of things a go.

Team Player - Work together - How important is team work.

Self Manager - Manage me - They teach the kids they are responsible for things. Kyla class are responsible for doing their own homework.

How cool is it that my kids are learning these values. These values could easily be used in a business, and yet my 5 and 7 year old are learning them. These are the values of people who contribute to society, of our future leaders and of well rounded individuals.

If their short time at primary school can equip them with these values, and they can build on them through out their life. How far could any of the kids at this school go?

As I sat at the meeting I found myself wondering, how many of these kids could be their generations leaders. I had renewed hope in the next generation. I also wondered what the difference in education would be at a decile 1 school (Rototuna is a decile 10) I suspect it would be disheartening.

Well done to Phil and the team. It is a privilege to have my kids at your school.

John Keys Speech

This is a part of John Keys speech yesterday.

My father died when I was a young child. I do not remember him.I was raised, along with my sisters, by my mother, in a state house in Christchurch. Back then I thought I was poor and, by most standards, we were. As I grew up, though, I recognised that what my mother gave to my sisters and I was far more valuable than money.

She instilled in us the desire to improve ourselves by our own hard work, the confidence that we were able to do it, and the hope that it was possible to do so. She instilled in me an ethic of hard work and determination and a genuine belief that "you get out of life what you put into it".

How many kids in New Zealand are never taught these values? How many kids will grow up not knowing that anything is possible and not knowing anything but dependence on the state.

Imagine if we could teach parents to inspire their kids again! Imagine if they regained the appreciation for hard work that I think is getting lost in the youth of today.

John Keys impresses me. If he gets to be PM, what a hard job he has before him.

Finally I am reminded that I am so blessed to have the parents I have. They have always believed in us, supported us, taught us to work hard and encouraged us.

Smacking made clear...

Micheal Laws gives his view on the anti-smacking

It won't save one Kahui, Lillybing or Coral-Ellen Burrows.

Which is the real problem with the liberal, white women who are chiefly responsible for this anti-smacking legislation. They think child abusers are like them. That putting up a "Stop" sign in parliament will amend their behaviour. It's like wearing a white ribbon to stop domestic violence - a meaningless gesture.

They will, in fact, achieve the opposite of their aim. They will make potential criminals of literally hundreds of thousands of New Zealand parents. We "correct with force" because we love, we occasionally smack so that we may save. And we have a very simple message for the Bradfords, Pillays and Riches of this world.

We don't tell you how to raise your kids. You don't tell us how to raise ours.

I couldn’t agree more. I have only once sent a submission to parliament and it was for this bill.

In my submission I said “This bill will not in any way reduce child abuse. The people that abuse their children are often living on the other side of the law anyway, and will not, and do not give a damn about the bill. They will still abuse their children.”

To make matters worse they are now trying to clarify what reasonable force is, as:

(a) preventing or minimising harm to the child or another person; or
(b) preventing the child from engaging or continuing to engage in conduct that amounts to a criminal offence; or
(c) preventing the child from engaging or continuing to engage in offensive or disruptive behaviour; or
(d) performing the normal daily tasks that are incidental to good care and parenting.

Well I am glad they cleared that up! - NOT

Smacking made clear...

Micheal Laws gives his view on the anti-smacking

It won't save one Kahui, Lillybing or Coral-Ellen Burrows.

Which is the real problem with the liberal, white women who are chiefly responsible for this anti-smacking legislation. They think child abusers are like them. That putting up a "Stop" sign in parliament will amend their behaviour. It's like wearing a white ribbon to stop domestic violence - a meaningless gesture.

They will, in fact, achieve the opposite of their aim. They will make potential criminals of literally hundreds of thousands of New Zealand parents. We "correct with force" because we love, we occasionally smack so that we may save. And we have a very simple message for the Bradfords, Pillays and Riches of this world.

We don't tell you how to raise your kids. You don't tell us how to raise ours.

I couldn’t agree more. I have only once sent a submission to parliament and it was for this bill.

In my submission I said “This bill will not in any way reduce child abuse. The people that abuse their children are often living on the other side of the law anyway, and will not, and do not give a damn about the bill. They will still abuse their children.”

To make matters worse they are now trying to clarify what reasonable force is, as:

(a) preventing or minimising harm to the child or another person; or
(b) preventing the child from engaging or continuing to engage in conduct that amounts to a criminal offence; or
(c) preventing the child from engaging or continuing to engage in offensive or disruptive behaviour; or
(d) performing the normal daily tasks that are incidental to good care and parenting.

Well I am glad they cleared that up! - NOT

New National Party Billboard

I saw this on another blog and couldn't help but post it here.

[Hat tip: D Farrar]

Homer helps Helen

I don't normally rant on about NZ Politics but today I can't help myself. The government today announced that they are going to build a new supreme court for just $65 Million!

Rick Barker in an interview on TV3 justifies the price by saying that he "could have gone to a Lower Hutt caravan park and brought some caravans" but he felt the supreme court needed better than that.

"This is a building of great significance to New Zealand as it will serve our country for at least 100 years. The design incorporates the old and the new. Once constructed the Supreme Court will be an architectural legacy," Rick Barker said.

What is with that? Comparing $65,000,000 to $20,000, almost the same number... This is how he justifies the 3 fold increase in cost.

Go Helen! Your advisors are doing really well.

Helen and her advisor (Rick Barker?)

PS. The new court house will have bullet proof glass right through to the court room, so you can see the "action" from the street. Wow, can't wait!

Don & Helen get back to work!

Now absolutely tired of Don & Helen getting stuck into each other. Wouldn't it be nice if New Zealand had a Level 5 leader running the country. One that cared less about themselves and their ego's, and more about the Country itself! It seems every real issue is linked to the Exclusives at the moment. I stole this from David Farrar's blog.

Nat: Labour broke the electoral act spending limit
Lab: But you meet with the Exclusive Brethren

Nat: Labour won't pay back the $800,000
Lab: But you meet with the Exclusive Brethren

Nat: Labour has the largest current account deficit in history
Lab: But you meet with the Exclusive Brethren

Nat: A Labour Minister has been savaged over his marina decision by a Judge
Lab: But you meet with the Exclusive Brethren

Nat: Prisoners are getting flat screens TVs which cost four times a normal one
Lab: But you met with the Exclusive Brethren

I get uneasy when I look back at a week in business and feel like we could have done more to build the future. It would be nice if our countries MP's would stop wasting millions upon millions of tax payer money mud slinging, and started focusing on building a better NZ.

Furthermore why, why, why do the media continually put so much coverage in to it. In other news "A flaming object was hurled through an elderly woman's kitchen window, in yet another Wellington arson attack."

Last word to Brash, "The public are sick of this garbage.  It's time for Labour to get back to the issues."

It's time for someone to actually step-up and lead! And I'm not sure either Don or Helen are up to it.