Why?

This is a question we may ourselves regardless whilst searching for answers to justify our acts resulting from our own lack of comfort or peace of mind. Why does nothing ever seems to go right whenever I might or ‘might not’ make a decision? Why do I often feel so disappointed, either with myself or with others? Why am I not rich? Why do I feel so unhappy in my job or even hate my job? Why am I unable to fulfill a long lasting loving relationship or end up watching online pornography? All this online stuff and the drink? Why do I hate myself? Why am I so often angry, get manipulated or abused or feel walked over? Why am I emotionally void or physically in so much pain? The drugs. Why are they prescribing them to me? This dark tunnel where I am longing to see some light. This vicious circle which continues to torment me, this Jekyll and Hyde in me is pulling me into a bottomless pit. Why is this happening? Why do I even exist? I don’t understand, it’s just not fair and sometimes I can’t take it anymore…..

Are these fearful questions ?   Of  course they are.

I make no claim as some miraculous guru who expects to give answers to such deep and potentially alarming questions, nor will I do myself justice to make any attempt to.  Yet in some cases immediate answers and help will be required to those who sadly might feel deeply unhappy or close to being either mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically broken. Is our Google screen or our virtual world really the solution? Maybe we can tackle this differently as the question  'why' as so often the case is to do with something that has already happened and in this instance most likely connected to our past shames, our erroneous ways or harmful acts that we might be aware or unaware. Let’s break this down in to three letters.  W.H.Y.

W can stand for WAIT…..

If we wait rather than seeking immediate answers, or acting on impulse or even running, the answers will come. In time the truth and of the unknown linked to our past will always bear fruit at various times in our own lifetime. Patience is a great virtue worth living for that can help us to cope and bring out of us a sense of calm and self-control. If we wait diligently, we will find a way of living that is more humanly sustainable for long lasting and inner happiness.

H can stand for HOPE…..

Hope is a form of longing to live for something greater, something positive, and simply getting there. A deep desire to attain total happiness almost deservingly so. Here we can learn to trust too, not just in ourselves and others but into something greater than just ourselves. This way this hope that we carry and ingrained in us, can keep us going. Eventually something or someone will help us to reach our aspirations, out of our discouragement and into a type of solace that can eventually inspire us to act in the right way and all will be ok…….always.

Y can stand for YIELD....

Yield is a form of giving way as we potentially make that step, and submit ourselves as we recognise our faults then learn to accept. We surrender ourselves, our bad habits, our past wrongs, and our shames.  We will feel totally vulnerable. A fear we can overcome as we put down our arms and lay bare.

I knew an individual in business who suffered his own ‘depression’ some 8 years ago. It was just something in him saying that something was not right, and that he had had to change in his acts. He recognised he had been an arrogant person and had been a ‘taker’ for too long, leading a callous lifestyle of instantaneous gratification for short term thrills in business and in private often correlated with sex, money and power or status. He had submitted defeat in his fears of losing his inner and outer battles after eventually being broken and  having his aspirations crushed. A long solitary painful cry went out....W.H.Y?

And then it came, together with outside help, a mysterious and yet glorious gentle touch of love even mercy that picked him out from the bottom of that pitfall of mud and of despair. Following many sorrows, he had found his way back up into something greater. He had found a key, a key that had unlocked him, into his genuine self and his life started to transform professionally, socially and privately. It took great humility. He became a true Man. 

In short let’s try to refrain ourselves from the question ‘why’ to all our problems, wrong doings or mistakes, instead over time continue to hope, and submitting all and accepting all. Once we learn to accept, we can overcome them and instead ask ourselves, what is it that I must do in order to solve this or that burden I carry? What is it that I must change to overcome my own weaknesses? Where in myself can I make an effort to act differently? What is it that I must do to find forgiveness for the harm, not just for what I have done to myself but also for what others have done to me?

Once we find the key, who knows? I suspect another world will treat you differently, and give you another chance. It may present to you with problems and great challenges  for you to solve and opportunities for you to dive into, drawing onto your own real expertise, renewed talents and skills with greater clarity, courage, and joy.

Aide-toi et le ciel t’aidera

A trip to lost property?

A lady had lost her purse and passport after she had been travelling to her destination by train. She became frantic. Her friends and family searched and helped her to backtrack through her muddled thoughts. Someone suggested, ’have you tried the lost property at the police station?’

After seeing through all options to no avail she went to the lost property at the police station and explained her predicament. The person at lost property said, ‘Ah madam. I am so sorry to hear this. Just wait a moment and I will see what I can do.’  10 minutes later after the lady had waited patiently, the man came back and asked, ‘Your passport is secure although I am afraid was delivered to the UK Home office for security reasons and is this the purse that you have been looking for?’ At that moment the lady jumped with joy, and shouted ‘Yes it is!’ She was so relieved as she quickly regained confidence in all those willing to help.

Another gentleman went to lost property and said, ’I lost my job’

‘Ah’ said the man at lost property. I can see your predicament and a challenging one to boot. Hold on a moment, if you give me 10 minutes I’ll be back in a tick.’ 

He came back with a small envelope. 'Here you are, a little envelope of good contacts, tips, leads and those that can nurture your talents to bring you back into the right direction with a little bit of money; all to help get you back onto your feet again. You’ll be fine.’ 

     

A young man working from home was staring outside from across the room through his dirty windows. He felt the loss of light and for months now he was pondering on his windows that really needed cleaning. Except he could not find the energy to deal with it whilst he had so much on his plate. 

The man from lost property came back with an idea.  Suddenly there was knocking at the door. Two English lads were there canvassing to clean windows. The young man stood and thought well why not? He then offered a decent price so they could get on with it. Shortly thereafter, and the next day at his work, the sun was streaming through his windows that had revitalized so much energy and positivity in his work place and into his ‘new’ home office.

A business man who appeared a little shaken, went to lost property and said to the man, 

’I lost a deal, what shall I do?’

'Hmm, you lost a deal.  Have you lost deals before?’ Was it a big one?'

‘Well yes and it depends what you mean by big. Something happened, well this is different, it is hard to explain.’

‘I see. Just a moment. I’ll be back in minute.' The guy from lost property came back. 'Try not to worry. You have come to the right place. I cannot give you that deal back, but I can say this. Try to understand in yourself what you did wrong without passing blame on others and then learn to accept it and next time you make a deal let it come naturally, in good time, with meaning, according to your conscience, farsightedness, and by trusting your own intuition and your own values. This way I am certain, next time you will win.’

The last man went to lost property and said ‘I have a lost my faith...’ 

The man at lost property stood calm and by now was feeling quite challenged and exhausted. This was a tough one. He gave it a thought. 'Hold on a moment. Let me see if I can find anything.’ He disappeared for 10 minutes and then came back. ‘I cannot find a pot of gold, a fast car with a woman sitting in it, with everything in the right places, a holiday in Ibiza or anything of that nature, except I can only suggest you to find those close to you, those that love you, those that you trust, and are positive and are willing to listen to so as to reassert yourself and to help find your peace of mind. Then just take it from there and for heaven’s sake don’t do anything stupid!’    

Behind every material or immaterial loss is a personal gain

What type of Governance are we seeking?

I voted remain. For two reasons. First and foremost as what any referendum does, it makes it personal. I based it on my identity. I am a European although half-British by birth where I was educated have lived and worked a third of my life. Secondly, it was for a wider reason. I believe we are better off in a United Europe by pooling our sovereignty to resolve the wider issues for the greater and common good as we live in a more connected world. Like many that night I struggled to sleep at night.  I was curious; I kept on looking at the mobile phone on all the developments. It was not until I had read about the dramatic fall in Sterling resulting from traders having speculated on remain, that this could be a Brexit. My goodness. I quickly came to terms with this eventuality and then comfortably fell asleep. I woke to find out, that it was indeed a Brexit. Although surprised, I am neither shocked, but certainly sad mainly for the difficulties and potential division that lie ahead for many people and their families.

Since the financial crisis, and our bail outs, this country, and not just this country has been suffering from very large financial cut backs as a result of the massive mistakes by the capitalist and financial system. The hubris and greed of some banks, many intermediaries and corporations all too often trapped within their game of reoccurring conflicts of interests, shortermism and the Machiavellian pursuit of profit often at the expense of not just themselves but others.  Many of us knew that the economic and financial system was making little sense even those working in it. Our culture and our society have suffered at a large scale with increasing social issues, unhappiness in the work place, vast inequality and housing too expensive for any young honest professional to even contemplate getting onto.  

Other countries like Belgium suffered with their own problems incapable of making changes in their highly taxed and over bloated public sector. Holland has stagnated for a long time. France and Southern European countries have made many similar mistakes as a result of some of their politicians and leading businessmen and others. Many nations have been swimming in large pools of debt. As a result many Europeans were becoming weak in their soul and it became increasingly hard to find any meaning, loyalty and motivation in the workplace in this fast, nonsensical and impulsive world. Reputed economists, businessmen, politicians, and journalists have been scratching their heads for solutions without offering any answers whilst at the same time there have been these pockets for a more sustainable direction for a smoother ride ahead. 

Some CEO’s from the baby boom generation were held accountable for their poor conduct in front of the commons select committee. Was this not shameful enough for them?  The CEO and Chairman of HSBC both turned up. A hedge fund manager.  Some said sorry.  Some said we will change. Some like Philip Green muttered ‘why are you staring at me?' How is it that these people in the end have walked off scot free?  Some brokers from a well-known Broker firm had bet on Brexit but voted for remain. Yes they made a fortune for their bank. They don't care. Nothing is done, nothing changes. We speak about it, we know and yet it all continues. ‘That’s business!’ would be the common justification that I was all too familiar with from these types.It is all too late.

Friday 24th June something happened. The people spoke. They had had enough. A type of countryside and the real economy vs Brussels. Those bright fun loving carefree civil servants and lawyers often bogged down in the paperwork in multi languages among st the fine words, fine wine and fine lunches. A type of country side and the North vs. London, our power house, the last remnants of our true Empire still dominating the world and where money, commerce, power and transactions are rapidly exchanged sometimes in the most shadowy, peculiar, non-transparent almost lawless way.  

What does this all mean for our future?

I have great empathy for those honest and sincere people who have offered their entire careers and loyalty to their firms and may now have to seek new challenges, and yet beyond my sadness and initial surpriseI am not shocked. Apart from the fact that I have experienced, witnessed and believe me seen it, myself included, many dysfunctional and conflictual situations, some of which have been pretty evil. As one friend agreed with me, we were working at the tail end of the baby boom generation that had become reckless and left us one big upheaval. Since the financial crisis, and after my own personal transformation, I have stood for change. All over Europe the warnings shots and sentiment were rumbling under our feat of our inflated financial and economic system partly built on sand. Many powerful and yet weak politicians and corrupt businessmen building their lives with little foundation and wisdom resulting from our fast, and instantaneous world. Stress, burn out, aggression and loss of values in the work place had become a common theme with so many left out. Anybody with any common sense had known that something of the wider scale was going to have to give. If indeed Brexit will be the way for this wake up call, then let it be.  

Questions are to be asked about our governing system and over the last decade.  How is it that we allow powerful businessmen to be able to get away free for their very own failures and mistakes? Why is it that not one financier has been jailed or held accountable for the financial crisis?  Why have we been printing money without any strategy or plan and even have the audacity to lend it back into the very same culture that initiated the financial crisis in the first place? Where did all that money go?  How come we are so in debt and we have no proper road map to deal with our debts? Could we make economics more human? Might it be possible we could re-build a  financial system with our intermediaries into making money not as a means to an end but into something more purposeful that carries a benefit into something more tangible, something greater even idealistic for a more stable long term future? 

I was taught in politics A level, that it was the parliamentary governance, the rule of law, the church and the ‘fourth estate’ that were our authorities.  What’s happened? Instead we have been witnessing those with power and influence, albeit from a minority of businessmen, in commerce and the banks, politicians, people in the media weak in principles dictating to us, with endless compromise, manipulation and agendas often abusive like a stampede of bulls almost out of a chapter of Dante’s inferno into a mode of self-destruction. Qui bono in this impasse? Very few.

My goodness we need a deeper philosophical look at ourselves, perhaps questions such as how we make money and how we spend it?  How do we relay our news responsibly? Are our own values coherent to the values of our business? How can we see beyond the palm; of our hands?

We know we are imperfect and yet we know it is in our nature as humans beings that we seek justification in our acts. Surely on the outset this justification is always noble and the closer and more coherent it is to our hearts and minds, the nobler it is.  Are not those the ones we must admire and listen to?

In short I believe in change and these are undeniably dramatic times. The change I believe in is one that is inspirational in leadership, one that is genuine and coherent. A change that has a law and order, that holds those to account for their mistakes rich or poor so that we can learn from those mistakes and move on. A society that commands respect for our authority that has become all too self- serving rather than serving.  A change that plays to our strengths and not our weaknesses. A change that can provide a long term sustainable direction for all those in finance, manufacturing, commerce, agriculture, and education, that benefits our children, society, our environment and our world.  

If our exit from the EU requires more localised governance then let this governance offer a vision that touches the entire nation with London at its capital and at its heart that serves its nations needs first and foremost and then elsewhere. It is these types of quality people that can rise to the top that our young can look up to whereupon we can attain a new hope. Then let this be our chance for the great and the good to be there, to re-instil that confidence, and much needed inner belief consistent to our values that this nation seeks. That way in our current British retreat we can solve our inner and outer challenges rather like washing a pair of trousers inside out before which we can start wearing them. I suspect many of us will materially become poorer for it across the entire spectrum which we will have to learn to accept. This part will be hard and yet we will come out stronger in the long run. This way we can show the rest of our European neighbours, even the world that we can be admired for in our resilience and pragmatism, our humour, our self-control, our inventiveness, our sense of adventure and our inspiration all the great attributes that we were once so proud of in our history. Do we not owe this to our children?

Real freedom always comes at a price

Brexit. Bridging or detachment?

Admittedly as an Anglo-Norwegian now living in London, I have enjoyed the opportunity living and working in different parts of Europe. Consequently I always take a certain pride in how we can bridge with our fellow Europeans. I feel it might be worthwhile making a few explanatory points on our current debate over the European Union. This year Britain is bringing forward a referendum on a mammoth decision whether to leave the European Union commonly known as Brexit.

This is a tough one and I can sympathise with those who might be sitting on a fence. Those that might lack the knowledge or who do not simply understand a system that we are, in part, responsible for having created over the last forty odd years.  As we are confronted with today’s challenges, not just at geopolitical level in how Britain and France as nuclear powers can at least pretend to counter the weight of an increasingly unpredictable let alone erratic Russian President still espousing its military prowess playing chess on the world stage but also in solving the issues closer to home of our ever increasing difficulties of our migration and economic crisis.

Let me draw onto those with some arguments that may help us to reach our own conclusions. For the sake of clarity and for the sole purposes of this article I shall refer to myself as ‘we’ when referring to the British rather than Northern European.

Historically, in military terms Europe has always been a hotbed of competition and conflict. Often Britain has been on the side lines but on the larger and more defining conflicts we were involved. Britons died and laid down their lives on continental soils. I am sorely reminded by my Dutch friends over the battle of the Medway where Admiral de Ruiter had beaten the British navy along our very own River Thames in 1667. Or when my Norwegian family candidly talk about their Viking ancestry in Scotland or as a German friend visiting Amsterdam pointed out that the last time a family member of his visited this town, it was in a tank!

Nowadays these relaxed albeit friendly conversations of our momentous often horrific competitive past might occur within the confides of a cosy cafe whilst eating a toasted cheese sandwich, awash with a Belgian beer on a rustic cobbled street corner overlooking perhaps a peaceful sunset, a cathedral or a picturesque canal.

In contrast today unlike our Russian counterparts to the East we no longer measure up so much in military prowess as to who has the greatest army, largest naval force and so forth largely because we have been at ‘peace’ for more than 70 years with less if not little understanding today of whom our enemy really is.

Instead for better or for worse we measure ourselves in economic terms. Some might argue that finance is a separate issue and requires a separate debate not least because Finance is in a world of its own, has become a noun rather than a verb, defining its own set of rules and where I believe the brunt of our current malaise and problems lie. It will need to come on board and play cricket if it wants to find its feet again.

Nevertheless the tangible economic argument carries a certain weight as a good part of our exports are within the Union. In 2014 Britain exported GBP 230 billion of goods and services which amounts to 44.8% of our total export market and we import slightly more. We export to Europe perhaps due to proximity but largely due to what is now called the European Union. This is an internal single market where we trade goods and services without barriers and tariffs. Those outside the Union might refer to this as some sort of cartel or monopoly that they too would like to be part of. In essence this is what our union is about; a pooling together of our natural resources to neutralise competition. In other words let’s produce coal and steel, trade it, and enrich ourselves for the purposes of peace and harmony. Yes by and large the EU has increased our standard of living and we have all benefited except we have all since moved on from coal and steel. 

Today Europe has now developed and connected itself with a fantastic array of motorways, railways, bridges and, tunnels, supported by some of the best automobiles, locomotives, haulage and ships. Its engineering and technology is often cutting edge. Airbus employ 15.000 UK workers! Its retail and food outlets, we are spoilt for choice. It has now developed into the largest trading block in the world. Quite rightly there needs to be a type of governance and this is when it becomes political as governance is always political unless there is cohesion. Cohesion can only come about on the rarest occasions by strong leadership and grounded principles and steering us toward a common objective. It is those that govern often set the rules, put structures in place and makes the decisions. Luckily if things start to go wrong we developed a system initiated by the ancient Greeks better known as democracy where if we don’t like these rules imposed on us, well let’s then vote these rule makers out!  This might work at national level. At European level, it appears we may have a long way to go….

Like any corporation has corporate governance, a single market requires governance. This is so we can all produce and trade fairly on more or less equal terms and so on, by maintaining good neighbourly relations whilst not getting ahead of ourselves. It is that governance linked to our trade that requires a common interest therefore requires a supranational interest resulting into what is commonly known as a loss of sovereignty. Herewith lays the conflict?

Not least because Britain prides itself as a sovereign state, a parliamentary government supported by the rule of law and headed by a Constitutional Monarch, our Supreme Governor. Even our legal system is different to our European counterparts. As a nation it has always strived in competition and entrepreneurship which our European counterparts remain somewhat adverse to. This therefore poses a direct challenge in that if we want to produce, trade, and have the free movement of goods, service and now people, common sense dictates that we would need supranational governance.

The Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers exists on this basis. If for example the Commission identifies a barrier within its own common market and borders resulting to unfair competition or poor practice, it readily acts, it steers and it legislates. A useful example is the elimination of EU mobile roaming charges that is directly beneficial to the consumer. Another example is the EU 2020 climate initiative in order for the EU to reach a reduction in CO2 emissions. When it becomes law, it is either called a Regulation or a Directive. Regulation is a binding regulatory act and is directly applicable in the entire EU and a Directive is an objective directly implemented into the National Parliaments.

It might worth pointing out that The Commission mostly prepares proposals for legislation based on identified needs. Needs are assessed from what’s called an 'impact assessment'. The lobbyists from automotive, agriculture, pharma, and  NGO’s for example are known as so called stakeholders or special interests.  They are either just being heard or protecting their interests. As per when a proposal comes about, they are passed onto two equal chambers; the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. They in turn debate, change, modify or scrap as they are not obliged to approve it. Note before proposal is shown to the two chamber system it is automatically shown to National Parliaments where it can already be vetoed.

In short as a fervent European at heart I am somewhat disillusioned with Europe. Many of my French, Dutch and German friends too and economically we have run out of ideas. Has it become overly bureaucratic with many careerists that negate rather than create. Has it lost its founding principles, its cohesiveness, its motive therefore its purpose resulting into a potential crisis of confidence whilst becoming a 'soft' touch? Has it reached a type of plateau, caught in a rut between its own comfort zone and its need to streamline and reform. How can it become stronger, more accountable and in which direction?

Somehow we need to find a new way to bridge with each other in our advance forward and for the private sector to kick off?  If it is no longer coal and steel what other natural resources do we have? What other areas of expertise and sectors can we pool together, produce and then trade? Great strides are being made in areas such as renewable energy, infrastructure, biotechnology and utilities. Can 'Finance' play a pivotal role in this type of bridge building by becoming a verb? Could we ever build the world’s longest suspension bridge over the channel with an electric motorway with the help of some of our migrants? We have the ingenuity, the expertise, the resources and even the money. After all the ECB and BoE print money do they not? 

Before I digress, a sensible approach might be that Britain needs to be involved in order to help steer it into a new direction and influence this reform as that is where our main interests lie despite the EU's shortcomings. Better the devil you know. Others might say that Europe is failing anyway and with Britain leaving, this will provide a shock and the EU will be forced to change. We may learn to regret this not least if Scotland decides to rejoin. If we leave we will survive and at least we can take some comfort in having left behind for the benefit of our European counterparts the use of the English language commonly spoken within the wider corridors of the EU.

Interestingly in the past whilst attending our global partnership meetings I had quietly observed my global colleagues. The Brits were jokingly hanging out with the more boorish Americans and Australians. The Dutch tagged along with the Brits. The French stood politely amongst each other. The Scandinavians were understated, and reserved.  The Italians and Spanish were happy go lucky. The Russians were always helpful. And everyone appeared to like the Germans.  In terms of our bridging are we really any more detached than others?

Be strong, be connected, be British, be European !

How can we deal with inequality?

A personal friend of mine recounted a small story written in his grandfathers diary that rings in my mind to this very day. It was back in 1923, his grandfather was staying in a small town in Germany with his young son and eating a small meal in a restaurant. In a largely empty room, the other persons present were a very wealthy Jewish family having a lavish party with champagne and lobster. Meanwhile he witnessed a wide gathering of adults and children peering through the windows with a mixture of hunger, awe and envy. Somehow he understood and with a tinge of embarrassment by his own presence, he said to his son ‘Trust me this is all going to end and fall apart.’ 

Unfortunately, history at times can have an uncanny resemblance in repeating itself. Today it might be a mix of different races or different ethnic groups, and through the internet, who knows? What we do know is resentment or envy can be a brutally negative emotive state and comes part and parcel to our human nature. There are many today including those that are university educated, who struggle in life and who cannot get the job they wish or seek, struggle to feed their families and pay the bills. At the same time so called ‘billionaires’ or the ultra-wealthy might appear so content and happy enjoying every material thing that is given to them and might go as far as living their own laws within their own bubble. This can easily resort to an anger, or an unhappiness, a sense of hopelessness and insecurity in our society where the danger is we may say or do something stupid.

There are things that we must bear in mind in our lives, whilst we can all hold prejudices in our sub-conscience to another person regarding his or her so called ‘superior status' in looks, money or possessions; we do not know what cross the other may be carrying. We do know that we can try to worry less with these issues and there are sensible ways in dealing with it as they over time have a way in resolving itself.

There is no doubt, that if a billionaire or super rich (or any other person for that matter) does not seem to care, remains indifferent and only concerned on how to make more, this can come across as pretty unattractive. It may turn out that the particular individual operates with no integrity away from his or her heart driven by greed, status or power and has only got there through exploitative or aggressive means. A type of Darwinian delusional 'survival of the fittest'. Imagine that on top of this, the individual might have a stark win lose mentality or ends up walking over people with little respect for self or others, our environment or our planet!

How do you deal with these types? I suspect that often these people very likely get caught out or fall off a cliff in the long run. Others, who are privy, might stand up or encourage them to behave differently. If you notice these days it is all security cameras, gates and walls that are used to protect them, unlike in the old days it was a small army of sorts. They too can clearly feel insecure, or vulnerable implying that they are not Gods and just human.

Nevertheless one element about the tabloids and the internet and their grasp on mainstream, despite all their misgivings or voyeurism, their brutal emotive nature can quickly change overnight and rather than calling these types successful; here they might just name and shame them.

Suffice to say we can also understand that people can endure great human difficulties. It has been reported in the media that John Caudwell a self made billionaire, is suffering from unhappiness, deep family problems and is intent on giving half his wealth away to charity.  We must also bear in mind that many have worked hard by building a successful corporation or companies responsible for a lot of employment and livelihoods. Many great philanthropists give away a lot for other causes that carry meaning. There are also ways to approach them, their foundations, in order to support particular causes or raising capital for a new enterprise that can captivate even their own imagination and which can permit for example to leave them a quiet legacy. On its own the charity and generosity of this couple stands out as particularly impressive.

My impression that the way our societies are being led right now more so in the UK, the future looks pretty grim toward an increasingly polarised society. A debt for example, might mean a trade product to one person but a real loan for real needs to the other? It is well known that one man’s food is another man’s poison. This attitude has the danger of bringing resentment, bitterness, envy, anger or whatever negative emotive state, that can sadly result to a type of vulnerability or self-destruction that history has proved to us on many occasions. We may resort to blaming a religion, or non-religion, a race or a particular group or individual.

Unless we of course and this is where I remain hopeful, as human beings, raise ourselves, take destiny in our own hands, become more resourceful, believe more in ourselves and release our insecurities. Courage, passion or boldness do not come from the mind, they come from the heart. Reason and vision come from the mind and our conscience is formed from our spirit.

With this in balance and in check which is tough stuff, we can try not to worry about others in this way. We can stand up to those who might bully you, rich or poor and at all levels. We can find that job or our vocation. We can work toward better social cohesion and a higher conscience; possess more charity to those in real need. We can combine this, by taking positive risks, with a more long term inspirational approach with our businesses, enterprises and aspirations large or small and still make a living. This will lead us toward a better and more sustainable future.

The questions will always remain how do we get there and what type of world do you want to leave behind for our children? We want them to look up to us with pride and not at us in the way that I have described. In the long run I am certain, if we get this right we will all be winners.

What is Leadership?

I often meet with senior people in Finance on career issues. I might ask them questions about why we are confronted by so many problems and what sort of solutions they envisage. Some might respond by saying. ‘I love finance and worked all my life in it.’ Others have said, ‘Finance is corrupt’ or ‘we are paid too much.’ Then how can Finance be incentivised to help the real economy particularly here in Europe and not amongst each other or in far reaching places which most of us have no affinity with?  One overworked jaded and tired looking head of a private equity gave an air of dejection. ‘There is no vision, no leadership.'

In a world where democracy appears to have gone wild, where capitalism could fast be losing its sense of purpose and in a world where we might often seek something new or something majestic; the issue of leadership is often talked or written about and yet to put yourself into a position under such circumstances and to fill in the gap for the few must be daunting at best for fear of either sending us into the wrong direction or possibly bringing out the worst in us.

Once upon a time I played the violin in an orchestra. An orchestra was structured into four groups with sub groups. We had the strings that included the 1^st and 2 violins, violas and the cellos. They were in the front. Further back we had the wind instruments that included clarinets, bassoons, flutes and oboes. We had the brass including trumpets and trombones. The nosier instruments such as percussion were put at the back. In front of us was the audience; a general public that might listen then applaud and ‘if ever’ give a standing ovation.

The person I admired the most was the conductor. He was in the middle and on an elevated platform so we could all see him. I almost envied him.  How was he able to read let alone understand that score sheet with so many different notes and sections? How was he able to see ahead and turn the pages before we had even finished the previous movement? How was he able to have everyone from different sections, playing different instruments in tune from the same song sheet at different times? How was he able to bring such entertainment and pleasure to the audience?  I just thought this guy must be so gifted and so talented whilst all I was doing was making my simple contribution by playing what was set in front of me.

And yet all he was doing was leading and he understood what and who he was leading and for what purpose. He had the gift, experience or training of course in how to read a score sheet by connecting the dots with the eyes. During rehearsal he knew who was not pulling his or her weight. If he heard those that were out of sinc or out of tune, he might single them out, embarrass or shame them with a slight twinkle in the eye. He would tell them what they were doing wrong and how to improve. He may change their positions if they were not partnering well or demote or even remove them if things got grave. We were given credit where it was due and promoted up the ranks according to merit, talent and hard work and sometimes upon the recommendation of group leaders. Once we were all on the same song sheet, we were playing and by god did we play.  More than we could ever imagine from a script that was already discovered by others. And the audience loved it! We were proud!

Today and after many years it seems the type of music that is coming out of some of our powerful segments in finance, business and or politics is dying whereby affecting the wider economy and peoples careers and honest aspirations. The script that is being played has either become twisted, sad, non-inspirational and depressing, full of holes and no one is playing from the same song sheet. The write ups from certain sections of our media are condemning, manipulative often abusive to whomever they chose. The audience are walking out. They are no longer interested nor willing to pay the price. Many are left out or in debt and can not afford to even pay. Some are even prepared to throw rotten apples and tomatoes or resort to discriminatory issues. Meanwhile the conductor is exasperated.  He no longer knows his score sheet. He has run out of ideas as he remains in denial or walks out in shame, and misery. There is nothing to play for except to each other. No light, no confidence. Only darkness as the curtains are drawn. It’s all over…..

Whose fault is this? Is it the conductors, the players or the music score? Or is it what the man said, there is no leadership or no vision.

However you may look at this, as a head of a government, a bank, an industry or an SME, a leader will realise that having this awareness I suspect must be paramount. That someone, however small or large the organisation is leading, is able to connect the dots with the eyes and see ahead. It is that personable approach whilst having a grasp of the big picture. We can only imagine that the script, the project or the product is already written or invented often by those or others who had the remarkable foresight or vision and is right there ready to be grasped or tapped into! The talent is right in front of you willing and waiting. Our audience, the general public or our paying customers are eagerly expecting. Yes some of them have the better seats and pay higher fees and whilst most have seats for the less well off. This is the way the cookie crumbles as we all, in time, get a taste of it. 

Yes, with our differing talents, respected professions and career choices we want the freedom to play from the same song sheet and as our productivity grows so does our economy. The audience are captivated and want more. We could be playing or working in the grandest of operas houses or companies exemplifying our work that could roar on softly, or touching those by peacefully captivating their imagination. In all its rhythm and glory, we can all each fall into place thus raising our confidence and making the greatest positive impact on the other, our society, our environment and on our world.....

Just imagine

Brexit. Bridging or detachment?

Admittedly as an Anglo-Norwegian now living in London, I have enjoyed the opportunity living and working in different parts of Europe. Consequently I always take a certain pride in how we can bridge with our fellow Europeans. I feel it might be worthwhile making a few explanatory points on our current debate over the European Union. This year Britain is bringing forward a referendum on a mammoth decision whether to leave the European Union commonly known as Brexit.

This is a tough one and I can sympathise with those who might be sitting on a fence. Those that might lack the knowledge or who do not simply understand a system that we are, in part, responsible for having created over the last forty odd years.  We are confronted with today’s challenges, such as at geopolitical level in how Britain and France as nuclear powers can at least pretend to counter the weight of an increasingly unpredictable let alone erratic Russian President still espousing its military prowess playing chess on the world stage but also in solving the issues closer to home of our ever increasing difficulties of our migration and economic crisis.

Let me draw onto those with some arguments that may help us to reach our own conclusions. For the sake of clarity and for the sole purposes of this article I shall refer to myself as ‘we’ when referring to the British rather than Northern European.

Historically, in military terms Europe has always been a hotbed of competition and conflict. Often Britain has been on the side lines but on the larger and more defining conflicts we were involved. Britons died and laid down their lives on continental soils. I am sorely reminded by my Dutch friends over the battle of the Medway where Admiral de Ruiter had beaten the British navy along our very own River Thames in 1667. Or when my Norwegian family candidly talk about their Viking ancestry in Scotland or as a German friend visiting Amsterdam pointed out that the last time a family member of his visited this town, it was in a tank!

Nowadays these relaxed albeit friendly conversations of our momentous often horrific competitive past might occur within the confides of a cosy cafe whilst eating a toasted cheese sandwich, awash with a Belgian beer on a rustic cobbled street corner overlooking perhaps a peaceful sunset, a cathedral or a picturesque canal.

In contrast today unlike our Russian counterparts to the East we no longer measure up so much in military prowess as to who has the greatest army, largest naval force and so forth largely because we have been at ‘peace’ for more than 70 years with less if not little understanding today of whom our enemy really is.

Instead for better or for worse we measure ourselves in economic terms. Some might argue that finance is a separate issue and requires a separate debate not least because Finance is in a world of its own, has become a noun rather than a verb, defining its own set of rules and where I believe the brunt of our current malaise and problems lie. It will need to come on board and play cricket if it wants to find its feet again.

Nevertheless the tangible economic argument carries a certain weight as a good part of our exports are within the Union. In 2014 Britain exported GBP 230 billion of goods and services which amounts to 44.8% of our total export market and we import slightly more. We export to Europe perhaps due to proximity but largely due to what is now called the European Union. This is an internal single market where we trade goods and services without barriers and tariffs. Those outside the Union might refer to this as some sort of cartel or monopoly that they too would like to be part of. In essence this is what our union is about; a pooling together of our natural resources to neutralise competition. In other words let’s produce coal and steel, trade it, and enrich ourselves for the purposes of peace and harmony. Yes by and large the EU has increased our standard of living and we have all benefited except we have all since moved on from coal and steel. 

Today Europe has now developed and connected itself with a fantastic array of motorways, railways, bridges and, tunnels, supported by some of the best automobiles, locomotives, haulage and ships. Its engineering and technology is often cutting edge. Airbus employ 15.000 UK workers! Its retail and food outlets, we are spoilt for choice. It has now developed into the largest trading block in the world. Quite rightly there needs to be a type of governance and this is when it becomes political as governance is always political unless there is cohesion. Cohesion can only come about on the rarest occasions by strong leadership and grounded principles and steering us toward a common objective. And yet it is those that govern often set the rules, put structures in place and makes the decisions. Luckily if things start to go wrong we developed a system initiated by the ancient Greeks better known as democracy where if we don’t like these rules imposed on us, well let’s then vote these rule makers out!  This might work at national level. At European level, it appears we may have a long way to go….

Like any corporation has corporate governance, a single market requires governance. This is so we can all produce and trade fairly on more or less equal terms and so on, by maintaining good neighbourly relations whilst not getting ahead of ourselves. It is that governance linked to our trade that requires a common interest therefore requires a supranational interest resulting into what is commonly known as a loss of sovereignty. Herewith lays the conflict?

Not least because Britain prides itself as a sovereign state, a parliamentary government supported by the rule of law and headed by a Constitutional Monarch, our Supreme Governor. Even our legal system is different to our European counterparts. As a nation it has always strived in competition and entrepreneurship which our European counterparts remain somewhat adverse to. This therefore poses a direct challenge in that if we want to produce, trade, and have the free movement of goods, service and now people, common sense dictates that we would need supranational governance.

The Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers exists on this basis. If for example the Commission identifies a barrier within its own common market and borders resulting to unfair competition or poor practice, it readily acts, it steers and it legislates. A useful example is the elimination of EU mobile roaming charges that is directly beneficial to the consumer. Another example is the EU 2020 climate initiative in order for the EU to reach a reduction in CO2 emissions. When it becomes law, it is either called a Regulation or a Directive. Regulation is a binding regulatory act and is directly applicable in the entire EU and a Directive is an objective directly implemented into the National Parliaments.

It might worth pointing out that The Commission mostly prepares proposals for legislation based on identified needs. Needs are assessed from what’s called an 'impact assessment'. The lobbyists from automotive, agriculture, pharma, and  NGO’s for example are known as so called stakeholders or special interests.  They are either just being heard or protecting their interests. As per when a proposal comes about, they are passed onto two equal chambers; the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. They in turn debate, change, modify or scrap as they are not obliged to approve it. Note before proposal is shown to the two chamber system it is automatically shown to National Parliaments where it can already be vetoed.

In short as a fervent European at heart I am somewhat disillusioned with Europe. Many of my French, Dutch and German friends too and economically we have run out of ideas. Has it become overly bureaucratic with many careerists that negate rather than create? Has it lost its founding principles, its cohesiveness, its motive therefore its purpose resulting into a potential crisis of confidence whilst becoming a 'soft' touch? Has it reached a type of plateau, caught in a rut between its own comfort zone and its need to streamline and reform? How can it become stronger, more accountable and in which direction? 

Somehow we need to find a new way to bridge with each other in our advance forward and for the private sector to kick off.  If it is no longer coal and steel what other natural resources do we have? What other areas of expertise and sectors can we pool together, produce and then trade? Great strides are being made in areas such as renewable energy, infrastructure, biotechnology and utilities. Can 'Finance' play a pivotal role in this type of bridge building by becoming a verb? Could we ever build the world’s longest suspension bridge over the channel with an electric motorway with the help of some of our migrants? We have the ingenuity, the expertise, the resources and even the money. After all the ECB and BoE print money do they not? 

Before I digress, a sensible approach might be that Britain needs to be involved in order to help steer it into a new direction and influence this reform as that is where our main interests lie despite the EU's shortcomings. Better the devil you know. Others might say that Europe is failing anyway and with Britain leaving, this will provide a shock and the EU will be forced to change. We may learn to regret this not least if Scotland decides to rejoin. If we leave we will survive and at least we can take some comfort in having left behind for the benefit of our European counterparts the use of the English language commonly spoken within the wider corridors of the EU.

Interestingly in the past whilst attending our global partnership meetings I had quietly observed my global colleagues. The Brits were jokingly hanging out with the more boorish Americans and Australians. The Dutch tagged along with the Brits. The French stood politely amongst each other. The Scandinavians were understated, and reserved.  The Italians and Spanish were happy go lucky. The Russians were always helpful. And everyone appeared to like the Germans.  In terms of our bridging are we really any more detached than others?

Be strong, be connected, be British, be European !