NORTHERN PLANNER

Here’s a useful Top Ten rules for innovators. I particularly like the idea of changing stuff once your happy with it – just in case you find it turns out better. Way too many people fall in love with their first idea.

Went to a wedding last weekend.

Caught up with old friends and for a while we managed to act our age (32ish).

But of course it didn’t last. By the taxi home the booze had worked it’s usual dark magic and we were boys again.

I didn’t feel 18 the next morning though, I felt rubbish. It actually took a few days to recover which reminded me how crap it is getting older. But hold on, is getting old really that bad? Since we’ve got an ever ageing population (and I’m not getting any younger), I’ve decided that it’s time to be a bit optimistic about age. How is getting older good? What’s important? I’ll have a think and post something later. Ideas anyone?

It’s not particularly well designed but I like this poster. I like the way it provokes me and the way George Galloway isn’t afraid to say what he thinks (although I don’t agree with much of it), whatever the outcome.

Paul Colman got me thinking about this with a comment in my ‘I can’t spell’ post. What’s the point of asking the opinion of people who think like you do? Sometimes you need people to disagree with and who disagree with you. It sharpens your thinking, and sometimes teaches you something new. I can’t ever see myself agreeing with George though.

This blogging planner has the best blog name of them all. Along with the name, I’m a wee bit jealous of anyone who’s close enough to London  to make a Russell Davies coffee morning.

Looking at past posts reminds me why I was never cut out for account handling – I can’t spell. Unfortunately for suits, no amount of insightful thinking and quick wit makes up for getting your client’s name wrong in the contact report.

Jose Mourinho relevance at last!

Via Hidden Persuader (you’ll find lots of other stuff there too)

  This story from the Guardian is about Vanessa Redgrave’s speaking out at the Transylvanian Film festival about a new mine in Rosia Montana, Romania. "Our planet is dying and we have no right to destroy an ecosystem," she said. The issue has divided the community.

Before you decide your point of view, take a look at this ad that ran the same day. I liked it at first since it made me think and  it showed another, believable point of view. I began to get on my high horse about celebrities who pontificate without thinking about what effect their do-gooding might have on real people.

Then I was disappointed when I wondered who has payed for the ad. Gabriel Recources,a sponsor of the film festival have apparently,but the grumpy, cynical side of me wonders if it wasn’t the mining company, and if so, how did they get the signatures?

Even if it was, it was useful to see both sides of the story – the points in the ad are still valid. It’s also nice to see an ad that makes me think. What’s your opinion?

Right. I wasn’t supposed to be blogging today, I’ve got  loads on so back to work,

Doing loads of groups, this week. One thing I’ve learned that I didn’t expect:

It doesn’t matter how old you get, you always feel younger in your head.

I for one sometimes feel like Tom Hanks in Big in  meetings sometimes.

Anyone agree?

Loads on this week, so there’s little chance of blogging ’till Monday. In the meantime, here’s a nice idea and a thought for the weekend.                                                                          

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I’ve spent a lot of time in train stations this month. It’s made me wonder why train companies don’t work harder at making this part of the experience better for their customers, since it’s the beginning and end of their journey.

Two observations have revealed themselves.

1. It’s annoying when you’re desperate for the loo and you don’t have the right change to get into the toilets (I still can’t believe they charge you).

2. It’s really hard to get a seat unless you’re going to buy a drink or something to eat. Why can’t you pay a small fee for a plain, simple seat. Better yet, wouldn’t it be nice if some company that makes things to sit on, or maybe sells relaxation or just wants to show it cares, provided some extra seats for tired commuters. I’d thank them for that far more than polluting my plastic coffee cup with irrelevant, intrusive ads.