Three Words for the New Year

I have three words of blessing for you as 2007 starts ... Happy New Year!
Happy By Michael Sampson http://www.michaelsampson.net/2007/01/three_words_of_.html


Happy ... As in being light of heart, without the heaviness of mourning past mistakes and errors, nor the weight of future disclosure of such things. Forgiveness. A clear conscience. Pure motives. Be happy in this way.
Happy ... As in aligning your life, energies and efforts toward outcomes that are deeply meaningful to you and the people that you are called to work alongside and help. Happy as in setting out to accomplish truly worthwhile goals, however difficult, and seeing that achievement come to pass.
Happy ... As in deep-seated joy at doing the right thing, even when the winds of circumstances and conditions buffet and toss you around. Continuity of effort, and re-doubling thereof, even when it would be (much) easier to give up and go back.
Happy ... As in seeing happiness and joy in the faces of children, and knowing that they are happy because of what you have done and are doing for them.
Happy ... Not as in ease at obtaining everything you want with minimal effort, but rather the awareness that you had to struggle and work hard to obtain that which is truly valuable and worthwhile over the long term. Such happiness develops depth of character, rather than mere superficiality of personality.
New
New ... As in new challenges that strengthen you and cause you to grow new muscle and power to effect good things in the lives of people around you.
New ... As in new friends and people who will come alongside, to teach you things that you haven't known before, to stretch you so that you become a better and more mature person, to encourage the development of skills and abilities in you that have lain dormant or under-developed.
New ... As in new ideas, concepts and things that are turned from mere idea into concrete reality to benefit people the world over. Perhaps you can do something of such newness in 2007.
New ... As in new perspectives on current pressing problems in your life and the lives of people around you, in order to bring peace, reconciliation, truth, integrity, uprightness and honesty where such things had been in previous short supply.
New ... Not as in new for the mere sake of something new, where what's current and existing is good enough or plenty satisfactory to you and those around about.
Year
Year ... As in 12 opportunities to accomplish great and meaningful things. One a month ...
Year ... As in 365 opportunities to bring light into the life of someone lost in the darkness of despair or depression. To use the resources you have been gifted to lend a helping hand. One a day ...
Year ... As in 8760 opportunities to remember those to whom you owe your station in life ... parents, school teachers, mentors, coaches, employers, employees, friends, God ... to be grateful, to say thank you, to pass on such benefits to others. Every hour ...
Year ... As in 525,600 opportunities to devote yourself to working on what's important, rather than getting caught up in the petty and vain affairs of the moment. Not to waste a minute during 2007 in that which is fleeting, not important or just plain evil.
Year ... As in 31,536,000 seconds in which to live, knowing that each one could you be your last, that life is separated from death by such a tiny measure, and that once your final second on this earth has gone that you will be called upon to give an accounting of your life, and to receive reward or punishment for how you answered the ultimate door knock.


So ... in the spirit of above ... Happy New Year!

The Future of Industry in Scotland Continued

After my post on the future of Scottish Industry (Could be a lot of European Countries) I had been asked if I had a solution to the problem, do I ? no...but I have thought about it plenty and participated regularly when asked, with the focus groups the Scottish Executive has run in the past to discus "how to make things better"...I have never seen the output from these sessions or been asked is this actually what you were trying to say...

I have come to the conclusion that we who want to see a sustainable Industry in the general sense and a vibrant economy that will make our country folks content and happy need to do it ourselves until the the Government wakes up and smells the rot..and talks to the Investment and banking sectors ...the Academia...and the local entrepreneurial talent..I read an article in the Scotsman 4/01/07 that quoted the executive director of the Institute of Directors Scotland, David Watt who stated what he thinks the objectives were for Scottish economic growth in 2007 among them were that he called for a probe into the low rate of business creation in Scotland, claiming ministers should examine the effectiveness of Small Business Gateway (Daily Record). "Scotland has a lot of aspiring entrepreneurs. We need to encourage and help them to make the country more globally competitive"


I always find that the same message is shouted out but I never here them give some answers..if a manager comes to me and gives me a problem and no solution as many times as I have heard the various organizations say we need to improve and not bring an answer well!!! they would be looking for a new opportunity....for 2007

So what can we do ?

Those who care need get together and pull resources, Entrepreneurs, Financial groups and Academia.

• There needs to be a Group established by the above to tackle what's below
• Academia needs to partnership with the group to aid IP flow and deal flow
• We need to explore how we can utilize the Incubators more efficiently and not let companies over stay there welcome as in the SMC/ MED fiasco.
• We need to develop an SME business model for the emerging companies that is compatible with the funding available. There are many routes to funding not all end at the Venture capital fund, we can develop creative funding routes, like IP for cash..
• We need to develop a resource that can help direct the companies to the funding tap and see them through, the early stage BP construction and presentation, I have attended a few funding roadshows around the world and the worst prepared are the Scottish entrepreneurs.
• There needs to be a a mater class available to help mentor and coach the emerging companies as they develop...this needs to be done by folks who have done it before.
• We need to stop the rape of our IP crown jewels by the corporate raiders and give our Engineers / Scientists the chance to develop the IP .

If the above is followed in some way we will be part of the way to restoring our Industry and economy, with good traditional companies that will be here for a long time....

I am open for ideas....questions...

Slainte

Gordon