Rules Based or Principles Based

comI was in NY, with my family, to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday, a bit earlier than her actual birthday. She is quite amazing. Sharp as a tack and living by herself and completely taking care of herself (shopping, cleaning, and cooking) and us, of course. It was wonderful for us all and for Rachel, my mother, it was a mega treat. Thanks mom for everything, you did a great job.

One of the most insightful or special moments was going to the supermarket. We wanted to buy some beer which is a nightmare as there are hundreds of choices. Anyway, we went to the checkout to pay, and the greatest compliment and clear example what is wrong with America happened. I got carded. I said “what do you want? You want to see my ID to prove that I am over 21. Really. I guess all that walking and good food was helping”. Then I thought this absurd carding of someone who is 63 is what you get in rules based society.

Everywhere we went we were confronted with a rules based approach to everything. Restaurants that don’t have waiters but iPads to order and pay. Supposedly efficient but doesn’t give any advice and still asks for a 20% tip. A financial sector that is obsessed with compliance, when the entire financial meltdown was caused by regulated companies. An airport that is completely failing at processing passengers because their systems are about procedures and rules and not about what is sensible. A car service like Uber has no customer service to call. A primitive primary system for electing a President that lasts forever and a nominee can be completely disregarded if a group of super delegates decide. Paper cup holders to prevent people from burning themselves and suing the restaurant. Infrastructure collapsing all around until it actually collapses, then it will be repaired, and on and on and on.

Didn’t anyone hear about common sense. Principles based approach is values driven and sensible. What will work in the most effective way in avoiding problems. being cost effective, dealing with needs and avoiding litigation. Don’t worry, Donald Game of Thrones Trump will build the wall.

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

May 27, 2016 2016 3 Comments on Rules Based or Principles Based

Hero’s Journey

Dedicated to all you authentic eccentrics pursuing your Hero’s Journey and finding your bliss.

A friend recently informed me about this wonderful film, called Finding Joe. It is about Joseph Campbell and the Hero’s Journey. Watch it. You won’t regret it. 

“I don’t belief people are looking for the meaning of life, as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive” Joseph Campbell.

https://vimeo.com/115006689

TBLI CONFERENCE NORDIC

We will be holding our 32nd TBLI Conference in Stockholm on Sept. 20-21 at Nasdaq.  Please join us and meet your peers, clients and other thought leaders.

If you also want to support this event, contact us or attend visit TBLI CONFERENCE NORDIC. Program is 70% finished.

April 25, 2016 2016 3 Comments on Hero’s Journey

Analog vs. Digital

I recently tried to connect two individuals that I knew well. One was an entrepreneur looking to find investors and the other was an financial engineer who offered to help with fund raising. Both intelligent and professional and both seemed to understand what the other wanted. Reality was that after weeks of back and forth of document sharing, and financial requirements explanation, no progress was being made. Then, I realised what was the problem. One was analog and the other was digital. Trying to connect those two types directly without a translator or human converter, would never worked. As soon, as I actively engaged, the communication problems began to be resolved.

I have met digital people who swear that they are out of the box thinkers. As long as the out of the box thinking fits in another box. It might be bigger, but it still has limits. Analog people appear to be flexible but not flexible enough to understand digital thinkers. It is truly fascinating and once you identify these types you can create a bridge and work towards a resolution and a form of collaboration.

Are you digital or analog, to paraphrase an old tv commercial “only your hairdresser knows for sure”?

TBLI CONFERENCE NORDIC

We will be holding our 32nd TBLI Conference in Stockholm on Sept. 20-21 at Nasdaq. We are very grateful to the corporate sponsors that have agreed to support this event:

  • Nasdaq
  • Mistra
  • BNY Mellon
  • SEB
  • Nissan Asset Management
  • Nordea

If you also want to support this event, contact us or attend visit TBLI CONFERENCE NORDIC

Watch this great dialogue between Sony Kapoor and Per Bolund, Swedish Minister for Financial Markets and Consumer Affairs about Greening the Finance System. After watching this video, it will become apparent why Stockholm is the logical choice for the next TBLI CONFERENCE.

April 15, 2016 2016 3 Comments on Analog vs. Digital

Friend expanding horizon

Friday is the last day that Stephanie Gerteiser will be working for TBLI. She began in October 2011, and she has been a fantastic colleague. How she put up with me is amazing. After all those years of total commitment, she has decided to expand her horizons and try her hand at new challenges. She will be missed.

When I first met Stephanie, through the introduction of a friend, I felt she would fit in perfectly as consultant and conference curator. She was always critical and striving for excellence. Improving the quality of the content of the TBLI  Conference dramatically became her focus. She made the Conference a true learning experience, and always went the extra mile. Just when we thought everything was done, Stephanie would drive us crazy with finding mistakes. This definitely raised the bar and kept us on our toes and it was reflected in the final product.

Stephanie has a fantastic sense of humour and she understood mine. It was always a joy to joke around while we were working. Fun and being professional were equally important to her. Oh yeah, we must not forget the handbags. For some strange reason she was the Yoda of luxury handbags and their cost. Stephanie would always point out a specific brand when she spotted one at a TBLI event.

She is a wonderful soul with high integrity. There is no grey. Sustainability, honesty, values, ethics were her passion and she wouldn’t tolerate those who crossed the line. Must have been tough working in the financial sector. Being a working mom with two kids and a husband who often had to travel to Africa, Asia or Latin America created quite a challenge. Stephanie always managed to juggle everything and get the job done. Very impressive.

Stephanie really cares and  is a very authentic person, which is the most important character trait for me. There isn’t another person lurking in the shadows.. What you see is what you get?

I will miss her constantly correcting me and my statistics or exaggerations. I will miss our weekly update on the latest tv episodes that she never watched as she didn’t have a streaming tv service. I will miss her positive, can do attitude. If I was ever down and some positive development happened, no matter how minor, I loved sharing with Stephanie. She was always so happy and excited and saw the potential. We all should be so positive and as Monty Python said “always look on the bright side”. That was always a joy. I will miss our bike ride from our previous office and discussing world events or just gossip.

Whatever she decides to do, she will succeed and make friends along the way. She has clearly left a significant impression on TBLI. I wish her the best, as she deserves the best. Most of all I will miss her. I am sure we will still be collaborating. At least, I hope so.

Stephanie

Stay in touch. If you ever need anything, just ask. Don’t forget to get a streaming tv service and watch Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Big hug.

Your eternal friend.

Robert

March 30, 2016 2016 2 Comments on Friend expanding horizon