Eldon-Online

The Joy of Learning

Tell me and I forget; teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn. (Benjamin Franklin)

It shouldn't do so because it is a case of each to their own really, but I do suffer from varying degrees of irritation by people who say they are too old to learn something new or who say the old way is the best and therefore the only way. Let's be frank - It may indeed be the best, but have they tried a new way?

Maybe I'm lucky but I enjoy experimenting and actually learning something new and I have a list of things to learn when I retire - whatever that word means - and although not a part of this Blog - a mild digression; I have also been exercised recently by the meaning of words - Brexit comes to mind!! Surely the biggest problem here is that given there was nothing other than a vague notion of Brexit (in or out of Europe, yes or no!), I think a lot of people who voted to leave have very different ideas as to what "leave" meant! It's a little like reading a book and imagining in your mind the voice of the characters which, when the film is made, don't at all come out like you imagined. More confusion. Anyway - back to the joys of learning!

Throughout history our ancestors were often faced with new things to learn and understand, when they weren't killing each other that is, and today is no different (minus the killing - so far!) although I grant you that things change perhaps at a more frightening speed than they did in the past. 

We take for granted the flushing toilet for example - but it took many years to be perfected, and if it hadn't been we would of course be knee-deep in unpleasant brown stuff by now. Steam engines, another great invention and where would we be without electricity - although actually sadly there are still people living today who do not have that benefit (about 1.1bn at the last count).

But today it is the turn of technology to take centre stage in a bid - in many cases - to make our lives easier. For many older people this is becoming a nightmare. It's too fast, it's too complicated, and too invasive for many, and as a result they don't even try. I hear them say "I'm too old to learn that", or "why should I be bothered?" I do understand, it's a question of choice and we also have to be honest and say that there are some technological developments that are downright anti-social. Messaging applications? Great innovation - but not when you are so addicted that everyone is sitting round a dinner table sending messages to all and sundry. "What are you doing?" you ask - "just talking to my friends!" - No you're not! Talking means uttering words that other people can hear. BUT using messaging appropriately - and using the voice calls over the internet even over huge distances and for no cost, are enormous benefits.

Part of the issue though is surely a bit like Brexit, the lack of instructions - at least that are intelligible to the average human being over 50. 

Deliver an iPad or something similar to a person unfamiliar with the technology and they open the box to find ... an iPad. No instructions! Ooh - where is the on/off button, and how do I set it up? You run into those sort of difficulties and you need to find the nearest 10-year-old who will happily (but without a great deal of explanation), sort it out for you. Still no instructions. 

Then there is the security involved around using technology - passwords, finger prints and facial recognition. The older generation gets rather confused, not to say worried, by the necessity to have passwords (and being told not to write them down), or use a thumb print to open an application - or heaven forbid actually use facial recognition - despite the fact that facial recognition is very sophisticated and remarkably secure.

The point is - despite the occasional negative, many things in the world today have been designed to make our experiences more interesting and enjoyable. From playing the music of your choice, to reading or listening to books, from learning languages, to speaking to friends and relatives across continents for no cost - even seeing them on a screen - ordering clothes and food online, are not scary things to be avoided at all costs. But they do need to be understood and I would echo the words of Benjamin Franklin particularly when it comes to involvement. Learning should keep the mind active and not be something feared, at any age. 

If you know a reluctant technology user who is merely holding back because they don't know how - then show them. Better still, depending on their age, write it down so they know how to do it themselves the next time. I know that I am on the lookout for something new to learn every day - and I don't intend to stop. The technology world, like it or not, is here to stay and if you know which bits are useful to you - embrace them. Although having written all this as a "note to others" - some will have to work out how to access this Blog first!!

Social Sustainability, Climate and Environment Change - But Who Pays?

"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today"

                                                                                  Abraham Lincoln

It is small wonder people get confused over the many conversations related to sustainability, climate change and the environment. The topics themselves, identifying multiple related issues and the debates over them, get longer, and more varied with experience. Even down to the very basics of discussions over climate and weather.

And while the debates are going on there is then all the noise around who carries the responsibility for dealing with so many different elements leading to differing solutions and arguing over what is right and what is wrong. As a result, not enough is being done.

But at least most people agree - even if they don't entirely get it, that rivers and lakes are drying up, food is therefore difficult to produce to feed an endlessly growing global population, not all (any?) of it in the developed countries, and that glaciers and ice floes are melting at such an alarming rate that should it continue, many low lying areas of the world will be under water (and not drinking water at that!).

Of course, I say most  people. There are still the naysayers who say this is just a normal pattern of climate change that goes around in 300 year cycles, and that therefore this century (I have heard it said but don't know if it's true, that the Indians describe this as the "Fire Century") will eventually revert to more normal climatic behaviour (whatever that is) and get cooler to positively freezing. Meantime our children and grandchildren get hotter and hotter with less and less water and lower food resources - but don't worry, they say, it'll be alright in the end, and they will sort it out!!

It is not surprising then that the recent focus brought to the matter by initially the student population in a number of cities around the world, and then by more disruptive action in places like London, has caught the attention of Governments. The downside to all of this however is that under pressure you now have Governments going over the top and making promises about emission controls and global warming targets that they probably cannot meet, and then conveniently omitting to tell anyone how these changes are going to be funded. And just as an aside, I do think the London demonstrators frankly ultimately did their cause more harm than good amongst the general public. Should have left it to the children, and if not, then the adult support should have known when to move on!

There is also another less easy matter to deal with here, and that is the pressure on everyone to stop using non-renewable sources of energy or fossil fuels. It is easy for the better off countries to do this, and demonstrators tend not to be overly specific with their slogans, but how do you expect countries like Bangladesh for example to survive if they haven't got the money or the wherewithal to use anything other than fossil fuels - or doesn't a country like that matter? I mean it's only 170million people after all, and a country more than most others likely to be really badly affected by rising water levels! There does need to be a sense of reality here.

But I come back to a fundamental question - who is going to pay for all of this? Making a noise and demonstrating is all very well - and of course the present young, who are likely to be the worst affected, cannot be expected to put their hands into pockets that are largely empty. So, who pays?

The organisation with which I have been associated for very many years is a traditional financial institution. One that is undergoing change, as it must because parts of its business are coming under threat from new "players" in the market. Is it perfect? No it isn't and it knows it, but I am unashamedly happy to note that the bank is actually doing its bit - not by paying lip service to the concept of "appearing to be" environmentally friendly, but getting everyone involved.

Of course my association with them now is principally in the Middle East, and from first hand I know just how committed the team here are - this is not for them just a job but a passion and a commitment with love - and the good thing is they take everyone along with them, and I am proud of them! The bank globally has been increasing its commitment financially as well - but my question is whether the new knowledge economy has the same level of commitment as the traditional providers of services? Will they be prepared to put some of their profits into the same causes? There's not much sign of that yet - and neither are they subjected to abuse and criticism seemingly reserved for the “traditional”.

It's all very well for the urban protesters to harangue and criticise business for being profitable. But there has to be level of rational thinking here. Shouting slogans and being disruptive generally makes newspaper headlines, which they all love, but do the organisations not also deserve some credit - at least those that do make and honour commitments?

Bringing attention to the plight of the world is perfectly legitimate. I am totally on the side of the people who care. Equally I support their genuine efforts, by getting involved myself both physically and financially but someone is going to have to pick up the bills at the end of the day. 

It is already late in the day to make changes in thought, understanding, and behaviour - so don't make it any later; start now. Remember though that everything worth doing has a cost attached so give credit where it is due to those that can pay, and this is not just a role for the few - everyone should contribute be they old established institutions or the knowledge economy - although do not expect miracles overnight. 

The world is worth saving; if not for you, at least for future generations, and when you are older what will your answer be to your grandchildren who stand - maybe accusingly - in front of you asking "... and what did you do to help save our planet grandad?"

An Appreciative Thank You - A Little Late!

“I don’t know, maybe I’m nuts” - was an opening line used by former Hong Kong SCMP columnist Teresa Norton (and founder of StarMaker), and a phrase that I have subsequently “stolen” with due acknowledgement, for my own needs as it encapsulates so many of the things I do - and am probably not supposed to.

I was heading back to Hong Kong recently for just a couple of days after a week in Dubai - well it was the time of the HK Sevens after all - before travelling immediately afterwards to Birmingham, London and a return to Dubai for another four or five days then once more in Hong Kong for another day or two and off again. And the stupid thing is I love it, but no wonder people in Hong Kong ask how long I am “visiting”! Apparently at my age I am not supposed to enjoy it as much as I do, (something to do with “conventional wisdom” - whatever that is) and yet I can’t help myself. I even caught myself smiling at my good fortune as I left the office the other day.

At least I think I am being useful, adding value and at the same time acting as something of a mentor to a younger generation who politely listen to tales of yore rather like the Ancient Mariner (https://www.shmoop.com/rime-of-ancient-mariner/). That’s me, strange I suppose - and yes I will stop at some stage. Also hopefully it will be a conscious decision on my part to go, rather than have someone come creeping up to me and whispering “David, isn’t it about time you moved on?”

So here I am - enjoying life in a rather more than even semi-retired state, but bemoaning one of the great losses experienced by former executives who step down but who still do things ... the absence of an office and in particular the fully functional Private/Executive Assistant. The person who anticipated your next move; the organiser who knew your diary better than you did and when they knew you were due to go on a trip handed you in good time a list of appropriate flight options to consider. The person who your business colleagues and personal friends contacted to see when you might be free to meet or dine, the executive assistant who could look at the various incoming papers and give you a synopsis of what was in them. The person who knew you better than pretty much anyone else.

Actually, forget the office - as long as you are disciplined enough to work from home or you at least have a space to go to occasionally with the necessary facilities (I have a virtual office that works well for me), and forget also - if you had one - the luxury of someone to drive you around, but it’s the sheer frustration of trying to organise your life that you cannot forget.

I take a certain amount of pride in being able to hold my own in technology. But despite all the clever apps around like Wunderlist, Evernote, OneNote, TripIt and the rest, I now get frustrated by their inability to organise things the way I like them, whereas the PA knew all that stuff! For example, I mentioned travelling earlier and it’s true, I travel a lot. So I need to book flights (oh, and paying for them up front before you get reimbursed is another pain!). And actually I don’t mind looking at the schedules, and hotels, and transport ... but when you’ve been round the airline “advanced” travel page, putting in the 4 or 5 cities you are travelling to, choosing the flights that fit and then press the button to receive the message  “sorry, we can’t price that route”, you spend the next hour or more working out the various computations that will get you a price. And I don’t really have time to do all that , and read the work papers and deal with the email inbox ...

Well why don’t you get a PA someone says ... at which point in time my Scottish heritage kicks in and says, well first I don’t have an office for a PA to work from, and why should I waste someone’s time (and pay out of my own pocket) just asking them to look through travel schedules, or take some of the responsibility back for my in-box, or book my lunch appointments. Mind you, I am becoming aware of “remote” PAs who offer services at an hourly rate rather than a monthly fee, but even so, is it worth it?

Don’t get me wrong I’m just griping rather than complaining, which I rarely do. I am really just coming round to expressing my admiration for a collection of people over very many years who have made my life so much easier - and I am not sure that I ever appreciated it as much as I do now.

Thank you.