Kevin Kelly’s Blog

Happy St Patricks Day to all my visitors from around the world.

Considered a day to celebrate your Irishness, the question is what can we learn from the Irish…if anything? Many countries are modelling off one of the most successful economies worldwide over the past decade; but what can we learn at a corporate level?

Community your cash cow! Ireland was very much a society based around the concept of meitheal (Irish word for community.) Research has clearly shown the massive benefits of building a community within the workplace.

Irish people are known worldwide for their sense of humour and fun. Would employees feel more motivated if they knew that fun was a vital ingredient of the working environment.

Storytelling and Irishness go hand in hand, or so they say. In the current attention deficit society, stories are a great way of ensuring that your message is remembered. People rarely remember facts - stories on the other hand tend to bypass a persons conscious filtering system. Think about the last seminar you attended? Write down what you remember from the learning experience. It is likely you will remember the interactive elements and the stories.

Rapport naturally! - Irish people are also known for their effortless ability to build rapport with anyone at anytime. As communication is the key skill in life, it may be useful to model off the Irish today!

 Enjoy the day!

Dr Nattavudh Powdthavee from London University showed that an increase in the level of social involvement was worth an extra $222,500 a year in terms of life satisfaction.

What are friendships worth to the organisation?

Would it advisable for leaders, entrepreneurs, managers to promote “buddy-building” within their organisation?

Find out on the latest edition of our one minute video clinic.

Enjoy and share!

Entrepreneurial beginnings! 

Born in 1930, he kickstarted his empire by purchasing Wrigleys chewing gum and Coca Cola from his Grandfather’s store, and selling them on for a small profit. Another income source at that time was the sale of lost golf balls.

Perspiration! 

When his family moved to Washington, this twelve year old with obvious entrepreneurial flair took on five paper rounds.

 Build on existing relationships

Like all good marketeers, he decided to build on exising relationships and sell magazine subscriptions to his new audience. By the following year he was making a cool €100 a month - big bucks in 1940.

By the age of fourteen, he had purchased 40 acres of land at a cost of €500.

Who are we talking about?

 The richest man in the world - Warren Buffett.

 Source - Sunday Times.

“If all you want is to screw this company tight and get double-digit earnings growth and nothing else, then I’m the wrong person. Companies today are bigger than many economies. We are little republics. We are engines of efficiency. If companies don’t do (responsible) things, who is going to? Why not start making change now?”

Indra Nooyi

CEO PepsiCo

(Source Fortune March 03, 2008)

Stimulating Creativity in the workplace is a key challenge for Leaders, managers, entrepreneurs.

Tap into the creative potential of your employees, and gain a major competitive edge over other players within the marketplace.

But how do you kickstart the process?

Have you considered the possibility of rentacrowd?

Check out the latest video blog from our one minute clinic for a unique idea that may open the doors to new ideas within your organisation.

As always share the video with your friends and enjoy!