Amazing Grace - the Movie

Just thought I'd make a referal. I went to see this fabulous movie on Sunday. Now before you think I have a tendency towards addiction, what with my Sudoku fettish and also a movie bent - these are really my only two vices - the rest of the time I am working (believe it or not).

Anyway - back to the movie, I think it is worth a see no matter what your religious orientation. I was inspired. The cast is phenomenal and Ioan Grufford is quickly becoming a hot favourite of mine.

The thing that you really stood out to me was the reality of what pioneering involves.William Wilberforce fought for over 15 years to see his one dream fulfilled. The rest of his life was spent on his second dream.

I have been running this business for just under two years and at times it has felt too long, to hard. The temptation to stop fighting is very real, and yet like "Wilber" - if I can be arrogant enough to refer to him and myself in the same sentence - I choose to push on - because the vision is strong and unrelenting.

There is a choice, but the choice is essentially no choice. The work must go on! (I hear an orchestral maneuver in the background).

Can you relate?

Let me know what you think once you've seen it.

Disengagement of the Workforce

I am intrigued by the worldwide statistics that are bandied about concerning the levels of engagement in the workplace related to the workforce. Australia - 14% actively engaged. USA - 11% Actively engaged. China - 9% actively engaged. No accurate studies have been conducted in SA - but the belief is that we are between 9 and 11%.

Active Engagement being described as representing those employees who have a sense of belonging, ownership and connectedness to their work and employers. Active disengagement referring to those who will go to great lengths to sabotage their companies.

The four points of the continuum would be on the far left Actively Disengaged, then Disengaged (basically people with the philosophy of work is a necessary evil) to Engaged (people who find some sense and purpose in work) to Actively Engaged (those who love what they do and see great opportunity for self expression in it).

I am seeing more and more people opting out of the corporate world - looking for an a feeling of ownership and connectedness to their work and so entering the world of entrepreneurship. Is this truly the way to engagement?

The challenge however is that if we hope to grow our businesses - then most likely we will need to employ others. The question is - how do we keep our workforce engaged?


I look forward to hearing your comments.