tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14523879915081749992024-02-20T05:28:07.646-05:00Global MindsetDevelopment of International Human CapitalJack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-44263566454562511942011-01-07T14:11:00.000-05:002011-01-07T14:11:03.319-05:0012,000 baby-boomers are leaving the workforce daily<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">According to the </span><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics December 2010:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">As you read this, over 12,000 baby-boomers are leaving the workforce daily. Most due to age, many due to reductions.<span> </span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">This leaves us with a shortfall of over 42 million people in the workforce, 8 million of which are professionals.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Gen-X is not making up the difference simply because Gen-X is half the size of the Boomer generation. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Gen-Y/Millennials are nearly as big as the baby-boomers but it will take another 3-5 years before they are ready to take their place. </span></div>Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-15259201139428142302010-09-21T18:06:00.000-04:002010-09-21T18:06:01.422-04:00Entrepreneurs say they desperately need more foreign workersAccording to a brief from <a href="http://www.worldwideerc.org/Newsroom/Express/Documents/express-service.html">Worldwide ERC</a>, U.S. entrepreneurs say they desperately need more foreign workers but the government is only making it harder. Maureen Torrey, who owns Torrey Farms in upstate New York, says she cannot find Americans with the skills she needs to tend her crops and her farm has lost money for the past two years. Meanwhile Atul Jain of Global Software Solutions says he may have to send work overseas this year because there are not enough Americans with technology skills and a willingness to spend months overseas. “We’re in a crisis situation as we see no action by Washington,” he says. He and other entrepreneurs had hoped immigration reform would bring in more foreign talent, but Congress has not moved on the issue and federal agencies are making it harder to get employment visas. Regulators say they are protecting U.S. jobs and want to make sure they are not being taken by foreigners, but Jain says “The economy will not improve just because foreign workers can’t come.” The problem is tougher for small companies, as they have fewer resources for managing visa applications or establishing units overseas to take advantage of cheaper labor.Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-42703856683274500942010-09-21T18:04:00.000-04:002010-09-21T18:04:18.913-04:00It's Getting Harder to Hire Foreign WorkersAccording to a brief from <a href="http://why%20it's%20getting%20harder%20to%20hire%20foreign%20workers/">Worldwide ERC</a>, U.S. entrepreneurs say they desperately need more foreign workers but the government is only making it harder. Maureen Torrey, who owns Torrey Farms in upstate New York, says she cannot find Americans with the skills she needs to tend her crops and her farm has lost money for the past two years. Meanwhile Atul Jain of Global Software Solutions says he may have to send work overseas this year because there are not enough Americans with technology skills and a willingness to spend months overseas. “We’re in a crisis situation as we see no action by Washington,” he says. He and other entrepreneurs had hoped immigration reform would bring in more foreign talent, but Congress has not moved on the issue and federal agencies are making it harder to get employment visas. Regulators say they are protecting U.S. jobs and want to make sure they are not being taken by foreigners, but Jain says “The economy will not improve just because foreign workers can’t come.” The problem is tougher for small companies, as they have fewer resources for managing visa applications or establishing units overseas to take advantage of cheaper labor.Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-64303522643485927972010-08-18T16:30:00.000-04:002010-08-18T16:30:43.783-04:00Immigration - some countries want it!Here's an interesting snippet from the <a href="http://guardiancco.uk/">Guardian.co.uk</a> - especially in light of the current debate about immigration into the United States:<br />
<blockquote>With the financial crisis a thing of the past, the authorities in Singapore are looking at ways of letting in a fresh wave of immigrants. This year 100,000 foreign workers should be needed to cope with the powerful surge in the city-state's economy, with 18% growth for the first half of the year.</blockquote>The full article is worh a read - see it <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/03/singapore">HERE</a>Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-78501954866938965332010-06-17T16:40:00.003-04:002010-06-17T16:43:31.616-04:00Left Brain, Right BrainOne of the things I have learned during my career is the need to develop synergy between both hemispheres of the brain. In order to be truly effective, we need to use the logical and analytical left side of our brain without neglecting the creative and intuitive right side of the brain.<br />
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Most analytical, logical, and rational thought takes place in the left hemisphere, where the tasks for well reasoned arguments take place. That may be the reason most people prefer to hold their phones against their right ear. The right ear connects directly to the left side of the brain - the side that processes language and analytical thought.<br />
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In today’s work environment, I find the right side of the brain is not used nearly enough. The right hemisphere is where our brains focus on the big picture. It is where we are creative and intuitive. In order to gain a competitive edge, especially in the realm of international business, we need to be able to draw on the resources of our whole brain – creativity and intuition to find the possible solutions and alternatives to a problem and logical and analytical reasoning to implement the solution.<br />
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In the world of organizations and business, the logical thinkers who tend to concentrate on data and details often dominate. In my consulting work, I find many teams where not one team-member is right-brain dominant. In part the reason for this is that the detail oriented logical thinkers find it hard to recruit personalities different to their own. The result of such self-selection is quite predictable – the team gets lost in data, details and processes, struggling to see the big picture.<br />
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During my career (see my memoir <a href="http://www.drivingstraight.com/">"Driving Straight on Crooked Lines"</a>), I think I was able to develop synergy between both halves of my brain. My boss, for many years, was a logical thinker who focused on detail. He didn’t spend a lot of energy on feelings – but he always seemed to manage to stay in touch with his intuitive side. He trained us to see the big picture, to seek creative solutions and then focus on process and implementation. Like so many corporate and organizational types, I tended to be a data-focused logical thinker and the organization I was with became quite left-brain dominant. The how of getting things done tended to be more important than the why. As a result, we tended to focus on a rational approach to life and spirituality with a decided bias towards action. On the positive side, that is one of the reasons we got so much support from powerful business people – we knew how to get things done and we spoke the action oriented language of business.<br />
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Our bias toward action was tempered with an intense dedication to prayer – although our prayer life too tended to be structured and regimented. That approach probably worked best for our dominant personality type. A solid prayer life does help one keep in touch with the creative and intuitive side of the brain. I have since learned that optimism is probably the most important emotional asset in business. There’s nothing like a good prayer life to cultivate optimism.<br />
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As part of our prayer life, I would have to include the enormously healing, holistic effect of Gregorian chant. The French doctor Alfred Tomatis pioneered research on the neurophysiologic effects of chant on the minds and bodies of its singers and listeners. According to his theory, there are two kinds of sound: "discharge" sounds (those that tire, fatigue and drain the listener) and "charge" sounds (those that give energy and health). According to Dr. Tomatis, Gregorian chant may be the most potent "charge" sound to promote strength and vitality. Unlike other types of music, the rhythm of the chant is based on the breathing of the participants rather than on a mathematically calculated beat. Just try listening to a small amount of it each day, or better still, chanting some of the traditional melodies, and you will quickly notice how calming it is as you get in touch with your intuitive and creative side.<br />
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I am thankful that most of us analytical types got to spend a balanced amount of time on creativity-enhancing exercises. A solid physical exercise regime helped us manage stress; we all spent a lot of time on writing, metaphysics and brainstorming. We listened to well selected classical music and had ample time for silent meditation. I think the positive result of all of the above, for me, is that I learned to be in touch with both hemispheres of my brain. As I wrote at the beginning, this is not a skill I come across often in the corporate, technically oriented world I live in. Did I learn anything usefulfor the oft-maligned creative types? Yes. My creatively inclined confreres got in touch with their logical left-brain processes by playing dominoes and chess, studying scholastic philosophy, developing plans and budgets and adhering to the strict schedules that marked our life in community.Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-81179432633719263412010-05-26T09:25:00.000-04:002010-05-26T09:25:08.798-04:00New Memoir About Life in the Controversial Legion of Christ by a Former Member Reveals Insights into the Double Life of Founder Father Marcial Maciel<b>Press Release<br />
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TRUMBULL, Conn., May 26 /PRNewswire/ -- As Vatican-watchers await the appointment of a papal delegate to oversee the Legion of Christ, a new memoir by a former member claims that few Legionaries were aware of the double life led by their founder, the late Father Marcial Maciel.<br />
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Driving Straight on Crooked Lines: How an Irishman Found his heart and Nearly Lost his Mind, <a href="http://www.drivingstraight.com/" onclick="var
s=s_gi(s_account);s.linkTrackVars='prop5,eVar3,prop15';s.prop5='External
Link';s.eVar3=s.prop5;s.prop15='94911024';s.tl(this,'o','ExternalLink');" target="_blank"> http://www.drivingstraight.com</a> (ISBN 978-0-9845227-0-5, Trade paperback, 352 pp, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2) provides author Jack Keogh's insights into the inner workings of the Legion of Christ and the intimate thoughts of a former priest who collaborated with the controversial Maciel, the founder of the Mexican congregation.<br />
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Keogh, the first Irish-born Legionary to set foot in Mexico, tells how he ultimately came to believe that God does indeed drive straight on the crooked lines of our lives after first nearly losing his mind.<br />
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Spanning locations across the globe, Keogh's "gripping story offers realistic insight, told with a subjective, non-judgmental outlook," says Australian writer and editor Cerian Griffiths. "Keogh's sincere narrative, in which he faces many challenges, inspires an attitude of hope for the future. His story is told with candor, a sparkle in the eye, plenty of blarney, and Irish good humor."<br />
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Investigative reporter, author and film director Jason Berry, whose recent report on the Legion of Christ's Father Marcial Maciel was published in the <a href="http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/money-paved-way-maciels-influence-vatican" onclick="var
s=s_gi(s_account);s.linkTrackVars='prop5,eVar3,prop15';s.prop5='External
Link';s.eVar3=s.prop5;s.prop15='94911024';s.tl(this,'o','ExternalLink');" target="_blank"> National Catholic Reporter</a> says, "I was pulled along by the story of a young Irishman drawn into the world of the Legionaries of Christ, unable to see the raw truth of Father Maciel, coming to the painful realization of Maciel's psychological tyranny as time passed, and having the fortune to leave early enough to make a new life. This is a sad yet, in the final measure, uplifting memoir."<br />
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Keogh is Managing Director of Keogh & Associates Consulting, LLC of Trumbull, CT, which advises multinational corporations on leadership and cross-cultural communications. A resident of Fairfield County, CT, Keogh studied in Spain and Italy and is fluent in their languages. Many thousands of people around the globe have attended his presentations.<br />
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For more information about Driving Straight on Crooked Lines or to schedule an interview, please contact Jack Keogh at (203) 268-3126 or visit <a href="http://www.drivingstraight.com/" onclick="var
s=s_gi(s_account);s.linkTrackVars='prop5,eVar3,prop15';s.prop5='External
Link';s.eVar3=s.prop5;s.prop15='94911024';s.tl(this,'o','ExternalLink');" target="_blank"> http://www.drivingstraight.com</a>. The book is available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/" onclick="var
s=s_gi(s_account);s.linkTrackVars='prop5,eVar3,prop15';s.prop5='External
Link';s.eVar3=s.prop5;s.prop15='94911024';s.tl(this,'o','ExternalLink');" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com</a>, and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/" onclick="var
s=s_gi(s_account);s.linkTrackVars='prop5,eVar3,prop15';s.prop5='External
Link';s.eVar3=s.prop5;s.prop15='94911024';s.tl(this,'o','ExternalLink');" target="_blank"> http://www.barnesandnoble.com</a>.<br />
<br />
Book Cover: <a href="http://www.ereleases.com/pic/DrivingStraightonCrookedLines.jpg" onclick="var
s=s_gi(s_account);s.linkTrackVars='prop5,eVar3,prop15';s.prop5='External
Link';s.eVar3=s.prop5;s.prop15='94911024';s.tl(this,'o','ExternalLink');" target="_blank"> http://www.ereleases.com/pic/DrivingStraightonCrookedLines.jpg</a><br />
<br />
CONTACT: Jack Keogh Iveagh Lodge Press Trumbull, CT (203) 268-3126 info@iveaghlodgepress.com<br />
<br />
<br />
This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases <a href="http://www.ereleases.com/" onclick="var
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Link';s.eVar3=s.prop5;s.prop15='94911024';s.tl(this,'o','ExternalLink');" target="_blank"> Press Release Distribution</a> at <a href="http://www.ereleases.com/" onclick="var
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Link';s.eVar3=s.prop5;s.prop15='94911024';s.tl(this,'o','ExternalLink');" target="_blank"> http://www.ereleases.com</a>.<br />
<br />
SOURCE Jack Keogh</b>Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-14599774524326169322010-05-25T14:24:00.000-04:002010-05-25T14:24:20.890-04:00Matcing the right hire to the right job: a critical managerial skillNo one can guarantee the performance of a manager or executive appointed to a new position.<br />
The reports and surveys we are constantly bombarded suggest we can safely say most executives make poor promotion and staffing decisions.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Peter F. Drucker repeatedly said:<br />
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“In no other area of management would we put up with such miserable performance (as we do in people decisions)...indeed, we need not and should not...Managers making people decisions will never be perfect...But they should come pretty close to batting 1,000, especially because in no other area of management do we know so much..."</blockquote><br />
I completely agree with the following points taken from <a href="http://www.humanresourcesiq.com/">Human Resources</a>. Read the full article <a href="http://www.humanresourcesiq.com/Columnarticle.cfm?externalID=311&ColumnID=3&mac=HRIQ_SMNR_Email_2010&utm_campaign=HRIQSeminar&utm_medium=email&utm_source=humanresourcesiq&utm_content=May25&utm_term=Mattie">here</a>.<br />
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1) <b>Think through the assignment</b>. Failure to think through the assignment, Drucker observed, was the number-one reason for staffing failures. Put differently, executives making staffing decisions must “match strengths to opportunity.” many times when thinking through the assignment, the necessity for reorganizing the existing organization becomes apparent. The nature of the assignment requires multiple knowledges and a variety of skills impossible to find in one person.<br />
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2) <b>Make sure the appointee understands the job</b>.“It is not intuitively obvious to most people that a new and different job requires new and different behavior,” Drucker said. “Most people continue to do what they've done before.” <br />
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3) <b>Match The Right New Hire For the Right Job</b>. A successful bus driver, in all likelihood, cannot run the bus company.<br />
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<b>Questions to ask:</b><br />
"What is the task?” “What is the experience and knowledge base required to carry out the task?" "Does the appointee understand the job?"<br />
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Creating new opportunities for people involves helping them learn and develop. That's something <a href="http://www.jackkeogh.com/">Keogh & Associates Consulting, LLC</a> specializes in - but that is a topic for another day.Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-47449036969932924272010-05-22T15:19:00.000-04:002010-05-22T15:19:56.689-04:00Emotional intelligence and its relationship to transformational leadershipThe May, 2010 of the "<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_973865032">I</a><a href="http://www.eiconsortium.org/">E Update</a>" Newsletter provides the following abstract of a research study on Emotional Intelligence. The study refers to the "MSCEIT" one of the instruments that Keogh & Associates Consulting, LLC uses in our approach to team and leadership development.<b><br />
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<b>Clarke, N. (2010). Emotional intelligence and its relationship to transformational leadership and key project manager competences. Project Management Journal, 41(2), 5-20</b>. <br />
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This study examined the effect of Emotional Iintelligence, as assessed using MSCEIT, on several competences (i.e., communication, teamwork, attentiveness, and managing conflict) and transformational leadership after controlling for personality and cognitive ability. Results based on a sample of 67 UK project managers revealed a number of significant correlations between the MSCEIT and the dependent measures. Branch 2 of the MSCEIT (using emotions to facilitate thinking), Branch 3 (understanding emotions), and the overall EI score were all found to positively correlate with the project manager competence of managing conflict. Both the abilities of using emotions and of understanding emotions positively correlated with the project manager competence of teamwork. Using emotions to facilitate thinking was the only EI ability found to have any significant correlations with transformational leadership. Both total EI and branch scores showed minor correlations with personality measures, offering further support for the predominantly independent nature of these two aspects of individual difference.Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-71039504864921956192010-05-19T15:47:00.000-04:002010-05-19T15:47:43.041-04:00A strategic approach to Talent ManagementAccording to <a href="http://www.orcworldwide.com/readroom/pirhascope_06_0708_talent.pdf">Michael Fineman and Jodi Starkman of ORC</a> worldwide, the most important thing a company can do to ensure a continuing supply of well-prepared, well-deployed key players is to create a talent culture: an environment in which finding and nurturing talent is considered an important management function. <br />
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Fineman and Starkman identify seven essential elements for building a talent culture. They lay the groundwork for translating business strategy to people strategy, create a common understanding of process and vocabulary, and provide the tools managers need to help them implement a coherent, aggressive talent management plan.<br />
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<blockquote><ol><li>Deep involvement of senior management</li>
<li>Dedication of sufficient time, staff and IT support</li>
<li>Breadth and depth of talent reviews.</li>
<li>Consistency and Structure.</li>
<li>Meaningful Developmental Experiences</li>
<li>Motivation and Retention</li>
<li>Monitoring the TM Program</li>
</ol></blockquote>Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-74904992169837372802010-05-19T15:35:00.000-04:002010-05-19T15:35:41.553-04:00Expatriates are not a dying breedFrom an <a href="http://business.iafrica.com/features/2395920.htm">article by Sanchia Temkin</a>:<br />
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"Expatriates are not a dying breed.. They are still very much part of the business strategies of many companies seeking to expand their activities beyond their homes bases," said Siobhan Cummins, MD for Europe, the Middle East and Africa of <a href="http://www.orcworldwide.com/">ORC Worldwide</a>."<br />
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However, expatriate assignments are changing, with assignments lasting only one to three years, instead of much longer, which used to be the norm. Another change is that companies are paring down the assignment package, and are no longer paying large tax-free gratuities upon the completion of an assignment."Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-33176700891424730292010-05-18T12:53:00.001-04:002010-05-18T12:54:35.195-04:00Light in the darkness of the soulViktor E. Frankl was Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of Vienna Medical School and Distinguished Professor of Logotherapy at the U.S. International University. He is the founder of what has come to be called the Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy (after Freud's psychoanalysis and Adler's individual psychology) -- the school of “logotherapy.” <br />
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Born in 1905, Dr. Frankl received the degrees of Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Vienna. During World War II he spent three years at Auschwitz, Dachau and other concentration camps. He died in 1997.<br />
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His book "Man's search for meaning" where he describes his ordeal in the concentration camp is a marvelous and uplifting read.<br />
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I’ve just come across a short video snippet of one of his lectures. It lasts four minutes. You can see it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD1512_XJEw">here</a>. Dr. Frankl in his charming accent basically says: “If we take man as he is, we'll make him worse. But if we take man as he should be we make him capable of becoming what he can be". A beautiful and relevant lesson. <br />
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The ancients knew well there is indeed light in the darkness of the soul. To get to the truest nature of a human being we have to aim very high. Dr. Frankl suggests that being an idealist is the only way to be a realist.Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-37075572453131140672010-05-14T17:08:00.002-04:002010-05-14T17:08:58.369-04:00Value of trainingAccording to Jim Harris in his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Paradox-Gaining-Success-Security/dp/1841121894/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273870720&sr=8-1">The Learning Paradox</a>, a number of issues would begin to appear, if company employees did not receive on-going training. In a down economy – like the one we are currently experiencing – one of the areas that is subject to cutback is training and development. This means, I think, that HR people need to know how to measure the strategic value of training in business terms. Harris suggests the following outcomes when training goes away; I suggest that these outcomes should be the basis of how we measure the value of the training we deliver:<br />
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1. Fewer skilled employees<br />
2. Lower-quality work<br />
3. Poor customer service<br />
4. Higher customer turnover<br />
5. Increased marketing costs<br />
6. Slow corporate growth<br />
7. Higher employee turnover<br />
8. Higher recruitment costs<br />
9. Reduced attraction for new employees<br />
10. Increased IT support<br />
11. High informal training costs<br />
12. Increased workload<br />
13. Increased burnout<br />
14. Slow response to bids<br />
15. Slow response to competition<br />
16. Turf battles, office size and politics are valuedJack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-89014217732517375602010-04-08T14:41:00.000-04:002010-04-08T14:41:50.899-04:00Where you live affects your attitude to sports and physical activitySince 1973, the European Commission has been monitoring the evolution of public opinion in the Member States, thus helping the preparation of texts, decision-making and the evaluation of its work. This is the <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm">website</a> for the Public Opinion Analysis sector of the European Commission (Eurobarometer.) I found the following analysis of Europeans reactions to sport and physical activity interesting. I did know that, allegedly, my fellow native Dubliners are, I think, the second fastest walkers... what follows is more scientific!<br />
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<blockquote>40% of EU citizens play sport at least once a week and 65% engage in some form of physical exercise. But 25% are almost completely inactive, according to a special Eurobarometer Survey on Sport and Physical Activity published by the European Commission today. Ireland and the Nordic countries take sport most seriously, with 23% of Irish citizens practising sport 5 times a week or more, while Sweden, Finland and Denmark score the highest ratings for exercising ‘regularly’ or ‘with some regularity’ (once a week or more). At the other end of the scale, only 3% of citizens in Bulgaria, Greece and Italy say they play sport regularly. Men in the EU play more sport and also exercise more than women. The disparity is particularly marked in the 15-24 age group. The survey also finds a correlation between socio-economic status and physical activity. 64% of people who left school by the age of 15 say they never play sport, while this rate falls to 24% for those who left education after 20.</blockquote>Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-3527160744520006272010-02-04T10:57:00.002-05:002010-02-04T11:07:41.059-05:00HR Leadership AbilitiesI <a href="http://www.jackkeogh.com/">consult with a broad range of HR Professionals</a>. Often, I work with them to deliver leadership training programs. Here are some <a href="http://www.monkswhostolethecow/">leadership qualities</a>, in no particular order, I wish I saw more of amongst <a href="http://jackkeogh.blogspot.com/">HR Leaders</a>:<br />
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<ul><li>Emotional intelligence</li>
<li>Strategic thinking ability</li>
<li>Creativity</li>
<li>Ability to manage ambiguity</li>
<li>Cross-cultural communications skills</li>
<li>Global Mindset </li>
<li>Change management</li>
<li>Coaching ability</li>
<li>Negotiation skills</li>
<li>Courage</li>
<li>Interpersonal skills: Diplomacy</li>
<li>Mature judgement & decision making</li>
<li>Integrity</li>
<li>Humility</li>
</ul>Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-27500430455885133002010-02-03T16:56:00.002-05:002010-02-03T16:56:48.672-05:00Social Networking. Time to turn on the privacy settings?A survey by CareerBuilder.com of about 2,700 executives in America last year found that 45% of them looked at job candidates’ social-network pages as part of their research, and more than a third of those had unearthed information there that put them off hiring someone. Time to turn up those privacy settings?<br />
<br />
In recessionary times it is very smart to stay in touch with as many social and professional contacts as possible. Reinforcing the connections with the people you work with and improving your ability to stay in touch with and expand your “network” of contacts, is a great way to join the digital revolution - in the unlikely event that you are not already on board. I’d like to share a quick and simple method that I use for researching contacts. <a href="http://in%20recessionary%20times%20it%20is%20very%20smart%20to%20stay%20in%20touch%20with%20as%20many%20social%20and%20professional%20contacts%20as%20possible.%20reinforcing%20the%20connections%20with%20the%20people%20you%20work%20with%20and%20improving%20your%20ability%20to%20stay%20in%20touch%20with%20and%20expand%20your%20%e2%80%9cnetwork%e2%80%9d%20of%20contacts,%20is%20a%20great%20way%20to%20join%20the%20digital%20revolution%20-%20in%20the%20unlikely%20event%20that%20you%20are%20not%20already%20on%20board.%20for%20starters,%20i%e2%80%99d%20like%20to%20share%20a%20quick%20and%20simple%20method%20that%20i%20use%20for%20researching%20contacts./">CLICK HERE</a> to read a short article I wrote.Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-68248431990944926332010-01-31T15:04:00.000-05:002010-01-31T15:04:15.987-05:00Phoebe Prince, an Irish teenager<div id="articleGraphs"> <div id="page1">This story might make you feel sad. I think it's the sort of story that we must read. What can we do to deal with this awful problem?</div><div id="page1"> </div><div id="page1">"Like a lot of kids her age, Phoebe Prince was a swan, always beautiful and sometimes awkward."</div><div id="page1">That's how <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/01/24/the_untouchable_mean_girls/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed1">Kevin Cullen begins to report</a> on a truly heart wrenching event - the result of school bullying.<br />
<br />
"Last fall, (Phoebe) she moved from Ireland into western Massachusetts, a new town, a new high school, a new country, a new culture. She was 15, when all that matters is being liked and wearing the right clothes and just fitting in. She was a freshman and she had a brief fling with a senior, a football player, and for this she became the target of the Mean Girls, who decided then and there that Phoebe didn’t know her place and that Phoebe would pay.<br />
<br />
Kids can be mean, but the Mean Girls took it to another level, according to students and parents. They followed Phoebe around, calling her a slut. When they wanted to be more specific, they called her an Irish slut.<br />
<br />
Ten days ago, Phoebe was walking home from school when one of the Mean Girls drove by in a car. An insult and an energy drink can came flying out the car window in Phoebe’s direction.<br />
<br />
Phoebe kept walking, past the abuse, past the can, past the white picket fence, into her house. Then she walked into a closet and hanged herself. Her 12-year-old sister found her.<br />
<br />
You would think this would give the bullies who hounded Phoebe some pause. Instead, they went on Facebook and mocked her in death.<br />
<br />
They told State Police detectives they did nothing wrong, had nothing to do with Phoebe killing herself.<br />
<br />
And then they went right back to school and started badmouthing Phoebe.....the Mean Girls who tortured Phoebe remain in school, defiant, unscathed.<br />
<br />
Last week, Phoebe was supposed to visit Ireland, where she grew up, and she was excited because she was going to see her father for the first time in months.<br />
<br />
She did end up going back to Ireland after all, and when her father saw her she was in a casket."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/01/24/the_untouchable_mean_girls/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed1">CLICK HERE</a> to read the poignant, thought provoking report.<br />
<br />
Kevin Cullen is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at cullen@globe.com.<br />
© Copyright 2010 Globe Newspaper Company.<br />
</div></div>Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-81536502531006940832010-01-27T18:47:00.001-05:002010-01-27T18:50:15.313-05:00Get a Visa to Work Overseas<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Useful information from </span><a href="http://www.passportcareer.com/blog/working-holiday-visa-%E2%80%93-work-abroad-easily/"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Juliette Giannesini.</b></span></a><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Check Juliette's blog for the details!<b><br />
</b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><b>"</b></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Most people assume that working abroad is synonym with finding an employer willing to do the immigration paperwork on your behalf or immigrating permanently. There is an easier way: the Working Holiday Visa (WHV). </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">What is the working holiday visa?</span></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The WHV is a work and travel permit issue by one of the many participating countries: <b> </b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.<br />
</b> </span><br />
</div>Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-33047858371759886282010-01-15T11:56:00.002-05:002010-01-15T11:56:15.656-05:00Haiti: How You Can Help<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10"><tbody>
<tr style="color: maroon; font-family: arial,verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><td><a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=530196605" style="color: maroon;">American Red Cross</a> </td> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=133433452" style="color: maroon;">Doctors Without Borders</a> </td> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=953504080" style="color: maroon;">Operation USA</a> </td> </tr>
<tr style="color: maroon; font-family: arial,verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=061008595" style="color: maroon;">Americares</a> </td> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=953949646" style="color: maroon;">International Medical Corps</a> </td> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=237069110" style="color: maroon;">OXFAM America</a> </td> </tr>
<tr style="color: maroon; font-family: arial,verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=131685039">CARE</a> </td> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=135660870" style="color: maroon;">International Rescue Committee</a> </td> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=043567502" style="color: maroon;">Partners in Health</a> </td> </tr>
<tr style="color: maroon; font-family: arial,verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/Donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=135563422" style="color: maroon;">Catholic Relief Services</a> </td> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=043787762" style="color: maroon;">Haitian Ministries</a> </td> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=060726487" style="color: maroon;">Save the Children</a> </td> </tr>
<tr style="color: maroon; font-family: arial,verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=680051386" style="color: maroon;">Convoy of Hope</a> </td> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=133280194" style="color: maroon;">MADRE</a> </td> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=131760110" style="color: maroon;">UNICEF</a> </td> </tr>
<tr style="color: maroon; font-family: arial,verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/Donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=951831116" style="color: maroon;">Direct Relief International</a> </td> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=911148123" style="color: maroon;">Mercy Corps</a> </td> <td> <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/Donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=951922279" style="color: maroon;">World Vision Int'l</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-54438469127985263842009-04-09T12:04:00.001-04:002009-04-09T12:09:24.176-04:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Using the Power of Social Networking in a Recession</span><br /><a href="http://www.JackKeogh.com">Jack Keogh</a><br /><br />I “discovered” <a href="http://www.Facebook.com">Facebook</a> a couple of years ago when I received an invitation to be a “friend” of the teenaged niece of a family connection in Mexico. I accepted the invitation and, to my surprise, some twenty minutes later, I got a message from my daughter – in her early twenties – saying “Dad, get off this site – it’s for kids, not people your age!” At that time, Facebook had a mere 12 million members. My daughter fretted that the site, designed for college students, had been hijacked by teens. I marveled at the connectedness of the younger generations – how did my daughter, at work in New York City, realize so quickly that I had responded to an invitation from Mexico? Then, undeterred, I went ahead and set up my Facebook profile. I figured that one more profile might complement my web “presence” – company website, blog, and profiles on Linked-In and Plaxo. What, did I learn and how can it be helpful to you?<br /><br />In recessionary times it is very smart to stay in touch with as many social and professional contacts as possible. Reinforcing the connections with the people you work with and improving your ability to stay in touch with and expand your “network” of contacts, is a great way to join the digital revolution - in the unlikely event that you are not already on board. For starters, I’d like to share a quick and simple method that I use for researching contacts.<br /><br />I use the search feature on <a href="http://www.zoominfo.com">ZoomInfo.com</a>. Suppose that you want to research a potential contact – take me, for example. Type in “Jack Keogh” and the site delivers a list of “Jack Keoghs” retrieved from the web. You can refine your search to pick the name that most closely matches your contact. In my case, I usually come us in about the second spot on ZoomInfo. When you find me, click on the profile page and then click “view sources” at the top right corner and you will get a good listing of all the information on the web about me. Not perfect – but you find out more than the controlled “public” profile delivered by <a href="http://www.plaxo.com">Plaxo</a> or <a href="http://www.linkedin.com">LinkedIn</a>. In terms of keeping up with your existing networks, do you know how many people can you reach out to?<br />Facebook, the “new” social networking giant was designed a college student Mark Zuckerman now 24. It has grown to 175 million users. The MySpace network has 130 million users and is enjoying new growth among the 6.9 million 55 year old plus generation who spend an average of 204 minutes a month on the site. Not to be outdone, Facebook's greatest growth has come from 35-49 year-olds and it has added twice as many 50-64 year-olds as those under age 18. It is the new leader of the pack, worldwide, with monthly visits by three out of ten Internet users. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, fully one third of adult internet users have a profile on a social networking site – an increase of 25% since 2005.<br /><br />A new study from <a href="http://www.nielsenmedia.com/nc/portal/site/Public/">Nielsen</a> shows that “Social networking and blogging sites are now the 4th most popular activity on the Internet (overcoming personal email) with 67% global reach as to December 2008. That is 5% more of what they attracted a year ago. While social networks started amongst the younger audience, today’s audiences are becoming broader and older. This shift has primarily been driven by Facebook, successfully opened opportunities of social networking to a much wider audience”.<br /><br />The Nielsen Report states that “Social Networking has been the global consumer phenomenon of 2008. Two-thirds of the world’s Internet population visit a social network or blogging site and the sector now accounts for almost 10% of all internet time. ‘Member Communities’ has overtaken personal Email to become the world’s fourth most popular online sector after search, portals and PC software applications”.<br /><br />According to Nielsen, “the story is consistent across the world, ‘Member Communities’ has taken a foothold in every major market from 50% of the online population in Switzerland and Germany to 80% in Brazil. Facebook has become the largest player on the global stage, dominant in many countries, yet localized offerings have won the day in many others. However, the growth in popularity of social networks – and the resultant broadening audience – is only half the story. The staggering increase in the amount of time people are spending on these sites is changing the way people spend their time online and has ramifications for how people behave, share and interact within their normal daily lives”.<br /><br />Although adults share some teen internet habits like connecting with friends, planning events, staying in touch, it seems we now differ form the teenagers by using social networking to meet new friends from across the country and across the world. The sixteen-and-a-half million adults ages 55 and older who are already engaged in social networking have helped AARP’s network attract 350,000 users who have already created 1,700 interest groups. Another site, designed for baby Boomers, is Eons.com which has 800,000 users.<br /><br />In my native Ireland, adults still use the “Pubs” to gather with friends and share group moments. Our bars serve the same purpose. As we grow up and become geographically mobile because of our jobs we are often living further and further away from our family and old friends. Social networking on the internet can help bridge that gap.<br /><br />Just a few days ago, I got another invitation to be a “friend” on Facebook. This time it was from an elementary-school classmate with whom I had completely lost contact since I was about 12 years old! The upside to social networking is the ability to reconnect with long lost friends and to stay in touch with the many people we meet along the way in our journey through life. In order to minimize the potential downside (sharing too much personal information) before you post, remember that whatever you write can be read by millions of people – most of whom are not your “friends”. Your career is as strong as your personal network; and these days, with people spending more and more time at work, your personal life may only be as vital as your professional network. I think it’s smart, most especially in a recession, to become fluent with social networks and to discover the power of relationship.Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-11349410009460906112008-10-02T15:15:00.005-04:002008-10-02T15:34:27.700-04:00Ireland Rolls the Dice on Financial BailoutIreland has launched a full-scale rescue of its financial system, issuing a state guarantee worth €400bn (£316bn) to cover the key liabilities of its biggest banks and mortgage lenders.<br /><br />The Irish government guaranteed all deposits and debts of the country's major banks, one day after the Irish stock market plummeted 13%, nearly twice the decline of the Dow Jones industrials according to the <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2008/09/after-congress.html">LA Times</a><br /><br />"We have to create confidence," Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said on <a href="http://www.rte.ie/">RTE Radio</a>, according to Bloomberg News. "We can't bail out a particular bank. That wouldn't be right. What we have decided to do is give a general guarantee that the banks can lend in security and safety."<br /><br />According to the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/01/ireland.creditcrunch">Guardian newspaper</a>, "desperation can sometimes engender inspiration. During Monday night, the Irish government was facing the potential collapse of the Republic's banking system. Shares in Anglo Irish Bank had lost half their value in a single session, with similar sharp falls in other publicly listed Irish banks. Real concerns about the stability of Ireland's banking system – prompting a signal from the government a week earlier that it would "intervene" in the event of a bank collapse (<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2008/0919/1221690003139.html">Irish Times</a>) – that had been percolating for months finally boiled over.<br /><br />The goal is to jumpstart international confidence in Irish banks, to help unfreeze interbank money markets and give potential lenders confidence based on the Irish government's guarantee.<br /><br />Domestic reactions to the bailout scheme were broadly positive. Although there were <a href="http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/state-bailout-far-from-being-the-commercial-deal-cowen-claims-it-is-1486487.html">warning voices</a> about the enormous risk potentially being taken on by the state – the €400bn commitment is more than twice Ireland's GDP and nearly 10 times its entire national debt – and critics on the left <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2008/1001/1222724598726.html">demanded</a> that the Irish taxpayer be compensated for the risk with an equity stake in the institutions.<br /><br />Other observers put the deal in its dramatic <a href="http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/brendan-keenan/a-stroke-of-genius-perhaps-but-dont-bank-on-it-just-yet-1486438.html">historical context</a>, comparing it to the Irish decisions – also born of desperation – to open up its economy, slash taxes and grab foreign investment, that led to the Celtic Tiger phenomenon of supercharged Irish economic growth in the 1990s through the early part of this decade.<br /><br />But for a government that seemed impotent and paralysed in the wake of the defeat of the Lisbon European reform treaty referendum in June, the radical action has proven to most Irish observers that their government – unlike most others in the western world – is willing to try whatever it takes to get through this crisis."Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-48889084857841422182008-09-20T17:09:00.003-04:002008-09-30T11:06:02.761-04:00Corporate Global Mindset<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.geocities.com/akottolli/developing_a_global_mindset.htm">Geocities.com</a> poses the following questions:<br />Why are some companies highly successful in spotting and exploiting global opportunities, while others mismanage them or miss them entirely? The answer could lie in the company’s mindset, a topical subject currently doing the rounds at numerous executive education seminars. The term corporate mindset refers to how the company sees the world and how this affects its actions. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica;">For companies operating on a global scale, developing a global corporate mindset presents a formidable managerial challenge. The corporate mindset determines to what extent management encourages and values cultural diversity, while simultaneously maintaining a certain degree of strategic cohesion. Developing a global corporate mindset and a group of global managers as its main flag bearers has become a key prerequisite for successfully competing and growing in worldwide markets.</span>Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-73350676617302016102008-09-20T17:06:00.002-04:002008-09-20T17:08:53.197-04:00Think Globally, Act Locally""Think globally but act locally" sounds nice", says an article in the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/04/AR2006080400566.html">Washington Post,</a> "but most people think and act locally, and short term to boot. This is why efforts to conserve resources and energy, reduce pollution, and decrease carbon dioxide emissions remain fragmentary and marginal. The scale and complexity of the problem are enormous. Most of the world's societies, including ours, resist acknowledging the problem and refuse to seriously tackle it."Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-64232343091525503622008-09-16T11:06:00.002-04:002008-09-16T11:09:27.096-04:00Future World class EconomiesFrom the archives of <a href="http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/25/23/93/index.php?ht=">Workforce.com</a>:<br /><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><p></p><blockquote><p>"The Philippines now rivals India for BPO investment and leads Southeast Asia in call center growth. Vietnam successfully competes against both China and India for software development centers and pharmaceutical facilities. Bangladesh is pulling light industry out of India and China, and Turkey is beating out Eastern Europe for auto assembly. </p> <p> The Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Turkey are part of the "N-11," the Next Eleven, a designation developed by Goldman Sachs in 2005 to identify a group of developing countries with the demographics and economic capability to become major economies and potential rivals to the "BRIC" nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China). In addition to the Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Turkey, the N-11 includes Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, South Korea, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan."</p></blockquote><p></p></span>Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-61808711024250732682008-09-15T09:52:00.003-04:002008-09-15T09:58:22.522-04:00Relocating to find a new job<span class="cb_style"><span class="ArticleText"><span id="lblContentBeforeAdNEW"><a href="http://msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn/careeradvice/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1584&SiteId=cbmsnty41584&sc_extcmp=JS_1584_today1&GT1=23000&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=a026f08ec23645e08abf1c43daf8f43f-274787336-RJ-4">From MSN Careers with Career Builder.com:</a><br /><br />In an ideal job market, you would find the job of your dreams right under your nose. You'd have a hefty paycheck, great benefits and flexibility, and you'd wake up every day loving the work you do.<br /><p>The reality is you'll probably spend several weeks -- even months -- scouring the Internet and chasing job leads just to find a few openings worth pursuing. Even after all of your efforts, the jobs you find may fall short of meeting all of the criteria to be the right opportunity for you.</p><p>People in such situations may never come across their dream job because they've limited themselves in the job market. They've narrowed their search to local job openings and have no idea that their dream job is actually in another city or state. </p><p>Many people, however, would be willing to pursue those opportunities if they were aware of them. According to a study from CareerBuilder.com and Apartments.com, conducted by Harris Interactive, 59 percent of employees say they'd be willing to relocate to another city for a new job and 44 percent say they'd be willing to relocate to another state, province or region for a new job. </p><p>"Depending on your career goals and where you live now, your best chance of finding work and achieving a rewarding career may be in another city or town," says <a href="http://msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn/careeradvice/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1584&SiteId=cbmsnty41584&sc_extcmp=JS_1584_today1&GT1=23000&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=a026f08ec23645e08abf1c43daf8f43f-274787336-RJ-4">Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin, co-authors of "Today's Hot Job Targets."</a> </p><p>They warn, however, that relocating for a job isn't the best option for everyone. In their book, they encourage people to consider five factors before making the decision to relocate. </p></span></span></span>Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1452387991508174999.post-42446317036471891172008-09-10T16:36:00.004-04:002008-09-11T18:28:36.471-04:00International Travel: Good for Children<a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/28/travel-kids-globetrotter-forbeslife-cx_rr_0828travel_slide.html">Rebecca Ruiz at Forbes.com</a> says: "Parents have been sending their children abroad for education and culture since at least the advent of the Grand Tour in the 15th century. At that time, young men from aristocratic families spent months traveling Europe with the aim of learning about music, classical history, languages and art, among other subjects.<p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Times have changed and now kids have countless demands on their time, from SAT-prep courses to playing the latest Wii game. But that doesn't mean parents should give up on turning their son or daughter into a world traveler. Even by taking one trip abroad each year, parents can instill in their children an appreciation for languages, food, history and cultural traditions.</p>Jack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.com0