Before we get on to business I must share with you
the most amazing adventure that Chris, my wife, and I
have just had. We sailed from the Cook
Islands in the Pacific to Samoa in the tall ship Soren
Larsen. What an experience!
- Flying along ahead of the trade winds with a 10 m
whale surfing alongside you.
- Visiting what has to be the most beautiful place in
the
world -- Aitutaki lagoon with vibrant turquoise and
blue seas and painfully white sand.
- Coming on watch in the middle of the night to a sky
packed full of stars, and the ship flying along in 4 m
swells with most of its 12 sails set - so exciting.
- Visiting Palmerston Island -- where all 60
inhabitants
are descended from one man!
- The very best snorkelling ever on the remote island
of
Suwarrow - a marine nature reserve visited by very few.
- Attending the fabulous opening ceremony of the
South
Pacific Games in Samoa -- the biggest event in their
history.
- Something we never thought we would do --
climbing
the rigging of the ship and going out on the yard arm
to set the sails.
That's just some of the memories we have from the
adventure to end them all. I must also take this
opportunity to praise the permanent crew -- from
Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Denmark and the UK -
they inspired confidence from the very first moment we
came on board.
Back to business.
I've had the pleasure recently of
working with the largest firm of architects in Asia - DP
Architects and their inspirational top team and my first
workshop with Media Corp - the BBC of Singapore
who run TV, radio, print media and newspapers. I'm
very much looking forward to my next session with him
in October.
I must congratulate H&H Group plc who are
announcing a super set of results for the year -- and
very kindly put it down to the implementation of many
of the "helicopter" initiatives we have been working on
together.
I am finding increasingly around the world that
strategic partnerships between companies are finding
favour -- often with great success. Some people do
seem to question, however, whether it's for them or
just the big boys -- so I've written a few words below
which I hope you'll find interesting.
Finally you will see below that I decided to
introduce "Helicopter" awards for both outstanding
service and equally for lousy service and I would very
much welcome nominations in both categories to add
to the list. Explanations of why they're being
recommended should be put on my blog
to back up the
listing.
I hope you enjoy this newsletter and find it valuable.
PS.Following the 'high' of our tall ship adventure I think we lost our heads and skydived at Lake Taupo New Zealand - a totally frightening experience!
