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There's nothing like a good clear out

1/7/2014

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So after over twenty years in our house we are on the move.  It took ages to find a buyer but a few weeks ago we struck a deal and we're on our way in August (fingers crossed).

"It's fine, we'll go into rented for a bit whilst we find somewhere, it'll be straightforward enough".  She said. Yeah right. We had a real family day yesterday packing up the kitchen, not all of it as we'll need some stuff until we go ...... six full - big packing cases later! The family were frazzled and tired (well I was OK as I'd been in meetings all day away) and there was a car load for the charity shop and a 'layer of stuff' in the bottom of the skip. What's it going to be like when we get to the loft!?

It got me thinking, what it would be like if businesses did this on a regular basis and maybe countries?

When I worked at ASDA, Archie Norman arranged a 'clear out day' and everyone had to clear their office cupboards, files, desks and what not.  All 2000 people in the dream factory had to get involved. We had a line of skips right across the car park and got rid of tons and tons (literally) of 'crap'. It was hard work but amazing and created a real buzz with all the teams around HQ.  It also made us a lot more efficient. For a while at least.

So, what about UK plc?  We have this confounded coalition, which sounded cool but hasn't been that good overall.  They've reneged on various promises and spent too much time dealing with the inevitable squabbles.  There's an election next year, so why don't we encourage the politicians to throw out their crap, become more efficient (for a while at least) and maybe then they'll be worth voting for?

Everyone get involved. Chuck out your crap ................... it's great!


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Its Government Jim, but not as we know it.

17/7/2010

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Well, it’s a couple of months old now.  This odd Coalition of the hard edged Tory's and the middle way Liberal Democrats.  It will never happen, I thought, whilst the election aftermath was rolling on and the ‘will they wont they’ 24-hour rolling media commentary spewed out.  It will never last, I thought as it was set up with a fanfare and rose tinted camera lenses. But is has.  It looks pretty good actually.  Of course there will be horrible cracks appear at some point and inevitably all good things come to an end as this Coalition surely will, but for now, to my absolute surprise its working quite well.  My friends have often heard me quote WC Fields “it doesn’t matter who you vote for, the Government always gets in”, a cynical but lets be honest – accurate view.  Lets look at what we’ve had.  John Major, the grey man – couldn’t do anything and didn’t – what’s the point of a do nothing Government? Tony Blair, started out well – fresh, clear minded and ready to make changes but soon went off the rails with Iraq and internecine fighting with Uncle Gordon.  And then came Uncle Gordon himself, well he made it – got the job and lets be honest …….. messed up big time.  So what’s the difference with David (Dave) and Nick (Nick)?  Long term, probably not a lot because all Governments are on a conveyor belt with a long drop at the end – some long belts, some shorter.  The short-term difference for the Coalition Government is that all the money has gone on bailing out the banks and propping up the economy, which means that Government can’t do nothing and so any administration has to grasp the nettle.  I admire David Cameron and Nick Clegg for setting up the Coalition so well.  They seem to have taken the view; ‘well we have to get married so we might as well have a go at making it work’.  Nice one guys, good skills.  One point, which to me looks like a really big issue, no an absolutely massive issue is that they have got going on the cuts earlier and deeper than anyone thought they would.  If they keep that up the UK public sector will be changed beyond recognition.  For ever.

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    Andy Brown
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