Computer conundrum...When will the 'u' be standard in all so called  _ser friendly comp_ter systems?...scary how dependent we are on technology. 

Are you are more ‘choreful’ than cheerful this festive season? Ho, ho , ho seems more like go, go, go-with everyone rushing around to get everything done pre-Christmas..

Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Australia but I’m celebrating anyway because there is so much to be thankful for! How wonderful to live in a society where we have an amazing array of choices available each day; more than our ancestors ever dreamed possible. And, it’s likely that anyone reading this, no matter how they may perceive their own life at present, still has a lifestyle that millions in the world would envy. It’s easy to forget that some others don’t even have a choice of what they read. It’s also easy to take choice for granted when life doesn’t work out quite the way we’d planned....

Australia stops for Melbourne Cup race in 4 hours. Dad used to say that horsesense is something animals have to stop them betting on people!

Many people only place a bet once a year and it's a bit of fun getting dressed up in the fashion stakes. But I feel for chronic problem gamblers who can't afford to lose money.

Local cafe sign reads: Short blacks-long blacks-All Blacks! Gotta love it and here's to a New Zealand win in World Cup Rugby. It's a nation passionate about the sport, had to juggle venues after the tragic Christchurch earthquake and a boost to morale would be welcomed by all...

Will we ever forget where we were 9/11? I was at the World Airline Entertainment Conference in Brisbane, addressing 1600 delegates. Topic: We Can’t Always Control Change-only our attitude towards it.

We may have been working on a project or working out in the gym; taking stock or taking the children to school; hanging out the laundry or hanging out with friends. And, we wondered while doing these once normal things-if our lives would ever be normal again-at least the ‘normal’ we thought we knew? Whatever we were doing and wherever we were doing it, most of the world’s population came to a stunned, disbelieving standstill when passenger jets became terrorist weapons and two towering New York skyscrapers crumbled before our eyes. I’d been to the top of those towers and could barely comprehend that thousands of people, going about their daily lives, died- as millions of us watched helplessly.

Congratulations to Cadel Evans, the first Australian to win the Tour de France. I was there for part of the tour three years ago but confess it was more a Tour de Patisseries for me. But, with bicycles now outselling cars in Australia, it seemed timely to share a few thoughts on cycling that can be applied to the world of work, even if you haven’t been on a bike since you were a child:

I'm safely back from beyond Everest Base Camp. All senses are heightened at an altitude exceeding 5500 metres so maybe I’ll come to mine and never go camping again; as it seems I forgot that my idea of sleeping under the stars-is the 5 stars! The things one does for new material and a few fab photos-but there was no other accommodation to view this amazing landscape.

Haven't posted for a while as was extremely busy with speaking engagements and the new book-and also packing my backpack & getting fit to climb to Everest Base Camp for my birthday next week-so it's been more like Never Rest than Everest! Currently at Bangkok airport awaiting flight to Kathmandu in 20 minutes so will be 'off the air' while 'Into Thin Air.' It seems strange not to have any phone or emails for nearly 3 weeks but it's business as usual in Sydney as my phone, diary & emails are all being handled by good friends who understand the nature of the speaking business. Am sure I'll get lots of new material but in the meantime, may all your metaphorical mountains become molehills-as you tackle every challenge the same way I'll be trekking-one step at a time...

Just back from the airport where I was excited to see my new book in the stores-PaperClips Don't Grow on Trees-endorsed by Dr Edward DeBono-will tell you more later but here's a sneak preview of a few sample chapters...  

I'm not one to offer political comment but only hope that politicians of all persuasions stop spouting popular platitudes about climate change-and realise the importance of getting the balance right between our natural and economic environments…

Happy New Financial Year ...I've just returned from speaking in the UK & learned I wasn’t receiving some emails-which isn’t a good thing for a speaker on customer service-but all fixed now.

We know that it costs 5 times more to obtain a new customer than to retain an existing one and that a 5% increase in customer loyalty can mean up to an 85% increase in profits.