Automatic for the People
You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video Automatic for the People is the name of an album by one of my favourite groups, REM. Critics said they “created an album that was musically subdued and dealt with mortality”. Indeed. It also describes the way most people walk through life: acting without conscious control, mechanical, thoughtless. ...
Read MoreCustomer Experience Counts (Now, More Than Ever!)
It’s not often that airports lead the way in showcasing a commitment to excellence in customer service. I mean, come on, we’ve all been there – it’s as if any sign of a personality has been surgically removed. You have to remortgage your house to buy a sandwich, and then realign your taste buds in order to enjoy eating it. It seems that a certain English airport is...
Read MoreThe E-Factor
The E Factor: Entrepreneurial Competencies for Person and Business Success David Gibson (Queen’s University, Belfast) It is not often that a book on entrepreneurship yanks my chain. Usually such books are either of the motivational variety – nowadays penned by some TV ‘personality’ – or the innocuous “how to start a business” kind. Both have their place, I suppose. The first...
Read MoreA Positively Brilliant Workshop
On Saturday 6th December I delivered a 1-day workshop at Queen’s University called The Psychology of Happiness: How to Grow Your Happy Skills. Its purpose was to introduce the students to the new positive psychology movement, and to the thoughts of Martin Seligman and Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in particular. Those who read the blog will know that I’ve reviewed Seligman’s...
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