donderdag 8 juli 2010
New Technology
We just heard that we will have the Microsoft Office Communicator (OCS) rolled-out as a pilot within the Netherlands. Great news for people travelling up-and-down branch-offices many times (like me lately ... ;-)) because it will allow us to phone, e-mail, chat, share documents and programs and even video conference behind our desk ... Immediately volunteered for the first pilot and awaiting the benefits for the day-to-day routine. Good news on a steamy day !
woensdag 16 juni 2010
Uit de oude doos ...
Nunc aut Nunquam
Altijd aardig zo'n tranentrekkend nummer, doet me meteen weer terugdenken aan de binnenkomst onder de tranenpoort en de baretuitreiking op de appèlplaats. Snik, snuf, ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH4-tOqLH94&feature=related
Altijd aardig zo'n tranentrekkend nummer, doet me meteen weer terugdenken aan de binnenkomst onder de tranenpoort en de baretuitreiking op de appèlplaats. Snik, snuf, ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH4-tOqLH94&feature=related
maandag 3 mei 2010
USA Experience
Flight to Boston, USA
Departure last week, flying from Amsterdam via Reykjavik, to Boston and where the rest of Europe was opening finally their airspaces, Iceland then suddenly closed all air traffic to and from Reykjavik. Gladly they moved their operations for a week to Glasgow so I was able to fly into Boston with only a 6 hours delay ;-(((
A week at NH University
Starting Monday, we followed classes, worked our Cases and presented our findings. Also visiting 2 NH-based companies was interesting to do. Although procurement sample cases were not that innovative as maybe expected, it was very nice to see the US approach to similar problems. Concluding the week last Friday, we flew back via Reykjavik, this time without delays.
Results and effects
Despite the amounts and choices in food, I managed to keep my weight, possibly also because of the numerous sporting moments in the university gym. Side effect of staying active is that the jet-lag hardly hit me. I also got many ideas when discussing the various cases to include in my current projects at work. A fruitful and fun week therefore !
Departure last week, flying from Amsterdam via Reykjavik, to Boston and where the rest of Europe was opening finally their airspaces, Iceland then suddenly closed all air traffic to and from Reykjavik. Gladly they moved their operations for a week to Glasgow so I was able to fly into Boston with only a 6 hours delay ;-(((
A week at NH University
Starting Monday, we followed classes, worked our Cases and presented our findings. Also visiting 2 NH-based companies was interesting to do. Although procurement sample cases were not that innovative as maybe expected, it was very nice to see the US approach to similar problems. Concluding the week last Friday, we flew back via Reykjavik, this time without delays.
Results and effects
Despite the amounts and choices in food, I managed to keep my weight, possibly also because of the numerous sporting moments in the university gym. Side effect of staying active is that the jet-lag hardly hit me. I also got many ideas when discussing the various cases to include in my current projects at work. A fruitful and fun week therefore !
donderdag 15 april 2010
MBA 2 Minute Video
The 2 minute Video update for the MBA is live !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MdhOiy7Aws
Regards,
Marco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MdhOiy7Aws
Regards,
Marco
maandag 5 april 2010
Whrroaaarrrr and More good news
Whroaarrrr
It was indeed a battery issue. New battery (after 4 years it was getting too low on power) in the machine and it came alive !!! What a lovely sound again, and what a power such a machine, I indeed had to try it immediately. Had to refrain myself from fully opening the throttle to the max because the machine needs to warm after a long and cold winter. Fun again !
More good news - "Doing good every day"
Doing right so once and a while really helps (me and the others). Just like the ad on TV where people are surprised to see someone be or do something nice without a reason, it is really so in reality. Below just some examples of everyday's "Goodies".
22 March: Complimenting the woman in front of me in the Thalys with her beautiful curly hair gave her an even more beautiful smile and blush
24 March: Going back upstairs when my oldest boy was just getting asleep to just tell him I love him so deerly, gave me a smile and him a sparkle in his eyes (and I got another kiss)
25 March: Asking the woman in the queue at the groceryshop if she had something to celibrate because she carried a blue tax-form and had a bottle of wine to pay at the the cash-register, turned into a short and nice conversation with a complete stranger
26 March: Asking my boys to check their double stickers of socker-players for # 191 to help a colleague complete the album of her nephew and sending it by mail to her address generated a thankful SMS
30 March: Going back to the office unexpectedly (on my day off) to help a colleague out who was struggling with a document with a deadline
Just some examples of simple "Goodies" to make it a better place ...
Thanks for reading again and greetings from me, Marco
It was indeed a battery issue. New battery (after 4 years it was getting too low on power) in the machine and it came alive !!! What a lovely sound again, and what a power such a machine, I indeed had to try it immediately. Had to refrain myself from fully opening the throttle to the max because the machine needs to warm after a long and cold winter. Fun again !
More good news - "Doing good every day"
Doing right so once and a while really helps (me and the others). Just like the ad on TV where people are surprised to see someone be or do something nice without a reason, it is really so in reality. Below just some examples of everyday's "Goodies".
22 March: Complimenting the woman in front of me in the Thalys with her beautiful curly hair gave her an even more beautiful smile and blush
24 March: Going back upstairs when my oldest boy was just getting asleep to just tell him I love him so deerly, gave me a smile and him a sparkle in his eyes (and I got another kiss)
25 March: Asking the woman in the queue at the groceryshop if she had something to celibrate because she carried a blue tax-form and had a bottle of wine to pay at the the cash-register, turned into a short and nice conversation with a complete stranger
26 March: Asking my boys to check their double stickers of socker-players for # 191 to help a colleague complete the album of her nephew and sending it by mail to her address generated a thankful SMS
30 March: Going back to the office unexpectedly (on my day off) to help a colleague out who was struggling with a document with a deadline
Just some examples of simple "Goodies" to make it a better place ...
Thanks for reading again and greetings from me, Marco
zondag 21 maart 2010
Bike prep's and disappointment
Finally the bike out of the garage
After a long cold and wet winter, this weekend finally nice weather and so it was time to clean out the garage and see whether the bike would still go. After two hours, the garage was clean and ready for summer (all sleds and skies moved out the way) and I moved out my bike to rev the engine again. Finally I would hear the roar and feel the power again of the 1100cc Honda Shadow I own with a lot of shiny chrome.
Disappointing sounds
Then, what happened ? No power, no roar, no battery, nothing, ... all dead. F... Moved up the car with the battery charger cables and had good hopes for a start-up with some help but again, even with the battery of the car helping out, the engine would not come alive, F... again. Having spent another hour trying to get it going, even with running in 2nd gear and jump-starting it, it didn't work and I gave up.
Hope for tomorrow
Neighbour had a new battery charger and that one is now plugged into the power to help the battery come alive. I hope tomorrow it will work because otherwise I will have to ask the service people from the garage. Let's pray ... and I'll let you know the outcome ...
Regards,
Marco
After a long cold and wet winter, this weekend finally nice weather and so it was time to clean out the garage and see whether the bike would still go. After two hours, the garage was clean and ready for summer (all sleds and skies moved out the way) and I moved out my bike to rev the engine again. Finally I would hear the roar and feel the power again of the 1100cc Honda Shadow I own with a lot of shiny chrome.
Disappointing sounds
Then, what happened ? No power, no roar, no battery, nothing, ... all dead. F... Moved up the car with the battery charger cables and had good hopes for a start-up with some help but again, even with the battery of the car helping out, the engine would not come alive, F... again. Having spent another hour trying to get it going, even with running in 2nd gear and jump-starting it, it didn't work and I gave up.
Hope for tomorrow
Neighbour had a new battery charger and that one is now plugged into the power to help the battery come alive. I hope tomorrow it will work because otherwise I will have to ask the service people from the garage. Let's pray ... and I'll let you know the outcome ...
Regards,
Marco
woensdag 17 maart 2010
Cultural Changes
Always curious about working with other cultures I have also experienced the pitfalls as being Dutch ;-) Being open and direct is regarded a value here in our small country and we have an opinion on each and everyone. The same approach is working contra-productive with our Belgian colleagues. More reserved, not speaking about their private lives and awaiting the decision of the manager before acting is rather different than we are used to work. Even with my experience of the past 20 years in working with different nationalities, I all the more prefer exploring new persons and trying to contact them. Meanwhile I learned that although I am opening up towards someone, I may not automatically expect someone else to act alike. That's the difference, still remain yourself but do not try to change the other.
Over time, I have learned as well that most of the times, it's better to give first and hope for something to receive later, not expect but hope. If something doesn't come back, you can again decide yourself if you wish to give more or leave it as it is. Clearly stating what you expect from the other is not something you do in e.g. Belgium or France but to my kids I sometimes have to. However, even there I try to change between "Dutch" and other cultures, sometimes direct and clear, sometimes rather "vague" and just see what happens. Sometimes not what you expected but just as funny to see how a kids brain works.
Why shouldn't I do such changing of communicating with my colleagues as well, makes it more varied and leaves room for unexpected surprises. It's a good wish or intent to do so, now I just have to act accordingly --> which requires self-discipline and flexibility. I hope I can meet my own expectations, let's see in a couple of weeks when I read this back.
Regards and good luck Marco
Over time, I have learned as well that most of the times, it's better to give first and hope for something to receive later, not expect but hope. If something doesn't come back, you can again decide yourself if you wish to give more or leave it as it is. Clearly stating what you expect from the other is not something you do in e.g. Belgium or France but to my kids I sometimes have to. However, even there I try to change between "Dutch" and other cultures, sometimes direct and clear, sometimes rather "vague" and just see what happens. Sometimes not what you expected but just as funny to see how a kids brain works.
Why shouldn't I do such changing of communicating with my colleagues as well, makes it more varied and leaves room for unexpected surprises. It's a good wish or intent to do so, now I just have to act accordingly --> which requires self-discipline and flexibility. I hope I can meet my own expectations, let's see in a couple of weeks when I read this back.
Regards and good luck Marco
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