Monday, 3 September 2018

#GE2022: SNP, Cybernats & #IndyRef2 Decimated... Or "Yes We Can"?

NB Not the shortest post and not had much time to edit, but any forward thinking and/or SNP MPs/MSPs fans etc capable of listening may get some value out of the ramblings.

Will the SNP, Cybernats and #IndyRef be buried for a another generation by the time that GE2022 comes round? Or will it be some kind of Obama "Yes We can" campaign message?

I don't agree with politicans often but President Sturgeon is absolutely right in that 

"How they handle Alex Salmond and his crowd funder will define who the SNP is as a party"

But unlike the SNP who will strategise and stratagise and then ignore their supporters, how they handle Alex Salmond and his crowdfunder in the last week and the next week or so... will define the trajectory of their party.

The Data Doesn't Lie
Gideon Mack, a book that’s recommended reading by John Swinney’s Scottish Education and Advanced Higher English seems like a good place to start with this post and the Ministers observations with his charitable fund raising efforts – on the irony given Mr Salmonds crod funder – and how

“When a project becomes successful everyone wants to be part of it"

Based on this sentiment and the lack of Scottish Celebrity endorsements who have previously been public in their support for an independent Scotland… but who have been a lot quieter more recently, what does this say about the future prospects of The SNP? It’s not good I’m afraid.

Nor is looking at the data with the attempt to bring back the #IndyRef #VoteYes humour with the #SNPCivilWar as there were two key differences.

1) The Network Effects were not there to bring the numbers needed
2) The Feedback Loops were not there... there was a bit of sinister snark in the humour.

The SNP is boasting about having 125,000 members, but hang on a minute!

Didn't they have 100,000 members after the 2014 IndyRef?
An extra 25,000 members in 4 years?

This group was mobilised in 2015 for sure (Actually they were not... the Network Effects and Feedback Loops were)... But let's say for arguments sake it was their canvassing, where where they in 2017 for Mr Salmond and the rest of #Team56?

Could the polls and votes head south for the SNP? As far south as poor old Gideon Mack fell when rescuing Jasper?

When writing posts like this, unfortunately, it’s with the realization that the organization responsible for Scale Up Scotland has not been very successful with scaling themselves and don't listen until after the fact.

It has become a massively arrogant organization that appears incapable of listening to people.

Indeed, in my experience, it actively goes out of its way NOT to listen to people.

A Party Like it Was in 1997
I wonder if I were able to go back in time to the only time I ever met President Sturgeon to say:

“You may only have won 6 seats tonight – In 1997 when I canvassed for Jim Byrne and attended the count – but in 17 years time you’ll have cult Celebrity status after a failed #IndyRef attempt… but a year later will have 56 seats at Westminster in the 2015 General Election. But Alex Salmond will lose his seat in the 2017 General Election and resign in 2018 amid sexual harassment allegations but he’ll have a crowdfunder for £100,000 after 4 days… because of the massive Cybernat problem on social media”

Besides questions like
“What’s social media? What's crowdfunding?”… and/or
“But General Elections only take place every 4 years” 
(Yeah I know! Even the public are saying 'Not another one!' Want to hear about all the referendums too? No? That makes two of us, because neither do we in the future!)

How believable do you think that would have sounded? Well here’s one for you…

By 2022 not only will IndyRef2 be dead but The SNP *Just Might* be back to the same levels of representation as 1997.

Never! No Way! Says any SNP MPs reading this (and God only knows what awaits someone who suggests such blasphemy on Scotland's "Chosen Ones" on social media as the Cybernat trolls catch wind of the suggestion).

However! Before the hounds of IndyRef/SNP/Guardians of the Saltire are unleashed - by whoever it is that does the unleashing! - Please allow me to pose this little question:

How many people can you name who’s insights have been accurate for EVERY ELECTION in Scotland since those glory days of the SNPs celebrity status in 2014/15?

Well, whether the rationale was sound or not... I've nailed every single one! Yes! All of them!

Even when all the experts and pundits said "The polls can't be right.. can they?" Go check my posts around the time of the elections.

MPs and MSPs won’t look at the issue of call centre jobs going and the need to reskill for people who will lose their jobs in that sector… but I bet the 1997 result and my record with predicting this stuff got them thinking! 

I’ve already sent an email in April/May with the subject line of “How MSPs can Keep their Jobs,” and for anyone at the fancy away day marvelling at their fancy mural with

"Connecting People and listening to people is important" 

That same email thread suggests that MSPs lead the way with helping schools to connect too... the response? Crickets! Nothing. Nada! Naught!

Perhaps you need to be a member of the yellow shiny badge club to be in their Scotland... But I was once and got the same reply, so maybe you need to be one #Team56?

"Yes We Can" IndyRef, Trump and Podemos
#IndyRef and politics is a good way to demonstrate how and why the future life of companies may well go from 75 years in days gone by to 15 years at the moment and could reduce further to 5 years on the current trajectory.

I’ve mentioned the book New Power quite a bit and it’s not just the plebs that will be disrupted by the pace of change. 

As, Chris vander Kuyl, one of the SNP’s darlings who DO get listened to highlights… the pace of change will never be this slow again.

Politics remains dominated by "Old Power" where power is sought and held... but like, call centres, this may soon disappear, leaving the old guard behind.

Politics and "The People" are in this same period of transition - SNP you can't unleash movements like #IndyRef and then only use it for your buddies to get a chusy job - The eventual winners, especially in Scotland because of #Indyref - may well be "New Power" where power is like a current.

Old Vs New Power is Labours problem too. Corbyn is "New Power" with his fans and will revolt if MPs get rid of him... His MPs are "Old Power" (Some, Bailrites, being further right that the Conservatives) have tried everything and they can't do it... it's a mis-match. It will be interesting to see who wins that tussle!

Politicians not only would have learned from Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, but the tech companies liked Obama and between them, they figured a few things out re political campaigning and social media.

#IndyRef  was one of the first campaigns in the UK where Social Media played a big role – all MP/MSPs were on social media and #IndyRef was being talked about everywhere online and offline and #VoteYes/#NoThanks being national water coolers.

I’ve written so much about the “Network Effects” and “Feedback Loops” this created for the SNP from 2014-2017 that you can find that elsewhere, but they made SNP Domination Inevitable for 2015.

We look to 2016/7 for the next but it’s not the UK that we look to it’s the US and to what extent did Trump learn from what Obama did with the tech companies, #IndyRef and shifting campaign spend from traditional spend to online?

The Podemos party in Spain went from unknown to the opposition within 2 years... so could a new party enter politics and, if as participatory as they are… be the 2nd largest party in Scotland/UK, I think they *Just Might* come close!

No? Disagree? Well the SNP went from #Indyref #VoteYes super stardom to... Hmm I'm not too sure what they are today in 4 years.

Proponents of the SNP may well say - a lot of hustle and good work went into getting them to that position and that is the very point of this post.

It takes a lot of hustle behind the scenes for a long time to build communities... but there is no training for this here, but successful tech companies all have community managers.

Thatcher, Blair, Cybernats… and the Future of The SNP?
Take a look at social media and the kind of rhetoric people are using… from any of the parties

As I highlighted to two of the three MPs that I have any time for at all… take a walk through Glasgow at rush hour… people are miserable!

I’m rereading Ayn Rand’s “We the Living” and it’s extremely difficult not to apply Rands 1930s Russia to Glasgow today, based on what I see and my experiences

"If they ask you, in America - Tell them that Russia is a huge cemetery and that we are all dying slowly"

Disagree? Well how about 59 of the 100 most deprived areas in the UK are in Glasgow??!!

Now it’s 100% true that Thatcher did a real job on the working classes and on Scotland… almost every new industry since the 1950s has its base in the South East of England.

And let’s not even go there with the Miners Strike and/or the impact that this had on Glasgow and the “Factory of the Empire”

Then add in a dose of “Things can only get better” with Tony Blair and his Iraq War and Gordon Brown’s ‘Sorry there’s no money’ memo to the Treasury for the incoming Government.

Whether it’s Thatcher, Blair, Brown… Every MSP/MP/Party has a valid reason to say 

“My predecessor has handed me a bum deal.” 

But that's why you're paid the big bucks (And they are big in this economy) bozo!

Whether IndyRef, The SNP, Brexit people are looking:

1)  To be heard and
 2) For things to go back to when they had more money, when their life was better*

*As people offer with criticisms of Putnam’s “Bowling Alone” were these communities better for everyone? 

Did people from ethnic minorities have a ‘sense of belonging’ in the bowling clubs, church committees and PTAs etc of the 1950s?

A recent article that highlights how much worse 30 years olds today have it so much harder than 30 year olds in the 1990s… but some people, like women, were better off.

Regardless, the elite old school boys sticking together and bailing the banks out + the innovation from tech companies, means that those days ain’t coming back… and Holyrood and Westminster are not going to listen, at least not in the way that people feel they should be heard in these days of Facebook, Twitter etc etc.

What will change this? The sad news is… the changes could already be here.

The reason I WAS (Please note the past tense) supportive of #IndyRef and the SNP?

1) The cultural conditions – for a 3 weeks period (7th-22nd Sept2014) were special
Imagine if Saint Salmond said the day after IndyRef in his ‘One Scotland’ speech we’re either

    i) Going to donate £1 from our 100,000 SNP member base to good causes, or more likely to be the case

    ii) We’ve set up a crowdfunder and are encouraging out members to continue to give like they have done with the food banks at George Square etc £1 for a One Scotland good cause campaign

2) As highlighted above they are the only party who are new enough to remember what it’s like to be the underdog and have very few seats… Until the whole sexual harassment scandal and news that the completely non-existent split and Sturgeon Vs Salmond who do not have different support bases of Old Vs Newer members.

What might one potential outcome of this non-existent different support base be? 

Well if Alex Salmond can’t rejoin the party for two years and/or is found guilty… is such an egomaniac going to slip quietly out the political scene?

An egomaniac with a passion for independence with 4,000 people contributing £100,000?

Could the crowd funder have been a test to see if public support was with him?

Did he wonder "Could I follow Trumps example and 'grab people by the pussy' have the admission on tape and still get elected... Is my support base strong enough for that? Let's crowd fund it to find out"

Could an Alex Salmond Scottish Independence Party 2.0 grow as quickly as Podemos and blame others on the 2014 failed #IndyRef attempt?

The Cameron, Boris, Gove buddies have done a good job of that one... and Boris is still there, doing and saying what he likes.       

A Fair & Just Society Vs ForFairness
So people bought into all the “Hope over fear” and “A fair and Just Society” but a society where the majority of the UKs deprived areas are in one Scottish city and the architect of the SNP’s idea of #ForFairness is… wait for it… Are you ready for this... A crowdfunder for his legal fees... against a sexual harassment case?

Well let me tell you this much all the

“We have the biggest #IndyRef march we’ve ever had!”

Tweets in the world ain’t gonna cut the mustered to see a repeat of #GE2015 for the SNP in 2022 or to get another 5% agreeing with the original #The45... if they still feel the same (And they don't!)

Never in a month of Sundays... More hustle than that will be needed to rebuild the trust that's been lost!!

Voters Can (Sometimes) Have Long Memories
I have and will NEVER vote Conservative!

The reason? Because Thatcher did to my young adult years what Blair and Cameron did to my kids young adult years… they fucked it right up!

Watching my parents struggle to make ends meet as their mortgage grew… Teachers industrial action meant they refused to do unpaid extra-curricular activities and, as many will know, the list is endless.

But between now and #GE2022 All may look hunky dory and the Independence movements' equivalent of Trumps “Deplorables” AKA the ‘Cybernats’ will continue to argue with everyone and anyone… 

Unionist Bastards (Tories), Red Tories (Labour), Unionist, Corrupt and Conspiring MSM (Because The National is so objective… News flash folks: ALL the papers lose money… ALL the papers are backed by political interests)

But, just like the shock of GE2017, including when Alex lost his seat… The SNP (And IndyRef2) may well find itself decimated.

The reason? They promised hope… but delivered none #ForFairness.

Almost 4 years on from his celebrity cult status in the run up to Indyref Alex Salmond idea of “A Fair and Just Society” under the banner of the SNPs version of the Saltire meant that 'fairness' means something different to many of us, if I knew fairness to an MP = #Team56 and a £100,000 crowdfunder I'd be Erm #NoThanks!!

Don’t blame me. I voted Yes… and I told you every step of the way how I was feeling as a voter, I also highlighted where the dangers were and how to avoid them.

SNPCivilWar
So hope The SNP MPs and supporters had fun laughing off the Civil War that never came… did you spot it though?

1)  The numbers were not there. Sept 2014 there were enough people talking about it online and that facilitated action offline… you don’t got the numbers no more for what happened in 2014 to happen again – for Holyrood or Westminster never mind #IndyRef2

2) The Civil War wasn’t Sturgeon Vs Salmond MPs… It was the silence of SNP MPs about Salmond Vs the SNP supporters who - at the moment at least - even the SNP can no longer influence in any way… even if they were brave enough to Tweet out 

“Hey that’s not how we roll round about here” 

I would not be surprised if they got the same kind of abuse everyone else did.

But the fact that the SNPs FE Minister lost her post because of something that they wrote in a blog years ago... Demonstrates precisely how much this party values it's support base beyond them keeping #Team56 in their own jobs with their volunteering as campaigners and #Cybernat duties.

Why is no one saying "Hey don't post that, it could affect your #ScotlandCan #Godo job prospects?" ...The data don't lie. That's how much the SNP - and other parties - care about their support base. Tech companies should do more about abuse? WTF!!

These Trolls, along with Salmond’s actions (The crowdfunder), the realization that after 11 years in Government and no real change can, has already (as we’ve seen with GE2017 Vs GE2015), and will see people return to their old voting habits, AS I SAID THEY WOULD IN 2015!!

So the rise and fall of The SNP support from when the Scottish Parliament opened to 2022, just over 20 years?

Cybernat/ Deplorables Or “Yes We Can”  
Is this the only outcome? Given that May and Corbyn face exactly the same issues for exactly the same reasons? People want real change and real leadership as well as the ability to participate.

If shouting for this party over that one... with none of the elected representatives taking part - whether to temper their supporters or join the conversation - then that's what these poor JAMs (otherwise known as "The People" who - Sturgeon, Davidson, May and many others know ever so well) will do.

Is there more of a "Yes We Can" that could promise to actually deliver what Obama's campaign said we could with other participating? Sure there is! 

This weekend when #SNPCivilWar was kinda trending, just like the weekend of Sept 2014, we had SNP/Independence supporters who were also tiring of the angry cybernat rhetoric... and they were saying so to their fellow supporters.

But the SNP and their MPs said nothing... just broadcast Tweets or chatting amongst themselves - Westminster online via Twitter.

Tribal Leadership, Hug Your Haters, Zombie Loyalists and New Power all books that I've recommended to the few MPs who have engaged with me in the past.

The good news for the SNP is that Labour and the Conservatives have clearly done nothing to be ready to take advantage of any SNP/IndyRef #NewPower storms when they come round? Politicans answer to this appear to be get their cheque books out to pay Cambridge Analytics?

But Facebooks latest Beta details where it’s at... and a lot can be learnt from Podemos, what people are looking for is not only for their voice, concerns and struggles to be heard… but to offer suggestions that are part of the solution.

I have solutions that I am 100% sure are would work in Education. The response you get from SNP MPs? 

Join the party… why would I affiliate myself with an organization and swear my undying loyalty when, I don’t agree with everything you do or say (After all this is the ‘political classes we’re talking about), and when there was only a spark of genius for a three week period 4 years ago – which was nothing more than a happy accident that delivered GE2015.

This organisations support base on social media also appears to be a good representation of how smug, arrogant and as uncaring the press make the SNP out to be (NB with the exception of few people I’ve engaged with).

I said to the Yes campaign Manager on the weekend of Sept 2014 what was needed… I was right and I was ignored.

President Sturgeon says “This will decide who we are as a party and as a country”

I’m glad she knows who Scotland is because I have not got a clue who Scotland is… I sure don’t feel all that “Scottish” anymore... and I def don't have any sense of belonging in Sturgeon’s Scotland.

As for deciding who the SNP is as a party, she is absolutely right, there is the chance to do what should have been done on 21/22nd Sept 2014… to reset the culture and say 

“This is what a Cybernat is: We put the #VoteYes banter to good use to have fun… to win over others with good humour, good deeds and good arguments”

In 2015 I spoke to Ian Blackford and told him to have all the good news stories curated on Declara and have his activists discuss the articles in their private team space… so they were ready for the world of 140 character politics AKA EXACTLY in line with what Facebooks latest Edu Beta is today (Could have been 4 years ahead of the curve mate!)

Instead we had a brief convo and email exchange but no real follow up or action.

Your loss Right Honorable "Scotland's Voice Will Not Be Ignored" when-I'm-at-Westminster-but-not-with-a-Scottish-pleb Mr Blackford

I know how these things would have played out over the last week and would have helped to put the “Network Effects” and “Feedback Loops” – and I can add helping with the #NewPower storm – that was Alex Salmond his sexual harassment allegations,  resignation, crowd fund, #SNPCivilWar and cybernats.

Once again, and not for the first time… It’s a shame that the SNP have not put more resources into Digital Citizenship or Community Management training.

I guess Chris vander Kuyl was right in his 2015 Scottish Learning Festival “Education lacks leadership,” it does under the SNP.

As for his Scotland lacks talent bull shit… I guess he was actually correct with that one, I just must have missed the last part, perhaps he said “Scotland lacks talent in terms of politics.”

I hope he has more success getting through to the SNP when it comes to making Scotland the most entrepreneurial country in the world… he’ll have his work cut out with such high levels of deprivation. 

The Five Sages of Decline 
Two days after GE2015 I spotted it. I spotted it because I noticed it in an organization that I continued to work at for longer than I should have.

Today when I spot it I move on… Immediately!

If my observations are correct and the SNP do lose a lot of ground in 2022 how insightful would that have been? 

To have spotted two days after a record result and record swings to the SNP (Which again, the GE2015 results was spotted by me in Sept 2014), I noticed that they had started their decline… slide further in 2017 and into oblivion in 2022?

Smug? Happy about ANYONE even stupid people like MPs with their £75k + expenses losing their job? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Not even if it was one of Margaret Ferrier, now Clare Haughey's case workers (And that's saying something! My experiences with two of Ferrier's case workers have been horrible!)

They have families and kids too... it's horrible for anyone, even greedy self interested politicans who are incompetent at their jobs to lose their livelihoods 

Feel for Alex Salmond and his “He’s wealthy man” but not relishing the thought of £100-250,000 legal fees to defend your reputation and everything he’s worked for? Sure, I can. 

He is innocent until proven guilty but the handling for all concerned, The SNP, Alex Salmond and the people supporting the crowd funder have been poor.

And I don't mean the people supporting it in a

"Don't tell me what to do with my money" kind of way...

But in a

"If he's such a great man and you had so much money to donate... why not cover the less controversial campaign fund crowd funder that didn't meet it's £5,000 target for GE2017"

Kind of way

"Why didn't people vote to return him to Westminster in 2017?"

How many more shocks like that are to come for the SNP? 

"No one saw it coming" Alex Salmond about the 2017 election result, HEY I DID! YOU JUST DIDN'T LISTEN. AT ALL!

"GE2022 SNP - 6 seats... No one saw it coming" President Sturgeon (Or whoever replaces her after all the non-infighting.

Most definately not saying that's what WILL happen but, if not handled well in the next few weeks, it may well be a very real possibility.

Can't see my 15 or 17 Year old voting Conservative or Labour given the decisions they took that meant they grew up under their "Austerity" and "Credit Crunch"

I wonder what they'll make of The SNP and the continually excuse of "It's Westminster's fault" as valid as that may well be... their view might be

"Well why have a Scottish Parliament if you can argue your way into significance... isn't debating what you do for a living?"

Core Values
So why write this if I'm no longer supportive of this party? Well like it or not... that goes for me and the Cybernats who have told me what they think of these observations... I live in Scotland.

You'll also find my core values on my website.

I might not be a fan of the SNP or living in their Scotland, but if I can "Do a 5 min favour" "Show my Friednship First" and "Collaborate" (Even with people I'm not too keen on and/or when my voice is not heard) then I will.

The SNP 2014-2018 highlights that scaling isn't easy and that if the culture and/or trust goes... You're gonna have problems.

John Swinney and/or Jamie Hepburn (Or whoever is in charge of Edu and reskilling the workforce), happy to chat about my own experiences transitioning from call centres and sales to Community Management.

Friday, 31 August 2018

SNP: From Proponent to Detractor... And Education

In the week that
  • Alex Salmond demonstrated that the SNP is built on his ego
  • I heard of Facebook's latest Edu Beta initiative
  • The CBI encouraged Nicola Sturgeon to focus on upskilling the workforce
This post is written using the discourse that our politicians have created by not curbing the comments of their supporters and neglecting to put more focus on Digital Citizenship in education

(Kids I would not read this one... it contains the kind of language that politicians and their supporters use on social media).

In my using core values to identify a brand voice post I highlighted how, when and why I might go from proponent to detractor and, ironically enough, was written because the then SNP Education Secretary asked me to pitch in... I'd think twice about responding to such a request today!


To any rational person with an interest in Scottish Education or Politics I'd recommend that you take a look at Adam Grants Ted Talk" and how "Disagreeable Givers" are the most undervalued in any organisations

And/or Jay Baer's "Hug Your Haters" and how the 5% who care enough to come back to you could be what the other 95% are thinking but don't care enough to say anything at all. The silent majority will just quietly return to their old voting habits...And the 'unprecedented record swings' will be a shock to everyone on the day.

My experiences have been horrendous ones! I went into one job at entry level and worked my way up to a wage that was in the top 7% of the UK population... then things went a little pear shaped. As some have put it, it's like the plot of a horrible film.

But everywhere I look, in UK Further Education, Scotland and our young people, many are about to experience similar situations as changes in the world of work will affect them. I have done what I can to make people aware of this (As limited as the attempts have been - with £0, no voice and a 5 year old laptop).

I would HATE for anyone else to go through this, but all of the people above - FE, 4% of the workforce are work at call centres and young people who are already marginalised will be even more so. It's a lonely - and depressing - journey.

Homeless and SNP Detractor

Let me get this in before the President Sturgeon and Comrade Salmond's cybernat supporters do:

I am a worthless piece of shit... I know this already. 

Angry? I sure am angry... About as angry as a President who wakes up in the morning and logs onto Twitter! Or need a more #IndyRef example? Rage? It's well beyond rage!



For proponents of the #YouMatter movement, try telling yourself you have anything of value to offer when you move one box at a time via First Bus because:
  • You can't afford a van because Tony Blair & Gordon Brown wreck the economy, Cameron wipes out any good work from Every Child Matters for his 'Big Society,' then Vince Cable and the Government's NRAM repossess your house.

    The shame, embarrassment and feeling of worthlessness and failure   being one of the "Young Aspirational Families" that David Cameron was an advocate of... to presenting yourself as homeless, isn't an enjoyable one.
  • The credit rating you get as a result of Vince's decisions to help the banks that made money from these toxic mortgages and THEN made money by betting that people would not be able to keep up their payments, what the fuck were you thinking Vince and NRAM?!
For proponents of the SNP, of which I was an ardent supporter in 2014 & 2015, the Cybernats who disagree with my experiences and how I internalise them... they are my experiences and you can go fuck yourself right off and/or follow the lead of those great political 'leaders' of our day, Trump & Salmond, and go grab a woman by the pussy and they crowd fund a sexual harassment case if you disagree with my experiences.

Oh what's that? Oh you've already supported the sexual harassment crowd fund of a rather wealthy individual? Good for you! Come on #IndyRef2! You can do it... go piss everyone that disagrees with you off and see if that helps bring #The45 up to the required level.

Clearly the SNP should have introduced early assessments years ago as you're all shit at maths! you're English and critical thinking isn't so great either ;)

Not only have I accurately predicted every election since 2015... But I've tried to tell people at The SNP (And other parties) what I saw before, during and after their grand plans and how they were headed for trouble... but have been astutely ignored.

Whether in education with projects like Gazelle, FELTAG, implementing ideas from the Scottish Learning Festival or in the world of politics, my insights have been accurate.

Politics Vs Tech Companies
For a very long time I've felt that tech companies would do more in education than the political classes ever would.

We saw this with Pokemon Go and how it did more in 24 hours to get people up and about then anything that the politicians did in years. IMHO we also see this with Microsoft in Scottish Education too.


People celebrated when social media affected change with far off places like the Arab Spring... But we all seem less impressed with what it's done closer to home with the division that it's created with the divisive campaigns of Trump, Brexit and the Scottish Independence Referendum.

The first of these was the Scottish Independence referendum and IMHO the leadership needed from the SNP the weekend after Sept 2014 was, as it has been for the last 11 years... Missing.

When I first joined Social Media it was a productive and collaborative space. But it would appear that the takers/fakers did what they did best -> They took advantage of the collaborative space and made it work for them... we only need look at egomaniacs like Trump and Salmond with his £100,000 crowd fund to see this.

In 1997 Murdoch reported that "It's the Sun whot won it"
In 2017 Trumps campaign team said they would not have won if it wasn't for facebook

Idiots* like Alex Chalk and FELTAG's Matt Hancock say that "Tech Companies need to do more" and today's papers include the rise of politicans getting abuse on social media... but, as I continually ask, what do they do to temper their own supporters?

Meanwhile members of their party go about (For what appears to be to create EVEN MORE division for the purpose of power and personal gain) saying that people in Burkas look like letterboxes, I think there's far more of an argument for politicians to do more to curb their supporters behaviour.

*If David Cameron can call his Education Secretary a lunatic then I assume it's OK to call the FELTAG architect an idiot - was 50% of all FE College courses online by 2017? On track for all course material to be online by 2020? What's that? No? Oh it all 'Evolved' did it? Cool! Great work! Apologies, you're as much of a genius as Cameron says that his Education Secretary was!

No Voice
There have been two articles that have had a HUGE impression on me over the last few years

Lost in the Ghetto"One of the terrible fates that can befall a human being is to be born intelligent or sensitive in an English slum. It is like a long, slow, exquisite torture devised by a sadistic deity from whose malevolent clutches escape is almost impossible"

Collaborate Vs Collaborate “When you obsess about the customer, you end up defeating your competition as a byproduct,” said K.R. Sridhar, the founder of Bloom Energy, a fuel-cell company. “When you are just obsessed about the competition, you end up killing yourself” as a byproduct — “because you are not focused on the customer.”

The weekend following the #IndyRef result I tried desperately to tell people at the SNP that they needed to "Chase the #NewPower Storm" of #The45/The45Plus, they didn't do this... and are paying the price today with the trolls call themselves SNP/Independence supporters.

One irony is that I would not be surprised if the very people who probably denounced Trump and his "grab them by the pussy" comments have funded Salmonds crowd funder... go figure!

In 2015 the then Education Secretary asked me to pitch in with her Education Consultation... I did this, then got zero support and the arrogant woman could not even bring herself to thank the people that I got involved with the initiative... If there's one thing that winds me up it's people's time and efforts not being acknowledged!

Also in 2015 I wrote to my elected representative on a personal issue and, despite following up on some 10 occasions, got NO REPLY AT ALL, that is of course not until the 2017 "Begging Letter Phase" of the political calendar comes round and a case worker emails to say they

"Feel my comments on social media are unfair" but they could not (and can not!) produce a reply to my query. THEY dropped the ball on a serious issue, one where intervention *Just might* have helped... And I'm the one being unfair? Get to FUCK Margaret Ferrier and your case workers!

If you were to take a look at Margaret Ferrier's Twitter feed or 2017 campaign material SNP, Tories and Labour are mentioned WAY MORE than the word "constituent" (Again the data doesn't lie... Wasn't one bit surprised when she lost her seat, I articulated what clearly others felt about the representation, compare that with the offer of help in March 2015).

I voted for the SNP in 2014 & 2015, spoilt my paper in 2016 and voted Labour in 2017.


2017 despite doing what I can to nudge the needle forward in Scottish education with things that I feel are important (And which are in line with the 'Fine Speeches' at their fancy ass conferences) under trying circumstances, you get no assistance and nothing but snark from your elected representatives CASE WORKERS... And that MSP is responsible for the nations Mental Health agenda... For fuck's sake! No wonder politicians get trolled online when they are this incompetent!!

At all stages I have tried to make people aware of what I've seen and experienced.

SNP and Education
I have three kids in the education system. Two of these kids are coming to the end of their education and not only do they have a dim view of their experiences, but:

1) "All the good teachers leave" is one observation, and according to them
2) EVEN THEIR OWN TEACHERS have said "We are not preparing you for the future of work"

For the majority of their time in education this has been an SNP administration.

(Note to the idiot at Education Scotland who sent me a response to correspondence to John Swinney, My kids are in education now, today... not in 2030! #ScotlandIsNow #ScotlandCan #GoDo and all that shit! Go fucking fix this stuff today, now, not tomorrow and not in 10 years time)

Alex Salmond & Crowd Funding
Just how ridiculous is education policy Vs what our politicans do?

I've written a number of times on this blog about the prevalence of Twitter in Scottish/UK and US politics Vs how underused it is in education.

But Nicola's former Mentor-Turned-Stay-Away-From-Eck's Crowd Funder takes this to another level entirely!

When on the New Enterprise Allowance the advice from People's Plus (A Nottingham based company... #GoDo!) about if you had a bad credit rating:

"Do something about it" No shit Sherlock... and how do you propose you that? Silence. What great advice... If you're coming all the from Nottingham I wish you'd sent Robin Hood instead of the Sheriffs round!

When I struggled to raise finance I told my Work Coach, I might try a crowd funder... the response?

"What's crowd funding?"

I'm guessing she know what it is, and how effective it can be.

But a word of warning... as Nicola's calls to support a rape crisis crowd fund, if you lack the popularity, or the celeb status of Alex Salmond and/or what Lewis Termin and Malcolm Gladwell find in the "Cultural Advantage" of the Middle Classes don't fall into the trap that I did!!

Invisible Children, SnapChat, Podemos & New Power
The book New Power has helped me SO MUCH to see how, why and where I went wrong and hope that this might help others who believe that they can be marginalised and follow the examples of the college drop outs who create the next big thing that is portrayed in the media.

There is a certain DNA to the Tech and EdTech companies that become successful and, if others try to follow their example without some of those ingredients... they will fail!

New Power highlights this very well, something that the Alex Salmond  crowd funder exemplifies.
  • The Invisible Children example = they needed the "look at me, looks at me" celebs who like the sound of their own voice to get involved before the TV networks picked the story up.
  • SnapChat = College drop outs and founders who have a spat and fall out (Waves to Nicola and Alex), they dropped out of PRIVILEGED colleges! I'm sure that the connections that Mum and Dad had or connection at college and/or their fraternity would have seen them succeed at no matter what they did!
  • Pablo Iglesias & Podemos = Became a leading political party in Spain in record time, putting social media - and participatory politics - to good use, but Pablo also saw the value that the same main stream media that Cybernats hate today, was necessary.
Btw if (And I doubt it is the case - as Alex Salmond came to the defense of Bath based Wings Over Scotland - all the way from England???!!) the SNP did want to address the issue of their 'Cybernat' problem, New Power details how to go about doing this.

The Well & Facebook
In 2015 I read Kate Hefner's book about Stewart Brand and Larry Brilliant's early online community called "The Well," and a comment that Howard Reingold (Michelle Cordy's "That's how it works, Michelle" mentor from the ISTE 2016 closing keynote) made.

I noticed from Facebook's Edu beta announcement that my assessment was not wrong... and what did I do with this information when I discovered it?

Why I shared it with my Scottish Edu contacts and political ones way back in 2015... Just ask the head of the SNP at Westminster Ian Blackford.... Don't blame me! I voted Yes, and I tried to share what I'd discovered as I tried to make the transition from sales to community management.

I also told you when, where, how and why I became less and less supportive of the SNP... you arrogant pricks.

Lost in the Ghetto... Alone, but there are lots of us
I would encourage ANY leader to read the following articles
If the last article is correct and a record like this along with the hubris, arrogance and divisions of the SNP continue in this way it will be worse than losing power, it just might be a return to the same levels of representation as the 1970s.

If Ms Sturgeon is reading this I doubt if she will recall but we met at the 1997 Count when I canvassed for Jim Byrn, wasn't a great night was it... what was it 6 seats?

The fact that the cultural conditions existed for a few weeks in 2014 that could have brought about the kind of unheard of positive changes, but were squandered is a disgrace.

Whatever is in store for the Rah! Rah! Rah! Independence! Independence! Independence! Brigade it is extremely unlikely that this culture will return - not impossible, but will take the kind of hustle that anyone you try to talk to about this will scratch their heads and say "I don't get it."

This takes use back to the topic at the start of this post and the reason tech companies will do more than politicans can be found in Peter Thiel's advice.
Political Genius?
There is a scenario where Alex Salmond's crowdfunder is a stroke of genius, but I made the mistake of thinking that events leading up to Aug/Sept 2014 were intentional but now know that it was a happy accident for the SNP... but just in case:

If taking lessons from Trump and Boris and is looking for ways to create a crisis to further polarize and divide the country and/or following Steve Jobs example with “Let’s Be Pirates” against his own organization to create and reset the culture to affect change, then his crowd funder could be a political master stroke… this might prove beneficial to SNP MPs, but creating even more divisions and a political landscape more like today's US politics in Scotland to add to the already deeply concerning ‘Cybernat’ problem would do nothing for the plebs.

How big is the cybernat problem? People paying £100,000+ for a crowd funder to someone who no doubt is making above the national average to cover fees against sexual harassment? I’d say that’s a pretty big problem to address!

But who cares, as long as more of the people with your colour of shiny badge makes it back into their cushy jobs at Holyrood and Westminster, fuck the plebs and jams, right?

That has most certainly been the case in my experience.

Thursday, 26 July 2018

Politicans - Wish they Ate Their Own Dog Food


In Silicon Valley startups and at organisations where they do work that they are proud of the phrase

"We eat our own dog food" 

AKA we use the product/service that we create.

This post questions whether politicians "Eat Their Own Dog Food - or more accurately points out why they don't.

Pointless Politicians - A Bit of Empathy
I feel for politicians, I really do! Every word that they say on the TV, in the press or on social media gets scrutinized.

Mhari I'm-down-with-the-people-but-make-£75k-a-year-but-moan-about-the-Westminster-culture-and-the-fact-that-Nicola-doesn't-speak-to-me-either Black (The irony is not lost on me here! Lol)

Tweets out "Maths is shit" when she's at school and gets shared during The Last Leg etc.

I can easily demonstrate how I have empathy with politicians here...

In 2014 I wrote over 30 posts in support of #IndyRef, the SNP and #VoteYes... Today I'd prefer to distance myself from all those

"Rah! Rah! Rah! Isn't the SNP great"posts

Let's also have a little bit of empathy for the current MPs successors in 100 years time where - as has (Obviously quite rightly!) happened with slavery and the sufforagettes etc - future MPs may well be apologizing for things like the Iraq War, Bailing banks out, the "Credit Crunch," Nigel Farage and Brexit.

Having said that, I treat this pointless group the same way I do with others re: my core values.

I've "Shown my Friendship First" and will do the odd "5 min favour" even after my representative(s) have completely ignored me.

How the SNP Could get Back to Team56
(But IMHO they'll never make the transition)

Respect for Politicians
Sturgeon, May, Trump... regardless of the country or the colour of the shiny badge there's no real difference.

I think the only way I'd have any respect for any politician in the future would be if they spent a month (Or more) each year - minus the TV cameras or PR opportunities - in the same conditions in the most deprived areas of their constituency and/or most marginalised constituents.

But unless it was called "I'm a constituent get me out of here*" with Ant and Dec presenting and a hefty appearance fee, I doubt it would happen... which is a shame.

(*If this becomes a show, please sign me up... Especially if the prize in a one way trip to CA!)

I was there man! During the buzzy #VoteYes #IndyRef and I pitched in with the #NewPower storm that the SNP didn't know what to do with - and I offered some awesome and insightful suggestions too!

I got to know some of the people who were also tweeting out and hoping for change - I heard how marginalised some people were, but how valid (And inspired) their ideas were... MPs and MSPs might learn a thing or two if they listened to them and applied some #Cmgr practices.

They take their cushy second jobs under the guise of

"Real world experience to see how their policies affects business" 

Obviously, the 4-5 figure 'consultancy' fee has fuck all to do with all their

"I got into politics to make a difference" 

And 

"I help constituents every day" 

Bull Shit rhetoric, right?

There are two jobs that I would HATE for my kids to get into: Politics & Banking.

The reason: They could go into these industries hard working and honest, but the toxic cultures would change them.

Can you imagine being *Mentioning No Names* and/or [Insert name of politician and banker here] and looking at yourself in the mirror... knowing how much you've screwed so many people's lives up between 1970-2018.

You can get some idea of how this must feel from Chris Sacca's "Be Helpful" commencement speech

Politicians & Education
We know that politicians don't "Eat their own dog food" in education, as they run state education, but send their own kids to private school.

What message does that send out regarding how confident they are about their #AttainmentGap and other grand plans?

Education Ministers
Since Tony Blair wanted to have a computer on every class desk in 1997 (See European Politicians New Mantra: Wiring Up Schools to the Internet) ...How many Education Secretaries have their been?

How many of their White Papers, strategies and grand plans have ACTUALLY done what they were supposed to... when they were supposed to?

Go take a look at what Microsoft, Google and Apple have done in tech and in education since 1997, then compare it with the political classes.

Here's Apple: Product History Time Line

2014: The Potential to Unslum Vs 2018: Adding to the Deprivation
As I highlighted I wrote some 30 posts in support of #IndyRef and #VoteYes.

However, I was by no means a fan of the politicians or the colour of the shiny badge... I was a fan of the #NewPower storm that they created which meant things that would not be possible in a month of Sundays today COULD have been possible then... IF The SNP had harnessed the storm (Difficult to do when you have not invested in digital citizenship or community builders!)

As I suggested at the time, if the SNP had said

"Let's get down to XYZ area for the day and clean the place up" 

Then even 1% of the 100,000 people that they boasted about having as members pitching in, would have made a huge impact. That's the potential that I saw in the #IndyRef #VoteYes movement!

My support of #IndyRef #VoteYes had WAY MORE to do with the
cultural conditions and my first blog post, rather than The SNP or Team56
Instead the majority of the most deprived areas in the UK are in Scotland... So which colour of shiny badge is gonna take the responsibility for that?

The 1970s Thatcher Tories?
The 1990s "Things can only get better" Blair/Brown Labour masters of Spin?
The 2000s President Sturgeons #AttainmentGap busting SNP?

Or will it be the usual

"It wasn't me Miss it was the other boy/girl who started it" 

Kids playground antics that has come to define the punch and judy show that is Westminster & Holyrood?

"Oh No it wasn't me! It was you"
"Oh Yes it was!"
"Oh No it wasn't!"

That is until someone shouts

"Order! Order! You Stupid Woman, I think I'll bully someone in the playground at play time"

The potential to Unslum neighbourhoods WAS there in 2014... today Entrepreneurial Scotland talks about being the most enterprising nation in the world with areas of such high deprivation... they have their work cut out! Is all I can say!

Dumb Ass DWP
So what's brought this post on today... It could have been written at any time in the last few years?

Why, I'm glad you asked!

1) First is that I feel that I'm exploring things that politicians should be exploring, like Digital Citizenship. Instead, this is how they react: Blame! Blame! Blame!

2015: What can we (MPs who are in charge of education policy) do about Trolls? At election time ;)
2018: FELTAG genius* Matt Hancock "Social Media companies need to do more"

*FELTAG had a goal of having all FE Course material online by 2017. Progress as of 2018? Didn't happen

When looking to reskill from sales to Community Management, as there are few/no roles in #GoDo Scotland, I have had to sign on to JSA/welfare from time to time.

An Ayn Rand fan who is extolling the virtues of the free market and her brand of objectionism when scrounging off the state?

Well Comrades! You may - or may not be - aware that Marx got to write about socialism while being bankrolled by his brother in law who was the founder of Phillips TVs. Go figure!

Well when the takers and secondhanders bail their buddies at the banks out with billions within 24 hours and their #TooBigToFail crap... only to change their mind a few years (And many lives wrecked) later with "Meh, shoulda let them fail" but...

The customers of these toxic brands in a country with these toxic politicians operate but the plebs are limited by what you can achieve because of a credit rating?

Surely there has to be a bit of a "check your premises" contradiction going on:

A Rand fan on benefits...
But the people who's job it is to make money, make no money for nine consecutive years but gets nationalised.

Definitely time to check your premises!!

2) In 2015 I made the comment about how useless Universal Jobmatch was. The reply at the time?

"Oh it's easy to be a critic, William" 

Came the reply from my 'Work Coach' Kathleen, one of the most horrible 'Jobs Worths' I've ever had the misfortune of 'supporting' me

Easy to be a critic? Erm, when a 'Recommended job' is female toilet attendant [*Must be female*] and I'm male... Yeah! Really digging deep to pick holes in that one.

When I mentioned that call centres were on the way out in 2015:

"No they are not!" Was the reply "We have tonnes of jobs at them"

Then there is the fact that I actually got sanctioned when my efforts to get work as a community manager, not only worked... But I got sanctioned for my efforts getting paid work with a Silicon Valley startup up, go figure!

2018 Universal Job match is no more... But the new site is no better

I wonder how many politicians would "Eat their own dog food" with the kind of jobs that they allow on this site.

Commission only, door to door selling, call centre jobs with rates of pay that if it was a MPs expense account for the year they would probably complain.

When I signed on today I mentioned my attempts to get work as a Community Manager, but how call centre jobs are on the way out... and highlight:

"Just look at how sophisticated the DWP AI is"

"Oh I know!" 

Was the reply today (From a fantastically supportive work coach) 

"I booked something today and didn't speak to anyone... it was all automated"

But who is it doing anything with this stuff?
Who is it that's reskilling these people?
Who is it that cares?

I wouldn't look to our politicians... I can see now why Alex Salmond is spending so much time in Russia... perhaps like me he can see the similarities between Ayn Rand's Russia as described in "We the Living" with the SNP's 2018 Scotland, perhaps he's taking notes on what he might expect next.

Disagree with that comment?

"Petrograd has seen 5 years of revolution (Change revolution to 'Indepencence obsession'). Four of those years had closed its every artery and every store (Take a walk up Sauchiehall street), when nationalisation smeared dust and cobwebs over the plate glass windows... The state's New Economic Policy (Wonder if it looked anything like the Growth Commission)... There were stores without signs and signs without stores. But between the windows and over bricks and boards of cracked plaster (BHS front has become storage for homeless people's stuff). On a corner, an old lady held timidly a tray of home made cakes, and feet hurried past without stopping: Someone yelled: Latest new, citizens! Someone else yelled: "Saccharine citizens!" and someone else yelled "Flints for cigarette lighters, cheap, citizens" (Try walking down Glasgow's main shopping are and try to hear yourself think with all the buskers, beggars, chuggars and shops blasting out music in desperation for attention)

It tells you something when even the pound shops are closing.In the event that any of the cybernats disagree with the similarities I see...

We already know that many of most successful Scot's leave the minute the get the chance, but when it's "FREEDOM" Alex Salmond escaping to Russia?

1297 "If this is your army why does it leave?"
2018 If Scotland's so fantastic why does everyone who can, leave the minute they are able?

These a huge difference between the "Hope Over Fear" of 2014 to it all turning out to be a little more C3PO "We're Doomed"
Might have told us it would be as Comrade Salmond...
No wonder President Sturgeon refused to meet the leader of the free world
It all makes sense now!
Here's a challenge for you read the opening pages of "We the Living" and then play the game that my 7 year old son and I played in rush hour Glasgow

"See how many people you can spot smiling or laughing"

You can see... and then see if you spot any similarities.

It's all a little different to the buzz in the air and the New Hope that #Team56 promised back in those heady #IndyRef #VoteYes & #GE2015 days.

Perhaps what happened in the 2015 UK General Election was similar to what's been suggested elsewhere since then?

Anyway, wouldn't it would be nice if our comrades in politics "Ate their own dog food," but never mind... It's not their fault, it never is! Even if it was they'd never take responsibility ;)

So don't blame the politicians... Blame me: I voted "Yes" and, as the saying goes

"A society gets the leaders it deserves"

#GoDo folks, The RBS sponsored Edge competition is open... Hopefully the government owned bank won't be closing your business - or branches - and sending memos to "Give you rope" if you're one of their customers in a few years time.

Living a Life of Purpose... For Kids


This post is in reply to Ayelet Baron's It's time for each of us to stop asking kids what they want to be or do when they grow up, and the conversation that we have with our kids that (I hope) gives them the permission to never stop looking for their place in the world.

But before I tell you that story... I need to tell you this one ;)

CMAD 2016 Vs 2018

When looking for a link to share re: how I wanted "Connected Educator Appreciation Day" to be "like #CMAD for educators" to a few people interested in exploring the idea and getting involved.

I re-watched this Community Manager Appreciation Day 2016 session (Connected Educators & NewPowerEducation fans: WELL worth watching this!!)
I DID watch this live at the time... as can be demonstrated in this: #CMAD Reflections of a Newbie (Session 16), but saw it in a WHOLE different light after reading New Power (@ThisIsNewPower), and given that I'm helping to organise an event that I hope will help get more educators connected.

I've also watched a number of Ayelet's #CreatingIS sessions too.

But after watching the session the "Shallow Engagement" of the odd Tweet and reply became a deeper connection.

Ayelet shared a post about teaching our young people about "A Life of Purpose" and I wanted to offer the ways that we try to convey and communicate this with our kids.

I've known about Ayelet's work for 4 years+...I watched the same #CMAD hangout that I did 4 years ago, but did so with a whole new level of understanding! Perhaps Napoleon Hill was right:

"When one is truly ready for a thing, it puts in its appearance"  Think and Grow Rich

Call Centres & Cold Calling is Dead... Who Knew?
Even the politicians that I DO have any time and respect for will tell me:

"William, your communication is too long and too frequent" 

But when all the call centre jobs go all at once (See Adapt or Die: How to Cope When the Bots Take your Job) I would not be surprised if the reply from the same politicians will be:

"Who knew? No one saw it coming" Just like Alex Salmond did at the GE2017 election... WRONG! And, like Gazelle and FELTAG, I told them AT THE TIME!!

To say "Erm, well I did!" At a time when all these jobs actually go will come across as a smug and "I told you so," definitely not something that the thousands of newly unemployed people will want to hear.

When your call centre job goes...Who you gonna call?
A politician? In my experience, don't bother
...Just check this thread
"When you think that a huge telecoms company like AT&T employs about 100,000 call centre agents to look after its 120 million customers, that's a lot of jobs that could disappear pretty quickly" Innovate or Die

Living a Life of Purpose... For Kids
My kids don't have the luxury of being able to say my communications is too long or frequent - Something that I'm sure they wish that they could do at times! 

But, on the other hand, even my 7 year old son 'gets' ideas that the political classes appear to struggle with: (See Skype Master Student for an awesome example of this).

Quick Pop Quiz... for readers: Money or Purpose?
I worked at one company for 10 years, going in at entry level but turned that into a wage that was in the top 7% of UK earners.

I've nothing much to show for this decade of my most important asset - my time - today in terms of what's left of the project, or relationships with the company's directors.

Since 2012 I have worked on projects that I've believed in, but not earned all that much money, the choices and risks of these decisions are coming home to roost at this present moment... But I feel what I am doing is important.

Got kids? Remember what you said when you were expecting the little bundle of joy?

"Don't care what flavour it is... Just want him/her to be healthy"

...And when they grow up? 

"Just want them to be happy"

Are probably typical responses. But there's a HUGE (Translation for Precedent Trump supporters: "Yuge") problem with this.

Happiness is a symptom of living well... so how can you give young people the scope, tools, permission and find the right story to tell to help them find the root cause of living a happy life? Here's how we put it across:

Find Your Place in the World
"I want you to imagine that when you wake up in the morning that you get up thinking"

"Yes! That's what I'm going to be doing today!"

"Whether this is a Monday to Friday 9am-5pm job, shift work like the emergency services, a 2-3 month gig like the military or film stars/crew, solitary or creative work like coding or writing, when your work is finished - which isn't work at all because you love what you do - it's fun! But when you are ready to go home, you think"

"Yes! That's who/what I'm going home to"

Whether that's a girlfriend/wife, boyfriend/husband, flatmate, cat, dog, goldfish, sea monkeys.

How miserable do you think you're life will be?

Obviously we hope that what they choose the 'Work' (Fun) will be a worthy cause and that they are able to earn enough so that them and their loved ones have everything that they need.

We then ask them to consider the alternative... Waking up each day and dreading where they will be spending their working day and then dreading coming home too.

Related image

We don't just tell our kids this... We show them! I love what I do!

I spend hours working on things that no one sees any value in but, after arranging the data, pulling the right people together and arranging the conditions... so that the same data and project that no one saw any value in a few weeks/months/years earlier no longer needs explained: It's obvious!

And as for the guy that helped get the started the party? Well you can't even see that guy anymore.

Image result for geoffrey moore leaderships lessons from dancing guy
In 12-24 months time there are some things that will "Just Happen" as a result of some hustle that only those who were involved at the moment will ever know how, where, why and how much effort went into getting it all started.


On the days that are not so good, you curse all the things that ended up being a dead end... projects that didn't quite pan out... the fake friends... the non payment etc.

But when you stop and reflect and/or when the people who do rally round with support and kind words...

You are reminded that you might not even be exploring a life of purpose if it wasn't for those who freely gave you their time and the benefit of their expertise and asked nothing in return, and your job is to weather the storm and to 'Pay it forward' as and when you can.

Here's all the Pirates and all those selfless and relentless 'Givers' out there... and especially to all the ones who have helped me on this roller coaster of a journey.

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the beauty in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that one life has breathed easier because you lived here. This is to have succeeded.” Ralph Waldo Emerson