Action Plans

Action plans without deadlines are not worth the paper that they are printed on.

Unilateralism

Beware unilateralist presidents playing the multilateralist card.

Organisations

An organisation is only as good as its most stupid member of staff.

Risk

The more risk you take, the more alive you really are.

Warning Signs

Beware the politician who uses the word "force" when referring to policy initiatives.

Great Con Tricks of the 21st Century

Cash back schemes offered by mobile phone companies.

Casualties of War

Governments measure the success of a military operation by how few civilians have been killed. Civilians measure the failure of a military operation by how many civilians have been killed.

Moral Absolutes

A country that defines its domestic and foreign policy on the basis of moral absolutes sows the seeds of its own destruction.

Tolerance

It is regrettable that some countries, which loudly proclaim to the world that they are the bastions of free speech and democracy, contain so many people who are remarkably intolerant of diverse political and religious opinions.

Such countries should look to their own failings, before telling others how they should structure themselves.

Companies

Companies do not run themselves on autopilot, directors need to be proactive and direct.

Advice To MBNA Credit Cards

It really pisses people off to be called more than ten times in a fortnight by your call centre, just to be told about a new product.

Budgets

A company without a budget is like a ship without a compass, it will end up going nowhere very quickly.

Old Friendships

One of the great advantages of friendships that have lasted decades, is that you know and trust each other.

However, one of the great disadvantages of such a long lasting friendship is that you cannot "hide" your thoughts/failings.

Small Steps

Sometimes small steps are just as, or even more, effective as giant leaps when striving to achieve an objective.

Total Recall

Politicians who claim not to recall a significant incident/decision are lying through their teeth, and should be removed from office with expediency.

Religion

Religion should never be used an excuse for intolerance or spreading hatred.

Deal Breakers

People who think they are being "clever" when they try to cut someone else out of a deal gain nothing in the long run, their short term greed ensures that they cut themselves out of all future deals.

Double Cross

A man that tries to double cross you, double crosses himself. He will be exposed for the charlatan that he is, and justice will prevail.

Saints

There is no such thing as a saint, even dead princesses are not saints, everyone has a dark side.

Advice To Prime Ministers

Just because the media all claim that a general election is about to be called, don't fall for the hype.

Advice To Directors

Directors who do not maintain a "finger on the pulse" of their business, soon find that their business does not have a pulse.

Humanity

You can't imprison humanity for one indvidual's failing.

Directors

Directors who are "out of the loop" in their own companies are of no use to man nor beast.