BQF Innovation

If you ever get frustrated with Windows errors then try some of these Japanese Haiku computer messages for an altogether calmer point of view.

The Web site you seek
Cannot be located, but
Countless more exist

Chaos reigns within.
Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.

Program aborting:
Close all that you have worked on.
You ask far too much.

Windows NT crashed.
I am the Blue Screen of Death.
No one hears your screams.

Yesterday it worked.
Today it is not working.
Windows is like that.

Your file was so big.
It might be very useful.
But now it is gone.

Stay the patient course.
Of little worth is your ire.
The network is down.

A crash reduces
Your expensive computer
To a simple stone.

Three things are certain:
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred?

You step in the stream,
But the water has moved on.
This page is not here.

Out of memory.
We wish to hold the whole sky,
But we never will.

Having been erased,
The document you’re seeking
Must now be retyped.

Serious error.
All shortcuts have disappeared.
Screen. Mind. Both are blank.

Paul Sloane

The BQF annual leadership conference went well.   Here are some of the key messages I took away from the speakers:

Tim Cross, former army officer, gave an inspirational talk.  He argued that the key thing missing for most modern leaders was a sense of moral purpose.  We think we can solve society’s ills by exercising levers in politics and economics but without a moral imperative we will not succeed.

Susan Scott-Parker, founder of the Employer’s forum on Disability, asked whether the world was a frog or a bicycle.  Is it one organic whole or can you replace and upgrade parts?  She believes that assumptions are more powerful than facts.

Tim Peach, MD of Taylor Woodrow Construction, believed that everyone in the company could improve by 15 to 20% so he set about a programme to change behaviours.  This started with 360 feedback sessions and went on to a series of actions and activities that have affected everyone.  His message was very well received and he was bombarded with questions.

Nigel Risner, superstar speaker, gave an energetic and entertaining performance which challenged the audience in many ways.  Do leaders know the key personal priorities of their people?  What represents success for you and are you spending time on making it happen?  Are leaders handling different types of people in ways appropriate to their (animal) characters?  Each message was delivered with humour, interaction and creativity.

The was lots more excellent stuff from the speakers and it was good to network.  Make a note to come to next year’s event.

Paul Sloane