Kiwi Scrum

March 2009, Newsletter

Hello Everyone,

Last month's newsletter was followed by a long silence. I was pleased to read Gareth Morgan in the NZ Listener for next week, warning that bad times are coming. The best personal help I can offer is here, and my suggested community preparations are here. There are things we should be doing.

The March LinkedIn hint:

LinkedIn made a big effort to help people who manage LinkedIn Groups in the last month. This newsletter will come to you using a new process.

Most of you are not very involved in joining LinkedIn Groups. Joining lots of groups can be useful if LinkedIn is a working tool for you. I'm surprised how many people I'm not directly connected to, I can still send a message to because we are in the same group.

There are many new options available on the Account Settings Page. (Too many.)

The Useful Common:

I've been invited to join two MLM schemes in the past week. It was suggested on Ryze about a month ago that there was an increase in MLM activity. That's a shame because 95% or more of the people who get involved in MLM, spend many hours contributing free labour to the cause for grossly inadequate returns. . There are no real business prospects, unless exceptional conditions apply.. This is well documented.

If you have time on your hands do something useful, "be the change you want to see in the world" (Gandhi) . Chasing a MLM dream isn't useful. I make no apology for my strong opinion, I've seen too many sad results.

If you "know" that MLM is perfect for you, I can point you to some strong MLM groups.

Engage with other people and Groups:

I'm pleased that in the last week several sources have made the connection between the economic meltdown and the ongoing destruction of the environment. I think there are certainly global influences, feedback is probably the right word, that are impeding our plans for economic growth. You need to consider you own position about that. The recession is forcing people to discover new values and new priorities.

Ask your social networks where to find those discussions if you are interested.

Invitations

Where on the Internet is the best discussion, the best information, the most reliable place to find good advice? Share that information with 3 or 4 of your friends. Invite them to join you in something you value. (As I try to do in this newsletter.)

Volunteers

Each of us should be looking for ways to contribute to the useful common, and often that's best done by volunteering some time. I've been asked to be co-host to new group on LinkedIn called Smart People Magazine (You are welcome to join if you care too.)

The Value of Democracy

Some young people in India, were discussing the rape and murder of a young women by family members. The traditions from rural India, upheld by illiterate people, who believe some principle is at stake, can be embarrassingly out of place modern Indian cities. The crux of their complaint, was that unless community leaders and politicians took the civil rights of women seriously, there was little chance that the police and the family members involved would do so.

The fact that the debate I was privileged to be part of was happening at all is progress. India is currently involved in an election. This is the largest "democracy" in the world. But it's not a democracy where equal opportunity is an expectation of many people.

Regards
John