Glad that week has gone

Glad that week has gone.  I went into hospital last Wednesday (16^th), to have an operation on my Achilles heel.  Booked in at 7am but didn’t go down till 3pm. Long, nervous wait. By then all my veins had gone into hiding, the anaesthetist had to poke around in the back of both hands to establish a reasonable pipe line. What was worse, they have stopped giving out pre-meds, I was looking forward to that wonderful drift you got from the equivalent of 5 double gin’n’ its, in one slug. Really thirsty when I came round so drank about 6 jugs of water over the next few hours, then tried to piss, nothing doing...AHHH. Panic started to build as my bladder pressure increased until I called the night nurse (a bloke!). How things have changed for the worse. I remember when the night nurse had a dark blue uniform, starched hat and cuffs, and was always alluring. This guy was from Turkistan or somewhere ex USSR, was very pleasant but not sure he understood my sense of urgency. Anyway, half an hour later (which seemed like 5 hours) he arrived with a junior doctor and a medicine trolley. This 15 year old (boy) doctor suggested putting a tube down my willie, which did sound a bit frightening but a burst bladder was feeling more imminent!

That was not very comfortable, I can tell you, but what a relief, I filled two bags within an hour! Sorry I know that was a bit grim, but it’s over and done with, over and done with...

I am sitting up at home on the sofa sharing my experiences with you, there will be some better stuff coming.

Did I tell you I had completed a year of a Foundation Degree in Business and Enterprise (part time) at the local poly (University of South Wales, but just the old poly renamed)? Started year two but ran out of patience with the trite garbage they tried to call marketing. Well the next module, which we started, was on innovation management. This had all the markings of another dollop of offal, but their opening premise is worth repeating; you may be the best at making the highest quality product/service, your competitor could catch up; you may be the most competitive but there are always some companies that will buy business; you may be the most reliable, but your competitors could improve too. So what can we do? The answer; with innovation can you stay ahead. Quite simple to say but is it possible?

Have a look at the link below; Steve Blank has summed it up well, talking to his graduating MBA students from Barcelona’s Business School. It is worth reading right through and keeping, MDs take note. That reads quite bossy but I am sure you know I am just being enthusiastic.

http://www.inc.com/steve-blank/commencement-speech-esade-business-school.html

I hope you have all had a good Easter break, let’s hit the ground running; some of us may be hopping...