My New Year Wish

On the eve of a new year, it's a time to reflect on what we leave behind and think about what may lay ahead. At this time last year, I was brimming with optimism about the year ahead. In so many ways 2015 delivered. Best ever holidays, lovely times with our family and sharing with good friends. Good health. Just being together with the one I loved the most, delivered so much joy. But the happiness was tinged with pain. I lost two very special friends during 2015. Then I faced the biggest loss of all in December with the sudden passing of my darling Richard. 

When someone is ill and suffering their passing whilst tragic is understandable. When someone who is healthy and full of life just goes, it’s hard to rationalise and to accept, but I must. Death, unfortunately, is a reality we will all face at some time and for those left behind it is never a good time. How we deal with sudden loss depends on the strength you draw from those who left us, the support we have around us, our personal strength and our deeply held beliefs. 

So, I learnt the harshest lesson of all in 2015 and that is to never take things for granted. From that the true meaning of living each day as if it was your last has more relevance. Telling those you hold most dear, how much you love them, (at every opportunity) is really important.

So on the eve of a new year, this year, I'm full of sadness, but also full optimism for a life that will be different. A life that is full of so many happy memories which never die and from which I draw strength. I'm not the type of person that falls in a heap and I know Richard would expect me to get on with life. That is exactly what I plan to do. To live each day's as if it was my last and to have no regrets. 

I wish you and your family a wonderful 2016 and I will leave you with this blessing. I hope you like it. 

“Let this year be filled with the things that are truly meaningful; a guardian angel to keep us safe and watch over us, good health, peace, happiness and prosperity. May we have an abundance of warmth in our relationships. The humility and openness to accept help from others. The strength to help those who need our help and the courage to stand-up for those who cannot defend themselves.

As we make our resolutions for the year ahead, let us go forward with great hope that all things can be possible if we maintain belief in ourselves and most importantly, belief in others.”

Media Agendas or Reader Biased Preconceptions

Like so many I have been extremely critical of the media. I don’t shy away from that. It's often deserved. However, to label all journalists as biased and therefore lacking objectivity is drawing a long bow. 

Reading comments to various journalists columns is an enlightening experience. It is obvious given the response some people don’t even bother to read the article. They kick-off based on the headline. Given the mendacious replies of others, it is obvious what their agenda is. Then we have the ‘follow the leader' bunch. They’ll scan the comments, find one that fits and merrily keep the lie alive. 

An extremely good example of what I am referring to is graphically highlighted as a result of an article written by Ahmed Kilanith and published in the Australian last week. It was titled ‘There should be a charter for local Muslims’. Mr Kilanith spoke of what needed to be done (for the want of a better word) to modernise Islam and to start to address radicalisation. He spoke eloquently on the issue of dysfunctional leadership in the Australian Muslim community and the importance of Australian Muslim leaders and imams, not imports. He shared his very valid opinion that all organisations should implement quotas for female representation on their boards. Mr Kilanith suggested that all boards should comprise 50 percent of suitably, qualified Australian-born or raised female Muslims under the age of 45. Well out they came in force attacking him for wanting female representation on boards. Of course the idiots (sorry, but it needs to be said) completely ignored the fact or simply didn’t read what he wrote, that Mr Kilanith was referring to Muslim boards and Muslim associations NOT all boards. The agenda of the knockers ‘beat up on Muslims’ and simply ignore what they are really saying. 

Likewise, there was an article published in The Telegraph about teaching the history of the Middle East and Islam in schools as part of a program to help to combat radicalisation. The idea was tabled by security expert Peter Jennings and is being considered by theeducation board for inclusion in religious studies. Given the success that people like Sarah Khan and her organisation has achieved in the UK with education programs, I personally think the idea has merit. But, the headline caused an eruption within some of the ‘beat up Turnbull’, team. It was all the fault of Malcolm Turnbull. They completely ignored what was being proposed and by whom in their eagerness to take a stab at the Prime Minister. 

We see these types of reactions repeated ad nauseam. It simply points to the fact that for far too many, the perception of the facts is shaped and altered by their biased preconceptions. In short, people believe what they want to believe, and the facts be damned. 

Winners and Losers, Leaders and Followers

When I was a child, I was encouraged to be the very best I could be in this life. I was told from a very young age, I was born to lead. I never believed that and in fact I saw myself as a struggling artist, sacrificing the material world for my art. I held onto this romantic idea of what my life would be like for many years. I was always a curious child. Fascinated by nature, arts and the universe. A dreamer. I never believed I would be a leader. 

When the time came to enter the real world and to start to make my own way I soon realised that the life of a struggling artist was simply a pipe dream. The thought of entering the commercial art world felt like for the want of a better word prostitution of my creativity Perhaps it was simply the subconscious acknowledgement that something else awaited. My destiny was to lead and to motivate others and in doing so to develop and grow myself. 

I was fortunate in the early years of my career to be nurtured, motivated and inspired by successful role models who taught me so much about self-belief and grabbing every opportunity. I worked hard and promotions resulted. Opportunity after opportunity opened up. I grabbed almost every one of them. A couple I passed over. Something told me they weren’t part of my life's blueprint.   

I had a very successful business career and as a result, I’m in the fortunate position now, of being able to do what I love most. But the part I am most proud of and gained the most reward from was being in a position to provide opportunities for others. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing others develop and grow and knowing that you played a small part in their success. It’s far better than any title or big pay check I ever had or earned. That is what leadership is about. You see all those years ago when as a child, I was told I was born to lead that is what they meant. To help lead others to achieve greatness. I have been blessed to have been in a position to have employed some of most inspirational, talented and wonderful people. Many who have gone on to achieve success and they will continue to do so. 

I shared my story because I am fed but with the 'slurs' used to attack Malcolm Turnbull, specifically the “he thinks he was born to rule” slur. It usually comes from those who clearly aren’t. Some people are born leaders and some people will forever to followers and some will simply be dragged along by others. Malcolm Turnbull love him or despise him is self-made. Anything he has achieved in life is a result of things he has done. He worked hard, he took risks and gave opportunities to others. So he wants to be Prime Minister and he believes he should be, great. We desperately need successful people leading the country. People who are driven by ambition to succeed because if they succeed we succeed. We’ve seen what career politicians and ex Union leaders have delivered. 

There is nothing wrong with striving for success in this world. There is nothing wrong with having an ambition to be Prime Minister. In fact, we need to encourage more people to strive to be better in all walks of life. Success doesn’t mean you have to be a business leader or even a Prime Minister. Success can come in many forms. But if you are really good at what you do, be it a wonderful parent, an inspiring leader, a carer or simply a street sweeper if you are the best you can be you will inspire others and people will want to follow your lead. I want the most important person in the country to be successful. I want them to inspire others to seek to be leaders. I fail to understand why anyone would will them to fail and to attack them for having ambition and believing in themselves. Judge them on results not on wanting to achieve high office. That simply smacks of envy. 

I thought this article summed it up really well. Have you always suspected you were born to rule, but never officially been tested?

https://studentedge.com.au/article/5-signs-born-to-be-boss

At the risk of sounding perhaps a tad New Age, Malcolm Turnbull is simply fulfilling his destiny and there is nothing wrong with believing you were born to lead. The question is, will he be a good leader. An inspiring leader and one who helps to leave the country and us in better shape than we are now. A leader who helps create opportunities for the country and us as individuals. A leader that inspires the kids of today to fulfill their destiny and to believe they can lead the country one day. That’s the real challenge for him and the questions for us. Smart people will be asking those questions the losers will continue with the slurs, but we’ve come to expect that. 

“Winners and losers, leaders and followers, those who celebrate and encourage success and those who envy”.  I know what team I’m on and I make no apology for it and neither should Malcolm Turnbull. I don't particularly like him, but I certainly don't condemn him for having ambition and belief in himself. I hope for our sake he is the very best Prime Minister we have ever had. 

Have We Forgotten that Labor Is The Opposition?

When Tony Abbott lost the leadership of the LNP back in September I had mixed feelings. I don’t believe I am in any way unique in not gaining any joy out of witnessing someone's downfall. On the other hand, it was obvious to anyone other than the rusted on, that there was something badly amiss within the party room and within the electorate when it came to support of Tony Abbott. So, whilst I was saddened by Mr Abbott’s downfall, I was also relieved that something had happened and I was looking forward to the LNP gaining the upper hand once more. 

I had no idea how Tony Abbott would respond, what he would do and how he would conduct himself after the shock of being dumped had worn off. I was delighted when he came out and stated that he would not snipe or white-ant and that he would continue to work in the best interests of the party. He even encouraged people to get behind the Turnbull Government. So how disappointing that he has very quickly plummeted to the level of chief sniper attacking in particular Scott Morrison and Julie Bishop. Two people who were  loyal to him despite a working relationship that become more and more problematic after the February aborted spill. 

I’ve recently become a fan of the ABC program Kitchen Cabinet. My ABC viewing is restricted to dramas, but a friend suggested I watch the Ricky Muir appearance on Kitchen Cabinet so I did. It was enlightening. Hence, I’ve been working my way through past episodes on iView ever since. Last week, I watched the Bob Hawke episode. He made a comment that stuck in my mind because it reminded me of Tony Abbott. It was, “You have to have the capacity to hate to be a good opposition leader. You have to have the ability to bash the government.” I think that was a pretty good description of Tony Abbott and few would deny I suspect that he was an extremely good opposition leader. Bob Hawke went on to say that, that doesn’t always make you a good government leader. 

Tony Abbott was a very effective opposition leader but he was not a good Prime Minister, so perhaps Bob Hawke as right. Great opposition leaders do not make good leaders of government. Tony Abbott was warned, about his leadership. He did not heed the warning. He chose not to do what was necessary to fix some of the challenges he faced. He alone did that. He was removed. 

Now we find that Tony Abbott is the one who is sniping despite declaring he wouldn’t. He now claims he doesn’t remember discussions with people. People within his own ministry who were trying to help and indeed warn him. Given the circumstances, it’s almost beyond comprehension that Tony Abbott has no recollection. No one else is claiming they don’t recall, only him. Does Mr Abbott’s apparent loss of memory explain his reliance on Peta Credlin and his insistence that she attend all meetings and functions?  Does he suffer from a retention problem?  It might explain some of the behaviour that others struggled with. 

That aside, it is time to move on. I don’t want t see a repeat of the first nine months of 2015. The country needs the government to get on and do its job. If there are people in Canberra including Mr Abbott who can’t and who are intent on sniping and destabilising then they need to get out and to let those who are focused on fixing up the mess do it. Labor is the opposition, let's not forget that.