University College Cork asked me to deliver a lecture on “The Irish as Cultural Middleware”. It was part of the MBS, Asian Studies – a masters degree imagined by the Farmleigh Fellowship. China’s President Xi visiting Ireland shortly before his appointment. “Cultural Middleware” was a line I used in a speech some years earlier that grabbed … More The Irish as Cultural Middleware
Serendipity fascinates me. Spotify’s biggest plus is that it allows you to bump into great music. Playlists put together by artists are catalysts for this process. Here are a few I recommend – send me great playlists you have bumped it – Unkle – Amanda Palmer -Beck – Ron Sexsmith -Tricky – … More Spotify Artists’ Playlists
< here is my response to an email I get roughly once a month….> Hi xxxxxx, My first response is that business plans are absolute pants for start-ups. If your venture is based on 80%+ known-knowns, clearly articulated business drivers and risks, then a business plan is for you. In that case, with some certainty … More “Hey Frank, what’s the best Business Plan software?”
The first person to introduce the term “Entrepreneur” in its modern sense was an Irish economist. Richard Cantillon was born in County Kerry, moving to France at the start of the 18th Century. He viewed entrepreneurs not as disruptive forces but as agents of equilibrium. Change for the better moves us constantly towards equilibrium – … More Richard Cantillon and disruption
Europe is such a rich tapestry, so many cultures so many tastes,so many places and people to get to know. For most the Balkans is not likely to be on their shortlist for a family holiday. What an amazing world they are missing!! One of the amazing things about travel is just how little you … More Balkan Tour – August 2012
Hi, Congratulations on your first job after college. You asked for some advice so here goes…. First, business development is about creating value for customers. It is not about amassing money or information. A sale is made when you can articulate a win-win outcome to a customer You must believe they are getting more value than … More Advice to a recent Business Graduate
I have known Breda O’Brien for over 25 years. I find quite a few of her positions hateful. Without exception on all of the social justice referenda I have campaigned against her positions. Breda and her other half Brendan Conroy are two of the most loving and good people I have met in life. … More Breda O’Brien
