I am now on my way home from the 32nd Sir Winston Scott Memorial Lecture titled "Making Globalization Work for Developing Countries delivered by Professor Joseph Stiglitz Nobel Prize Laureate and University Professor Columbia University, New York. Professor Stigiltz is known for his work in Economics and has been a part of the Clinton Administration. It was clear of how well know he was when I entered the Hall 10 mins before his lecture and could not find a seat!
Also the present Min. Of Trade of Barbados Dame Bille Miller had sent Prof. Stigilitz book to the Central Bank's Govenor lobbying for him to be the man to come and speak for this lecture and flew non stop from Uganda to be in the Hall to hear this lecture.

This lecture is given as the highlight of the Barbados Central Bank outreach program, and occur just days ahead of Barbados Independence.

Let me take the time out to thank the central bank for making it all freeee!!!! Along with the cocktail reception after featuring Mr Johnnie Walker Red himself along with red & white wine and everything in between. Also with shrimp, conkies, chicken... Lol yeah...they know how to do it!!!!

Main Event
The main event was of course Professor Joseph Stigiltz lecture. I have to commend the Professor on making the subject matter digestible for a guy like me who is just enlightening himself to the financial world. I was fearful that the vocabulary alone of this Nobel Prize Winner would have been over my head. Thankfully I was able to follow.

Alrite so let me capture for you a few of the points to good professor made which stick out in my head.

There is a problem with globalization its I really not working out as we have expected. A lot of developing countries are seeing a great disparity in its advantages and disadvantages. The developing countries are not growing they are not seeing the grow patterns they have been accustomed to before globalisation. Brazil for example moved from recording 5 % growth as a standard to bringing a position where they think 3 % us phenomenal !

Mindsets have not changed,
Initially it was colonism and now its just globalization.

It is not that globalization is a bad thing but its just that managed badly,

Wealth if flowing from the poorer countries to the more developed countries.

And this is for several reasons but the main reason is that the 'free trade' agreements we 'negoitate' are

1. Not really free trade agreements because they are designed to help the developed countries (USA and the EU) as these countries use their expertise in the different disciplines to put 'fine print' in the agreements which the developing countries don't understand.
For example drug companies in the US who fund political campaigns request certain consessions to be negoitated and the US Trade minister go to developing countries and negoitiate these, which ends up causing the drugs to cost 10 times as much to the developing countries. In Short with these agreements the developing countries do not win.

2. These agreements are not really negotiated its a take it or else I will cut your funding etc. attitude the developed Countries come in with.

He gave the example of Mexico and NAFTA where NAFTA. What was happening was that America was having a lot of Mexican migrants because the disparity in income over the border was so great. So NAFTA was supposed to enhance conditions in Mexico so there would be no need for the Mexican people to migrate to America, however because of chapter 11 the situation in Mexico actually declined. What happened because of Chapter 11, was that the American corn farmers who were given 50% of their revenue by the American government via incentives, were now competing with the Mexcan Famers. And obviously they took over the Mexican market with cheaper corn, and in the end the farmers ended up being poorer.
Clearly the American's bebefitted and the Mexicans didn't. And we can all figure that out today.

He did make the point that Mexico should have spend more time in research and development allowing themselves to develop competitive products for the global market place, so that they could make some use of the free trade agreement to
Remain competive and compete with cheap goods being made in China and exported to the USA for example.

He also made the point that the developed countries make the point to divide and conquer the smaller nations by making unilateral agreements with each developing state individually.

He thinks that developing countries should pull together to increase bargaining power and enhance their ability to negoitiate better arrangements.

Another example that stuck out in my mind was bangledesh. He said USA made a 'free trade' agreement with Bangeldesh, where they were alllowed to export 97% of all products produced to the American people. Sounds like a great deal right? Well wrong, by this deal Bangeldesh was only allowed to export things like Jet Engines in that 97 % but that 3 % they were not allowed to export the things they actually had which were textiles etc.

Free Movement of Capital Vs Free movement of Labour

He said we were allowing capital to move and not labour, but would should be allowing labour to move. Because by allowing capital/investment to move the issue becomes more about what is the best deal.
The consideration is not for the other things like enviroments issues but just how can we get the lowest price.
If labour was moving the government would have to spend time making sure that they have things in place like proper health care, working conditions etc, so that they can attract the best labour force.

Climate is changing

He was saying that we are now a part of a global country now where economic crisis USA is having impact on developing countries even though there is not a direct link.
Also as issues like global warm affect everyone in the world, a new wave of thinking is forming where USA and the EU are beinging to appreciate the role developing countries play in their future and the future of the world. And they are beginining to appreciate the need for democracy in the international society rather than their present mood of operation where Trade Ministers are given a list of consessions they go out try to solicit.
I think the best example he gave of this, was the fact that we should all make payments to those countries which provide the world with air via rainforest. I think this was my highlight of the night. Essentially the Prof was saying we should commit resources to combatting the serious threat of global warming by ensuring the rainforests are protected in these developing countries. Wow, such a simple solution just based on a matter of perspective. The rainforest is important to all of us. I mean think about it, you are breathing now right? How much would pay to keep your life? It affects us all!

The question is only whether we make changes before or after a crisis, and hopefully it won't be after in a patch work way which will just pace the way for another crisis later.

As another area he talked about Intellectual property.
He said intellectual property mechanisms in US is stiffilling creativity. And it is this mechanism America sold to the world.
He made the example that the USA government took over the legal battles over patents for the aeroplanes so that they would be ready for World War 1.

He used Microsoft as an example where they crush innovation by their way of operation.

Knowledge is like a candle, when you light a candle is does not diminsh the light from the first candle. Thomas Jefferson

This is how we need to treat intellectual property so that we can move the world forward.

Well it is now 1:43 am, I am going to stop now.
I trust that this captures the main points of the lecture and offers some level of enlightenment to you, if you missed it.

PS. Besides the food the cocktail reception was an excellent networking opportunity.

CG 2.0
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"if you strip away all the creativity, money and riches we are all human beings having a human experience" R. Kelly

Recently I have been confronted with the realities of how fragile life is from a mere cold to death.

Its really made me stop to ask myself if I have been taking the time to truly enjoy my days rather than just endure them. Treasuring life in the most simple things.

I had to ask myself am I creating the kind of environment around me to alllow for this to happen.

I know I really treasure harmonious interactions, but I found myself questioning myself. How much time and energy have I been investing to make this happen?

I asked myself -
Those annoying habits you quietly endure?
You feeling too tired to be there when it really matters?
Setting up your people for disappointment by making promises you might not keep?
Are you honest with them about the way you are feeling?

I kept thinking about all the other things that would make my life enjoyable and not something I just endure
And I realise that, to relieve stress, confusion and fustration that cause life to be just endurable has a lot to do with who you are.

I realise that now that I am on my way to the person I want to be and my life seems so much sweeter. As I looked around and I measured up myself I realised there is still much I need to do to get to where I want to be.

I realise life is not perfect in terms of what can happen to us. death, sickness, accident etc. However our quality of life is totally in our hands, delivered to us by our daily decisions, reactions to situations and habits we develop. Corey Graham 2.0

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This has certianly been a topic and has not received a fair share of my cerebral activity over my existance.

My attitude has always been well I going and do this and then that and then money going to be around there.

I never did give lot of thought to the ideas that represent economics and finances etc.

When you are in go to school and get a good job philosophy, if you are not actually studying this topic you have no idea about it!

My thoughts on money is nowhere near finished. However since I was 10 I appreciated that money was developed so that we won't have to keep trading an apple for a coconut or a chair for shirt.
Money therefore was something we agreed upon which made things simpler.

Now something I picked up from negoitiating is that the value of something is relative to the person. I not a person that would do very much with a cookbook, but give me a book on photography! I spend up to $40 US on 1 photography already.

Now I realise that as marketing gets better and better alot of cool great stuff will be at our finger tips. And there will be no shortage of things to buy!
Its what we are all doing looking to develop products to buy.
So think about it really think. Maybe the world might go back to a place where money is obsolete!!
And we trade goods and services?

What do you think?
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If you have been following my Blog you would easily realise the spaces between posts, and I would have mentioned some increase in responsibilities.

I even had one nite where I was feeling pressure on my coming from different directions !! Stress!

I quickly realised that it was partly because I was keeping all the little niggling things to list in my head. And I would keep processing them, which keep the fear of not getting them done or forgetting them altogether very alive.
Needless to say when you are confronted by promises you made and they never materialize, whether at home or at work or to a friend. It really can play tricks on your mind - you quickly feel burdened, worried, some stripes from your self confidence seem to whither away, vanish completely.
And for those of use gung ho very confident people who know how to protect or regain our self confidence. There is still the problem of
- ratings
- reputation
- legacy
- strain on the relationship (professional or personal) that plague us.

I found www.todoist.com and found that I was able to jot down things which took them out of my head and onto a list were I didn't have to worry about remember.
I found I was lighter, freer. In some cases far more productive because I could find a list of small things that too me 30 mins or less and really turned around some projects and help me out of the phase of putting out fires all the time, and in a place to proactive in all areas of life.
This quickly though became a little unmanageable it was just a 2 dimensional way of looking at things. The things to be done were either in Project 1, 2 or 3. And I couldn't use it on my blackberry.

That is when I stumbled upon Todomatrix by www.REXwireless.com. The really spent some time working on Todomatrix and you can see that from their white paper.
http://www.rexwireless.com/bestpractices/todomatrix_best_practices1f.pdf

They basically created a system that can support GTD (www.davidco.com) and Franklin Covey (http://www.franklincovey.com) time management paradigms. Not one or the other as mutually exclusixe philosophies, but synergistically. And giving birth to 1 other area neither philosophy addresses directly

At the same time keeping todomatrix very flexible to your personal style and even situation. Not all of us might have an office for example...
NOW by their standard you don't just look at task by project or the time due but by in 7 dimensions

Place - where is this task to be done, on the phone, in the car, in the office, at the computer?
Level of importance - which quadrant is it in? Important and urgent? Important but not urgent? Not important but urgent ? And not urgent and not important?
Role - what is your role brother or sister? manager? Friend? Son or daughter?
Delegates - who is to work on the task.

After giving it a trial, I bought the software and I'll let you know how it goes. They say it takes 12 months to really get into it, and the real rewards are apparent 2 years after. But so far my mind is a little clearer, so I am looking forward to an even clearer mind.

Let me know of your own thoughts in terms of time/task management. I never really did a whole lot of it till now! Well outside my head that is.

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Corey Graham 2.0

This is a little marketing slogan I coined after looking forward into 2008.

Its really just saying that I am expecting to be more diverse and multi faceted come 2008.
It might sound cocky. You know not really, let me start at the beginning!

Scrolling Through my Calendar
It was a mixture of the just scrolling through my calender one day, just looking to anticipate things that might come my way. Christmas and then new years, then Carnival in TT......

I stopped to recall last year this time.
.... I was just starting into photography and becoming known next thing I knew... by the end of Christmas I had taken the photo of 90 % of the people on my msn. And no not just in a party or fete. It almost anywhere!
I has just gotten passionate about photography and my life was transforming..

Then .. Boom I was at carnival and out there meeting old friends and enjoying myself... And getting ready to fly higher than high in High definition ... No no not sing along with machel.
I mean fly!
Next thing I was full time with BoomTribe....
Then editing video...
Then I had a gf
Then producing a TV ad

Then my camera goes dead! The flow stopped right no it didn't!
I just got into more video, and more editing
And wait I was giving others tips about photography
Along the way too I picked up some great friends
Helped others prosper, chicken and beer
Oh wait how could I forget... This Blog
I spawned a series of blogs
Then I was into a bit of managing people
Wait a taste of project management,
A taste of teamwork
Then some marketing and adding of responsibility.

Wow, at one point I was scared I was not sure where to stop, and stake my claim, so many areas! Worried sick?
Who are you Corey?

Then I looked at 2007 goals and I was like wow! Wait I am Going where I wanted to go? Let me look at 2006 wow the same thing?

Then I looked back at 2008 and I got so excited! I now have a habit for Change, a track record and I will take it to the next level. I am so excited.
I had a headache a few days ago and in 1 second of getting excited about 2008 and beyond it disappeared my head was clear!!
Don't thing it was all perfect! They were some hard lessons, listening to lots of motivational speakers. It a lot of effort!
But I am doing it......

So this 2008 look out for

Corey Graham 2.0

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