Ireland 2010

In the last two weeks we have been speaking to our customers all around the country.
Mostly they are small business owners, shops, garages, wholesale, in the service industry, etc etc.

Following these contacts, I am much more positive about the future of our country.
The people I spoke to are grafters. Long hours are the norm. There is a growing confidence among them.
It is a confidence which stems from an acknowledgement of their own ability, determination and commitment. It is an internal thing, influenced by, but not determined by those who govern. This is what gives me confidence in the future of our country.

There is no doubt but that these people, and their like, are the patriots of today.

The past ten years or so have seen a huge growth in management systems, ISO 9000 /22000/45000, HACCP, FEMAS, etc. Along with this development came a raft of legislation controlling the minutiae of business.
So much management time is spent in managing systems, recording information, filling forms, sending reports, preparing for audits, carrying out corrective action, reporting on the corrective action, signing off, signing on etc etc.
There is not enough time or energy left for managing the business.

And all the while, the little people were toiling away, managing the details, the "big" people drove our economy into a bog hole.
And who will rescue this country.........its the little people..........but maybe this time we need to look up occasionally to see which direction the ship is pointed, and take the necessary corrective action.