Breadline Britain: Vince Cable, Economics and Rock’n’Roll

I had the good fortune to meet The Rt. Hon. Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills the other week, where we discussed economics (but no sex or Rock’n’Roll )  The recent public sector strikes and the general mood of the nation reminded me of Jimmy Sommerville’s 1980’s classic “Breadline Britain”, hence the title of this blog:

During the meeting I discussed the thoughts of Evan Davis on the economy with Mr Cable.  I had met Evan a few weeks before, where he pointed out that the UK needs to create some new engines of growth in areas that other countries would (a) find hard to copy and (b) would give the UK export potential.  Vince broadly agreed with my suggestion that we don’t need a ‘nation of more tanning rooms and burger bars’, which largely consume wealth and have no export potential.  Of course, a shrinkage in the low value service sector and / or the public sector is deeply unpopular, but it does rather seem an inevitable consequence of some sound economic analysis.  We’ll see what happens now that we live in a rock’n’roll economy …

Cable but no Wireless - Vince Cable Rocks the Institute of Directors

We also discussed the slimming down of red tape in business.  I was delighted to present Vince with a copy of ‘Punk Rock People Management’, which I described as “perhaps the shortest white paper on simplifying business ever written”.  Being known for his unusually straightforward views, Vince was amused by the idea of being able to read a chapter in less time that it would take to pogo to a Sex Pistols song on Strictly Come Dancing.

So, it was a great meeting in the wonderful setting of Leeds Castle.  What an absolute coup for the Institute of Directors, who hosted the event.  All kudos to them for doing this.

What to finish this post with?  Well since a friend mixed Vince Cable up with Vince Clarke of Erasure, I guess we should go with one of their fine Essex based economical synth pop pieces – perhaps a call to some politicians who have lost Mr  Cable’s connection with ordinary people – “A Little Respect”:

To get your FREE copy of Punk Rock People Management or book a masterclass – either give Vince Cable a call or get in touch via the Punk Rock People Management webpage

Don’t cry for me Argentina – Should leaders be allowed to rock out?

Introducing Argentina’s soon to be Rock’n’Roll Vice President.  Amado Boudou rides a Harley-Davidson and relaxes by jamming with rock stars.  He also follows in a long line of Rock’n’Roll leaders – Junichiro Koizumi, Japan’s reformist President and heavy metal addict, Tony Blair, Ted Heath, Bill Clinton, David Blunkett and so on.

Bill blowin' his business horn

So, why am I writing about Mr Boudou?  It seems that his lifestyle has become the focus of debate concerning his competence to handle the country’s economic affairs.  This is encapsulated in the comment “We want a minister, not a guitar player”

I find this bizarre.  Some people delight in picking out minor aspects of someone’s lifestyle and generalise that it adversely affects their competence to do their chosen job.  I’m wondering if a similar reaction would have occurred if the media had pointed out that Winston Churchill suffered from depression?  This is not confined to politicians.  Some years ago a senior HR colleague working for the Police confided in me for some career advice.  In his spare time he ran a disco and his boss had told him to stop running it if he wanted to get on.  Why is this stuff so threatening to those in authority?

In defence of his hobby, Amado Boudou has pointed out that “Rock helps me communicate directly with the people because rock doesn’t lie, and people are fed up with lying politicians”.  Unfortunately, he is right.  If I had to choose between a cold analyst and a competent economist with a soul, I know which one I would choose as a leader.  The people who lead need to brilliant technicians of their chosen disciplines, plus they need to have humility and soul to engage their followers.  It’s a theme I explore in the book ‘Sex, Leadership and Rock’n'Roll’.

Leadership with Soul and Attitude

So, should we allow Amado Boudou to keep his hobby?  Post your thoughts on why leaders should or should not be allowed to have a life or a hobby.

The title of the post reminds me of Madonna’s take on politics from the film Evita.  Any excuse for a bit of Madge!

Can rappers save us from macro-economic ruin?

I was struck by a fascinating piece of video that digests 200 years of economic history through the power of rap music. Now, words like John Maynard Keynes, Schumpeter, fiscal control and the economic theory of the firm are not part of the normal rapper’s lexicon, so I was intrigued. Check the video out:

Lest we forget, here are the main arguments: John Maynard Keynes is the economist responsible for the currently popular belief in the western world that we should intervene to find our way out of economic recessions and depressions. His thinking has been at the centre of banking bail outs and the use of quantitative easing as a mechanism for recovery.

The Austrian, Friedrich August Hayek argued for classical liberalism and free market capitalism. In other words, markets should be freed to find their own level, using the price mechanism as a means of spontaneous organisation. Keynes was not keen on Hayek’s idea that self organisation and a more organic approach could replace an interventionist outlook with strong planning.  And so the economics pendulum swings.

Joseph Schumpeter argued that Keynes’s ideas expressed “the attitude of a decaying civilisation”. He saw Keynes’s approach as short-termist and unable to consider the economic problems of other nations. In a global village, it is certainly true that we are at the mercy of other economies’ troubles. Does that however mean we should lay down and pretend to be dead when boom turns to bust? This was predicted as early as 1974 by pop art group 10 CC with their stern warning ‘Wall Street Shuffle’:

So, who can we trust to lead us into a new world economy? If seems that, if you laid all the academic economists in the world end to end, they would not reach a conclusion. More of the same is likely to lead us into a debt fuelled prison. Is it time to mix macro-economics with a bit of sociology, courtesy of the rappers and systemic mappers?

Women, money, devil worship and bohemia

An unusual request came in recently from the Local Government Information Unit – they have asked us to run an event for Chief Executives on how to save money without costing the earth.  I have done a few jobs for Public Services over the years but never been asked to help civil servants do uncivilised things to themselves, such as making cuts.  Clearly, we will not be using guitars for this one and it is the realm of our serious day job at Human Dynamics.  I am aware from personal experience that Public Services can sometimes find it hard to make the joined up cuts that actually help them deliver services more effectively, preferring to make ‘easier’ cuts that look good on paper, but which damage efficiency and effectiveness overall.  One Council I know has recently sacked a load of receptionists.  Seems OK?  Unfortunately, it now takes people 15 minutes to get into the building with the huge impact on wasted time etc.

Anyway, on a less serious note, I have been asked to launch The Business Women’s Network in a few locations in the coming months.  Somewhat strangely, they have asked me to speak on ‘Sex, Love, Relationships and Rock’n'Roll’.  I would have thought that they would be much more clued up on business relationships than us men.  Anyway, we’ll see.

Finally, I had a day in the studio with Bernie Torme the other day – Bernie is a lovely chap with a fantastic high end studio in a beautiful location in Kent.  He has played with Ozzy Osbourne, the prince of darkness and Ian Gillan of Deep Purple.  Bernie is available as part of our Musical Experiences portfolio and we shared many interesting stories about the bizarre business of Rock’n'Roll.

And finally, showcasing a great young talent – The amazing Sam Laming, who plays a range of medieval instruments and famously offers a rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody on the Ukelele.  We will be incorporating Sam in our Musical Experience events in castles, dungeons and Holiday Inns around the world in the coming months.