A year is a long time

Category: Editorial

They say that a week is a long time in politics. Well a year is a long time in business. The Brefi Group financial year ends on 30 September and I have been surprised to realise what we have achieved in the last twelve months. When I am dealing with clients who say they can't cope with change, I used to get them to think about life before fax machines (do many people even use fax machines thes days?) or mobile phones. More recently, it is sobering to appreciate how much and how recently the Internet has affected our lives. It creeps in slowly and unnoticed. But, stop and think. How many things do you do that use the Internet, and which you didn't do a year or so ago? It will help you realise how much of life changes – and what an exciting time we live in.

It is useful to review a year, if only to stimulate higher sights for next year. During the last year Brefi Group has developed a complete new set of promotional material, launched our new website and had our first ever exhibition stands at major conferences. We have also launched BuddyCoach with 360° feedback, we have developed and launched the 90-MinuteLearning series of training programmes, supported by ByetsizedLearning and recruited our first members of the Brefi Network. Even CorporateCoach has changed – it is now available as a blog, with an RSS feed.

One of my targets is four overseas trips a year. This year I have achieved six, including presenting a paper at a major conference in Dubai.

On a more personal basis, I have consolidated my networking impact in Birmingham by being appointed a director of Birmingham Forward and chairman of the Transport Consultative Group. I have been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and, in spite of my overseas absences, a dry summer and the rabbit population, had my best vegetable crop ever. Where a role model is concerned, my father has reached 93 years old and still bright.

October is a time to look forward, and we have more technology, content and community developments in the pipeline. I hope you will stay with us.

October is also Ramadan, and we at Brefi Group send our best wishes to our Muslim readers and, in particular, those in Arab countries whom we have met during the year. Peace, health and prosperity be with you.

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Royal Society of Arts