Resolving Differences – Odds & Ends 52 Most conflicts are usually the result of misunderstandings or poor communication.          Clashes in the workplace are often due to personality differences, or jealousies.          Aim to improve communication. Try to explain and discuss developments before they become a problem. A hand full of tips to help resolve…

WALNUTS – Odds & Ends 51 The last time I visited Taranaki I called in to visit the house I had built on the outskirts of New Plymouth. I was surprised and delighted to see walnuts lying on the lawn. My father had given me that tree when I was living there sometime in the…

Write to be read.           Having 100 editions of my books published by 31 publishers, in 18 countries, and in 11 languages people often call to ask me to share my writing tips. I am always happy to tell people how I write, but we all have different styles.           Never forget most people are…

Nothing really endures except change. Disregard those who say; “It’s been done before” or “It cannot be done!” All the more reason to do it again and do it better – conditions change.           Management is about making things happen and this means making changes.           Changes are seldom smooth. Powerful forces are at work…

        Recently a granddaughter asked me what things had stressed me out the most. This was a good question and one worthy of much thought.         Going into the unknown was a good starting point.         When I first left home at the age of sixteen to work on farms as a farming cadet I…

When living in Bangkok we use to joke about going into hospital with one complaint and coming out with another.       Well that’s what happened to me in New Zealand. I went into hospital with a cracked hip bone and came out a month later with a chest infection. Having said that I couldn’t fault…

         As we age we have time to look back. Recently a son asked what was my greatest achievement.          A hard question to answer and worthy of consideration.          Perhaps my greatest achievement was a successful marriage. Some other achievements were:-j)          I finished my schooling at the age of 16 without a qualification.…

We are all visitors to this planet. Some of us stay longer than others, but our stay is short.          It’s a great pity people get put out to pasture when they are at the peak of their knowledge and work life, and a new crop of youngsters come on to make the same mistakes…

I have turned 98 and realize I haven’t long to live. It comes as a shock but I have had an amazing life. I now have time to take stock and wonder what the future will bring for our grandchildren.           The biggest problem with the world today is too many people. Numbers have been…

Once upon a time we had a Soil Bureau for mapping and researching the soils of New Zealand, run by DSIR (Dept. of Science & Industrial Research). It was closed down.          Then we had the Soil and Water Division of the Ministry of Works. They had engineers, advisers, and even a nursery for growing…