People in business
I've just completed a 14,000 word private report to shareholders on a company I invested into a few years ago, Ormita Australia Ltd. It took out just over 100 hours out of my pretty busy life to attend a Special Shareholders Meeting meeting (in Wellington), then do a lot of research and write up my takings.
It was a very interesting experience, possibly a total waste of time, but something that I felt needed to be done. The sort of thing that you do, because if you don't, nobody else will do it, and people could suffer down the track as a result if you don't. I found some scary things!
Basically to me, the company pretty much looks in deep doo-doo because of a director who is arguably a pretty loose cannon. He thinks he's on firm ground in virtually everything he's said and done, but I have my doubts and am pretty sure there is stuff just waiting to come out and catch up with them all. They're certainly facing legal action just around about the time they are trying to launch their new brand, and the director actually seems to want litigation (as he says, so I can sue the a*** off them). Crazy!
One of the big lessons I learned from the experience was the importance of doing things right, legally that is, in terms of company law, shareholders meetings and at the companies office. With Go Kiwi Internet in growth mode and more people getting involved in its finances and running of the company, this was a timely reminder for me to make sure things are done right. There's nothing seriously wrong in anything we've done but you can't be too careful in these things as I've found with researching Ormita.
The other thing that was reinforced for me in the process was the importance of people in business. Without people, we don't have a business. Business is always people doing business with people. The director of Ormita really has difficulties with people, and is a dead-cert conflict creator, so the business will always suffer with conflict as a result, until he moderates his approach and learns to deal with people. You can never please all the people all the time, but you really can't expect to run a successful business if you do your own thing and don't work constructively with others. I actually like the guy. I know that he's got some "issues" but he's fine to talk to once he has calmed down and stops threatening to sue you. Most people will take it the wrong way however and he seems to make a habit of blowing relationships.
I find it interesting that just at the very time that I delve into Ormita's business dealings, that I've simultaneously been in discussions with Bartercard, their direct opposition. You couldn't get a more different style if you tried. We had some issues with Bartercard staff not honouring an agreement we had with them from a few years ago and I took the matter up with the head of ponch of Bartercard, a guy Paul Bolte.
Straight-up, no hassle, he simply says to me, "If we've got an agreement with you, we'll honour it. Send me a copy" which I did. Now I've yet to get an apology from them and the matter isn't properly sorted out yet, but the difference in style between the two organisations is remarkable. My prediction is that Bartercard will go from strength to strength with that integrity in leadership, and Ormita will go . . . well, it might be gone by lunchtime, so-to-speak!
Another thing is that it is so easy to get into a conflict situation when you stand up and tell it the way it is. When there are factions and people who have agendas, and positions to justify, and there are porkies and white lies and games being played instead of being open and honest about things, the situation can get pretty messy. It was like trying to be the referee in a boxing match where both fighters have no hesitation to whack the referee if they want to!
Sad, but at the end of the day there are people out there who, in the Ormita directors own words "hate me" and who think that I've made a fool of myself by shooting straight. As I said, I guess you can't please them all the time.
So remember - it is people who make a business what it is, not just systems.
Tagwords: business, people, ormita, bartercard
Blog
The Samoa Files:
Mistrust Breeds PovertyVictoria's House
Diary of a visionary
Why does it happen?
Politics & Power in Paradise
The Product - Sunday in Samoa
44 snippets from Samoa
Shower 'em with Love
Just a liitle bit of evil
Force be with you
Value Adding
Fourth Sector
Christian Motivation
Cultural challenges
The Tala Talks
Fundraising Samoa-style
They're born to steal
Pressure to pick winners
Some of the best
To Church or not
The Five Tala Picture
Earthquake Fear Understood
Tsunami impact
Sunday Statistics
Racism Challenges in Paradise
Firsts in Samoa
Ethical Dilemmas
Yes I Love Samoa
Marketing Samoa
Worshipping a Culture
Tsunami Impact
Social Security
Spending money is hard work
The Samoa Solution
Sustainability
Sunday Fun
In God's Name
A land of contrasts
Passionate people
Second phase giving
Latest Gossip:
Facebook is alive and wellA challenging month
9H is underway
Airport Lounge underway
Savaii
SWAP Team going strong
SWAP HQ up and running
Exploring opportunities
A week in Samoa
Farewell Drinks
Recent Blog Posts:
My Most Favouritist PlaceObservations on sin
The Other Worlds
It's all about relationship
Brendan Battles spamming again
Warning: XO, Ozone, Ormita etc
Real power is not 87.4%
Samoa after the Tsunami
Samoa Stories
Rachel Understands
6-6-6 is not always evil
Gamble big or Fai fai lemu
Forty Valuable Lessons Learned
Intelligent Investment Advice
That's what mates are for
The Tall Poppy Syndrome
FUM - Fresh Unique Meaningful
Problems are Opportunities
Sloppy Global Warming Journalism
The personality of a paper bag
The chicken or the web?
Brendan Battles
Seeing red over 2talk & Action
Some of us are just born to lead
Steelers muscle a sixth Superbowl
People in business
Called Out
When learning occurs
Good debtor management
Internet UNMASKED!! Roadshow
Labelled Conservative
DomainMasters
Kwik-Az Updating CMS
Rent-a-Dent rollout
Digital Development Forum
Lipstick On A Pig
TGIF - PDF Newspaper
Gifted Education Political Meeting
Open Letter - Gifted Education Mtg
Collaboration