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Rejecting Israel and Jerusalem for the wrong reasons

20 September 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Israel, Jerusalem

When people oppose Israel, are they doing it for the right reasons? Consider these two examples: –

  • President Mahmoud Abbas has defended the recent stabbings by Palestinians against Israelis in Jerusalem as a legitimate response to Israel’s oppression. The problem is that this argument justifies a continuance of hostilities against innocent people.
  • Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition in the UK Parliament, grudgingly believes that Israel has a right to exist under the 1948 borders. Yet, he fails to appreciate that these geographical divisions were never recognised in international law and never allowed Jews the right to pray at the Western Wall.

There comments are typical of the many criticisms to be found by political leaders and others, littered across the internet.

Now let us reconsider the events of yesterday, 19th September 2016, in Jerusalem. Yes, there were numerous attacks by Palestinians on Israelis throughout the day. And yet, while all that was happening…………

Around lunchtime, I had a medical appointment. The surgery is located in an ultraorthodox area, about a ten minute walk  from the Old City of Jerusalem. I was treated by an Arab doctor, possibly a Christian.

But that is the point. Nobody asks or needs to know his religion or political views. You live together, despite the incitement of a small vocal minority on both sides.

Then later on that evening, I took part in a half marathon around the city. We weaved our way around different neighourhoods, looking at historical sites going back over 5,000 years. It was a joy. I think the first across the line was an Ethiopian, (predictably?). Again, it was an event open to all.

Israel has is faults, as do all of the other 200 or so countries around the globe, but not as described above.

So I have to ask: Just what are the likes of Abbas and Corbyn objecting to? Why do they need to peddle such falsities? What is their true agenda? For up to now they seem to be spreading hate rather than the bible of peace when it comes to the holy city of Jerusalem.

Palestinian economy, Autumn 2016 – beyond the rhetoric

16 September 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem, Palestinians

For decades, Palestinian leaders have been trying to convince the world that heir economy is bankrupt, and that can only be the fault of Israel. In a year of Brexit, a bizarre American election campaign and continued global retrenchment, has that rhetoric changed. And anyway, who is still listening?

Some facts: In July of this year, an IMF team warned that overseas donations, a critical part of the numbers for the exchequer in Ramallah, were slowing down again. Israel had held up its contributions, due to the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) massive state to Jerusalem. Unemployment is 27% in the West bank and much higher in Gaza. While their is growth of over 3%, this does not cover the growing population.

The World Bank status report, released this week, also makes for depressing reading. The fiscal system is under pressure. And because there is such a disproportionately large public sector, there is a looming threat of a pensions crisis.

The problem for the Palestinians is that the world financial crisis, which continues to fizzle along, ensures that there is no longer so much spare cash available for international aid. In parallel, the competing crisis of refugees from Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East has demanded that large sums be set aside for them.

Add into that equation the continuous flow of stories and rumours about corruption and mismanagement within the Palestinian leadership, and what do you end up with? Less funding!

Even the notoriously conservative thinking British government’s Department for International Development, which has handed out hundreds of millions in aid over the years, observed: “…we will work with organisations in the right way to make sure that we are delivering the right outcomes that meet our Government priorities—both peace and stability, as well as humanitarian causes.” That is Oliverian Newspeak for ‘we are reviewing the situation…you have all been warned’.

One positive factor did emerge this week. Israel and the PA finally settled their argument over how the Palestinians owe Israelis for use of their electricity and other amenities. A time schedule was established to pay off the debt, while Israel wrote off a billion shekels in back payments. Such a deal also answered the critiques, who have repeatedly claimed over the years that Israel has cut off power to the Gaza Strip.

However, the future does not look too bright. 81-year old President Abbas is clearly losing control over the West Bank. That is probably the true reason why elections there have been postponed. In addition, it is becoming horrendously apparent that Abbas will block any challenge to replace him, especially if that means the financial empires of his two sons are threatened. The Falcon Enterprise is evidently worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Whatever the true size of the Abbas family’ private fortune (and that of Hamas leaders), as the Autumn of 2016 approaches, the rhetoric of hatred directed against Israel continues unabated. Many Palestinians continue to live in poverty. And their representatives continue to prosper.

Judging the new person in the conference room? Stop right there!

12 September 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Jerusalem

Let me tell you a true story about an encounter with a new client from earlier this summer.

Based near Jerusalem, this young and petite lady is trying to kick start her business with a many trepidations and minimal commercial experience. We began to go through her immediate tasks, and one included preparing for a final exam. For her first degree, I asked? Yes, and………..

…….and also for her black belt in judo. I could not contain my surprise. Based on height and character, I had severely misjudged her. And what was I, business coach and mentor, doing jumping to conclusions so early on in the proceedings? Inwardly, I felt embarrassed.

I was reminded on the incident, while I was listening to SKY TV a couple of weeks ago. They were interviewing somebody who had spent much of the previous 12 months, trying out over 30 Olympic sports. “Wow, he must be fit,” I thought to myself.

I turned to watch the screen and found myself staring at a man in his mid 30s, lacking at least 2 limbs. And then it clicked that this was a discussion on the Para Olympics. The studio guest then let loose his parting shot:

“Don’t look at the disability. Look at the ability”.

This command applies to both the ‘normal’ person, as well as someone who may be physically impaired – all of us.

And that is the point. How often do we go into a meeting or conference room, take one look at somebody new and say to ourselves: ‘That person is a XYZ character’? Height, code dress, age, body language have ‘forced us’ to make an assessment on the spot. We may be partially right, but we frequently miss out key details.

Around 2,000 years ago, a rabbi by the name of Ben Azzai warned us not to despise people nor dismiss anything. “For there is not a man who has not his hour.” I wonder what he would have made of my female judo client.

Israel’s average wage – what it says about the Prime Minister

10 September 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem

Arguably, it has been a lousy week for Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Things began to go wrong when he negotiated a deal so that work would not take place on Tel Aviv’s new light railway structure during the Jewish Sabbath. This turned out to be a political agreement to please ultra orthodox Jewish Parliamentarians, which constituency rarely serves in the army, at the expense of soldiers trying to reach bases on time. The public backlash forced Bibi, as he is colloquially known, to transfer responsibility on to another minister.

A few days later, a building site collapsed killing 5 people. As similar tragedies came to light, it has emerged that government has neglected this industry. Contactors get away with murder, while supervisory budgets are frozen.

Amongst all the fury, the release of yet more statistics from the National Institute for Social Security has passed by unnoticed. In my view, they are no less disturbing.

Before continuing, please remember that Israel is enjoying record low levels of unemployment. High tech salaries just keep on rising.

However, it appears that half of all Israelis earn less than 6,500 nis per month, as of the end of 2014 – about US$1,650. If the average monthly wage is around 10,000 nis, then an awful lot of the country’s 8 million citizens are being left behind in the struggle for a better society.

I will leave it for government supporters to explain what is being done about this sad performance. But note, most of the key areas of support for Bibi’s Likud party now lie in the population areas along the Tel Aviv coast line. Here, the average family monthly income before tax is about 25,500 nis. The figure for Jerusalem is about 12,500 nis – over 50% less. For comparison, Haifa’s level is put at 22,901 nis.

I am stunned that such high discrepancies and how they continue unchecked. Whatever happened to the caring society? And given everything, should we really expect anything more substantial from Bibi’s team?

Is there a correct way to ‘dump’ a customer?

7 September 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem

All businesses have them. Whether you are as large as Boeing or just a shop owner, we all are faced with the client or potential customer who you just do not want to deal with. They are a pain.

These people come along in different disguises. For example:

  • They ask for one last discount, again and again.
  • They ask for price quotes on many related items, without every deciding on what they want
  • They raise irrelevant issues about the quality of the service or the product in question.
  • They compare you to your competition
  • They demand to know a breakdown of your costs, forcing you to justify your price.

And so the list goes on.

What links all of these points is that they keep nagging at you. This forces-encourages you to change your stance, just to please them. And that only leads to more exasperation.

What prompted me to write this blog was because a friend of mine in the Jerusalem area posted a plea for help yesterday. He was going through this very issue. What should they do?

Most of the responses centred around the theme of telling the potential customer to go away. If they could find a cheaper alternative elsewhere and that was what was important, so be it. Let them walk. And my friend would feel so much better, if only because he would be rid of the troublesome problem.

My work, as a business coach and mentor has led me to help out in many similar situations. I consistently argue the following two points. First, the client probably has yet to realise what they want. Therefore, especially when dealing with a customer in-the-making, a sale in unlikely to eventuate for you. They are projecting their uncertainties on to you, the seller, and thus making you feel worse than them. Both sides are now annoyed at the situation and with each other.

Second, and most important, you need to make a decision as early as possible that you neither want nor need the business. In addition, there may be future hassles as well for all you know, if this is how you have started out.

But, how should you say NO? In the above scenario, most of the advice offered was to be outright. Tell it ‘to their face’.

I argue that you should stick to your original or updated proposal. You can explain that this reflects a fair price for a great product, and that is why many others purchase from you. This allows you to maintain your pride and your branding.

The point is that you show to yourself just how professional and commercial you are. It enhances your self-confidence for when you have to face a similar ordeal, which will come along sooner or later. The alternative method, mentioned above, does not put the emphasis on you and your skills.

And you never know. Sometimes, occasionally, the customer comes back to you and apologises……..and accepts your offer! Yes, it has happened.

Why we can all do with a business coach – 3 anecdotes

1 September 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem

Almost invariably, when meeting a prospective client, they pose me the question: “Why do I need a business coach or mentor?” Usually, there is an innuendo, implying that my qualifications are not worthy of their custom.

Hmm! It is true that mentors have not spent years, negotiating exams like doctors and accountants. On the other hand they bring to the table a very special cluster of skills, which need to be understood in greater detail. Three recent stories, impacting on clients of mine in the Jerusalem area, highlight what I mean.

Let us call our ‘heroes’ Arnie, Bertie and Chrissy.

Arnie was a troublesome client. He never allowed himself to be pinned down to set meeting times. Clearly talented, he claimed he had excellent clients. And yet he was looking for help.

Progress was slow. He did begin to hail in a few new clients, as he became more time-focused. However  suddenly, after three meetings, he disappeared. And that was that for about three years…………until I read about him yesterday. He is clearly on top of his game and loving it.

My point is that I would like to think that I had a hand in ‘getting Arnie straightened out’. I had started to pose questions, where the answers required a combination of facts, strategy and some very deep soul searching.  What did he really want to do next and how? While I could see that he was finding it a struggle, evidently something eventually changed for the better within him.

Bertie is more amenable to challenging questions. Early on in our meetings, he told me how one of his own and more lucrative clients was about to end their contract. I encouraged him to look at the picture differently and then to offer an updated business model. This he did, and they were delighted with his subsequent performance.

Bertie sent me an email this week, enclosing a copy of a message of recommendation from that same client. Their business had been transformed. It looks as if they are about to re-engage him.

And then there is Chrissy, full of talents and seeking to establish a very innovative business in Israel.

Chrissy sent me an email, outlining why she felt his next avenues are blocked off to her. For example, key persons are not returning her phone calls. With no seemingly obviously connection, she went on to outline the three things that she needs to do next. “What should she do?”, she asked me in frustration.

My response was brief. I showed Chrissy how she could ignore the setbacks, and just carry out those three tasks. What had happened was that she had linked her frustrations of the past to the next set of important tasks, probably in order to procrastinate. She was doubting her abilities.

The common theme of these stories is a message for those contemplating where or not to choose a business coach. This should be a person who has the ability to see beyond what is obvious to you. That talent does not necessarily come from taking exams, but usually emerges from years of hands-on experience.

Taking Israeli technology with you – where ever you travel

30 August 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem

Israel’s Ben Gurion airport, just outside Tel Aviv, always has the most fascinating of exhibitions. This month, they have posted a montage of about 40 pictures depicting the wonders of Israeli high-tech.

Let me explain. The exhibition always resides in the obligatory walkway connecting passport control to duty free. It is very difficult to miss. The aim is to take some extra or unusual about Israel with you to where ever you travel to in the world.

I guess the picture that made me wake up was the one about bats. Creepy. It is now about five years ago that researchers at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem began to comprehend how bats have their own internal GPS system.

Reading on, what struck me was the amazing range of capabilities that have emerged in recent years from a country that is 50% desert.

And so the pictures continued. One of the last images featured Professor Sarit Kraus. She is a very observant Jew, who has an outstanding reputation in the field of intelligent computer systems – robots to us mere mortals. And that is the point. Israel looks to ensure that all – whatever your religion, social standing or physical ability – are included in this attempt to go beyond what seems impossible.

And as a postscript: Once I arrived at my destination in the UK, I found a series of amazing tweets, showing how Israel tech has leaped across borders; motor industry, curing melanoma, harvesting drinking water from the air, and much more.

Time to stop Israel being a rogue state

25 August 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem

Four critical pieces of news this week about Israel have been hidden by more important events, such as the continuous banal spats between Hilary and Clinton.

  • Yehia is nearly two years old. Born in Afghanistan with chronic heart complaints, a desperate plea from his family was picked up in Israel. Despite the lack of diplomatic relations, the child and his family were brought over to Tel Aviv in order to save his life.
  • Yasmeen is a 6 year old Syrian girl, who suffered from blood cancer. She has just spent the past six months in a hospital in Haifa and she has been cured. Can you imagine the logistics required to have allowed her to pass through the border?
  • According to a paper published on August 22 in the journal Nature Cell Biology, Israeli scientists believe that they may have discovered the causes melanoma, a horrendous form of skin cancer. This is liable to prevent countless deaths, particularly in the hot regions of the Middle East.
  • And moving away from the field of medicine, we are beginning to understand that Israel has taken water technology to a completely new level. It has created the largest reverse-osmosis desalination plant in the world. Not bad for a country that is 50% desert. Jordan already benefits and others neighbours could follow?

It is difficult to find another country like Israel that engages in such a rich source of activity, which is going to help countless others in so many ways. Certainly, this does not apply to those countries at war with Israel.

And it is that thought that reminded me of a debating incident a couple of years ago. The motion called for the house to declare Israel a rogue state, assumedly because rogue has a negative context. True, but it also means somebody who is mischievous, looking for a means to go around obstacles. And it can also imply that somebody is on their own, not necessarily for their own fault.

The motion was carried, unanimously. Everybody realised just how it applied to the positive side of Israel. However, take this logic one step further, and link it to the amazing facts I described above.

There is a concept in Jewish philosophy, dating back to the Middle Ages: “Who is the greatest hero? One who turns an enemy into a friend.” The common theme that links the above case studies is one of helping people, and this includes those who see Israel as a foe.

Far fetched? For my last item, let me remind my readers of what happened last week in Glasgow. Celtic hosted the Israeli football champions Hapoel Beersheba, who were greeted by a wave a political insults and a wall of Palestinian flags. This incitement has been referred to the European footballing authorities.

The return match was played on Tuesday in Israel. After the game, in which Celtic just came through, Brendan Rogers, the manger was full of praise for his hosts. At a press conference, he detailed how his team had been welcomed warmly.

Is it not time that other countries in the Middle East realised that Israel no longer needs to be a rogue state? Because when that happens, everyone stands to gain big time.

The BDS motorcade in Israel

20 August 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem

BDS is an international movement, promoted by leading Palestinians, that advocates the boycott and divestment of all things Israeli.

This week, SAIPS, a 12 person start up from Israel, was sold for US$75m to Ford. The idea is utilise the Israel tech for a machine learning solution and incorporate it in Ford’s vision for autonomous cars by 2021. In other words, SAIPS technology will be found on roads in nearly 200 countries within a decade.

Naturally, this takeover  is a major repudiation for the BDS campaign. What is significant is that it is not its only failure in the auto sector. For example, five years ago, Mobileye was barely known outside its lab in Jerusalem. A few weeks ago, it released news of its latest partnership, featuring the combined power houses of BMW and Intel.

Israel’s financial newspaper, “Calcalist”, has highlighted at least five other Israeli companies in the motor industry whose innovation capabilities have been sought out by international conglomerates.

  • Nexar has raised over US10m to complete its development to allow smartphones to predict and thus to prevent accidents.
  • Argus has been around for only three years. Backed by US$30m and with offices in Tokyo and Michigan, it protects a car’s computer from being hacked.
  • Valens is primarily a chip maker. With partnerships with Daimler and GM, it provides the driver video info on how to make the car more efficient.
  • Anagog, founded in 2012 and now with 15 employees, has won international awards for its sophisticated parking app.
  • Innoviz has just completed a US$9m round to provide real-time mapping and navigation for vision systems in driverless cars .

The bottom line is that BDS cannot halt this motorcade of progress. Their own leaders will be driving such technologies in years, just as they already using Intel computers, Siemens’ products, Samsung hardware and much much more. Yup, Israel is host to all of these and hundreds more leading high-tech companies.

Which leaves you to wonder just what is the point of the BDS, which happens to be supported by leading anti-semites throughout the West. Funny thing is that Henry Ford was reported to have such tendencies.

Israeli economy continues to confuse the experts

19 August 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem

It has emerged that the Israeli economy grew by nearly 3% in the first half of 2016. That means that all the gloom and gloom from earlier stats have been swept aside. In fact, this is one of the best performances in the whole of the OECD.

Moody’s liked the news and confirmed Israel’s A1 credit rating. And a week ago, S&P also commented favourably on Israel’s financial status. So it seems as if everything is moving along smoothly.

And now look again. The key element to this pattern of growth in 2016 so far has been a massive leap in private consumption – 9.5%. For example, new car sales are up 15% this year. However, all first year economic students learn that such a rush by individuals to their bank accounts does necessarily create long-term positive growth.

As for exports, a key part of the economic charge of recent years, the signs are worrying. The global market is reticent. The shekel remains high, especially in relation to key trading partners such as the UK. Intel and Teva, two dominant manufacturers in Israel, are undergoing planned restructuring, ensuring their exports are low comparatively.

My real concern is that what the stats tend to hide are internal structural weaknesses. For example, while politicians claim otherwise, there is no conclusive evidence that the housing market is slowing down.  The threat of a ‘bubble’ lingers on. Elsewhere, vested interest groups are ensuring that food imports remain restricted and forcing the consumer to accept bloated prices. Even government funds for start ups via the Office of the Chief Scientist have been partially reduced, arguably to pay for promises given to other ministers closer to the Prime Minister.

My own anecdotal evidence from clients in differing sectors is that there has been a pick up in recent months. However, for many it is just a partial rebound from a very difficult period stretching back at least 12 months.

My personal take on the situation is that the Israeli economy has ‘got away with it’ until now. Today, you just get the feeling that it is rudderless. As Bloomberg put it: “Israel’s economy roaring no more, even as it accelerates”. The question is will the Prime Minister care enough to support his Minister of Finance.

You and your small business – I dare you to value your time properly

16 August 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem

My scope as a business coach and mentor in the Jerusalem area brings me into contact with a wide range of commercial operations. One theme that has come up a few times just recently is the issue of how to value time. And it ain’t that simple, especially if you are a small business.

Here are two case studies:

Let us call the client Barbara. Now Barbara has been providing a successful internet business for some years. Without a formal method or defined business model, the work has flowed in…that is until the flow of new clients dried up unexpectedly. Ouch! It is funny how in business people only turn to coaches in the bad times, where as in sport the opposite is true. I was duly summoned.

It became apparent that Barbara did not have enough time to spend on her commercial operations. Initially, she blamed the time she was required to spend at home. She really is a great, dedicated family woman.

However, further digging revealed that Barbara also likes spending her time helping others, day and night. People seek her out. They value her empathy and counsel. And she gives whole heartedly.

So, I challenged Barbara to limit the role of advice-giver to 30 minutes a day. Within a week, revenue was on the move upwards. And, interestingly enough, all those who needed to speak to her, still found a way to share their burden with Barbara.

In a separate case, David is setting up his business. The temptation is to charge low and haul the first set of customers through the door. This is an empirical formula, internationally accepted.

However, I challenged David to commit to how many work hours he wishes to invest in an average month of work. I then asked how much he wanted to bring home. And finally came the killer question: Of those hours, how many will truly be directed towards producing the service for the clients?

In other words, after all is said and done, how much time will David have to dedicate towards “working the customers”? In simple terms, if David wants US$200 a month and he only has one client for two hours, he has to charge US$100 per hour. Anything less, and he is not achieving his aims and may be making a loss.

Obvious? Yes, when written like this. So why do so many new businesses try to break the rule and thus end up with serious cash flow problems?

The punch line is that time is all around us, like air, yet seeming intangible. That is why many do not fully appreciate it…….at their commercial peril. Value your environment and that includes the time capsule in your very grasp.

Why procrastinators love eating red herrings

4 August 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem

I love my profession. A business coach and mentor, primarily in the Jerusalem region, I have the opportunity to meet so many varied and interesting businesses and their teams.

As I have written before, one of the subjects that comes up with great regularity is procrastination. It is amazing how many people I meet who claim to be the best ‘putter offer’ in the world.

There are so many blogs explaining how to ‘cure’ or get over the problem. Here’s one from the Harvard Business Review earlier this week.

….next time you find yourself mystified by your inability to get important tasks done, be kind to yourself. Recognize that your brain needs help if it’s going to be less short-sighted. Try taking at least one step to make the benefits of action loom larger, and one to make the costs of action feel smaller. 

Not bad. However, for my clients the problem is often much deeper. They are full of seemingly genuine excuses – a.k.a politically correct language – why they do not have to do whatever by whenever.

An equivalent for politically correct in this case is “red herring”. We all understand what the phrase means, but few actually know what a red herring physically is. And the answer?…………….A red herring does not exist! There is no such fish.

In contrast. look at these two brief case studies in the world of procrastinators:

  1. One of my clients this week claimed that she could not move ahead in the company, because she did not have the correct qualifications. How did she know, I asked her. “Well, it’s obvious”, came the reply. And despite pushing, she could not supply any proof to her statement. She repeated the mantra.
  2. In another recent situation, the client insisted that their work day had to be structured in a set manner, because that is what others around them wanted and needed. When I asked, how they knew that, their only response was one of digging in their heels. “That is the way it has always been”.

My point? People place red herrings in their lives for a reason, usually totally unrelated to the immediate subject in play. It is seemingly that bad that they are prepared to place in jeopardy future progress rather than handle the issue. The core problem may be something much deeper.

In other words, they will eat a ton of red herrings – a.k.a. hot air – rather than do something constructive.

By the way and with some irony, you can create a red herring by smoking fish, which is probably what should happen to the preconceived notions that we all walk around with.

The unreported Palestinian economy: 4 takeaways

15 July 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem, Palestinians

The default reporting mechanism for the Palestinian economy is that it is bust and that is mainly due to Israeli oppression.

The facts that Ramallah and Gaza and surrounds are today replete with shopping centres or that the economy leapt forward when under full Israeli control up to 1999 seem to be irrelevant. So I briefly want to take a quick survey of anecdotal evidence as to what is happening.

Ostensibly, the answer is nothing. The Ma’an News Agency in Ramallah has not updated its economic section in English for over two months. Moving beyond this bizarre situation, I found out that:

1) Certainly, the EU continues to pour in hundreds of millions of Euros on behalf of the Palestinians. It justifies this on the grounds that the money stops a complete collapse of the two-state economy. The strange thing is that the donors from the Arab states are still around US$1 billion short in meeting their commitments, and show little real to pick up the slack.

This does beg the question why the oil-rich nations revoke on their financial pledges to the leadership of Abbas and Hamas? What do they know?

2) That the Palestinian economy is in dire straights is not an argument. It is a fact. The perennial question is where does all the aid go to?

It is significant that even the British newspaper, the Guardian, considered one of the most hostile to Israel for two decades now accepts that:

About 6 percent of the Palestinian budget is diverted to prisoner salaries. All this money comes from so-called ‘donor countries’ such as the United States, Great Britain, Norway, and Denmark.

Thus, by one calculation: “The Palestinian Authority is paying them (prisoners) up to £1,957 a month – more than the average salary of a UK worker.” Absolutely stunning!

Why the complete lack of accountability? Why does UNWRA, what I describe as the largest charity in the world, have no external auditor? Why is so much of taxpayers’ money poured into bottomless pot, yet relatively little is spent elsewhere?

3) The blog of Haifa Diary picked up on a small yet significant news item. The Israeli security services arrested a small-time Palestinian smuggler. No big deal, except that he was carrying thousands of dollars intended to fund Hamas terrorism in the West Bank.

So what is it? The average Palestinian does not need the cash, or their livelihood is just irrelevant for their leaders in this incessant game of hatred?

4) And if we are talking of illegal trade, did you hear about the illegal spare automotive parts, which were nearly smuggled into Gaza? No? Silence in your media?

Well, I bet you did not hear about all of these stories? And maybe it is time to ask why?

A classic case study in ‘how not to make a pitch’

14 July 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem

Yesterday, I was very excited to attend a seminar in Tel Aviv on the adtech industry in Israel. Here was an excellent opportunity to learn more about native advertising and the contribution of the Holy Land start ups to the global community in the field of video.

From the pre networking, it was obvious that the place was full of people and company reps with great talents, directing live content in ways thought impossible just a few years ago. And yet, much of the talk and the discussion forced me to slip into my role of business coach and mentor. Here’s why

  1. After a brief intro from the hosts, the first speaker was forced to halt in mid track after 45 seconds. The microphone failed. The fault was quickly fixed. However, once back on his feet, our maestro promptly said that he would not repeat himself, “because it was not that important.”      You mean that I and hundreds others are about to sit here and waste our time on you listening to you? Amazing kick off!
  2. There then followed a panel discussion. OK. But nobody introduced the participants and what gave them the right to be on stage in the first place. So, initially, their comments came over very disjointed.
  3. Few of the speakers throughout the evening appeared to appreciate or even consider the make up of the audience. You could tell, just by looking around and counting those in the audience playing with their mobiles during the presentations.
  4. And then there were the pitchesrom the start ups, each given just a few minutes to state why their technology is so ‘wow’. I watched as at least two presenters spent half their time explaining what they are not. What a waste of an opportunity.

And in contrast? Over the past few days, clients of mine have made pitches for funding.

  • The founder of a start up originally complained to me that he could not explain what he does in less than two minutes. That came down to 15 seconds. They have since received the first level of approval.
  • In parallel, a Jerusalem company has created a one page executive summary that sets out concisely their progress over the years and the proposed business model. No need at this stage for a 20 page business plan. They are hopeful to receive an injection of cash to fund future development.

To be honest, one pitch did catch my eye. Within 30 seconds I had understood what is so special about VocalReferences, as laid out by cofounder David Wenner.

I ended up leaving the conference early. Before doing so, I looked around the audience. I wondered how many investors and business accelerators were present in the room and how under whelmed they had been left. A golden opportunity for many so sadly underused.

The next miracle of the car industry comes from Jerusalem?

5 July 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Jerusalem

Jerusalem is synonymous with biblical miracles. When it comes to the changing brilliance of the car industry, our thoughts turn to the Far East or Germany. In fact, it seems that a former start up from Jerusalem by the name of Mobileye is about to change all that.

Let’s abck track for a moment. For almost two decades, Mobileye has been creating algorithms to enhance car safety and prevent accidents. It is located on three continents and boasts partnerships with many leading manufacturers. By the way, if you were to walk into its offices in the Holy City, you will find a vibrant atmosphere albeit in a very modest building.

About a week ago, the company’s share price jumped about 10%, ahead of news of an expected announcement for further collaboration with BMW and Intel. Mobileye’s tech will be at the forefront of a new driverless car. For the record, this capital influx was not the first time recently that Israel had been in the news for the car industry. VW has recently thrown US$300 at Gett.

In fact, the scope of the Mobileye project is significantly larger than initially speculated. In an interview with the Hebrew press, Elad Sefati VP, has revealed that Mobileye is talking to 13 different manufacturers. The Jerusalem company will supply the navigational technology. In fact, there are five customers which are closing in on first stage production.

The hope is that the BMW automatic or drone car with the Jerusalem miracle pack will be ready for launch in 2021, and this will take place in Israel. How times have moved on.

Struggling to manage your work schedule? 3 practical tips to change things around you

22 June 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Jerusalem

This week, I checked in on one of my newer clients near Jerusalem, a start up in the field of arts. The assignment had not been done. Papers scattered everywhere. Stress written all over their face. And now they had to grapple through a session with their business coach and mentor.

No amount of coffee (nor chocolate) was going to be of any use, surely? And yet……….Time to take a step back.

First things first. I have just seen a lovely quote on Guy Kawasaki’s twitter account. He cited the CEO of YouTube, Susan Wojcicki.

If you are working 24/7, you’re not going to have any interesting ideas.

Never was a truer word said. If you keep burning the candle at either end, you may somehow complete tasks, but you will lose effectiveness. For example, you will start to become hassled and forgo the trust of those around you. Innovation and creation will be concepts of the past.

My client is on the go all day, every day, 24 / 7. They are not hanging near the breakdown zone, but they are not thinking as straight as they should be.

Also this week, I came across an insightful article on the Harvard Business Review from Steven D’Souza. Entitled “Don’t get surprised by burnout”, he discusses the telltale signs that indicate when we are overworking. As he correctly observes: “The truth is, we are much more fragile than we think.”

What I really liked was the suggestion, which reads like a request from the heart.

Welcoming gaps as opportunities to rest, not inconveniences.

Again, another powerful statement. Stop treating 11.00pm as an opportunity to finish off a task in peace and quiet. Once this becomes a habit, you will be sacrificing your beauty sleep. Thus you cannot wake up refreshed, full of engaging thoughts.

Finally, if you are faced with that situation, when there seems so much to do and so little time to do it in, go find a pen and paper.

  • Draw up a chart. Itemise each specific task that has to be completed. That is identify what is a ‘must’ rather than merely ‘a nice to do’.
  • Prioritise the duties in terms of high / medium / low.
  • Estimate how long each one should take to perform.
  • Give each line a specific time entry in your calendar or work diary.

How does this help? Try it for simplicity. Suddenly, having broken up the horror, everything will become so much more doable.

The CEO demands 10 ways to reduce our expenses, or else…….

17 June 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Jerusalem

Having trained formally as an economist and now operating as a business mentor in the Jerusalem region, I have seen this scenario upteen times. Either because of a cash flow crisis or because the CEO just feels like, a demand is issued to cut costs.

Depending on the size of your organisation etc, there almost always some likely candidates for the chop – the employee nobody cares for, that extra advert, the new equipment that can be purchased next year, a few accounting tricks with the pay packets, and so the list goes on.

For a more detailed look, you can check out a set of ideas from biz guru Barry Moltz; “10 ways to reduce expenses right now”.  All are worth considering. And most can be summed up under the theory of trying to get ‘more for less’ from your suppliers.

However, while not ignoring the need to control costs, let me point to another solution. How about concentrating on upping expenditure – should I say, investing more resources – in marketing and sales! What would happen if your company took a relatively small sum to beef up those people who go out and bring in real money?

I remember years ago hearing of somebody who bought a large but failing retail outlet in Hong Kong. The new owner’s first move was to increase salaries to baseline employees. The cash started to pour into the tills.

In contrast, I know of one dominant subsidiary, part of an international concern, where the managers overseas are driven by ‘bottom-line numbers’. The default thought process is that if pre-tax profits keep falling, than costs have to be hauled back. Little time is wasted on creating and implementing a new strategy to meet changing demands.

And it is that concept – strategy building and seeing it through – that I stress to my customers as their business coach. Many try to push me back, because such a step can draw out their own weaknesses. However, cost savings only take you so far. Generally, they do not create wealth.

So next time you want to improve your cash flow, try thinking laterally. Consider raising expenditure if you can see there is a reasonable chance that it will provide you with long term additional revenues.

Unexpected Israel – Unexpected Jerusalem

15 June 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Israel, Jerusalem, Palestinians

People who live in Israel often have a problem explaining the ‘true Israel’ to outsiders. They are encouraged to believe by international media that the modern-day Holy Land is engulfed in violence 24/7, while the locals are rude and abrasive.

Moving rapidly away from this over simplification, Ruth Corman has released a beautiful book entitled “Unexpected Israel”, which rightly highlights unusual individuals or the peculiar characteristics of groups in Israel. Together, the sum of the parts is what makes Israel so wonderful and thrilling.

The book reflects close to 90 anecdotes, descriptions or just cameos, all enriched by some excellent photography. For example: What is so unique about playing ‘matkot’ on the beach at Tel Aviv? Alternatively, Corman gives deserved space to the amazing fauna and birds that have entered and conquered the country over the centuries. And she then describes the numerous types of pilgrimages that swamp the country throughout any given year.

It is this last point that truly struck me. So many of her observations seem to focus on people outside Judaism. On reflection, this is a triumph for the pluralism inherent in most Israelis.

However, as  a blogger who tries to find the ‘unusual’ in Jerusalem, I must quickly acknowledge that this is where Corman excels.

  • Tsegue-Mariam, the Ethiopian nun, who escaped fascist and Marxist torture in order to play the piano in the Holy city.
  • Elia Kahvedjian, an Armenian, who survived Ottoman persecution and set up a thriving photography business in central Jerusalem
  • Those many worshippers who write notes of hope and prayer, leaving them in the cracks in the Western Wall.
  • Hassadna, a musical school that strives for excellence, while deliberately looking out for the physically and financially distressed children who want to learn.

Unexpected, but this is only a partial list. That said, my favourite story refers to Dr, Yossi Leshem, who realised that more fighter planes are lost through “clashes with migrating birds” than through enemy action. His solution was to create a fleet of aerial drones to report about the movement of birds.

Leshem’s scheme is so successful that it is supported by Palestinian ornithologists. Jordan and Turkey have incorporated his techniques. And he is in the process of setting a system that will bring together countries along the whole of the African Rift Valley.

Without fuss, Leshem along with countless other Israelis have found a way to breach the established rules of hatred in the Middle East. But you will not read about these stories in the established media.

Israel is a country that never ceases to surprise, and Jerusalem remains at the core of this adventure. It is a duty of Ruth Corman and her others to reveal yet more ‘secrets’ of this small country.

Innovators and mentors – a very cool twist to note

10 June 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem

A client of mine in Jerusalem has just been accepted to an accelerator. Earlier this week, I was discussing with her what kind of business mentor or coach she would like to receive from the set up.

Her response was straight to the point. To summarise: obviously somebody who knows a great deal about her area of commerce and has similar experiences to share. Right? And she expected my immediate approval.

I disagreed. Knowing better than to give an example of my experiences, I referred to David Clutterbuck’s book “Everyone needs a mentor“. In what could be an example of what he describes as ‘reverse mentoring’, Clutterbuck described a situation where golf and tennis coaches swopped professions.

The result was incredible. Although not proficient in the respective sports, the coaches were able to identify new weaknesses that the ‘regular’ trainers had not spotted or handled. The players were delighted.

I have to admit that the face of my client remained skeptical. However, with some ironic timing, I came across a new blog from the Harvard Business Review on how Cisco has successfully encouraged innovation in recent years.  Stephen Monterde, Director of Corporate Development at Cisco Systems, explained that: –

At Cisco, we are learning to answer these questions – responding to technological challenges – through three initiatives designed to broaden our knowledge base by bringing multiple perspectives together: embracing diversity within our walls; reaching out across industries; and building partnerships with former (and current) competitors.

To summarise a fascinatingarticle, what this multinational achieves is the creation of a ‘sandpit’ of human resources, ensuring that new ideas are exposed to the views of all departments. It is this diversity, that deliberately crosses boundaries, that drives Cisco’s constantly evolving commercial successes.

And if Cisco employees can listen to others ‘outside the comfort zone’, I think there is a lesson here for all of us.

Jerusalem to Tel Aviv: How the anger shifted

9 June 2016
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Categories: Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem, Business, Israel, Jerusalem, Palestinians

If I normally write about business in Israel and primarily in Jerusalem, the events of last night force me to discuss what happened in Tel Aviv.

Two young Palestinians, dressed up very elegantly, ordered coffee at the popular Max Brenner restaurant in the trendy Sarona market complex in central Tel Aviv. Nothing wrong in that, except that once they had calmly finished their drinks, they slew at point blank range four fellow customers. The security camera captured the massacre.

Since the Autumn of last year, Israel, and particularly Jerusalem, has been the subject of a number of horrendous terrorist incidents. They typically involved random stabbings of innocent civilians.

However, the attack in Tel Aviv has created a new atmosphere, one that has captured the viewpoint of just about all Israelis, whatever their political or religious take. After the anguish, a feeling of deep, deep, deep anger has rushed to the surface. So what was different about last night?

  1. As the video graphically depicts, the attack was cold blooded, just like recent events in Paris and in Brussels.
  2. Despite the comparisons to events in Europe, the BBC, CNN and many others have not been able to call the slaughter a terrorist incident. Somehow, when it comes to Israel, the country is judged differently to 199 other countries around the globe. That stinks of something very putrid.
  3. The attack took place in Max Brenner boutique chocolate restaurant. This chain has many branches overseas and has often been the target of calls to boycott Israeli products. With a very bitter taste of irony, the protest posters include an image of a menacing Israeli soldier, carrying a machine gun……………horrifically similar to the one used by the Palestinians in the attack. Such hypocrisy.
  4. Once the incident ended, the injured were taken to hospital and treated on the basis of ‘most serious come first’. And that included one of the terrorists. Pictures available on the net clearly show the man being treated by a team of Jews and Arabs, despite the carnage the patient had caused barely an hour beforehand. Yes, Israeli medical treatment does not discriminate, but then you have to ask why no Jews are treated in Palestinian hospitals.
  5. Meanwhile, condemnations have come in from the Secretary General of the UN, Prime Minister Cameron and others. Staff from the Australian embassy in Tel Aviv visited Sarona this morning in support of the families who have suffered. And yet….

And yet…..in Gaza and in the West Bank, sweets were handed out in celebration of the killings. One of the largest groups in the PLO described the incident as a “natural response“! Hamas praised it and President Abbas has remained silent.

It sickens. It hurts. It is gut-wrenching. However, for me this is not the cause of my anger.

What truly annoys me is that in another day or in another week, the EU and Obama and others will put this ‘shooting spree’ to one side and call on Israel to make compromises towards peace. As in the past, predictably no such demands or pressure will be asked of the Palestinians.

Remember Paris? Recall Brussels airport? Did the politicians in Europe respond by offering the assailants boxes of chocolates (from Max Brenner, sic?). Israel is treated differently. That is morally repugnant, and this attitude represents a threat to my family.

So I will not apologise for standing up and shouting, very very loudly: I refuse to accept it. Terror needs to be fought, not appeased. World diplomats really must think again, before the attacks spread beyond the capitals of Paris and Belgium.

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