Patrick’s landscapes are breath-taking.
The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes
but in having new eyes. Marcel Proust (1871-1922)
By Paul Handover
Just pause a while
Author: Paul Handover
Help save 5,000 pets in one week!
Let’s help Pilot’s N Paws achieve something wonderful.
Unless one is familiar with this fine organisation, you may be scratching your head wondering how is it that 5,000 pets can be rescued in a week.
The Pilots N Paws 5000 will take place during the week of September 12th through the 20th. This event was conceived as a means to draw public attention to three issues. The first and most important message that needs to be conveyed is that we have a serious problem in this country and as a result about 4,000,000 animals or more are euthanized annually.
This would not be the case if there were more and better spay and neuter programs and laws regarding owners’ responsibility for their animals.The second issue is that because the problem is primarily regional a lot of these innocent animals could find permanent “forever” homes if they could be transported from high kill regions to areas with homes available. To accomplish this we desperately need more pilots to help with transports.
The final issue is that while aviation has proven to be a successful way to transport animals to safety, general aviation in this country is threatened. The threats range from onerous Homeland Security directives to crippling and expensive fees imposed on general aviation. We want to see general aviation perceived by the public accurately as a driving force in our economy, and one that contributes far more than its economic impact would suggest. We want to see general aviation free of these threats.
Their website has a special section devoted to PNP 5000, so do read more. The home page has a link where you can donate to support this excellent cause.
Let’s face it, rescuing these animals is only returning the favour.
By Paul Handover
Air Sports
World Aerobatic Championships, Silverstone, England
Yesterday was the last of the three days of the WAC, the World Aerobatic Championships, held, this time, in England. Had I known earlier then this Post would have been published before the event had finished.
Anyway, guess what has been found on the web? Airsports TV. So all those that hanker after this sort of thing, here is your very own TV station. Want to know more about Airsports TV? Watch the video below:
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Want more?
Now hang on to your seats!
STS 128 is away!
Shuttle Discovery launches without a hitch.
At 23.59 EDT, Shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Centre.
America frequently gets a bad press around the world but events like this are a reminder of the pioneering spirit of the American people. Long may that continue.
By the way, ever wondered what it is like to be inside the Shuttle during a launch?
The sharing spirit
This virtual world has so much to share.
The photography of Patrick Smith is breathtaking. So much so, it seemed important to promote his talents to the widest possible audience.
He has been very generous in giving Learning from Dogs written permission to reproduce his pictures. Thus from time to time, we will do just that.
Thank you, Patrick.
Published with the written permission of Patrick Smith Photography.
Copyright (c) 2009, all rights reserved. Please do not use this picture without permission.
By Paul Handover
Selling Change – Concluding Part.
Understanding the process of change – key learning points.
- Good, really good, knowledge of your products and services is essential.
- People don’t buy anything unless they are dissatisfied with their present circumstances.
- Selling change means getting the client to recognise that change brings real benefits.
- Only good, client-focused questioning will uncover real needs.
- Only excellent listening skills will allow you to hear what those needs are.
- Don’t worry about the type of questions – just question, question, question. Oh, and listen!
- Understanding the potential customer’s business and where their needs are is fundamental.
Needs questioning is a sales concept.
Muslim demographics – an update.
A calm and rational destruction of the Dangerous Demographics YouTube video
On the 20th August, a Post was published on Learning from Dogs called Doing nothing! It was largely an emotional response to the video on YouTube that has been watched by over ten millions and claims that Europe and North America are close to becoming dominated by Muslims. The unspoken implication being that this would be ‘dangerous’ for those present societies. The YouTube film was clearly made with a racist agenda in mind.
The vision of this Blog is to support the notion that integrity is not only a noble inspiration but on a day-to-day basis 
delivers better outcomes for you and me. Integrity is being true to one’s beliefs, or as defined in the free dictionary, “Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code“. Morals and ethics rely on understanding the truth, as best we can, of the world around us. Thus it is enormous pleasure to find the BBC presenting a statistical rebuttal to the YouTube video.
Please watch it.
The web address is ….. see below
UPDATE NOTE: For some reason the BBC have removed that video. However, the material that debunks the YouTube video may be seen here, and here.
And when you have seen it, if you know of anyone who has emailed you the link to the YouTube video, please email them the link to the truth spoken by the BBC.
As the English philosopher Edmund Burke said,
‘The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing.’
By Paul Handover
Selling change – Part Four
Understanding the process of change – bringing it all together.
Yesterday, we promoted the importance of questioning. Because it is only through answering questions that we see new perspectives. In a sales situation, the skill of the salesperson is to have great in-depth knowledge about their products and services, the many ways in which existing customers use your solutions and likely areas of ‘pain’ that your prospective customer may recognise.
That requires a good understanding of the industry/s that your customers work within. Because without that, you can’t ask the focused questions that will quickly get you an insight into the prospect’s situation. The other bonus coming from knowing the prospect’s industry is that the sales approach will enable your prospect to feel as though you are there to help him.
Selling change – Part Three
Understanding the process of change – Discovering the needs
In yesterday’s Part Two, we raised the important question of how we change our views. Of course, in selling the ‘we’ is the person you are selling to. But to see into their view of the world, it obviously helps to think about ourselves for a while.
The psychology of change is beyond the skill set of this author and is one of many areas left to the psychology professionals. However, here is a very basic notion that works for the salesperson.
The role of questions is to elicit answers. (You see, I did say it was basic!.)
But straight away, one particular widely-held idea is going to be destroyed.
Read more of this essay on change
Senator Edward Kennedy, a big loss for all of us.
Veteran US Senator, Edward Kennedy, dies at the age of 77.
Senator Kennedy had been battling a brain tumour for a long time; his death makes this a very sad day.
The BBC has a good tribute to him.
James Kwak of Baseline Scenario makes his tribute personal, and all the better for it.
I have nothing new or insightful to add, but it feels wrong to go back to blogging without paying respects to Ted Kennedy. When I was younger and perhaps more idealistic, I used to carry around a copy of his speech at the 1980 Democratic National Convention. He was a man who cared about the poor, the unemployed, and the sick, even as their cause became less and less fashionable over the past four decades. He believed that justice went beyond formalistic legal rights and extended to economic and social conditions as well. The Senate needs another person like him, but sadly will not find one.
By Paul Handover
Learning from Dogs 