Still the contributions of the Marshall Plan and NATO should not be completely forgotten, nor that other areas of the world also progressed on a like for like comparison. In addition there were some problems even within the European Union. Kosovo comes to mind, as does the Cold War, the Berlin Wall, Algeria and Yugoslavia. A recent poll (FT/Harris) indicated that 44% of citizens think that life has worsened somewhat since their country joined the EU, and only 25% think it has improved. From the French rejection of the European Defense Community in 1954, to the French and Dutch rejection of the draft European constitution in 2005 the road has been bumpy.

Nor is the road ahead clear. The adoption of the Euro is prickly at best. What to do with the constitution has revealed deep fissures. Referendum or not; constitution or treaty; amendment or more – all in dispute. Only the vaguest of terms could be adopted in the Berlin Declaration for fear of a veto – anyone can do it, and some will do it for want of a word. Sometimes it’s Malta, sometimes it’s Britain; Poland threatens it occasionally and so does Spain; France is the champion but Germany can too. And future enlargement? Hot is a very cool word for that topic.

Continued below / Original appearance May 3, 2007 / RC2 479 / TC 690 / © 2007 / EUS

To be honest tonight, this very night, could have a great bearing on the future course of the European Union. Literally, as I write, Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal are debating the future of France in the run up to the French Presidential election this Sunday. The winner could heavily determine the near term course of most of the disputed issues mentioned above. Some say, and with a fair amount of logic on their side, that Angela Merkel of Germany, Blair and Brown of Britain, and Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, have already discussed the possibility of developing a ‘strategic partnership’ with Nicolas Sarkozy. That combination would be an extremely powerful agent for economic reform and Atlantic cooperation. Berlin-London-Brussels & Paris: northern, cool and individual. The alternate combination of Ms Royal with Zapatero of Spain and Romano Prodi of Italy, is considerably less potent, but certainly could pull in an opposite direction. Paris-Madrid-Rome: southern, sun and social. Perhaps I’ll tell you the outcome on Monday.

Original appearance May 3, 2007 / RC2 480 / TC 691 / © 2007

Simply symmetry, French style! Henri IV had the Royal Pavilion constructed between 1605-1612 and then ordered the other 35 buildings to follow the same design, but of course on a lower elevation. Urban planning at the highest levels. This was the final replacement for the Hôtel de Tournelles the royal family residence from 1388-1559. Catherine de Medicis had that building torn down when she moved to the Louvre after a jousting accident killed her husband Henri II. Thus, twice, this was the primest of prime real estate, and even after the royals left many great luminaries including Richelieu and Victor Hugo lived here. It has regained some of its former luster and is considered a prestigious address once more. The oldest square in Paris is worth a visit.

Original appearance July 16, 2005, © 2005 / VOSGES, PLACE DES VOSGES, (SQUARE), 75003-004 / NONE OR NL / CIP 133, OO 08, RD 16, YP 30/4-16

The first four are the bread and butter of coaching – the heavy lifting. 1 – Career Coaching; 2 – Interview Techniques; 3 – Résumé Writing; 4 – Networks. 2 – INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES – Interview, Résumé, and Network are the trinity. Interview may be the single most important, so we cover it first. Of course you will probably never get to an interview without one or the other of the trinity. A few thoughts:

A – Offer a Solution – Whenever you are asked a question, if possible, try to give a solution in the answer. In particular give a key that stresses one of your main attributes or accomplishments. ‘Perhaps so and so would work,’ works. Or ‘Once I…’ may get you the post.

B – Know yourself – Solid introspection and careful evaluation before any interviews are scheduled will give you most of the responses you need during the meeting. You are selling yourself – know the product. Be real. Get real.

C – A Positive Sandwich – If a question requires a negative reply try to sandwich it between two positives. For example: ‘We met our numbers, and, though the gross was down, the net was up.’ Two positives trump most negatives, and the sandwich is tastier.

D – Phone Screening – Remember that most phone contacts with the HR Department, or anyone else from a company, are usually the equivalent of an initial screening. Tread carefully and consistently. You take notes and names too.

E – Lunch is an Interview – Keep alert. The world over, and especially in France, cuisine is an art. Often it is more consequential than the formal interview. If you go to lunch with anyone from the company in the beginning – consider it an interview.

F – Answer to the Position – One advantage of an interview is that you know the exact position you are interviewing for. Mold your answers directly to the job description rather than the more general content of your CV. Specifics usually trump generalities.

Continued below / Originally appeared in Tricolors Magazine October 16, 2006 / CQ 684 / © 2006 / TPS

G – Short and Simple – Keep your answers brief and to the point unless you are able to emphasize one of your personal advantages. This is the KISS principle, but without the arrogance. A little assertive, but it gives you a little more control of the meeting too.

H – Refer to an Expert – Normally mentioning an expert by name and utilizing a correct attribution to one of his positions to support yours is a positive. Use it sparingly and do not appear to be name dropping, but do use it occasionally . Especially industry experts.

I – Give Credit to Others – If the post you are seeking is a leadership position be sure to demonstrate the ability to give credit to others. Be assertive now and then, and on occasion be proud, but seldom if ever claim you did a project all by yourself. In fact, you probably didn’t.

J – Project Yourself – Whatever your strongest suit is project it. If you are adaptable to change illustrate it. If you are competitive mention it, but keep it positive. If you are motivated show it, and show it again. Your self confidence is your biggest asset.

K- Form Screening – Be truthful but not overly forthcoming on forms since they are usually designed more to weed out applicants rather than find the right one. Before you are hired know that HR functions are primarily screening. Still, remember after you are hired, you may need a friend there.

L – Industry Trends – Normally you should always peruse your trade magazines but, when you are on the market, you should devour them. Mention truly current events in your industry during an interview and be sure to be aware of them even if you don’t.

Continued below / Originally appeared in Tricolors Magazine October 16, 2006 / CQ 685 / © 2006 / TPS

M – Company Research – Before you go on any interview always do some company research. Know the names of the company officers. If it is publicly traded know it’s latest stock price. Google the full company name and scan the results even beyond the first page. Hoover and EDGAR it too.

N – Defer to a Positive – Given a choice defer to a positive and do it with enthusiasm. While the pendulum may be shifting a positive is still a better bet than a negative.

O – Tell the Truth – Self evident; and especially on a written form. Basically tell the truth and only embellish verbally to a limited extent. Abe was right. Still is. Honesty is the best policy.

P – Tailor to the Age – Consider the viewpoint of your questioner. Demeanor and age can give you a clue. So can body language and dress. Keep your answers true, but you can tailor them. Exuberance works better with a younger mindset. Conservative often is advantageous with a prim person.

Q – Think & Keep Organized – Be alert and THINK before, during and after an interview. Sleep well before, be on your toes during, and follow up after. Or just think and keep organized all the time.

R – Have a Script – Know roughly what you want to convey when you walk into an office and find the way to do it. Keep on message. Control the flow and direction of the conversation by selective responses, length of emphasis, and degree of enthusiasm.

Continued below / Originally appeared in Tricolors Magazine October 16, 2006 / CQ 686 / © 2006 / TPS

S – Close the Sale – The old saw about a first impression is almost as true of a last impression. Close well and you close the deal. Think about your final words before you utter your first words, and remember to remember them.

T – Three Success Stories – Consciously keep in mind at minimum your three most noteworthy business achievements ever. Make sure that at least one of them is relatively current. Find a way to mention the one that best fits the particular situation.

U – Targeted Talking Points – Your plan should shift with the conditions. The size of the concern, the health of the industry, the inner dynamics of the firm all should play a part in your plan. Mold your presentation to the circumstances and remember to consider the employer’s viewpoint.

V – Body Language is Vital – Sit up, sit still and know where your hands are at all times (visible but not in front of your face). Keep an eye on your eyes too. Look, think, act and be both alive and alert.

W – Thank You – Don’t forget to mention a word of appreciation at the end of your meeting. It’s little and it’s large. Courtesy and manners still count. Grooming does too.

X – 90% of 90% Plus 10: 90% of similar questions are in 90% of all interviews and 90% of the answers are above (though the variations vary – see Q above); and the last 10% is self confidence.

Originally appeared in Tricolors Magazine October 16, 2006 / CQ 687 / © 2006 / TPS

It is on the Grand Axis so we are talking truly prime real estate. 25 hectares (that’s 61.77 acres) smack dab between the Louvre and the Concorde. It doesn’t get any primer than that. Catherine de Médicis commissioned it, André Le Nôtre designed it, and revolutionary history anointed it. Formal French-style gardens that became the prototype for many European public parks. Two major museums (Jeu de Paume featuring photography, and the Musée de l’Orangerie featuring Claude Monet) and two major pools with fountains grace the double terraced grounds that also feature dozens of sculptures created over the last 300 years. I don’t think gardens get any better than this, unless you go to the Bois de Boulogne, Parc Monceau, or the Jardin du Luxembourg. All in Paris, France.

Original appearance July 13, 2005, © 2005 / Tuileries, Jardin des Tuileries, Garden / PLACE DE LA CONCORDE, 75001 / NONE OR NL / CIP 118, OO 07, RRD 13, NOW 01

Some time ago I wrote a paragraph all in CAPS. A reply came back noting that the all CAPS format was ‘screaming’. My reply was to whisper back with a fairly lengthy paragraph all in minuscule – not a majuscule allowed. Of course to do this in the modern Word World, it is necessary to eliminate all periods, and that singular letter personal pronoun. To get around that singular letter I, I replaced it with the rather awkward elocution ‘he who is me.’ Later the he who is me started thinking.

That brings me, almost 300 years late, to: ‘A Modest Proposal.’ What if Mr. Gates simply programmed into his little machine that every time that miniscule singular vowel was struck, he would automatically replace it with ‘he who is me’ rather than the majuscule I that he now uses. Not only would this cowboy have to type a lot less, the world would also be a little less pompous. Of course the supercilious sort would huff and puff about their majestic ‘I’ being more elegant. That’s when I thought why not just replace it with the phrase ‘this snob’. While my proposal is a little less draconian than Mr. Swift’s, it could eliminate, in a single stroke, the most overused word in the English language. Probably almost overnight.

Original appearance April 26, 2007 / CIP2 582 / © 2007 / SHE

We originally wrote the entry below in April 2006. Boy were we right! The 2006 figures are now in and they confirmed and even increased on most of the 2005 figures. 2007 so far reconfirms. In Q1 2007, in the US, Wii is at the top of current generation video game console sales with 1,030K, Xbox has 725K, and PS3 has 505K. Nintendo DS is in a league by itself in the hand held market. In March 2007 it did 508K vs 180K for PSP, NPD REPORTS.

We know that ours is not your normal fare at ….. , but sometimes we need to look where the market is going rather than where it has been. In 2005 the Japanese market has told us exactly where electronic games will be going in 2006-2007. The breakout has begun.

Nintendo, with its phenomenal software success of Animal Crossings, Brain Age, Brain Flex and Nintendogs, has shown the path. They include 3 of the top 4 software titles in Japan in 2005. They even drove hardware sales – Nintendo DS, #1 in Japan in 2005. This has major ramifications. There is a huge audience beyond the hardcore male 18-25 (or 29, or 35 as you please). Blood, Fantasy, Sports, and Characters will continue to do superbly but the growth and the drive will come from a much broader audience. 5-85, all genders, that’s the ticket. And it only takes ½ a brain to see that the Brain is IN. Let me introduce our Common Denominator aimed directly at all those between 15-65 who have a brain.

For the millions who play crossword puzzles. For the millions more who loved Trivial Pursuit ©. For the uncountable aficionados of Scrabble © and Sudoku. For most people in the 25-65 range and even quite a few before and after. Give them all A Common Denominator. It is almost perfectly designed for the much broader audience who would love to try handheld games, but are a little beyond the more narrowly focused audience targeted previously. Best of all it is available now. A little over 2,000 grids, in 200 categories, in 4 different formats – all done and ready, NOW!

Original appearance April 26, 2007 / CIP2 584 / © 2007 / PRO / GMS