Dispelling Myths - 'Nice guys' win too

How wonderful to see the genial Irishman Padraig Harrington win his second successive Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Click here to see BBC Report

Winning two successive Opens is very rare – Padraig becomes the first European to successfully defend the Open since James Braid in 1906. Clearly no individual gets to the very top in their profession without focus and dedication but the wonderful news is Padraig clearly overcomes the myth that nice guys don't win.

In Record Time!

Earlier this evening at Coombe Abbey, Annie completed the 5k Race for Life in her fastest time in four attempts. She completed the course in 31 minutes 40 seconds which beat her previous best time by about 90 seconds

It poured with rain for the entire race!

Annie finished in the top 100 or so in a field of 2500 women

Well done darling – I’m very proud of you!

Two dogs and a man - Good to be back!!

Supporter Number One - Bertie - The Ahhhh factor dog!

Supporter Number Two - Rusty - known by his friends as 'The Boss!'

Annie - The star of tonights Race!

After what has been probably the busiest three weeks of my career it is wonderful to be relaxing at home today with my fabulous wife Annie.

At last I’m able to start to catch up on Simplicity Blogging. Apologies for infrequent postings in the last three weeks – I’ve missed the discussions - but I’m back and raring to go!

As I write this on an overcast wet Wednesday morning (England is still wonderful in spite of the weather) in Shakespeare’s County, there is about 8 hours to go before Annie runs the 5k ‘Race for Life’ for the fourth consecutive year

No pressure of course but it’s not too late to sponsor Annie’s fund raising efforts for Cancer by clicking here.

Our two dogs Rusty and Bertie and me will be providing moral support this evening (complete with umbrella) at Coombe Abbey near Coventry ....

So best of luck darling – hope the sun shines!

For love or money?

A wonderful example of the entirely different priorities and cultures of two teams in football on Wednesday as Manchester United won the European Champions League.

The organisers decreed that a non player representing each club should lead the team up the steps to receive their winners and losers medals.

The losers, Chelsea decided that their club ‘icon’ was Peter Kenyon the Chief Executive – a pen pusher – the man who controls all the business interests at Chelsea on behalf of the billionaire owner of Chelsea football club.

The winners, Manchester United decided to give the honour of leading then team up the steps to Sir Bobby Charlton – one of United’s all time great players.

Summary:

The Chelsea view of the world of football is all about business, money and profit and they choose a pen pusher as the most appropriate person to represent them to the watching audience of millions of football fans worldwide on TV.

Manchester United believe that a front liner – one of the greatest ever players to wear the red shirt - is the best possible role model to represent the club. Of course United have pen pushers too but they are in the background - where they should be - doing vital work.

SAYS IT ALL DON’T YOU THINK?

The Best Team in Europe - Again!

YES YES YES!!

MANCHESTER UNITED

ARE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS!!

Cometh the Hour Cometh the Man

Someone will be a hero or a villian in a few hours time!

My beloved Manchester United play Chelsea in Moscow in the Final of the European Champions League later today - Wednesday.

I've been a passionate fan of Manchester United since 1963 when I was 11 and this is without a doubt the biggest match for United since I began supporting them. This match also makes history as the first all English European Champions League Final.

I am nervous but I have faith in my team and in our unique and immortal manager - Sir Alex Ferguson - a living legend.

Manchester United and Sir Alex - CHAMPIONS!

I am on cloud nine on this glorious Sunday

Manchester United won the Premiership Title this afternoon for the 10th time in the 16 seasons of the existence of the Premiership. An unparalleled record in English football. The Manager Sir Alex Ferguson is 66 years young and still has the enthusiasm and passion of a teenager! I would say if you really want to study leadership – look no further than Sir Alex. Click here for the BBC Report of this afternoon's wonderful historic events.

Roll on Moscow!!

'One club man' Paul Scholes celebrates the goal that sent Man Utd into the final

Forgive my self indulgence.

My beloved Manchester United beat Barcelona 1-0 at Old Trafford tonight to reach the final of the European Champions League in Moscow on Wednesday on 21st May.

What a glorious night and how fitting that Paul Scholes – a man of great humility, modesty and seeker of zero publicity should score such a terrific winning goal. Click here for the BBC Report

Well done Scholesey – you are an absolute legend - I can’t wait for the final.

Achieving SUSTAINED Excellence - learn from these guys!

I think the ‘traditional’ world of management can learn a tremendous amount by looking outside its own ‘backyard’ and look at, for instance, sport and entertainment.

This last weekend has seen Manchester United forge ahead again by five clear points at the top of the English Premier League.

Also this weekend I was fortunate enough to see The Eagles play another fantastic concert to 20,000 fans at the O2 Arena in London.

One common factor about the phenomenal success of both Manchester United and The Eagles is how they have sustained excellence at the very top level for such a long time. It is not overnight success that blows out after a couple of years. We are talking high performance over a very long period.

Tom Peters famous best seller and the book that popularised management in the early 1980’s was called ‘In Search of Excellence.’

Even allowing for my obvious and self-confessed bias I suggest that Manchester United and The Eagles have achieved excellence and more importantly sustained it.

So …. Three questions to consider:

1 Just what are the ingredients that enable not only the achievement of excellence but sustained excellence for both The Eagles and Manchester United?

2 Can we apply those ingredients in the more traditional world of management in business?

3 If not, why not?

I will be fascinated to receive your comments on this.

A Perfect Day

The Eagles in action at the O2 Arena

Easter Sunday was a terrific day.

First of all in the morning Annie and I performed a short piece of drama at Church which seemed to be well received.

Early afternoon was time to sit in front of the TV and watch my beloved Manchester United beat the old enemy Liverpool 3-0 to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Then it was a drive down to London for the evening to watch The Eagles concert at the O2 Arena along with another 20,000 Eagles fans.

And we found ourselves in a block of seats occupied by some Manchester United fans!

Due to public demand The Eagles have added two additional dates to the UK launch of their world tour which means 120,000 fans will see them in the O2 Arena in six concerts. Not bad for four old rockers. The 3 hour concert was absolutely brilliant and getting home for bed at 1.30 am ended a perfect day.

Thank you again God!

Ronaldo just keeps getting better!

Cristiano Ronaldo is proving week after week that he must be regarded as the best footballer in the world. Tonight he scored two more goals to send my team Manchester United back to the top of the Premier League.

Jamie Redknapp the ex Liverpool and England player called Ronaldo’s second goal the best ever free kick in the history of the Premiership and that is some compliment.

The ‘Guvnor’ Sir Alex Ferguson has built a squad of young players at Manchester United that are the most exciting I can remember since the great days of George Best, Bobby Charlton and Dennis Law in the late 1960’s.

Come on the Reds!!

Ronaldo - best player in the world?

Forgive me - but I haven't mentioned Manchester United for a while! We heard today that Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United has been shortlisted with two other players for the award of best player in the world 2007. I am very biased of course but I think he is easily the best of the three. The award will be made on December 17th. My fingers will be crossed!!

Best and Ronaldo

I am biased but I believe Cristiano Ronaldo is now the best footballer in the world. My all-time football hero is the late immortal George Best and I always said that no player will ever be as good as 'Bestie.' I now believe Cristiano Ronaldo can become as great as George. Cristiano is only 22 and yet to reach his peak.

Sir Alex - The Guvnor!

Today Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates 21 years as Manager of Manchester United.

There is an article today in The Independent - click here to read it.

I am very biased – I think Sir Alex is the best manager in the history of British football - just count his trophies. The Independent article however gives a more balanced and impartial view than mine of the record of Sir Alex.

I love these extracts;

‘How it is that he acquires years but not age? Why is it that his partiality still burns like some tinder-box canyon in southern California? Can it be true that he still takes offence quicker than a hell-fire preacher in a bawdy house?

Will he ever mellow? Will he ever take off the clothes of a curmudgeon when things do not go quite as well as he likes? No, he will not ….

Ferguson will be 66 on the last day of December. Time to act like a guy who owns a bus pass? Not with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo and the likely lad from Brazil, Anderson, still in the foothills of their careers.

He ignites the game to which he has devoted his life and because he cares so much, and whatever we think of his style, so do we. It means that today the toast is not so much to a unique football manager as the sheer force of life.’

Not so good!

Oh well ....

England lost in the World Cup final after a valiant effort and Lewis Hamilton blew his chance of winning the world F1 title in the first few laps.

Such is life - not a brilliant weekend for England sad to say.

At least Manchester United won 4-1 so there were many smiles anyway in my house!

England Expects ......

Most of the English nation will be behind our boys tomorrow in World Cup Rugby Final against South Africa.

We have got to the final against all the odds and the predictions of all the media 'experts' but we are there. It has been a triumph for dogged determination rather than flowing attractive rugby and no one can take away the fact that England are in the Final.

No country has ever won two successive World Cup Finals and after our win in 2003 we stand on the edge of history tomorrow.

We could also see Lewis Hamilton become World Champion Formula One driver on Sunday in his first season.

What a marvellous weekend that would be for ENGLAND.

On the other hand ….. No … As an avowed optimist I refuse to think of any other scenario!!

So … Come on England! And Come on Lewis! – You can do it - We are right there with you!!

England into the final AGAIN!!

The brilliant England rugby team beat France 14-9 in the semi-final tonight to reach the World Cup final as we did the last time in 2003 when of course we won the World Cup in Australia. Jonny Wilkinson was once again the star – what a great player!

Click here to see more pictures and BBC report

Sven - Success or Failure?

My friend Dmitry from Moscow asked me recently on this Blog what I thought of Sven Goran Erickson as a manager and leader.

Sven has made a terrific start as the new manager of Manchester City winning three successive games and his team has yet to concede a goal. They even beat my beloved Manchester United last Saturday and that was hard to swallow.

So it seems Sven has become a hero again in England after being the villain for many English football fans after his perceived failure as manager of our England national team.

I say ‘perceived failure’ because I can't quite make up my mind about whether Sven was a failure or not.

England did very well to qualify for the World Cup and European Championships under Sven's leadership and many people argue that with a little more luck we could have won the Euro Championship and maybe got to the semi final or final of the World Cup.

Too often Sven’s 'off the field' activities dragged him down through tabloid newspaper stories and many fans say that is his own fault.

I would be fascinated to hear comments about whether you think Sven is a good leader/manager.

I think on balance I am prepared to give him the benefit of doubt in my mind and say I think he is a better manager and leader than many English football fans like to give him credit for. If you look at results and nothing else he is a success.

Sven is a fascinating man – thanks for raising this Dmitry

Welcome Back Football

Well it certainly doesn’t seem very long ago I was celebrating Manchester United winning the Premier League Championship title in May.

And here we are already two games into the new season.

So far Manchester United have drawn both their opening games which means some teams are already four points ahead of us.

My logical explanation is …..

Sir Alex Ferguson the United boss has decided to give the other 19 teams a start this season just to make it interesting …

Now that is what I call blind faith.

It is always brilliant to welcome the start of a new season and I’m sure – as always - there will be twists and turns and highs and lows on the emotional roller coaster that is simply the most fantastic sport in the world …. Football … or soccer if you are in the States.

Come on you Reds!!!

Race for Life

This is Annie, her daughter and her pal 2006

On Wednesday 20th June my darling wife Annie will be running the 5 km 'Race for Life' in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham for the third successive year.

'Race for Life' is an all women’s race dedicated to raising money for Cancer research.

Each year in the Birmingham event alone over 2000 women take part.

This is a fabulous charity and if any Simplicity Blog readers feel inclined you can sponsor Annie - and thereby Cancer Research - by going to this page to make a pledge. You can also click on the icon in the right side panel 'Just Giving Sponsor Me' panel to go to the sponsorship page.

I am aware we are all constantly asked to give to good causes and I hope you don't mind me plugging this brilliant charity on my Blog.