Dear readers,

Welcome to this week’s BEM Blog post. With the summer holiday just around the corner and stifling temperatures outside, it must be hard to keep your focus on work and business. This is why I have prepared a list of 10 inspirational quotes that should cool down your mind just as ice cold water cools down your body.

1. Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.

– Norman Schwarzkopf

2. The winners in life think constantly in terms of I can, I will, and I am. Losers, on the other hand, concentrate their waking thoughts on what they should have or would have done, or what they can’t do.

–Dennis Waitley

3. Leadership is doing what is right when no one is watching.

– George Van Valkenburg

4. A man should never neglect his family for business.

– Walt Disney

5. If there is such a thing as good leadership, it is to give a good example.

– Ingvar Kamprad

6. Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.

– Bill Gates

7. I don’t pay good wages because I have a lot of money; I have a lot of money because I pay good wages.

– Robert Bosch

8. You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

– Mahatma Gandhi

9. Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right!

– Henry Ford

10. Winners take time to relish their work, knowing that scaling the mountain is what makes the view from the top so exhilarating.

–Denis Waitley

VOCABULARY:

1. stifling – ciepły duszny , parny

2. potent – mocny, potężny

3. in terms of – w kategorii

4. waking – przytomny, świadomy

5. neglect – zaniedbywać

6. wage – pensja

7. relish – cieszyć się

8. scale the mountain – wspinać się na szczyt góry

BZ

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Dear BEM readers,

Smartphones have successfully invaded our mobile phone market. It is quite likely that you are reading this now on the screen of your mobile phone or an edgy Internet tablet. It is now almost impossible to buy a new handset with no 3G Internet access or a hi-def camera, let alone a classic keyboard.We use phones as sat-navs, MP3 players, organizers and e-mail terminals to stay connected to the ‚real world’ as well as our ‚virtual friends’.

But now a totally new breed of mobile technology is coming to Poland – QR tags (or codes) (Wikipedia) are about to revolutionise the way we travel, advertise or swap business cards. Now what looks on your screen like a splattered pixel mosquito (or a Space Invader from the classic ’80s game) is, in fact, a ready-to-snap 2D code with a specific function:

This is a fully functional self-contained 2D code which would take you to our Blog’s website.

Japan is already  crazy about the new trend (BBC) and it is hard to spot a tag-free surface as people use them to exchange phone numbers, socialise, or simply say ‚hello’ to their friends in a different way than usual. In Europe  though, the technology is not as widespread and people are a bit more reluctant to ‚Snap it, click it, use it’ (Economist). The main use of the QR technology on the old continent so far seems to be transportation and marketing (whatworkswhere.com). If you ever travel to Berlin, keep your mobile at hand at bus stops and underground stations as every timetable has a handy QR code underneath, telling you where  you are going and when the next bus is going to arrive. And all you need is a lightweight piece of software on your mobile phone to be downloaded from here (2Dtag.pl), here (Mobiletag) or here (mobile-barcodes.com).

But there’s much more to it than navigating. I am proud to announce that we have successfully tested a 2D mobile tagging system for our magazine and if everything goes according to plan, we’ll be rolling it out in the next issue of BEM. Now let’s have a look at what it means to you:

Here’s a spy photo of what the codes would look like in BEM (taken with a smartphone camera, of course).

First of all, we have taken the PC off the loop. From now on you will not need to download the MP3s on your computer to be able to transfer them to your mobile device. One snap of a 2D code and the file will start playing itself or will be downloaded on your mobile. We’re hoping to keep the instructions as brief and as clear as possible so that everybody could use the full potential of the technology.

Tell us what you think – you are more than welcome to leave a comment or drop me a line OR  scan this code with your QR reading app and the line will drop itself:

BZ

VOCABULARY:

1. quite likely – całkiem prawdopodobne

2. handset – telefon komórkowy

3. sat-nav – nawigacja satelitarna

4. new breed (of) – nowy gatunek

5. swap – wymieniać

6. splattered – rozkwaszony, rozpaćkany

7. snap – zrobić zdjęcie

8. surface – powierzchnia

9. widespread – powszechny

10. reluctant – niechętny

11. at hand – pod ręką

12. lightweight – lekki, mało zajmujący

13. roll out – wprowadzać

14. take off the loop – wyprowadzić z obiegu

15. brief – krótki

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Dear BEM Readers,

Last weekend was special not only because of the beatification of Pope John Paul II (you can read about it in the previous post), but also abolishment of work limitations for Eastern European „accession” countries that joined the European Union in 2004, which includes Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia,Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia & Hungary.

What next?

The Germans expect a major influx of workers from the above countries, some estimates say that even 500,000 workers from Poland and the neighbouring countries will start their jobs in Germany & Austria.

Let’s take a look at a possible scenarios (both positive & negative) for Poland.

The bleak scenario

• „Brain drain” – a term used to illustrate a lack of skilled workforce due to emigration. There is no question over the fact that Poland will have even less skilled workers (after the already significant border opening in the UK, Ireland and Scotland in 2004). Since the wages are more competitive in Germany, Poland has not much room for avoiding that situation.

The bright scenario

• Transfer of capital – since there will be more employed workers (who might have not found work in Poland yet), they will be bringing back major capital, that will then go back to the Polish system (in personal products, housing, cars etc.). They will also have bigger „buying power” to invest in their kids education, buy land and participate in other social/citizen activities they might have been excluded from due to a lower financial status
• Transfer of experience/skills – while most economists predict & fear that many workers will remain in Germany or Austria, most will be motivated to come back to Poland after collecting a larger amount of capital and might either bring back new skills & experience into the local job market, or even better start their own businesses based on the German market observations

Whether we like that or not, the influx will happen, its just a matter of time of evaluating how large it will be. Some Poles say: „Those who were likely to seek work in Germany or Austria are already there…”

Time will show how this labor market opening will affect Poland and its economy. Hopefully, it will be the bright perspective that takes charge.

If you are interested to learn more about the Poland-Germany labor market opening, you can watch this TV clip and article.

Wish you a good „arbeit” week!

Krzysztof „Chris” Dargiewicz

USEFUL VOCABULARY

1. abolishment – zniesienie; abolicja

2. major  – główny; duży; znaczący

3. influx – napływ

4. estimates – dane szacunkowe

5. bleak – wyblakły; blady

6. brain drain – „drenaż mózgów

7.  not much room – małe pole do manewru/popisu

8.  to avoid – uniknąć

9. buying power – siła nabywcza (konsumencka)

10. observation – obserwacje; spostrzeżenia

11.  to evaluate – ocenić; obliczyć

12.  likely – prawdopodobnie

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Dear BEM Readers,

Whether you are religious or not, you can’t admit the fact that 1st May 2011 will be long remembered around the World, as the beatification of Pope John Paul II. Why? JPII has been a true visionary leader when it comes to church and spirituality.  He emanated with wisdom, love and understanding. Whether he was speaking to the top World leaders, or a 6-year-old kid, he effortlessly built rapport with them. Even tough he has been physically gone from the lives of the believers and non-believers, he will remain in our hearts forever.

The work he has contributed to the modern World have not only reshaped our reality but also impacted on how countries communicate & understand each other. In this special time for Poland, with John Paul’s beatification, lifted work limitations for Polish citizens in Germany & Austria, the next year’s Euro 2012 football championships semi-finals and lastly the upcoming Polish presidency in the EU in July, there are dozens of takeaway lessons for the local government, businesses and education.

LESSON FOR BUSINESS:

John Paul promoted respect to one another – call it a „skill” or „ability” that is in a global decline; he was never biased based against race, religion, country origin or political views – that type of international dialogue is vitally important and virtually impossible in the global economy, saturated with hundreds of varying interests, viewpoints, value systems and business objectives.

Did you notice how endless companies try to adopt (or in many cases just announce) a specific „mission statement” or „value system”? It usually goes like this: „We are customer-focused, results driven and goal oriented”, right? BLA BLA BLA. We heard it all before.

How about: „We genuinely care about customers, as we are them ourselves. We think our products are great and will make sure to allow you to experience them.”

Don’t try to tell us you are something we clearly see you are not. Just be. Serve us well or get lost, we have hundreds just like you around the corner asking for our attention and money!

LESSONS FOR POLAND

Pope John Paul II was the highest quality ambassador the country could have asked for. We need his successors, quickly. Today, among being a very special festivity for the Christian church, it also brought all eyes on Poland. Due to a very unfortunate history Poland has been excluded from the World travel map for a few decades. It is over now and we seem to have a problem in shaking it off. If we don’t , no one will do it for us. The responsibility to promote and educate the rest of the World on our history, culture and language is up to us.

All the above mentioned events create a phenomenal opportunity for the Polish politics,businesses, tourism, however require a tremendous PR effort to bring an International visibility, recognition and appreciation.

Is it totally up to the citizens?

No, you won’t get paid for the time you invest in that promotion individually. But by nicely answering a simple question in English asked by a random foreigner: „Hi, can you tell me where can I find a good hostel?” you are doing the groundwork that matters!

The rest is up to the local government, politicians, PR specialists, advertising agencies, sport professionals, which is all out of our control until next election.

Let’s pray (to our individual Gods) that it will go the right way.

John Paul’s II message: „Don’t be afraid!” lives on…

Krzysztof „Chris” Dargiewicz

USEFUL VOCABULARY

1. a visionary – wizjoner

2. when it comes to – jeśli idzie o

3. to emanate – emanować

4. effortlessly – bez trudu, wysiłku

5. to build rapport – budować zrozumienie;  komunikować się efektywnie

6.  to remain – pozostawać

7.  decline – spadek, zanik

8. vital – niezbędny

9. virtually impossible – niemożliwe

10.  viewpoint – punkt widzenia

11.  to serve – służyć

12.  to get lost – „spadać”, „spływać”

13.  festivity – święto

14. to bring all eyes on – skupiać na sobie całą uwagę

15. to exlcude – wyłączać; eliminować kogoś

16. to shake something off – otrząsnąć się z czegoś

17. random – przypadkowy

18. foreigner – obcokrajowiec

19. groundwork – „praca u podstaw”

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Dear BEM Readers,

I am sure that there are business women among the readers of the BEM magazine and blog. In the latest issue there is a series of articles dedicated to them.

Today, in the time of political correctness, globalization, global warming, overpopulation and other „problems”, the „women in business tabu” might seem irrelevant, right? In a sense that the issue seized to exist. However, in some countries (especially in the Middle East) it is still a hot topic to see a female CEO or head of a global organization, even impossible and unthinkable in some.

Fortunately, the Polish market is hungry for change and open for more women in business. The first field that saw a major change in that mentality was politics. 20 years ago it was either very rare or unheard of to see women in the Polish politics or business. Today women are a strong voice among their male colleagues.

The polish finance portal „Bankier” toplisted the most successful women in the Polish business. The winner – Karolina Mrowiec owns an interior design company (artistic painting & decoration) „Bajart” with offices across the country and ambitious plans to enter other European markets. There are many more hard workers among polish female entrepreneurs „working in the trenches” and „going to their salt mines” everyday. As consumers of products and services in the modern, transformed, competitive business environment we tend to forget to acknowledge their work and show some „RESPECT” as Arleta Franklin was signing a few decades ago.

Even tough, there is a significant influx of modern business women, there are still many more showing lack of self-confidence and lost in the very first stages of the company creation process. The Internet comes in for the rescue, again. It allows to distribute startup business knowledge, online e-accountancy, and a global e-commerce space. Women started to use it for their advantage.

Great examples are women business networking clubs, that gather and advise successful female entrepreneurs:

Women in business Network

Women in business NI

Women in business UK

Every woman

Some institutions such as banks (especially RBS- the Royal Bank of Scotland) provide special bank accounts and loans for women entrepreneurs to help them „hit the ground running” with their dream companies.

Poland, among other developing Eastern European markets will have to invest in trainings, networking and support to create a sustainable business environment that will allow women to grow, open their door for business and compete with men, who claim dominance in their respective fields.

Gentleman, let’s show some „R-E-S-P-E-C-T” and support our female colleagues in their road to success!

Wish you all (including male readers) a successful work week!

Krzysztof „Chris” Dargiewicz

USEFUL VOCABULARY:

1.  irrelevant – nieistotny

2. to seize to exist – przestać istnieć; zniknąć

3.  hot topic – sprawa „na czasie”; gorący, świeży temat

4.  hungry for change – gotowy, „głodny” na zmianę

5.  the field (of work) – zakres, dziedzina (pracy)

6.  to work in the trenches – wykonywać „brudną” robotę

7.  to go to the salt mine – ciężko, monotonnie pracować

8.  tend to – mieć skłonność, tendencję do

9.  acknowledge – uznawać, chwalić

10.  significant – znaczący, zauważalny

11.  influx – napływ

12.  to lack – mieć niedobór, brak czegoś

13.  self-confidence – pewność siebie

14.  the very first – początkowy; jeden z pierwszych; podstawowy

15.  e-accountancy – e-księgowość, księgowość internetowa

16.  e-commerce – sprzedaż internetowa

17.  advantage – zaleta; przewaga

18.  to use something to someones advantage – wykorzystać coś dla swojej korzyści

19.  loan – pożyczka, kredyt

20.  to hit the ground running – rozpocząć; wcielić w życie

21.  to claim – orzekać; określać

22.  dominance – przewaga, dominacja

23.  respective – poszczególny; odpowiedni

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