By Amanda Morrall
1) Erotic capital
Finally, someone has come out and said it; Looks do count and in business, they can be a prime asset. Call it "erotic capital.''
London School of Economics sociology professor Catherine Hakim, in her new book, Honey Money; The Power of Erotic Capital, suggests the “combination of beauty, sex appeal, skills of self-presentation and social skills” is every bit as valuable as a good education and social networks. (Read the full story here at the Globe and Mail).
As you can imagine, Hakim is copping it from feminists, PCs and business nerds for whom style has no meaning.
Hey, if you've got it, flaunt it. That goes for both sexes I reckon.
2) Help for stressed borrowers
Across the pond the Australian Securities Commission is gearing up for the launch of mortgage health check month. (See Sydney Morning Herald article here).
The aim is to raise borrowers' awareness about their rights, options and appropriate mortgage structures. Some useful and practical tips for New Zealanders as well.
3) Principles for Sustainable Insurance
Investment Savings and Insurance Association CEO Peter Neilson spent eight years with the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development before joining the ISI this year.
Here's Peter talking about some interesting intiatives on the table and challenges facing the industry.
4) AMP Hot stock
The superannuation pot in Australia is among one of the biggest in the world now, with A$1.2 trillion under management.
Behind the scenes, that's big business for the firms managing all the money. One to watch, according to Colin Whitehead, with the Sydney Morning Herald is AMP.
Whitehead, in this article, says while the share price performance may be unimpressive, the investment case for AMP has strengthened considerably since the completion of the AMP and AXA merger in March.
AMP now has more than 4,000 financial planners on its books and as such is well positioned to capture a bigger piece of the lucrative the savings and investment pie in Australia.
5) Harbour lights and fastlane
I might be the last cyclist in Auckland to see this video of what the proposed Harbour cycle lane might look like but just in case I'm sharing it.
The designers are after feed back so don't miss your chance.
Proposed toll is NZ$2 each way. Cheaper than driving I reckon and way more fun.
13 Comments
I am intrigued by these books that offer a fast-track to success by making a science out of things like "erotic capital" . But before I pull on my most revealing leotard for my next job interview, I might just diversify and get into this game myself.
I wonder if there is an audience for a 500 page books about "Being Good at Your Job" and "Turning Up on Time" and "Doing What You Said You Were Going To Do". All of these things can really deliver results in the workplace, I find.
BC; I've known lots of colleagues who knew how to read a clock, very book smart, eager to please the boss but completely clued out socially. I think what the author is getting at is that "erotic capital" (looking sharp, social graces, nice perfume or whatever) - (incidentally, I knew at least two reporters whose bosses had to raise the delicate question of wearing deoderant) -- might further your cause if you're already ambitious.
Sure as sheep can't hurt, unless you're drowning in Old Spice:)
But before one can "deliver results in the workplace", they need to be hired first...
I read a while back that research shows that a job is won (or lost) in the first 30 seconds of an interview. Seeing that it's unlikely the interviewer would have learnt much about the interviewee after such a short time, it seems that (sadly), what a person is like on the inside doesn't matter that much.
Conclusion: always beam a smile at your interviewer when you first meet them :)
This issue is a bit of a pet hate of mine. It seems that people get hired for all sorts of reasons except for being good at what they are being hired to do.
I think the problem is so endemic that we have incompetent people so far up the chain in most organisations that they wouldn't know good performance if it hit them between the eyes.
My brother (an engineer) when doing his MBA stated to me once that the most effective way to filter people for a job is to give them a trial.
But to counter this I can't help but wonder if work place cheer is improved by a receptionist with a good cleavage.
Any astute employer will be able to look past the winning smile and firm handshake (nice legs) or whatev and find out what lurks underneath before making a hire by doing some research.
But hey, I won't object to an interest.co.nz receptionist clone of Brad Pitt and he's got Gummy's humour, all the better.
Agree entirely with you , Ivan .
....... " Hey if you've got it , flaunt it , I reckon " .......
Gummy can't say , having been a fallen Hero , that I'm too impressed with that comment ( as one who by bad luck of birth , has'nt " got it " .. ) . ... .. and as one who has seen female colleagues " flaunting it " to male superiors , successfully , all too often ..... Grrrrrrrrrrr !!!!
...... time to go back into Bear hibernation !
Still waiting to see the thread there Gummy.....?....Fallen Hero......did you soil yourself...get muck on your trousers.....be overtly suggestive to someone of the femm at int.co...? come on matey I been away..i'm sure it was a misunderstanding .
Looks do Count........always depends if your the pervee or the pervert...!
That said Erotic Capital was indeed something Harry Reems possessed and sought to share with those less fortunate.
I'm missing sumthin here Amanda....I mean aside from my share of the marbles.....should I have been here for it..?
Everytime I ask him he vanishes again......n wAlter tried too tell me in code without briefing me on the cypher...so you know.uh ......ah come on guys..! The Gumpster in the Dumpster unthinkable....the guy's unflappable..( BH.) excluded.
He'll be back jelly as a bean you'll see..!
RE: the cycle lane.
I dont' think taking on glass houses to classicly build structures has ever worked. Forget the fancy structure and just get something functional up there that is in keeping with the existing structure. It is the looking out that is important not the looking in.
Doesn't look big enough to accomodate cyclists and pedestrians.
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