Saigon

Coming from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) to Mekong you can’t help but to notice the extraordinary socio-economic differences.
I know there are incredible inequities in every country - I have seen some of Eastern Europe, Africa, India and just some of South America.
What struck me on this recent study trip to Vietnam was the incredible and scary differences between the rich and the poor, and the rising influence of America, China, Japan and Korea on a country that has spent almost its entire history being occupied by these same nations.
Australians are well-liked in Saigon. I don't think we are as kind to each other as the Vietnamese though. I was to be seduced by the beauty, kindness and helpfulness of the Vietnamese.
When I was sick one day, total strangers came to my aid with peppermint oil and massages – not wanting nor expecting a penny in return.
On the two hour drive from Saigon to Mekong the landscape is mostly rice paddies, workers looking like they are in a set from Apocalypse Now.
The real shock awaits me at Mekong. Four people (totally for my trip alone) took me on a tour up the Mekong Delta and along the narrow rivers where the napalm had destroyed entire villages and wiped out scores of families, but now is lush and overgrown again. The cost for 4 people, a boat and a return trip from Saigon - $8million Vietnam Dollars or around $90 Australian. A fellow traveller told me I should have bargained them down. I just couldn't bring myself to do so.
The villagers live in dirt, literally. They sell whatever they can find; they scrounge around to make enough to feed their families one meal at a time.
This is a communist country, and yet the divide between city and country people is so sharp and marked.
These dirt-poor peasants in Mekong earn an average of the equivalent of $300-500 a year (a year!) whereas in Saigon they can earn twice as much - $1,000 a year if they are lucky.
There is no public education, so about 70% of the population is poorly educated, if at all.
There is no public health, and the government has cracked down on people who go to hospital and run away before the bill is presented.
My Mekong guide, a history professor, had an experience recently. His daughter-in-law was due to give birth, so he went with her to the hospital. The hospital demanded $1million Vietnam Dollars up front. This is about $45 Australian dollars. He couldn’t pay. He tried to borrow it, his friends couldn’t help him, so finally she gave birth at home with just the family to care for her and the infant.
He was very angry with the government about this. He offered his security card and driver licence but these were not enough as security
Given all this hardship, I expected a bitter and unhappy population. On the contrary – they are friendly, kind and gentle. They exude kindness.
Back in Saigon I went to a Sunday buffet at the hotel. It was packed with wealthy local families and many expats. The expats were fat (I am a big man, but they outclassed me by at least double), the locals were thin, but the atmosphere was riotous. The buffet include all the Moet you could drink, French wines and German beers included.
The feast was incredible. It would have been impossible to taste just a tiny bit of everything available. And there outside the window sat the beggars and the street vendors trying to make a dollar for tonight’s meal.
Finally, I took a day tour of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), to see the effects of centuries of occupation.
China appears to have had the biggest positive influence, and America the biggest negative one. While they want tourism to save the economy, they not-so-privately tell us they don’t like Americans because of the war.
The war of the 1950’s to 70’s is living on in the memories of anyone over forty, and the Vietnamese regard it as yet another invasion of their country – this time by the Americans. I am glad they don’t remember we were there as well.
The streets of Saigon are terrifying. Imagine a sea of motor scooters coming straight at you, but you are told not to run, but walk slowly and consistently, and they flow around you. It’s true. Red lights mean nothing, just walk slowly.
I can recommend it to everyone.

Mild to Serious Obsessive-compulsive disorders can lead to retail happiness.

Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) is characterized by excessive shopping cognitions and buying behaviour that leads to distress or impairment.

Work by DW Black in 2007 found that, worldwide, this disorder has a lifetime prevalence of around 6% of any western population

Most people studied clinically are women (approximately 80%), though this gender difference may be just because researchers think more women shop than men. Subjects with CBD report a preoccupation with shopping, pre-purchase tension or anxiety, and a sense of relief following the purchase.

CBD is associated with significant other psychological issues, particularly mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, and other disorders of impulse control.

The majority of people with CBD appear to meet criteria for other diagnosable disorders, although there is no special "shopping" personality listed.

Compulsive shopping tends to run in families, and these families are quite often associated with mood and substance use disorders. There are no standard treatments.

It is a fact that people can be helped by the use of antidepressants. People who have obsessive-compulsive shopping disorder or CBD have responded well through the use of antidepressants. By “well” we mean that that they have been able to control their CBD.

So, that trip to the mall to buy a new top or a jumper you have had your eye on for some time might by symptomatic of an obsession. (Most likely not, but if frequent, then it may be so).

And as with any obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), there are no racial, financial, social or gender differences. Someone as wealthy as a media mogul or as poor as an unskilled factory worker can experience OCD.

It is the same for people who shop frequently.

The mere fact that there are even terms for this: Obsessive Shopping Disorder or Compulsive Buying Disorder indicates such a disorder exists.

Obviously budgets prevail sometimes

Whilst there is significant empirical evidence for this disorder, anecdotally we have all witnessed, as well as heard many stories about, people who, despite a recession and often a shortage of personal finances are determined to shop for the latest fashion or trend.

There are many women who, despite being far from well off, will never wear last season's fashion. They have to buy the latest season's fashion no matter what.

Think of several people who cannot live without the latest in computer technology, and are obsessive about buying even before the latest products are out, by ordering ahead.

CBD Exists With High and Low Ticket Items

Interviews with 100 car dealers (Benchmark Research 2010) revealed that there was an average 6% of new car buyers who had to own the latest in certain brands of motor cars, despite the clear knowledge that they will lose a small fortune on the trade-in. in fact, many had lost huge sums of money over five or more trade-ins.

The car dealers love these customers, foster their CBD by taking them on special “drive days” and bombarding them with literature about the next models to appear in Europe.

The same applies to smaller ticket items as well. Department store and boutiques send out pre-sale offers to frequent shoppers, invite them to viewings of next year’s fashions and so on.

Surely it’s all just “marketing”? But it could also be catering to people with a disorder  they need to recognize and often need to control.

Procrastination

Procrastination

Procrastination is opportunity's assassin.  ~Victor Kiam

We all put things off from time to time. We procrastinate.

However, chronic procrastination is akin to a mental illness.

In fact it is a sort of mental illness, and like many others, is largely driven by low self-esteem.

Here‘s how it seems to operate: imagine that you feel that whatever task you have to complete is a difficult one. You have to focus on it for a considerable period.

Now imagine you are terrified that you will not do a good enough job of that task. Add to that a dreadful fear of failure (“What if it’s not good enough?” ; “What if I am not good enough?”).

Further, top up the emotions with a strong desire to make the outcome perfect, and you have a very frightening combination of feelings that force you to pause before you start the project.

And you pause for a long time. You put off dealing with the issue by busying yourself with minor tasks.

We All Procrastinate

Surveys have shown that over 90% of us procrastinate from time to time. However, there are about 20% of us who chronically or habitually procrastinate because we are terrified of failure, or cannot believe we will make a perfect job of the task. Many procrastinators are perfectionists.

Debilitation

Oddly, in society we accept procrastination as just a minor issue, but it is, in fact, a very serious issue for those who chronically procrastinate. It is a fear, and like any other major fear, it can be debilitating and very destructive for the people who suffer from this illness.

Some people are actually unable to function at all because they are so fearful of failure.

Commencing A Project or Task Can Be Daunting

Fear of failure is almost as powerful as fear of success within these people – “I am not worthy of success” and “I will always fail” are the catch-cries of procrastinators.

These are deeply seated psychological drivers of their procrastinating behaviour. The fear can be almost palpable for these people. They are terrified to begin a project or task, and will do almost anything to put it off.

It has often been thought that people who procrastinate are just lazy. But this is not the case. They are fearful of starting something they might not complete perfectly.

Much has been written about procrastination and its links with ADHD, and almost certainly there are associations there, however, procrastination is not the exclusive domain of attention deficit sufferers.

Characteristics of procrastinators are outbursts of anger; shouting and feelings of being dejected are frequent. Feelings of worthlessness, potential failure, rejection and internalised grief at loss of jobs, future potential and “what could have been” prevail.

Causes of Low Self Esteem

It’s all well and good to pass off problems of procrastination as “low self-esteem”, but the root causes of low self-esteem must be examined here.

In short, low self-esteem is a very dysfunctional state for the people who suffer from it. It appears that this state is developed from childhood, and persists throughout adulthood.

People with low self-esteem generally approach life from a negative point of view. In fact, people unable to cope with this often commit suicide as a result. Quite often these people will become aggressive, commit crimes, verbally (and sometimes physically) attack other people. 

In teenagers, delinquency and low self-esteem are closely related. Bullies at school are generally found to suffer from low self-esteem.

Most people with low self-esteem have had an early childhood without much affection from parents, and have been told frequently that they are no good, failures headed for an unsuccessful future.

Child abuse, parental unemployment and/or alcoholism are also causal factors. In fact, anything to do with the creation of negative outlooks will often lead to low self-esteem in a child.

Some Ways Of Dealing With Procrastination

Start the project! No matter how bad you start it, at the very least try to put pen to paper, or begin the task even if it’s not perfect. You can always go over it many times to make changes.

Try not to vacuum the floor instead, before you start. Just do anything at all towards the project, and you can say you have started. Try not to worry about the outcome at this early stage. A start is good.

 Always try to be around positive people, avoid negative people, and never try to overcome the feelings without seeking help from a friend or professional.

Stop seeing negative people as often, remember it’s your life we are talking about here.

Always seek positive environments, and avoid negative ones. Walk away from negative situations wherever possible.

Keep a diary or journal of feelings; try to identify what makes you feel negative and situations/ people that help you feel positive.

Reward yourself for every hour you put into a project: go for a walk; buy an ice=cream; go to the movies etc.

Try to obtain a copy of a remarkable book that will help you if you are a chronic procrastinator: “Worrier’s Guide To Overcoming Procrastination: Breaking Free From Anxiety That Holds You Back” written by Pamela Wiegartz & Kevin Gyoerkoe, New Harbinger Publications 2011 Price $24.26.

Part 2: Australians

Part 2 of a Multi-Part Analysis of Some Australian Data

The following information is taken largely from ABS data and

projections.

Often I am asked what the implications for a specific business

might be.

The only way to respond is to take each point and work it through

individually for a brand, product or service individually.

However, every brand, product and service will be effected by

these changes, some dramatically.

Population Changes

If birth-rate and immigration continue at present levels, according

to the ABS projections, Australia will be in population decline by

2050.

Until then, our population will rise by around 30% - to 26 million. 

In comparison, the world’s will rise by around 70%.

By that time, Indonesia, already 10 times our size, will be 12

times. Malaysia, our size now, will be double. 

The Greying of Australia

The Australian population is ageing quickly. The current median

age in Australia is 36 year.

In 20 years it will be 41 years of age!

In 50 years 25% of Australians will be aged over 65 years,

whereas that number is at 14% right now.

The population under 14 years will decline from 21% today to

15% in 2050.

Living Longer

We will live longer. The next generation might all live beyond 100

years of age.

Right now males live to 76 and females to 81 years.

Compare this with the life expectancy in the ACT - males 78 and

females 87 years.

Notably, the Northern territory life expectancy levels are

significantly lower - males 69 and females 75 years.

When you separate the indigenous figures from these the

numbers are shocking.

Fertility Rates

In the 1960's the fertility rate was around 3.6 children per female. 

These days the fertility rate is around 1.8 births per female, and

whilst this number has risen in the last few years, you can see

that such a dramatic shift will effect the population for

decades.

It is predicted by the ABS that the fertility rate will continue at this

level for many years. Some predictions even show a further

decline.

Even so, one in every three women will remain childless,

compared to one in four just a decade ago.

Startling!

The most significant shift in birth data is a rather dramatic move in

the median age of the birth of a female's first child:

In 1980 the median age of a female at the birth of her first child

was 23 years.

Today it's 31 years!

What this means for your business has to be determined on a

case-by-case basis, however, this one figure will almost certainly

have a significant impact upon your plans.

Living Longer

Australian longevity rates continue to rise (apart from indigenous

longevity).

Only Sweden and Japan "out age" us.

Just this week, a new report of a large study into youth health has

revealed that, for the first time in many decades, lower exercise

and subsequent obesity levels could lead to greater numbers of

cancers, heart disease and an overall reduction in longevity.

What Does It All Mean?

There is significant change within Australia that will effect your

brands, products or services. It seems vital to me that every case

must be studied individually, in order to estimate what the impact

will be, and what these changes mean for you.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require further

data/information, and any assistance in working through these

changes for your brands, products or services.

Australia. You're standing in it!

This Part 1 of a multi–part article.

Some Facts About Australia

The Happy Country           

“How could anyone be depressed when they have Sydney harbour to play on?”

This was said by a director of a major bank, gazing out from his 41^st floor view of the harbour on a glistening January morning.

This same director refused to believe that Australia has one of the highest per capita consumption rates of anti-depressants in the world.

He also refused to accept that we have the largest attempted suicide rates amongst teenagers.

He lived in Wahroonga and drove his 600 SEL Mercedes to his kids’ private school and to the yacht club and golf.

He would not believe that 20% of our under-18’s have a serious depressive episode requiring treatment.

Nor that the suicide rate for young Australian males has doubled in the last 15 years.

We see boys who are feeling the pressure of life, to perform in a job, career, relationships, at school, with money, amongst their peers, at their wits end.

Last year approx nearly 2,000 Australians committed suicide, and whilst this figure has fallen since the late 90’s, over three quarters were males, and suicide is the largest killer of young males aged between 20-34 years – higher than car accidents.

The Lucky Country

"We set ourselves this first goal: by 1990 no Australian child will be living in poverty," Bob Hawke, 1987

4.5 million Australians (22% of the pop.) live under the Henderson poverty line.

Nearly half the population has poor or very poor literacy skills… they experience difficulty reading labels and normal signage.

As for Children…

… a child born in 2010 will live 3 years longer on average than one born 2000

…a child born in 2010 will be considerably more well-educated and qualified than one born in 2000

…a child born in 2010 will be 4 IQ points ahead of a child born in 2000.

…this year there will be about 250,00 reports of child abuse compared with 73,000 in 2000. That’s a 342% increase in child abuse in ten years.

Why Are Adolescents So Difficult?

Surveys today reveal that adults generally find adolescents perplexing, hard to deal with and lacking in respect for adult and parental values.

“The young always have the same problem - how to rebel and conform at the same time.  They have now solved this by defying their parents and copying one another.”  ~Quentin Crisp, 1962

Over 70% of adolescents prefer to spend time with friends over parents and family – in fact, family comes in at #4 behind: friends at #1, flirting at #2 and music at #3.

“It's difficult to decide whether growing pains are something teenagers have - or are.”  ~Author Unknown

But has much changed? Adults seem to have always had problems with adolescents.

“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”

Guess who wrote this? Socrates, around 419 BC.

“Adolescence is perhaps nature's way of preparing parents to welcome the empty nest.”  ~Karen Savage and Patricia Adams

There is a very good reason that adolescents are “difficult” – they are trying to find out who they are and where their future will be.

“Mother Nature is providential.  She gives us twelve years to develop a love for our children before turning them into teenagers.”  ~William Galvin

There are dramatic changes to their body, their thought patterns, their brain development and then questions about sexuality, purpose and their ability to understand what is happening to them.

In adolescence such problems as schizophrenia, eating disorders and depression arise.

The emotional insecurity among some adolescents may also tend to cause instances of crime among youth. It is often seen that searching for a distinctive identity is one of the problems that adolescents face.


During adolescence many experiment with alcohol and even drugs.

It is also common for individuals to express their desire to be more like their role models such as athletes, rock or pop stars, and film and television performers.1

“Few things are more satisfying than seeing your children have teenagers of their own.”  ~Doug Larson


Relationships with friends are vital.

Relationship with peers plays an important role in analyzing adolescent psychology. It is seen that 90% of adolescents associate themselves with a peer group. 

Adolescents receiving support from their peers are less probable to fall into depression or face anxiety.

It is also seen that depressed individuals find it difficult to make friends. 

The nature of an adolescent’s behavior is greatly influenced by his friends and companions. 

Adolescent psychology has gained prime importance in the recent past due to increased cases being reported about adolescent depression and anxiety.1

“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.  But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.”  ~Mark Twain


1 Peter Emerson

Miracles

Topics: Style Shifting; Fashion Amongst Teenagers; Miracles

Miracles occur everywhere in everyday lives.

Ask any oncologist, and they will tell you they have often seen spontaneous remissions in cancer patients. Are these miracles? If so, to what can they be attributed? Why does spontaneous remission occur amongst atheists and believers at the same rate?

Why were those three people who were recipients of a Mary MacKillop miracle chosen? What happened with all the other people who prayed to Mary MacKillop, but who died anyway?

Visit Northmead Children’s Hospital and ask why are four year old children dying from incurable cancer, no matter how much their families pray for them? Why isn't everyone who prays to Mary saved?

Asking devout Catholics elicits a response of horror that there can be any doubt cast upon the issue of miracles, especially any questioning of Saint Mary’s miracles.

Teenage Fashion

If you have ever travelled to large cities around the world, you might have noticed that fashion amongst teenagers is ubiquitous.

In Sydney teenagers seem to wear much the same style of clothing as is worn in Penrith, Wollongong and Newcastle.

Broaden that to Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth and you’ll see the same teenage fashion.

Now, go to summer in Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Rome and even Moscow, and you will see Sydney fashions – almost identical.

There was a time, not so long ago, when parents from Australia would buy up pairs and pairs of Nikes and Adidas shoes when they visited America because we couldn’t get those styles in this country and because they were cheap.. Parents used take traces of their children’s’ feet to select the right hi-tops with a special basketballer’s name branded on them.

Now you can see Quiksilver and Billabong branded fashion all through the big cities of the world. And teenagers are wearing them all through summer.

What does this mean? Probably that teenage fashion in big cities has become so similar because of global expansion of brands, but more significantly, because teenagers seem to desire separation from other generations, but want a visible mark that says hey, I’m a teenager. It’s a declaration of being a part of a global culture – the teenager.

Style Shifting

Think of a waiter who adjusts his or her manner when they are serving you.

The good ones can recognise when it’s important to chat or remain discrete and quiet. They can also tell by the mood of the customer what style they should adopt.

The same sociolinguistics apply to all dealings we have with people. We adjust our speaking voice to fit with the type of person with whom we are dealing, and to test this, would you speak with your boss or client in the same voice you would with your friends in a relaxed environment?

Of course, style shifting does not only apply to voice. It also applies to fashion, style and manner – you dress for each occasion.

Really only people with Autism, psychotics or Asperger’s do not make such style shifts. Psychopaths, on the other hand, often have an acute awareness of the need for style shifting. After all, it is manipulative and self-serving, but it is what most of us do everyday of our lives.

Manipulation is the most significant characteristic of the majority of our dealings with other humans, and we voluntarily adjust that type of manipulation to suit every different scenario.

This should indicate that the word manipulation is not bad, simply the way in which we deal with everyday living. So describing someone as manipulative is unnecessary, because the vast majority of our daily behaviour is just that.