Australia Up Close Business Seminar Gives Timely Food for Thought By DARREN McLEAN	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
ビジネスセミナーで刺激を受ける 先月ブリスベーンで各国の著名人を招いた講演会が行なわれました。スピーカーは、湾岸戦争のシュワルツコフ多国籍軍指令官、ゴルバチョフ旧ソ連大統領、そして大物株式ブローカーなど、そうそうたる顔ぶれ。筆者はこのセミナーでかなり刺激を受けたようです。

When I heard on my local radio station that several world-famous figures, including former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev and U.S. Gulf War commander Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, were coming to Australia to speak, I jumped at the opportunity to attend.

The World Masters of Business seminar was held in Brisbane last month, featuring an array of the world's most successful business, political and military leaders.

Speaking alongside Gorbachev and Schwarzkopf were Albert Dunlap, an American CEO known for his extremely competitive approach; Kevin Trudeau, another business leader who has found success promoting memory improvement techniques; and Rene Rivkin, Australian stockbroker extraordinaire.

Gen. Schwarzkopf was the first to speak to the packed house at the Brisbane Entertainment Center. I think Schwarzkopf, or "Stormin' Norman" as he is commonly known, is one of this century's greatest military leaders. As head of the U.S. central command during the Gulf War, his dynamic leadership of the allies saw operation Desert Storm achieve stunning success.

Stormin' Norman's inspirational presentation, titled "From the War Room to the Boardroom," summarized his 30 years of experience as a leader and gave valuable insight into motivating and getting the most out of people.

Schwarzkopf identified leadership as the challenge of getting people to willingly do what they normally wouldn't. More importantly, he emphasized two key principles for leaders in the 21st century. First, when placed in command, take charge. Second, do what is right, not what makes you popular or brings you the most wealth. These rules, he said, apply to any leader or manager in any working environment.

Mikhail Gorbachev was perhaps the most revered person to speak at the conference. Throughout his five-year leadership of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev achieved some of the most notable events of the era. His leadership initiated the raising of the Iron Curtain to end the Cold War, resulting in the demolition of the Berlin Wall and the fall of Russian communism. The enormous influence that Gorbachev had across Europe and the Soviet Union led to him winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.

Gorbachev gave a compelling and informative address via an interpreter. The most notable point he made was, not surprisingly, a political one, about the U.S. intervention in Yugoslavia. Gorbachev described NATO's use of military force as "reckless" and "unthoughtful."

"The United States is conducting itself irresponsibly on the world stage," Gorbachev told the Brisbane audience.

He said a "terrible situation" had developed from the United States using military power to its own advantage without a United Nations mandate.

Kevin "Mr. Mega Memory" Trudeau spoke on a completely different note, but had just as much valuable information to give. Trudeau is considered a world leader in memory improvement. His advertisements for Mega Memory are shown on television all over the world and use the simple tag line, "Knowledge is power, only if you remember it!"

"We are all given two ears and one mouth," said Trudeau. "Use them proportionally!" This is perhaps the most valuable and relevant point Trudeau made, a helpful reminder for those trying to learn and succeed.

The next speaker, Rene Rivkin, was the Australian "Stockbroker of the Year" in 1985 and has since built a financial empire from his outstanding ability to pick stock market trends. He gave both beginners (including myself) and experts some valuable tips for trying to succeed in the market.

Rivkin's most striking advice was a warning that trade in Internet stocks has gone out of control. He said such popular stocks are on the verge of causing a worldwide economic collapse. "Do not invest in an Internet company unless it has viable business elsewhere," Rivkin warned. Time will tell if his predictions are correct.

The final speaker, Al "Chainsaw" Dunlap, is regarded internationally as the king of company downsizing. Speaking in a rough American accent, he made it obvious how he got his nickname. His approach to cutting company costs was just as rough. Dunlap claimed employers should not hesitate to cut employees if it means the company can refocus its objectives and then move forward. His management methods were honored with his naming as "CEO of the Year" by Financial World magazine in 1995.

Following the Brisbane seminar, World Masters of Business moved on to capacity audiences at Australia's other major cities: Perth, Sydney and Melbourne.

I found it an amazing experience to listen to so many experienced, successful and powerful world leaders, all in the one hall on the same day. I certainly took home many important lessons and tips, which I may use in leadership or management situations in the future.

Shukan ST: June 11, 1999

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