Do fairytales come true?

That will be the question many will be asking leading up to the replay of the AFL Grand Final this Saturday between Collingwood and St Kilda. Regardless of the outcome, the AFL have already had their fairytale come true courtesy of a drawn game which is believed to have handed the AFL a bonus likely to be in excess of $35 million dollars based on ticket sales, catering and TV rights. It’d be nice to see a goodly portion of that money go to some of the charities already on the calender for the AFL – Breast and Prostate cancer. I reckon organisations like HomeGround Services who is working to end homelessness might also be a worthy recipient. So as to fairytales,

I’m not a great believer in them so think that Collingwood should hold the cards for the match – it is theirs to lose (as they almost managed to do last Saturday thanks to some woeful kicking and perennial underperformers from a couple of players), and it will be up to the Saints to overcome their underdog status. I like the idea of the underdog getting up but can’t see it happening from where I sit. Whatever the result, I hope the AFL keeps the replay of the match if there is a draw because the facts of life are that sometimes on any given day, two people and two teams are evenly matched but on the next day may not be.

When a Car Insurance company leaves a bad taste in your mouth

Mar 2, 2009

It is a tad unfortunate that in the past couple of weeks I’ve had to experience the way in which one of the players in the car insurance industry treats its customers. I haven’t lost a single demerit point since well into last century and consider myself a pretty safe driver. So a couple of…

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Recession Proof Marketing – how to survive and thrive in a recession

Mar 1, 2009

Marcus Barber has teamed up with Marketing expert Tod O’Reilly to write ‘Recession Proof Marketing – how to survive and thrive in a recession’. The book is due for completion by the end of March, 2009 and pre orders are now being taken for advance copies Tod was the account manager for both the David…

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2009 – Living with an economic downturn – a view from Russia

Feb 15, 2009

At the Long Now group run by Stewart Brand, they have regular guest speakers on a whole range of topics. Recently they had Russian Dmitry Orlov who discussed what happened in Russia during the economic crisis in the early 1990’s and what people around the world might need to do to prepare for the current…

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2009 – a year for Playing ‘Catch-Up’ (Part 1)

Jan 18, 2009

This is Part one with Part two (looking at who will probably better off at this time next year) to come shortly. If you are in a position to sharpen your thinking, catch a breath or use some time to improve your understanding of the ways in which we create our societies, then I have…

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Ahead for 2009 on 774 ABC’s conversation hour

Jan 12, 2009

What’s emerging for 2009? What might shape the near term future, what can we do about it and what are some of the indicators suggesting change or otherwise? Strategic Futurist Marcus Barber joined Raphael Epstein and co-host Denise Scott, as part of the panel to answer the questions on the 774 ABC’s conversation hour today……

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2008 – what a year it was!

Dec 27, 2008

Yes you read right – thinking ahead I’m anticipating an amazing 2008. Happy new year to all for when it happens (depending on the calendar you subscribe to) and I look forward to some fun, challenges, stresses and enjoyment for the year ahead. Marcus Barber 🙂 PS – Hope 2007 was a good one

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Australian Strategic Planning Institute work shop in Sydney fully booked

Dec 7, 2008

The Advanced one day Strategic Planning Workshop in Sydney on the 11th of December at Rydges World Square is now fully booked For inquiries about the next series of dates for the 2009 series, keep an eye out on The Australian Strategic Planning Institute website at www.taspi.com.au or contact us via email here

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Heading down the drain with the ‘4 Minute Shower’

Nov 16, 2008

Every now and again what sounds like a really good idea turns out to be less beneficial than what was hoped for. There’s lots of talk right now about technology solutions and ways in which societies can change the way they use water – there’s conferences and ‘talkfests’ a plenty featuring many of the industry…

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Blackwood 8 fundraiser assists the Ludwig Institute for Cancer research

Nov 3, 2008

The second annual fund raiser was held in late October and attended by almost 300 people. Marcus Barber offers a brief update: The Blackwood 8 commitee put together a great fund raiser on behalf of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Melbourne. With a delightful crowd warm up by Greg Champion of the ‘Coodabeen…

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Regional Produce Summit slides now available

Oct 21, 2008

The slides used as part of Marcus Barber’s key note address to the Regional Produce Summit are now available via the link below   Held at the Wangaratta Gateway Motel (and the first conference event staged in its very impressively redsigned function room) the conference brought together a range of speakers to discuss culinary tourism,…

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