Sunday, 19 December 2010

Enterprise Week

For the enterprise week, I went to two discussions that have two differing views of how they define business and how they interpret how to make profit. On the 11th of November, with a duration of one hour only, from 12:00 PM to 1:00PM, I attended the PR Media chat that has been described by Mr. Tommy Lisler, who is one of the successful employee of the company Octopus. The discussion was held in Owen Harris 2 in Bucks New University in High Wycombe. 

 For the second enterprise talk that I went to which was held in Park Room, Bucks new University Uxbridge campus was named ‘Entrepreneurship – not just about makingProfit!’ on the 16th of November at 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. The talk has been presented by Rob, who is a charity minder and another charity worker named Mr. Williams who helps to run a charity called MIND which is a mental health charity.

 For the PR Media talk, Mr. Tommy Lisler chose to send their company’s message across through PowerPoint. There were not many activities that have been planned, all we had to do is to listen and take notes of what they do and their purpose. The function of Octopus is to identify how communication has changed over time and how they can help interpret the languages of each business which ever sector they are in and whatever the size of the company, they could assist them. Unfortunately, from the whole hour of his discussion, it was not as informative therefore, most of us audience, did not get much notes from his presentation.

However for the discussion that Mr. Rob presented, he did not need to use a presentation, all he had on his hand was notes to explain the history and what they do as a business. He categorised their business, as they are a charity, as in a third sector, and describes the charity as a social enterprise as they believe that, the main aim of the business is about getting involve and being a part of the community. Their aim is to change the values of young individuals that have lost their way. They also want to abolish the racism and violence for a more peaceful community. For the second part, Mr. Williams portrayed the they do as a charity in MIND using a projector, where he stated all the activities that they do including IT & Media, healthy living club, day trips, Minders football club and drop in centres for the individuals that have mental illness. This talk has variable advantages; it gave me a totally different view of what business is. Even though, there was not much to do, Rob has made it more interesting by showing models of what activities he does with the kids.


In my point of view, I believe that the ‘Entrepreneurship – not just about making profit!’ talk was more successful as they clearly passed along their message, as they declare, it is more important for them to help and engage with other people’s lives for the better. It is also heart-touching, with all the stories that Rob depicted. He described one of the charities that they built which was called Yakhja , which means ‘togetherness’ in Afghanistan. This charity helps Afghan children’s needs as most of them are involved in crimes and home abuse and are vulnerable of what is happening back in their country. He stated the feeling that he felt seeing them joyful and dancing lively compared to what they were before they joined the charity house. For the MIND charity, it was well explained how they have been financed and where they got their investment from. Mr. Williams indicated that comic relief donates £15,000 to their charity every year. MIND also do not reflect money as gaining success and achievement, instead, they deem that seeing others in high spirits and the fact that they brought happiness in their lives, that all that matters, as for money can always be replaced. They also organized refreshment gathering after the talk which was very fastidious and helping after an extensive talk.

 With PR Media talk, I suggest for them to have more interesting activities to be planned well ahead. It would be pleasant to have seen how they are as a business by not just showing it in a presentation but by showing their action. In addition to this, they could have it in mind to prepare refreshments for the time of stay of the audience. Furthermore, in the future they should connect more with the audience by showing examples or involving the audience more, an example of this is by making a scenario showing how their business could truly aid business communication problems.

  Overall, for the Charity discussion, it was a very enlightening and useful but if they decide to create another speak about enterprise week.  They could maybe, show images and videos of the changes that they have made in people’s lives. It would be more fascinating to see gratifying documentary of how young people who grew up in crime and violence and with them, have been transformed to a better and a cheerful individual.


1 comment:

  1. They sound interesting talks and it is good to hear that the MIND talk has impacted you in particular
    Well done - you have achieved the 6 blogs before the January deadline!

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