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Author Archives: crossbolt
American Psycho: The search for premium business cards
There’s a famous scene from an infamous movie that epitomises the business card fetish. It is both ridiculous and funny. Here’s the thing though – if you’re in professional services there’s a lot riding on that card. Late last year when … Continue reading
Adventures with Thunk!: Where the corporate folk take advice from smart blokes with tattoos
It was a large and prestigious law-firm. Our footfalls echoed in the massive glass atrium as we homed in on the lone reception desk. With me was Don Packett, MD of Thunk! who also moonlights as a stand-up comedian. Bringing … Continue reading
About.me: Own that first impression online (quickly!)
I regularly google about people in advance of meetings with them. Admittedly it was disconcerting the first time I met someone new and hearing them mention that they had been checking me out too! I was immediately curious (and slightly anxious) as … Continue reading
Just a better way of handling your notes
I do a lot of research. I have a wide variety of professional and personal interests matched with a rabid curiosity. Like most folks, I typically open up a browser, hit Google and start reading. As I progress, I open up … Continue reading
Posted in Project management, Technology and culture
Tagged Evernote, notes, office in the cloud, paperless office, project meetings
3 Comments
Resolving conflicts: here’s one you can try at home
“You can’t control others’ acts but you can control how you react” (Old saying) A while back during a management class, the instructor gave us a simple model for conflict resolution. She explained how it worked and mentioned that it … Continue reading
Posted in Project management
Tagged conflict resolution, crossbolt, Farid Essack, framework, intellisys, responsible confrontation
3 Comments
Consulting companies: great cashflow and lousy exits
Getting the Crossbolt cogs spinning again over the last few days has been exciting. It’s a bit like pulling the cover off a sportscar that’s been in storage for a while. Once the battery is charged, you pump fuel into the … Continue reading
Posted in Business models, Entrepreneurial
Tagged crossbolt, crossbolt intellisys, Farid Essack, product development
1 Comment
Rearview mirror
“I took a drive today, time to emancipate“, Pearl Jam, Rearviewmirror When I started, the big challenge was to be able to make it through one year without having to rely on formal employment. That first year shot past before I … Continue reading
Posted in Entrepreneurial
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Preamble
I formed Crossbolt Intellisys in 2001. A few weeks earlier I had quit my job as a systems engineer. Oddly I had just returned to head office in Johannesburg after wrapping up a year on site on a spectacularly successful … Continue reading