This has been posted by a friend of mine and is shared with his permission. I'm not going to say exactly what he does, but suffice to say, it affects pretty much all of us, every single day.
So let me see if can make this a little more real. My job is international. I talk. I rant. I blog. I listen. The business we conduct changes things. Because we change lives. Not just of corporations and "business" - but public services, customer services and economic growth. We do it with technology. But we affect and evolve people, process and culture all over the world. It’s why I do what I do.
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During the first week of June I spent time with some of the most published and frankly well renowned consultants and technologists in Europe. I listened. For a living they drive international business and customer imperatives. They focus primarily on economics, sustainment and growth.
Bottom line?
UK was the butt of every joke, comment and subtle jibe related to consumer and public issues. All due to the socioeconomic and business impacts of 'Brexit.' (randomly when one of the delegates said 'Brexit' out loud in a presentation, it coincided with a fire alarm - I can tell you that ‘Brexit’ became the go-to laughing-stock from then onwards). This was from more than 40 senior consultants from Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The CEO-level thought leaders. Commercial experts. They represent significant history and experience in almost every industry.
Separately during that week, I also helped host a customer dinner with European CEO's and CISO's (leaders who run everything from small critical organisations through to global governments including civil and social leaders). As a nation we were ridiculed and in one case labelled us as "a ridiculous political caricature akin to 'Spitting Image'" - They were laughing at us in cahoots with key global independent economists from far reaching lands across the globe.
Is this who we are now?
Because that week contained the most embarrassing days for me when faced with public and industry leaders. Senior people in EMEA businesses, across commercial, politics and public services within EU and global economics. To paraphrase one point that was handed to me over dinner:
"You are portraying yourselves no better than Trump supporters....and as if it were the 1980s"
This aligns with what I’m told daily by European CEO/CISOs. It also comes from my teams (who touch the top 100-200 companies in Europe and EMEA) who can relay verbatim the exact same view point, handed to them by their local press, from interviews they give and by our customers.
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We look insane for considering an exit from the EU. Especially when so many “Leave” arguments are tantamount to nothing more than nationalism. To be clear I'm not relaying my opinion. Nor am I referencing media, or propaganda. This is not slurred figures or ill-conceived and misconstrued interpretations of facts. I am not "re-ing" someone else's re-posts or re-tweets.
This is real life boys and girls and its terrifying. I see a true and actual snapshot of how we are viewed by EMEA and US leaders - and it is damning! 'Brexit' and primarily our conduct during this referendum, resonates so negatively with our trade partners, customers and industry experts, that already we have business deals being placed on hold. Business that contributes highly to our gross domestic product. This is across all markets from beyond our borders. All until the UK becomes "safer to do business with again. "
That’s “safer" by the way. NOT safe.
Because the impact of our campaigns in fiction and slander is so prolific and internationally visible that we are being told we are a trading and business risk to Europe (and world wide). We are now an uncertainty, a dangerous bet to trade on or build relations with. Everyone is looking in - with microscopic focus - at our referendum debacle. I can tell you right now that we’ve broken the trust. To highlight, here are a few of the lighter things I heard from across Europe, Middle East and Africa:
"Unanimously you are a joke in and to Europe both socially and in the realm of business economics...not to mention the rest of the world".
"You look ridiculous to everyone to every industry, across every political landscape"
"From education and healthcare, through to transportation and manufacturing, through to retail, hospitality, government services, the U.K. can't be and aren't trusted right now"
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We are a joke...
A bad one.
And all due to "Brexit" - which even now has damned the concept of a Kingdom United. It has taken our standing as a world leader in international markets and trashed it. Perceptions which are rife include everything from "incompetence" through to words such as; bigotry, ignorance, arrogance, innocence, naivety and flat out racism
These are the words of global businesses and country leaders responsible for human beings. As I commute Europe reading and listening, they are the words from services providers who track from healthcare all the way to international banks. There’s one common theme. Everyone over the waters are staring at us in disbelief.
So whilst our own campaigners, government and pro-Leavers squabble for position and power amongst their PR nonsense (in the face some of seriously false fabricated fiction), the world watches on as our emotions, demographics and prejudices are preyed upon, to drive their outcome. It has become a game of sensational exploitation, designed to drive emotive outcry. Personally these are the worst set of "facts" in my lifetime to ever be placed in front of me about such a critical decision. By BOTH sides I might add. Consequently, I'm left hearing international commentary about, “what have you done?”. The campaigns are referred to as nothing more than a bunch of peddled nonsense and that the 'facts' are no more credible than the early Wild West peddlers of 'Amazing, Life-Changing Tonics, to cure all ills."
In short, I've never been more embarrassed of my home during all my time working and leading in international business. Never more disappointed in how we conduct ourselves on a global stage. Because all of this is fallacy which prays upon weakness, fears, hopes, dreams - and bigotry. We created campaigns which helped those so inclined, to go forward and misconstrue what it means to be 'independent' and to be “British.” And that is wrong.
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#IN is the only logical next step towards a global community. A “something” we will actually never see in our generation. Or perhaps even beyond our children after us. Therefore, it is our children's children who will have to strive to unite, in the face of overwhelming odds from; 'terror in the name of religion' to 'environmental unity to sustain our very species.' Play that through for a moment to our immediate obligations such as equality, safety, human rights, international cooperation. How can #OUT be a decision in the face of these needs?
This opinion here – and it is mine and I hold to it - represents my ideals.
In earnest I believe global unity is the core to our evolution and our survival, for our children and our children's children's. When I become a parent, I want to be proud of the fact we helped continue that journey towards one community, without borders and boundaries. Without prejudice. I don't want to be the generation that takes a step in the wrong direction. A step towards destroying that dream and my ideals.
Certainly not in and amidst a haze of propaganda and lies.
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Consider for a moment that this isn't our world, our time. For most of us will be dust before humanity gets a grip on itself. It is though, a potential beginning of the future, both on this silly little island and beyond. It's what might just define our potential.
The reality is out there. Go and speak to anyone outside the UK who lived the adoption of the Euro. If you think kicking Europe out of Britain is the answer, think again. Go find your own facts. Find the truth. Don't listen to the incessantly propagated nonsense, the social media “re-ers” of the Leave and Remain camps. Go listen to people. Go understand.
…Because here we stand on the precipice. The precipice of enabling a continuing international standing. We can maintain it for us but in doing so we create much much more for our children, and our children’s children. The European Union could unite us all and go on to be the foundation of a "Global Union"
So, I'm in
Because how could anyone be anything else?
