<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?> <rss version="2.0"> <channel>     <title>Caribbean Business Enterprise Trust Inc.</title>     <link>http://www.cbetmodel.org</link>     <description>Weekly Columns By Dr. Basil Springer, Change-Engine Consultant, Caribbean Business Enterprise Trust Inc.</description>     <language>en</language>     <copyright>© 2010 Dr. Basil Springer</copyright>     <lastBuildDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:14:49 PST</lastBuildDate> 	 	<managingeditor>webmaster@cbetmodel.org</managingeditor> 	 	<webmaster>webmaster@cbetmodel.org</webmaster> 	     <image>     <title>Caribbean Business Enterprise Trust Inc.</title>     <url>http://www.cbetmodel.org/images/shared/caribbean-business-enterprise-trust.png</url>     <link>http://www.cbetmodel.org</link>     </image> 	     <item> 		<title>I have a Dream</title>   		<description><![CDATA[  The Bimventures extended family now consists of sixty people who are intimately involved in the thrust forward. These include: Trustees (4); Executive Management Committee (3); Entrepreneurs (13) in 10 enterprises; Shepherds (7); Business advisors (6); independent Board members of the 9 incorporated enterprises (27). The E-team of private sector volunteers (local and foreign), including myself, will launch a new initiative on the occasion of its Inaugural Annual Barbados Entrepreneurial Conference (Tue 16/17 Nov) and Awards Ceremony (evening Wed 17 Nov 2010).  The E-Team has set itself the task, with the support of the Prime Minister and the social partnership, to develop Barbados as the number one Entrepreneurial hub in the world by 2020 - a Centre of Excellence.    The concept is that Entrepreneurship, when supported by a well established foundation of the five pillars (Finance Availability, Government Policy, Business Facilitation, Talent &amp; Education and Mentorship &amp; Networks) has a great chance of success. The dream continues to unfold.  John C. Maxwell, in his leadership promises, advocates: “Any dream worth living is worth sharing with others.  The person who shares his dream gets to watch it grow.  The synergy of shared ideas often takes it to a whole new level.  The dream becomes bigger than the person launching it ever imagined it could be. And those who participate in it often adopt it as their own dream. As you give others the opportunity to share your dream, paint a broad landscape for them so that they can catch your vision.”   ]]></description>                   	<link>http://www.cbetmodel.org/business-articles-details.cfm?newsID=324</link>         <pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:14:49 PST</pubDate>     </item>      <item> 		<title>Economic Recovery</title>   		<description><![CDATA[  Bimventures is in the fledgling stages of development of start up enterprises, using the CBET Shepherding Model, primarily and coincidentally in the cultural industries (art, film, fashion, music and food) and in this context it is a perfect fit with the Limegrove lifestyle concept.  This is a partnership between CBET (the owner of the intellectual property rights of the CBET Shepherding Model) and the government and private sector in Barbados.  Last week the ninth Bimventure company, art ani-MAL Inc. was approved for Venture Capital.  The entrepreneur is Ras Akyem-I Ramsay who has already made his mark with his art on the international stage and as he expressed it “I now want to do for the world of Caribbean art what Bob Marley did for Caribbean music”.   Government and the private sector must now combine to increase the rate of tourism spend in the island by the power of the new Bridgetown Barbados Brand.  The word got around—everyone in Israel heard of the king&apos;s judgment. They were all in awe of the king, realizing that it was God&apos;s wisdom that enabled him to judge truly.  ]]></description>                   	<link>http://www.cbetmodel.org/business-articles-details.cfm?newsID=322</link>         <pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:14:49 PST</pubDate>     </item>      <item> 		<title>Living My Dreams</title>   		<description><![CDATA[    An autobiography is a means of sharing and I would like to congratulate Reds for making the effort to produce this work which I am sure will be a stimulus for those who read it and may be the example that influences change in many lives in these challenging times. In a recent email message from Reds he assures me that he is attempting to ensure that the book is available at bookstores throughout the region and beyond.  As I skimmed through the book, I noted that the chapter on “Reflections” began with: “As I look back on my active life I must recognise how fortunate I was to see some of the very best perform at the highest level and at some of the most celebrated cricket venues in the world…If being more formally educated would have in fact changed the life and career I pursued, I would not choose it.”  I think the message that I have received is that we should take advantage of our blessings and convert them into action for the benefit of mankind.  I would encourage all to read and be inspired. Let the Word of Christ - the Message - have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing; sing your hearts out to God!  ( ]]></description>                   	<link>http://www.cbetmodel.org/business-articles-details.cfm?newsID=321</link>         <pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:14:49 PST</pubDate>     </item>      <item> 		<title>Diaspora Partnership</title>   		<description><![CDATA[   I beseech the Diaspora, individually and collectively wherever they are, to fear God and give Him glory by entering into a smart partnership with Barbadians as we strive to develop our island nation. The hour has come to “Strengthen the Bonds that Unite Us!”   ]]></description>                   	<link>http://www.cbetmodel.org/business-articles-details.cfm?newsID=320</link>         <pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:14:49 PST</pubDate>     </item>      <item> 		<title>Come Join the E-Team</title>   		<description><![CDATA[  The presentation was well received with an immediate invitation from the Social Compact to share the concept with a wider cross section of the membership of the social partners.  It was noted that there are over 11,000 entrepreneurs in Barbados which currently support the economy of Barbados and that future growth of the Barbados economy will be obtained by enhancing these enterprises as well as nurturing start-ups with global market potential.  Bimventures was recognised as one such initiative which could be a stimulus for enterprise growth in Barbados and beyond.  Let us focus on right sizing businesses in the public and private sector and encouraging the concept of “entrepreneurship not jobs” as a means of income security.   So if we are serious about securing the future for our children and grandchildren, do not shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up to the Entrepreneurial Moon and let it shine upon you.    ]]></description>                   	<link>http://www.cbetmodel.org/business-articles-details.cfm?newsID=319</link>         <pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:14:49 PST</pubDate>     </item>      <item> 		<title>Visions of 1991</title>   		<description><![CDATA[  In the last eighteen months we have been able to implement the CBET Shepherding Model www.cbetmodel.org; www.bimventures.com in Barbados with some interesting results. It addresses an innovative mix of (1) DNA of an Elephant projects; (2) Shepherding to improve management efficiency; and (3) Seed and Venture Capital.  We have 7 projects which have been approved for Venture Capital investment; 3 which will be making presentations to the VC board shortly; and 33 waiting in the pipeline for resource allocation, both people and money. This is a partnership between CBET, the Government of Barbados and the private sector.   This project is in its fledgling stages so we cannot yet shout from the roof tops, but early indications are that it has the promise to convert VISION into ACTION and grow the economy of Barbados significantly. Other countries in the Caribbean and beyond, based on the pilot in Barbados, are already planning to adopt a similar model.   We need all the help we can get!  The entrepreneurs are poised to take off; more and more potential shepherds are asking to be registered; what we need now is the financial investment to make it happen.  The CBET Shepherding Model offers an attractive return.  Be guided by the promise: “To be content with who you are, and don&apos;t put on airs. God&apos;s strong hand is on you; he&apos;ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you”.     ]]></description>                   	<link>http://www.cbetmodel.org/business-articles-details.cfm?newsID=318</link>         <pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:14:49 PST</pubDate>     </item>      <item> 		<title>In Search of a bigger Cake</title>   		<description><![CDATA[   On reflection, when I was involved we were engaged in “Challenges, Solutions and Impact of Productivity Interventions”; “Performance–Based Management Systems in the Public and Private Sectors”; “Sector Productivity”; “Performance-Based Compensation”; and “Competitiveness” – much the same topics that were on the programme for this conference. These are primarily focussed on enhancing productivity at the enterprise (private sector) or department (public sector) levels and, if successful, they would collectively contribute to the enhancement of productivity at the national level.  John Heap, early in his presentation, explained productivity by the simple ratio of Output/Input.  So that our objective of increasing productivity is achieved by raising output without a corresponding rise in resources consumed, or by reducing resources consumed whilst maintaining output levels or by some combination of the two.  He intimated that the primary National objective in any Sovereign state is to increase productivity in search of a bigger cake which enhances socio-economic well being and hence contributes to sustainable development. The ‘original’ or ‘classic’ formulation of the term sustainable development first came to prominence in 1987 when the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission) produced a report for the United Nations called ‘Our Common Future’. Its definition of sustainable development was &quot;development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs&quot;.    John Heap pointed out that the World Confederation of Productivity Science, understandably, takes a wider view than just increasing the size of the economic cake; it embraces social, environmental and economic productivities. I would add “spiritual” productivity to this mix and assume that “cultural” productivity is included in “social” productivity in the context of sustainable success.  Now to the innovation!  The CBET Shepherding Model™ promotes three concepts: (1) focussing on enterprises with the DNA of an Elephant which can compete on the global market thus increasing the size of the cake; (2) mitigating  the endemic global failure rate (60-90%) of start-up businesses, in the first two years, by assigning Shepherds and business advisors (shepherding) to enterprises to address weak governance and management (marketing, production, HR and finance) issues thus reducing the  failure rate to, say, 20% and growing the cake by 3-4 times; and (3) providing seed &amp; venture capital funding to give the enterprise the financial lift off to increase the size of the cake, until its cash flows will render it financially sustainable. This I label direct productivity enhancement at the national level which together with enterprise or department productivity will induce national exponential growth and therefore everybody will get a larger slice of cake.  Capture the Vision and convert it to Action!  ]]></description>                   	<link>http://www.cbetmodel.org/business-articles-details.cfm?newsID=317</link>         <pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:14:49 PST</pubDate>     </item>      <item> 		<title>The Flood Tide</title>   		<description><![CDATA[    I suggested to the entrepreneur that rather than bemoan the treatment for what is essentially direct grant funds or rebates on taxes of one kind of another, both of which deplete the Government’s coffers, they should consider an alternative.   This alternative is Venture Capital funding especially that which is available under the Bimventures model which comes complete, not only with Seed and Venture Capital funds, but with the process of shepherding which mitigates he risk of failure. A Bimventures/Entrepreneur partnership can take the tide at the flood and access the promised fortune.  When Barbados wins, we all win!  ]]></description>                   	<link>http://www.cbetmodel.org/business-articles-details.cfm?newsID=316</link>         <pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:14:49 PST</pubDate>     </item>      <item> 		<title>DO IT RIGHT - MAKE IT HAPPEN</title>   		<description><![CDATA[   On returning to Barbados I was immediately thrust into two awesome interventions.  The one was a meeting with Dr. Tim Thorogood, born in Barbados, but who is now Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands Government.  His immediate recognition of the power of the CBET Shepherding Model™ was extremely satisfying for me.  The second was a presentation and discussion to regional participants at a Trade, Innovation Policy and Small States Professional Training Programme organised by Dr. Keith Nurse of the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill.   I was asked to present the CBET Shepherding Model™ and was blessed with much more time than I was scheduled and was therefore able to share comprehensively the details of the design and results to date.  The feedback was phenomenal and I would not be surprised if there is significant follow up in an effort to spread the model into other nodes in the Caribbean and possibly beyond.  The Information Society of Barbados honoured Dr. DeLisle Worrell, Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, at a dinner at the Hilton last Friday night which was well attended by a wide cross section of the business community. Dr. Worrell, Trevor Clarke, Mickey Armstrong and I were founder members of the ISB in 1992. He went on to become its Second President.  I remember those early days when we were trying to create a Society with a “bite” to greet the advent of the ICT revolution, the Information Age.  James Corbin is the ISB’s current President and he presented an attractive programme of events towards the vision of Barbados becoming a global ITC Centre of Excellence.   The week ended with the historical installation ceremony of Mrs. Katrina Sam-Prescod as the 25th President of the Rotary Club of Barbados South and the first female president of a Rotary Club in Barbados.    Indeed a week of God&apos;s gracious dealings and generous bounties which need to be praised. Compassion lavished, love extravagant!  ]]></description>                   	<link>http://www.cbetmodel.org/business-articles-details.cfm?newsID=314</link>         <pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:14:49 PST</pubDate>     </item>      <item> 		<title>SOLAR ELECTRICITY - AT LAST!</title>   		<description><![CDATA[  The BCCI, at another retreat on Friday 14 May 2010 to confirm the Revitalisation of Bridgetown Initiative and seek stakeholder support for its development, included in its “Centres of Excellence” concept to develop a new Bridgetown Barbados Brand, a Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy.   By the way, it has been reported that the level of solar energy incident (insolation) on Barbados in one day, if efficiently collected, is enough to service the power needs of Barbados for an entire year. The path is now clear for the BL&amp;P to buy energy from suppliers of solar energy and we look forward to the advent of the production of “solaricity” – at last.   Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.  (]]></description>                   	<link>http://www.cbetmodel.org/business-articles-details.cfm?newsID=313</link>         <pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:14:49 PST</pubDate>     </item> </channel> </rss> 
