AboutDonald Byrne Expertise I am comfortable with questions on the topics of: Business Continuity, Risk Management, Business Resiliency, Emergency Management, Crisis Management, Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity Auditing (esp: NFPA 1600 and BS 25999), and related subjects.
I would also be comfortable answering questions on Sales Management, Sales Compensation, Marketing, Marketing Management, Business and Market Planning, Channel Sales, Direct Sales, and any area of Executive Management.
I am also comfortable working with entrepreneurs and answering questions about fund raising and company start-up.
I can also offer career advice in the above areas and especially in how to rise to the job of CEO.
Experience I have started 3 successful companies, managed the turn-around of 4 others and currently run a consulting firm (www.NorthRiverSolutions.com) in the area of business continuity and resiliency planning.
I am a contributing editor to www.continuitycompliance.com, as well as other "authority sites" and participate in various Linked'In discussions.
Prior to North River Solutions, I worked as a turn-around CEO, venture capitalist, and investment banker. I also spend 25 years in the computer business working with both large companies and start-ups.
I am a member of the Committee of Experts advising the ANSI National Accreditation Board and the Department of Homeland Security on matters relating to Public Law 110-53: "Implementing the 9/11 Commission Report Act."
I am a member of the Technical Committee of the ASIS team developing the ISO standard for business continuity and resiliency; and the "Chair" of the "Legal, Compliance and Audit" discipline at the International Consortium for Organizational Resiliency (www.theICOR.org).
Organizations theICOR.org (Board Member and Chair of the Legal, Compliance and Audit discipline
St Joseph's Hospital, Board of Directors
Association of Contingency Planners, Chair of the Committee on Voluntary Certification
Former Chair, NH Chapter of NEDRIX
Publications Many
Education/Credentials I hold undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Philosophy, and have an MBA with a specialty in International Marketing.
I am a Certified Business Continuity Professional(DRII #8269) and a Certified Data Center Professional (CDCP).
I am a certified Lead Auditor and the Program Manager for Business Continuity Auditing at Perry Johnson Registrars, the 3rd largest company of its kind in the US.
Question Hello Mr. Byrne,
I am not sure if you are familiar with U.S. laws. I currently live in the State of California.
I thought of an idea which I have expressed through the Obama Administration. Some issues I have brought forward such as The Science of Behavior Modification through a Socialized Business, Basically awarding and rewarding individuals through recognition and/or living accommodations.
I have considered a name for the ideal, American Economic Dynamism. I considered using Capitalism to employ socialism, since businesses are competitive and when all goes wrong, they do not force you to pay, as government has no competitive edge.
The living accommodations would be something like a resort type community. I am not someone that can write a web page but I thorough one up over night. EconomicDynamism.com
What I think is arranging contract service work, business partnership, and selecting the best of the least qualified, which are people who generally can work, but do not have the competitive edge, perhaps the lack of the mental or physical attributes and keep them off the welfare system.
It would be a volunteer employment contract arrangement. They would work and be provided a better opportunity than surviving on minimum wage jobs. Their contract work would add up when the living environment has been efficiently and moderately built.
Basically it is employing people and providing them a life. I am sure there are at least a million people who would want to be part of this. There are people living on the public dole and it would be better to help them through business entrepreneurship, than have a government bureaucracy create a public disaster because the award system does not pay well enough and has not shaped behavior, being and honest, good person.
I think the families have been allowed to erode and the kids have nothing but the streets. The streets of Social Decay.
Do you have any idea's? What do you think? Money is not the issue. Its the laws, and finding experienced individuals willing to start something.
I understand you are Australian, please understand the name, "American" is because we have a constitution with the principles of the "Pursuit of Happiness", so regardless of the Nation, it is the principles on which I stand on, Unity for a common purpose.
If there is anybody who would like to help, I would certainly be looking for some ambitious volunteers, or partnerships.
Answer Hi,
First, I am American and live in the US.
Interesting idea. Do you see it augmenting or doing something different than Habitat for Humanity or any of the many, many charitable groups that help build/re-build homes?
Also, you mention that "money is not the issue." Money is ALWAYS a key issue. Don't underestimate this barrier.
Now, to your core concept. I think you will find that the behaviors you have noticed are symptomatic of much deeper psychological issues. For example - "learned helpless." If you are not familiar with this concept, Google it. In short, it refers to a state of mind in which the person does not believe that they can succeed at one or more tasks. The classic illustration of this principle are students who have so much difficulty learning to read and write that they drop out of school. These same individuals however, leave the classroom and run a multi-million dollar drug business. It is not that they aren't very bright - they just don't believe that they can succeed in school because for a long tiem they have been told that they can't. And, if they believe they can't succeed, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I think you will find that many people who we might judge as needing help (which is a whole other discussion of judgmental prejudice!) are multi-generational welfare recipients. Even people who have recently fallen into poverty have a state of mind that is not likely to respond well to a challenge. If they could pull themselves up by their "bootstraps" - they would.
So, while I think you have a noble idea, I think your proposal is a case of attempting to treat the symptoms and not the cause. Clearly there are people who would respond to your challenge, but I don't think many.
Good luck. Follow your dream and do good for the world!
