Unethical actions can have positive outcomes! Linkedin Colleague requests.

I have just had a Linkedin request from a person who caused me to leave GM Flint.

The Unethical action

 The Linkedin wannabe colleague, got copies of a job he designed and made hardcopies via a 3rd party and left them on a high level Design Managers desk.

By printing off the copies on my computer under my log in ID. The Manager in question ( two levels above my then GM boss, Ron - I can't remember his name) would see the ID on the screen copies and attribute the design material to me.

Needless to say the quality of this material was abysmal.

He is now a high level GM Design Manager himself now. So theoretically it would be a positive thing to have him as a contact.
I didn't make a fuss at the time. I left for a much better paying job.

I must say I am not sure to be annoyed or amused!
His GM brand is closing its Engineering unit, so maybe that has something to do with it.

In this case once bitten twice shy.

The gentleman in question will fall on his feet I'm sure, however I prefer to remain outside of his area of influence.

I must say, everything happens for a reason, and whilst my career appears to be on hold presently, I have enjoyed my life experience in the last decade or so.

Sitting behind a tube in Warren Mi would pay the bills. I don't miss it at all.

The Positve outcome

Since leaving Flint, I worked for GM in my new role in America and Germany. Enjoyed it thoroughly, worked in Malaysia, loved Malaysia... working for Lotus wasn't great if I'm honest. My wanna be Linkedin colleague would have been at home there.

Being involved with a Media company (Board Member) getting some first hand experience with the tourist industry (more as a friend than worker)

 and meeting CEO's and in one case the ex Malaysian PM, Dr. Tun Mahathir (on the left below), no we're not friends or colleagues, would not have happened without my wanna be Linkedin friend.

There are a lot more positives than negatives that came out of his unethical action.

Everything happens for a reason!

Next step... Get my Dream project up and running!

I know who can influence the outcome. I hope they come through for me.

Lucky I'm patient and persistent and happy... healthy... don't hold grudges... the list goes on.

Getting funding for your dream project is not easy...

I use social media and have a webpage www.motorsportuniversitymalaysia.com
I don't tend to add pictures and jokes to my facebook page. I usually just update my blog www.motorsportuniversitymalaysia.blogspot.com I then share this on Google+ and sometimes Linkedin.
I actually have a lot of pageviews on Google+
Today, I checked out Linkedin. I went onto the Detroit Electric page. I have met with Albert Lam. Presently, Albert is the founder of Detroit Electric, then he was CEO of Lotus Engineering. It was good of him to give me the time, and pay for my coffee!

 He said if I could show him a revenue stream for a "Training" proposal he would bring onboard investors. His experience with training was much the same as General Motors with small cars, ie "We don't make money from ..."

He seems to have spent the last few years trying to sell an electric Elise. I then expect (I don't know) that he will source another ICE production car from China and put an electric power unit in it.
No R&D costs with the complete development of a vehicle. Just assemble and sell.

Good Luck with that.

I noticed on the Detroit Electric page one person I know. The Executive Program Manager. I assume he works from home. He appears to be the only one based in Singapore.
There are several in China,Holland and the UK, with a couple in Detroit.

Additionally, I saw that my facebook friend Kumar has done some ride and handling work for them. Kumar worked in Lotus Engineering. I helped him financially (personally) in his early rallying career. Lotus Engineering does not have a budget for Rally Driving per se.

I am incredibly biased, that I admit. BUT I wish that my proposal would receive the funding and support that this project has.

Well run ethical institutions that offer bona fide certification nowadays often exceed one million clients. That in my view (biased, I know) represents a revenue stream.

Whilst I have called the project MUM Malaysian Motorsport University, this was because I was with Lotus/ Proton at the early inception. The project has a global vision.

It will happen, I'm sure.

In the meantime, I wish Albert Lam and his crew all the best.

Linkedin Premium and my executive position search...

Yesterday, I was invited to have a free (month) upgrade job search Premium on LinkedIn.
You can see who has been looking at your profile, and can contact people directly through InMail.
I won't bother.

I have directly contacted people by attending two ASLI automotive conferences. The second one I presented and hosted several discussions with CEO's and executives from SepangF1 Proton and Perodua.

I would like to thank Kenanga Simon and her team at ASLI for being so helpful in making this happen.

Kenanga, recently left ASLI. I wish her well in her new career.

Networking is important. Nothing beats someone recognising you and saying something positive, or negative!

I have made it known to high level people that I want to make my proposal a reality. I'm not a multi millionaire, so I would be happy to work at a level that would give me the budget and freedom to execute the plan.

Additionally, I believe that my plan dovetails with DRB Hicom's global strategy. They have just bought the Lotus dealerships in China.

I have already made this clear on numerous occasions to Lotus/Proton and DRB Hicom. I can't imagine that having a premium LinkedIn account will make any difference.

It would be nice if the hiring team would look at my webpage and blog. Get some feedback, both positive and negative from people who know me, and make the right decision. Hire me. You won't regret it!

Would Jackie Stewart endorse my proposal?

Recently I wrote about endorsements on Linkedin. Endorsements genuinely made, and publicly made can be invaluable. More of that later.
This month, I have also made a blog entry on when I made a presentation to the former CEO of Lotus Engineering, Albert Lam.
Albert gave me two hours of his time. He was immaculately dressed and very professional and polite.
However, he could not see a revenue stream. He only saw a noble idea.
No endorsement there.
Albert has gone on to get funding for his own project.
Detroit Electric
This company will buy bodies from Proton and add an electric powertrain.
I haven't seen any for sale.
CODA electric cars do a similar thing.
They do have cars for sale.
You can buy one for just under $30,000 USA after government incentives.

GM are showcasing their new all Electric car SPARK
This will cost about $25,000 after government incentives.

Electric vehicles are now being produced by mainstream OEM's.
It will be interesting to see how the small niche manufacturers compete in what is now a main stream marketplace.

When I first proposed training people using Motorsport as a tool, very few academic institutions were doing so. Cranfield were running Motorsport management courses.
That was it (I think)

Now it is common. Google Motorsport course/education etc and you'll get plent of results..

The UK, America and Malaysia have private Universities.

There is obviously demand for Motorsport (and Football) based studies.

Below the picture is a link to a Football based education initiative.

CLICK FOR VIDEO

I think I need a White Knight. Someone with a higher profile than me to stand up and say, "You know this initiative makes sense."
The gentlemen on this video are all high profile.Alastair Campbell in particular is a regular on UK TV.
 It says a lot about the proposal.People take notice. TV crews turn up.
It's a shame someone like Jackie Stewart doesn't throw his weight behind MUM.
As I write, I'm looking at a picture of him signing my T shirt at the Belle Isle race in 1996.
Presently he is an Ambassador for GENII owners of Lotus F1.

I wrote a blog entry a couple of years ago:
The UK open University seem to have taken to the virtual World,
like Ducks to water!



http://motorsportuniversitymalaysia.blogspot.co.uk/2010_06_01_archive.html


Open University claims record iTunes downloads
The article is very interesting:
The global figure for downloads from iTunes U has reached 250 million.
"The way people want to learn is changing," says Open University vice-chancellor, Martin Bean.

The Open University, once parodied for its late-night television shows, is now pioneering the use of the internet to reach its students.
Chart toppers

It began putting material on Apple's iTunes U service in June 2008 - and in two years has had 20 million items downloaded.
"There is a real worldwide hunger for learning," he says.


Book sales, Germany and Malaysia, Linkedin, 2013 NAP

I have a charity book which is printed by Createspace and is available on Kindle.
All money goes to charity Rokpa.
It is free to download on the 1st of the month.
To read the story behind the story go to:
www.samasama.de/innocence-lost-in-the-ice-cream-forest/

I have a friend, Jimmy and his wife Mila, coming over from Malaysia over Christmas, and after Christmas I will pop over to Germany for wedding celebration in Leipzig, for Tilo and Curtney.

So, should I get this project off the ground, I'll need to fly back to Europe end of December.

I'm getting a few people I haven't heard from for a while trying to connect via Linkedin. They have hundreds of connections, so I don't think they partcularly want to connect with me!

Its a useful tool for seeing where people are working.

I contacted the Malaysian Institute Automotive regard their upcoming National Auto Policy.
They were polite and encouraged me to give them as much info about my thoughts and project as possible.

As always I am optimistic and patient!

Endorsements... are they worth anything?

I am not a big Facebook or Linkedin user. Maybe I should be...
Recently I received some unsolicited but positive endorsements on Linkedin.
The people who did this are all friends with Linda. My astrologer friend. I kind of worked with Linda on her astrology show as a guest.
You can call into Linda's show on Thursday's



My buddy Tilo made an audio file of the interview.
http://www.samasama.de/clients/innocence/John%20interviewed%20by%20Linda%20-%20cut.mp3
If you listen to the file, it is obvious that Linda and me are pals.
She endorsed my Linkedin page. She highlighted my project management skills.

I have to say, the fact that she liked me, probably coloured that endorsement. Linda hasn't actually worked with me professionally.

All the same it was nice of her to do it.

Yesterday, I wrote about the Cambodian car project. I have worked with the CEO. We are not friends.Probably never will be.

An endorsement from this person would be negative.

That would not worry me. I would carry that as a badge of honour.

The thing is... If all endosements on Linkedin are going to be friends slapping friends on the back how much worth will they have?

Linkedin

Today I checked out Linkedin. My brochure was a subject of most discussed on Linkedin a few weeks ago.
I looked up some old names.
I see Doug Chester is at Lotus. Doug last saw me outside a gym in KL and said "Hello you fat bastard." Previously I was supposed to meet him in a bar after work. I arrived at about 5pm and waited till 10pm. Apparently he turned up at 10.30pm. No apology. A pretty important person.
Another person I saw was Dave Fryatt. Dave was a pretty young detailer in Trafford house. He works for Doug I assume.
My old boss at QED is still there I would think. He emailed me daily and phoned me weekly when I was in Lotus. He was desperate to get a job. QED went bankrupt. I put in several recs to employ him, but Kevin (General Manager) was not in need of his services.
John (my direct boss for a time at Lotus) hired him after I had been laid off. John appears to be his hero. They have similar lives outside of work. Each to his own.
I stayed with Mick (in KL) for a couple of weeks at his request, and couldn't wait to get away.
There is another expat who I had a constant problem with. Again he was close friends with John. He could just go to John, and he could do whatever he liked. I don't miss him at all!
So I have to say, I have no-one in Lotus Malaysia who I would call a close personal friend. They are corporate relationships. Each man for himself.
I will return shortly. Of that I'm sure.
This project is bigger than any individual. It will be a success. It will make a positive difference to peoples lives, and will be a financial success. Thats enough for me.

Most discussed Slideshare presentation on Linkedin

This is the most discussed Slideshare presentation on Linkedin today.

official-flyer-for-motorsport-university-malaysia

View more presentations from johnsean

It looks good to me. Thanks to Tilo for the graphical assistance!
You might want to checkout my webpage.
http://motorsportuniversitymalaysia.com/

I have updated my campus locations to include the USA. Check the Global page on the website.

Here is my older presentation. Feel free to discuss that too!

Motorsport University Malaysia

View more presentations from johnsean

While your at google John Mansfield under video and see my TV interview!