What refreshing honesty to hear judges Ricky Martin and will.i.am tell contestant Sarsha Simone (The Voice, Nine, 20/5), that she was too unique for the show, and offer her a recording studio opportunity outside the confines of the forthcoming two-way battles. Their candour leaves no doubt that The Voice is a karaoke competition, not designed to uncover any original new talent.
Helen Tsoutsouvas, Balwyn North
Throwback Thursday: Business Tips From the Movies: Avoiding a Knife in the Back
KRConnect has been running for 10 years now - 2104 posts - so I can now run those "10 Years Ago" posts favored by newspapers. Here goes.
I saw a great movie en route to Seoul last week - Breach. It’s the true story of Robert Hanssen, a FBI double agent. Hanssen was responsible for the deaths of half a dozen American agents, and the cause of untold damage to America’s national security.
The movie has been shot by Billy Ray, almost as a documentary. Ray has described the movie as “a story about lying in the pursuit of truth”. The tension never ebbs and the cold, chilling sets and tone feel totally believable. Even though you know how the story ends, you can still feel yourself being clouded by confusion and doubt.
Anyone in business will recognize and feel for this real life drama where everyday institutional office pressures are overlaid on the stresses of a typical family life. The acting is brilliant. Two primary characters, Hanssen, and FBI rookie, Eric O’Neill, are intriguingly interlinked, taking turns at playing on the insecurities of one another. There is a universal truth that lies at the heart of this movie; people who want to make a difference, and want to be known for something, need to be appreciated. It’s a theme I hold dear, and we must never forget just how important responsibility, learning, recognition and joy are to everyone in the work place. Create this sort of environment in your business and you are unlikely to be betrayed.