Rules of attraction

Finding and recruiting new talent is a great challenge and a hot issue for most companies. Vilnius Conference Centre (VCC) - the company I run - is different, which is very pleasing. It was launched less than 4 weeks ago but there is already a list of candidates who would be interested to work for VCC. We haven't been actively looking for new people but they found us.

I worked at an international firm with a strong corporate brand and culture for quite a few years. Therefore, it seems only natural to build VCC on a similar set of standards.

I have come up with a list of things that should serve as a basis for VCC corporate culture. It is just the initial phase of its development and I would like to present it for your trial (blogging out:).

VCC Values, Rules and Guidelines

1. VCC is a smart company and employs smart people, runs smart projects and works with smart clients.

2. VCC is open, dynamic and flexible.

3. VCC core values are:
- High professonal standards
- Enthusiasm
- Positive attitude
- Effective and efficient teamwork
- Partnership-based relationships with all stakeholders: employees, clients, suppliers, competitors, etc.

4. We never say No or Never, we say We have to think and come back with an answer.


This list is not exhaustive, it is a constant "work-in-progress". Let me have your comments and ideas!

Photo by Gediminas Zilinskas, March 2007, Vilnius

A smart VCC start

The 1st of March was an important date. Not because it was an official start of spring, at least in Lithuania. It was also the launch day of a new company and its project. The venture I've been working on, together with partners, for three full and busy months. Finally, it's up and running!

You probably know smart phones, smart cards, smart cars. Why can't there be a smart company? Vilnius Conference Centre (http://www.vcc.lt/) is built on this concept. It will run smart projects, employ smart people and - hopefully - have smart clients. Is this idea too far-fetched? Well, I don't think so. I would argue that it's a great (smart!:) idea.

Just like the Smart (car) rented for the launch party and the first phase of the marketing campaign, VCC is a dynamic, flexible and open company. It's also based on a team of two, just like the Smart FortTwo (see pictures below). It makes people smile and stay positive and well-disposed. I'm driving this car to get to the VCC office and around town and it feels as if you spread the good vibe around you. It's amazing!

Visit the VCC website and its blog, leave your comment there. It'll be interesting to hear your feedback, opinions and thoughts. Blog it out! :)

A few snapshots of the launch party on 1 March:

Photos by Gediminas Zilinskas

The importance of planning

There are two kinds of people: those who hate plans and those who are fans of plans. I belong to the latter category. I am a strong believer in plans, or rather in the process of planning itself, and enjoy planning immensely! I am not talking about the pretentious plan-based economies back in Soviet times. Planning makes life easier.

My friends sometimes make fun of me as I am a passionate planner. Be it a holiday or a business project, a plan is a must for me. Otherwise, how would you make the most of it? :) Yes, sometimes there needs to be a plan-free holiday. But "no plan" is already a plan!..

It is a wide-spread belief that plans/planning is a limitation. That it puts an end to creativity, flexibility, etc. I totally disagree. The nature of plans is such that they are a constant "work-in-progress", i.e. once you have an initial plan ("a framework") you can work on it further, change it as needed, streamline it and finally have a near-perfect plan for action.

In his book "Screw It, Let's Do It", Richard Branson (the founder of Virgin Group, in case you don't know:) said: "I always tell people that if they want to do anything well, they must plan and prepare." And it's absolutely true. His achievements will only prove this simple statement.

I'm in the process of preparation and planning. In four weeks, a new company and its project will be officially launched. Keep an eye on this blog and you might be among the first to find out!

Outdoor press conference venue of White House, Washington D.C.
Photo by Giedrius CP, July 2006

Bad weather, good crisis management

I've never had the fear of flying planes. Not until last Friday when I was on board the Lithuanian national airlines' Boeing, which some 20 minutes before landing at Gatwick airport in London started shaking, jumping up and down and trembling due to severe winds in London. At that point I realised how people who have this fear feel... I just wished I wasn't on the plane or the pilot didn't even try landing at Gatwick. But Lithuanian pilots are brave and very confident and they did land. Thank God and them - successfully!

Only when we landed and I rushed to collect my luggage (Grace, I'm sorry for not saying good-bye, I wonder what your impressions of that flight were?:), did I find out that London had been hit by hurricane-like winds, which turned the public transport system into a total mess. Trains were late some 60 minutes (so I missed the business meeting in Victoria that evening), some stations were closed (e.g. London Bridge as its roof - litterally! - went off), some streets in Central London were cordoned by police.

When I learnt that the transit train from North Terminal to South Terminal was closed due to bad weather conditions (!), I understood that London was under another crisis. Just like the last time I was in this city, in December. At that time thick fog outside London paralysed Heathrow airport (some 400 flights were canceled), Gatwick was less affected.

In December, just before Christmas (a high travel season!), people travelling from London were in a bit of stress because of disruptions of flights. And then I witnessed the excellence of British authorities in crisis management. This time when the transport system in London was again severely hit, it again came to my notice how well the Brits manage crises.

For example, in December the flight cancelations, delays and disruptions caused thousands of travelers to seek information on the websites of Heathrow, Gatwick and other airports. So did I. And all the websites were automatically re-routed to a single point of information - a website of the air transport board which had no other information but regularly updated times and flight numbers in all London airports. This "shadow" website was on standby and ready for launch in case of a crisis. And my personal experience shows that such crises occur every month...

This time I was impressed by the way the Brits manage crowds. In Gatwick dozens of officers wearing yellow vests directed travelers to the coach stops as the train connection between the airport's terminals was closed. The officers would come up to you if you looked lost and show you the right way as well as the temporary signs directing to the right direction.

I was a bit stressed due to plane turbulance and a bit annoyed by the mess in London's transport system but it was obvious that the crisis was being managed professionally and that it had been prepared for. Well, the British way of crisis management deserves the highest mark of evaluation!

I hope the plane on Monday will not tremble and I will successfully return to Vilnius. Fingers crossed!

Nature Morte @Clyde's restaurant, Washington DC, July 2006.

Photo by Giedrius CP