Forum Archive Index - May 2000

[Chris <cd@ak.planet.gen.nz>]

Phil,

Your response to Ril of last Sunday is one of the most real exposures 
that I have witnessed in this forum.  Thanks for an honesty that captures 
your life in words enjoyable.  My identification with the picture you 
reveal is much because I glimpse a small part of myself.  

I recommend to those who missed it, look through the pinhole and browse 
the copy below.

Thanks,
Chris
cd@pl.net


>ril wrote:
> 
>> The time to leave has come. Do not be afraid. There is a better life
>> awaiting you elsewhere.


Phil wrote
>What the hell, it's Sunday, i'll take the bait.
>
>I've always read your comments carefully, and have tried not to jump to
>the conclusion that you have fully converted yourself to a whinging
>pom.  
>
>Unlike a lot of others, I really can't claim to be in New Zealand "for
>the lifestyle" or because "its a great place to live".  Frankly, I live
>in a tiny room which is attached to my place of work.  It has no
>wallpaper, sheets for curtains, and virtually no furniture.  I'm
>certainly not a fan of high living, material possessions etc.  I do not
>swim, sail, participate in any sports etc.  As for the people, im rather
>antisocial, and outside of work contacts and the long suffering
>girlfriend, I have minimal social contact.  So all the "benefits" of New
>Zealand that people talk about are no doubt there - but I don't take
>advantage of them.
>
>The way I live suits me, its basic, I don't get distracted, it means im
>virtually "always at work" and able to support my clients at funny hours
>if need be.  Importantly, the industry i'm in and the principles that
>guide the business means that those clients could be calling from
>Wellington, Auckland, or Botswana - where my building is situated is of
>little importance.
>
>So why haven't I fled the country?  Well, the first reason is that
>wherever I ended up, I would no doubt live in a little pokey room, my
>only real interests would be the business, investing and a little
>reading (as they are now), and I see no real advantage to be gained by
>moving.  I understand there are much bigger markets elsewhere, but me
>physically moving is in no way going to assist with getting into them. 
>As for issues such as taxation, the exchange rate, government policy
>etc, there are ways to structure your affairs that minimise the effects
>of "country-specific" problems(they can't, however, be totally
>eliminated).  It can be done without moving.  
>
>The other reasons I have for not physically moving are :
>
>If people like you RIL all leave the country as there is "no future for
>smart people in NZ", surely theres some advantage in being one the of
>the last smart people left?
>
>I question whether one of the qualifications for being "smart" is the
>willingness to drop everything and run as soon as the going gets tough. 
>Sure, New Zealand has its problems, but so does any country.  The point
>for me, is lifestyle/friends/environment are of no consequence to me, so
>I can't claim to be staying for those reasons like others do.  If
>anything, I should be a candidate for leaving.  However, i'm not,
>because currently my activities are not inhibited to any great degree by
>living in NZ.
>
>We live in an age where I am able to communicate with people all over
>the world, invest easily all over the world, have customers, suppliers
>etc in far flung locations, and do all this this affordably and
>efficiently.  Why then, do you have this focus on what particular clump
>of dirt you happen to be parking your butt on?  
>
>NZ is a very small country which can be both an advantage or
>disadvantage if you are ambitious and have set yourself tough goals in
>life.  While i'm sure you could list the negatives, one positive is that
>it offers a relatively small market, which is more price sensitive than
>most, and which demands as much as any.  New Zealand companies have had
>to become lean and mean to get by, especially if they want to compete
>with overseas firms.  If you can do well in this market, and have the
>sort of product that can be sold elsewhere, I believe it's an ideal
>country to "fine tune" the way you do things.  
>
>Finally, I suspect a reason a lot of people leave is because they are
>fearful that their future prospects are limited if they stay in New
>Zealand.  As for the people i've know who have gone, most have ended up
>in little cubicles, working at much better pay rates, for huge companies
>in big countries.  Believe you me, that makes you a very small fish in a
>very big pond.  Sure, if times are good, all is rosy, but if times are
>bad, the knife can fall very hard indeed.  You, RIL, are one that has
>spoken of impending doom many times - have you thought through the
>possible effect on wage rates if you are right?  You, RIL, want all
>highly skilled people to rush off and join you - have you thought about
>the intense competition for these jobs if everyone does?  
>
>Frankly, I can't be bothered moving.  I certainly keep an open mind
>however, and am willing and able to move if it was the right thing to
>do. I have no "ties" to this country, do not own the physical assets
>that tie many here, do not have a large circle of people i'd miss, and
>do not have a lifestyle to give up.  Theres nothing keeping me here. 
>However, theres nothing making me go.  I think if people are actually as
>smart as they think, they'll do well anywhere.  Sure, if you want to
>work for someone else, you'll probably earn more offshore.  But if money
>is your main focus (and it sounds like it is) you'll note that (a) more
>important than what you earn is how much you save, and what you do with
>what you save and (b) the really rich people didn't get that way by
>constantly moving to where the grass is greener.  They found a clump of
>dirt and slaved away until it was green grass. 
>
>I'd much rather get on with trying to do the job that worrying about
>what lump of dirt I should be doing it on.
>
>Cheers,
>Phil

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