19/10/2025 By David Rigby

Because it’s important – “Towards a future without racism”

“Hacia un futuro sin racism ” “Towards a future without racism” Madrid October 2025

“Because it’s important” was the response when I asked Smart Coaching & Training associate Mahmoud Assy why he had arranged, promoted and paid for an event in Madrid called “Hacia un futuro sin racism” “Towards a future without racism”

No need to ask further questions

There was no need to ask further questions of the man who had arranged 15 speakers for this event. I could identify representatives from communities as diverse as Philippines, India, China, South America, Morocco, of various religions and the local gypsies. He can do this because he knows them And all of them spoke in Spanish and most work in Madrid.

The kind of people invited to be associates

This kind of event and belief systems is very characteristic of the kind of people who are invited to be associates. They tend to have many years of practical experience but also come with some sort of spirituality. This is regardless of where they were born or where they live now. Many people ask and few are accepted, That kind of commonality enables them to get to know each other quickly, and moreover to gain trust. So when opportunities arise we can be quick to respond as a team because the time has already been invested in the community,Learning from each other

I have been fortunate to have been invited to events which I would not have known about if it hadn’t been for Mahmoud,

Opportunities shared with associates

Similarly I organised for me and associate Clair Aghassipour to meet interculturality guru Fons Trompenaars in Amsterdam. And this week Clair represented Smart Coaching & Training in Netherlands for three meetings in the same week. Jessica Breitenfeld and Ian Gibbs represented SCT meeting the owner of a Saudi Arabian training organisation in Barcelona. They can’t do this unless they are well briefed and trusted. We would not have known SIETAR if it hadn’t been for associate Pari Namazie

JEDI Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion

Back to Mahmoud: JEDI Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion are his topics. Mirroring the many Diversity topics SCT is capable of supporting. See Diversity

*Mahmoud Assy and David Rigby at FELGTBI event in Madrid*

*Fons Trompenaars and Clair Aghassipour exchanging books*

*David Rigby with Papa Baba Ndong president of SIETAR*

Smart Coaching & Training works with over 30 associates, in four continents speaking 14 languages and raised and working in a wide range of cultures. See our associates here.

09/10/2025 By David Rigby

The right not to have an opinion

A better option for coaches

Sometimes it essential to have an opinion. Often you don’t need an opinion and that’s OK. If you are a professional coach you need to be able to coach people whose opinions and values differ from yours, so better you are open-minded.
There are many topics for which I don’t have an opinion. Often because I recognise I don’t have enough information to make one and I am not interested enough to find out. There are other topics, such as Gaza, where I have an opinion which seems to stand up, for which I know I only have selected ‘facts’.
This seems to contradict current life where everyone has an opinion on everything whether they know anything or not. And the ‘if you don’t agree with me then you are out’ is the next step .

So here is a list where I don’t know enough to have information to form an opinion

Trans women using women’s toilets. Trans men using men’s toilets. I know several trans people who have had the bravery and the trauma of transitioning. It takes a lot of courage to transition. Most transition to become who they really are. Is it such an afront to non-trans people to see a trans person in a toilet and how would you know. And what other options do they have? There are not enough statistics to prove their presence is dangerous but there is a lot of hysteria.
By removing all the immigrants there will be no people to do the jobs the indigenous people wont do – such as looking after old people and care in general. And regarding immigrants as cheap labour. Though it’s a disgrace on society that someone’s race determines how much they earn. It will of course mean that the people who want looking after will have to pay a lot more than they are doing now and many people wont get the support they need. And with the population imbalance there will not be enough taxes collected from younger people to support the aging population so retirement age will have to increase by a lot more. However removing all the immigrants will allow the retention of traditional culture – whatever that was . In the UK that will require returning to eating the traditional terrible English food. Not going to the Indian restaurant after a few pints, or having food delivered because there will be no-one to cook it or deliver it. It might mean more traditional Fish & Chip shops if anyone could afford to go to them.

No white people allowed? *Is this coming again ?*

*proper inclusive signage – in a Madrid University*

*Should people this old be allowed to vote ? Who is there to look after her in old age ? The kids (if any) won’t* and there won’t be anyone else to

There is a case for banning all people over 65 from voting in elections as they are very-short term minded, thinking of only themselves and not the long term as they wont be there. Best example is Brexit – where many people had opinions based on no information. Whereas 16-17 years olds are at least voting for their future. There is also a good case for making all politicians and leaders retire at 65 too!

LGB alliance (without the T) claim that they would not want trans-women in Lesbian groups because trans-women are men. In many ways it’s the same argument about having non-whites in traditionally all white clubs and having women in men only clubs. Why any of the excluded would want to join these narrow minded and bigoted groups I don’t know unless it’s to prove a point. Women only groups are the same thing

It is a fact, proven by McKinsey over and over again that diverse teams get better results. Teams which are ALL of cognitively, racially, culturally, generationally, neuro, gender and sexually diverse may take longer to get to conclusions but the results will be better. But those who don’t want to embrace this fact still believe that ‘people like us’ are the only ones we should listen to. Those who are not indigenous or went to the right school still have to be better qualified to do the same job for lower pay. But compare that to ‘would I travel in a plane with a black pilot’ because he was brought in under a quota which balanced his lack of opportunity and most likely better qualified .

What benefit to I have from this?

These few examples illustrate where I observe what is going on but don’t have the time or inclination to investigate further. I also don’t go to bars to join a group watching football to voice my opinions about footballers, where, though I may have less knowledge than the punters, I severely question the knowledge of those punters when they complain about the referee. But I am not expressing that opinion in front of them as I don’t have the knowledge to justify my opinion. It’s also boring.

And as a coach, having an open mind will enable you to cope better when your client has strong views about something you know about but can straddle the fence.

Smart Coaching & Training works with over 30 associates, in four continents speaking 14 languages. Most raised and working in a wide range of cultures and living in a different place than where they were born . See our associates here.

Generational Diversity: Badly behaving Boomers – the naked truth

Why the over-60s are the wildest generation

This is from an article published by, presumably a youngster, at the Daily Telegraph.

“There was something extraordinary about the protest in Parliament Square in support of the terrorist group Palestine Action earlier this month: half of the people arrested were aged 60 or above. Almost 100 of them were in their 70s. As well as risking arrest, baby boomers are drinking more alcohol than any other age group and having more unsafe sex. What happened to knitting, gardening and Midsomer Murders, asks Melissa Twigg.”

I am not prepared to pay the highly biased Telegraph to read more.

There are people I know who have shifted from unsafe sex (without fear or pregnancy) to staying at home painting. Perhaps because they are no long up for it .
They can stick to their principles without losing their jobs – hence the protests and good for them.

Personally I don’t know anyone who does knitting, gardening or watches Midsomer Murders. Having sex and drinking a lot is much better exercise. Maybe I am not yet old enough,

Official Naturist Beach near Benidorm, Spain. Taken over by clothed youngsters. Defended by boomers

Destruction of the naturist beaches

In the 1960s in Benidorm the local women protested to Franco that the local mayor wanted to allow women to wear bikinis in the beach but Franco allowed the bikinis. That is why there is a huge iron cross on the hills outside of Benidorm to remember what the local women tried to do, The women who fought for the right to wear bikinis were Boomers,

In Spain at least, youngsters, being the new puritans, are avidly destroying the fought for and registered Naturist Beaches by invading them and keeping their clothes on. It’s up to the boomers to keep up the tradition and remain naked.

Dirty Chai Latte and Matcha Tea

Being in Spain we have wine with meals and wine and beer and coffee in cafes. I was asked by a youngster why I drink wine and beer and it’s because it’s cheaper than most other drinks and drinks like Coke and Fanta are poison in a bottle. I hardly drink cocktails and spirits as Spanish measures are lethal.

There is a 45 year age difference between the youngest and oldest SCT associate. See what we say about generational diversity here.

This the last of the more trivial topics for the summer break. Back to the more serious topics next time.

Smart Coaching & Training works with over 30 associates, in four continents speaking 14 languages. Most raised and working in a wide range of cultures and living in a different place than where they were born . See our associates here.

Many of our associates learned how to speak via Toastmasters and Professional Speakers Association Read more

11/08/2025 By David Rigby

That’s not allowed – going Dutch with the experts

Intercultural experiences in Netherlands

That is not allowed” were the first words from the waiter in Scheveningen, The Hague Netherlands when I asked to exchange Potato Salad for Chips with my Schnitzel, so I conceded. My first experience of Dutch restaurant culture. Made all the sweeter when he returned form the kitchen saying “We don’t have potato salad, would you be OK with chips ? “

I hope you like sandwiches (and raw herring)

My impressions were not improved when the only food on offer in my first restaurant in Utrecht was a choice of three sandwiches. OK but very expensive.

In Amsterdam I survived the ‘can you eat proper Dutch food ‘ with the Raw Herring test. It was good – followed by another lunch where only sandwiches were on offer and no red wine . You have to have good teeth for these.

Another restaurant, this time in Amsterdam South, late dinner at 7.30. We get told : “We have run out of chicken”, “Can I have the menu of the day?- No”.” Can I have a burger?” No – I told you we have run out of chicken (no mention that the burger is chicken anywhere in the menu). OK I’ll have the veggie burger “Does it come with fries/chips” Yes – but we don’t have any (and no alternatives offered) and so it went on ! And it was terrible.

Three pints of Guinness later…

The Indonesian Restaurant was good in Leiden but then it was after three pints of Guinness with my Irish friend. The Curry in Scheveningen was competent, and so were the Dutch Pancakes in Amsterdam.

*August in Sheveningan Den Haag – Mussels by the fire*

*Dutch “can you eat raw herring?” test and typical lunch*

*The exceptional Walter Benedict restaurant in Den Haag*

I mention the name of the restaurant, Walter Benedict, in Den Haag as it was, exceptionally, an exceptional restaurant/café. Superb food, service and ambience. But then at 45 Euros a head for two courses and no alcohol it ought to have been.
On the final night we braved the cold and lashing rain to have Mussels in a seaside café in Scheveningen. They had their individual gas fires in the middle of each table – after all it’s August !

What have I learnt from this?

What have I learnt from this? I went to each of these restaurants with someone local who, in theory, knows what they are doing. Those Dutch stereotypes about timeliness and cuisine are absolutely right and everything shuts at 9.30 or 10. I was also right to go out with 5 layers of clothes. I live in Spain where having wine or perhaps beer with lunch or dinner (at 10p.m.) is absolutely normal – everyone thought I was an alcoholic. July/August may be the best time to visit Netherlands but I was pleased to be back in Madrid at 38 degrees. Nevertheless the Netherlands experience, spending time with old friends, recent friends and making new ones made the experience a great one!

Smart Coaching & Training works with over 30 associates, in four continents speaking 14 languages. Most raised and working in a wide range of cultures and living in a different place than where they were born . See our associates here.

Many of our associates learned how to speak via Toastmasters and Professional Speakers Association Read more

21/07/2025 By David Rigby

That’s Nailed it! Do Politicians get their nails done?

Pictured: British Politicians Hands – all currently in Parliament except one. (and the right hand of Putin)

I am writing from Madrid in the second half of July. Everything has stopped until September – certainly no meetings. And come August half the shops and cafes will be closed for the month.
So it comes down to “Where am I going to get my nails done ?”

Where am I going to get my nails done ? you are going to learn some of the tricks or skills they learnt to get to the top.

I have never understood the passion for getting your nails done. This may be a male thing – but the longer the nails, the falser they are and more overly designed the nails are the more vacuous I think the wearer is.

Haven’t people got anything better to do with their time and also their money? My assumption is it to do with the therapy you getting from sitting there and someone is paying attention to you and the conversation is either innocuous or gossip.

It is Me time which you could also get by sitting, having a nice cup of tea, and if you felt like spoiling yourself, you could have a biscuit. And that wouldn’t make using a phone or keyboard tortuous.
In the good old days you could spend hours under the dryer with your curlers in and achieve the same result.

Do you trust British Politicians – their nails suggest you should.

I thought I would do some research and look at the nails of British politicians and see if you can guess who the nails and hands belong to. With two exceptions all are current parliamentarians; one is the hand of Putin, the other is too famous to be left out.
Not a false nail in sight. Of course this is Britain, where false teeth are designed to look like real teeth. The British do not shout out : I have got the money to spend on making my teeth look unnaturally pearly white and perfect – and it’s the same with nails. It may not be the same in other countries.

Fat lips and chiselled chins

I see lots of adverts to have fat lips and chiselled chin and feel sorry for those who think these improvements will make you more confident or attractive – they don’t. Spend your money developing your personality – it last longer. It takes personality to be charming enough to go to the barbers and say ‘yes’ to the question “Anything for the weekend, sir?”.

Anything for the weekend, Sir?

Smart Coaching & Training works with over 30 associates, in four continents speaking 14 languages and raised and working in a wide range of cultures. See our associates here.

Because it’s important – “Towards a future without racism”

No need to ask further questions

The kind of people invited to be associates

Opportunities shared with associates

JEDI Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion

Smart Coaching & Training works with over 30 associates, in four continents speaking 14 languages and raised and working in a wide range of cultures. See our associates here.

The right not to have an opinion

A better option for coaches

So here is a list where I don’t know enough to have information to form an opinion

What benefit to I have from this?

Smart Coaching & Training works with over 30 associates, in four continents speaking 14 languages. Most raised and working in a wide range of cultures and living in a different place than where they were born . See our associates here.

Generational Diversity: Badly behaving Boomers – the naked truth

Why the over-60s are the wildest generation

I am not prepared to pay the highly biased Telegraph to read more.

Destruction of the naturist beaches

Dirty Chai Latte and Matcha Tea

Smart Coaching & Training works with over 30 associates, in four continents speaking 14 languages. Most raised and working in a wide range of cultures and living in a different place than where they were born . See our associates here.

That’s not allowed – going Dutch with the experts

Intercultural experiences in Netherlands

I hope you like sandwiches (and raw herring)

Three pints of Guinness later…

What have I learnt from this?

Smart Coaching & Training works with over 30 associates, in four continents speaking 14 languages. Most raised and working in a wide range of cultures and living in a different place than where they were born . See our associates here.

That’s Nailed it! Do Politicians get their nails done?

Where am I going to get my nails done ? you are going to learn some of the tricks or skills they learnt to get to the top.

Do you trust British Politicians – their nails suggest you should.

Fat lips and chiselled chins

Anything for the weekend, Sir?

Smart Coaching & Training works with over 30 associates, in four continents speaking 14 languages and raised and working in a wide range of cultures. See our associates here.

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