Forever Young

I performed this song for my Gran on her 90th birthday last week. The lyrics meant a lot as she is a shining example in my life and doesn't seem to have aged since I have known her!

I played it my own way but along the lines of the Joan Baez version over the Bob Dylan one.

Forever Young - Joan Baez

Forever Young - Bob Dylan

Forever Young

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

Hootsuite - Interview - 4 Tips for Entreprenuers

This article was on the Hootsuite Blog - Dec 8th. By David Kyle

4 Tips for Entrepreneurs From A Music Festival Founder

Something special is happening in New Zealand. For the last ten years, people have been converging on the town of Gisborne to be among the first in the world to usher in the new year. EntrepreneurHamish Pinkham had a vision to create something special. That he has done.

Rhythm and Vines has evolved into one of the most anticipated music festivals in the world, but it hasn’t been an easy road. Pinkham and his team have combined a keen entrepreneurial spirit, a picturesque location with a unique marketing strategy to nurture their dream into a reality.

Here are a few tips for entrepreneurs that we took from talking to Rhythm and Vines that you can apply to your own dreams:

Find your niche

Pinkham saw two gaps in the New Zealand market. He realized there wasn’t really a place where people could celebrate the new year with a large group of friends in a secluded venue. He also noticed that Kiwis did not have a music festival that they could call their own. That’s why, in the summer of 2003, Hamish let his friends know that they would be gathering at a family owned vineyard in the town of Gisborne and listening to local musical talent. About a thousand people attended. Everyone echoed the sentiment that New Zealand needed something like this to celebrate the new year, music and friendship. That’s when Pinkham realised he had found his niche.

Have a vision

Photo courtesy Rhythm and Vines.

When planning what Rhythm and Vines would look like, Pinkham wanted to create something that was more than just about selling tickets. In his own words, he had a “vision for something premium, aspirational.” What was most important to the Rhythm and Vines crew was that they created an experience, not just a festival. They wanted to build something that attendees would hold on to as a lifetime memory. The event now incorporates camping, rides and a secret teepee that “only the most adventurous stumbled upon.” If you want people to remember the product or service you’re providing, make sure it’s an experience for them.

Let your community do it for you

The festival has grown from a one-day event with one thousand attendees its first year to selling out a three-day weekend with thirty thousand festival goers in its tenth. What’s their recipe for success? Let the community speak for you. When people started referring to the festival as R and V, rather than Rhythm and Vines, so did the organizers. When the community came up with the hashtag #RandV2013, that was the hashtag the promoters employed. When the community wanted to learn about how R and V came to fruition, the marketers created and shared the #BehindTheVines blogand video. There’s nothing more powerful than when your customers or users are brand advocates. We are big fans of that approach here at HootSuite, and Rhythm and Vines has done a great job of making that happen.

“Buckle up”

Photo courtesy of Rhythm and Vines.

The path to success is never going to be a smooth one. Expect bumps along the way. If you can meander your way through those bumps, you’re going to increase your chances of creating something special, successful and true to your vision. When we asked Pinkham what he would say to the people attending Rhythm and Vines this year, he said “buckle up and have fun.” It wouldn’t be a stretch to say someone could have given Pinkham, who was  the recipient of the Young Tourism Leader Award for 2013, that advice just over a decade ago.

ON Magazine, Wanaka - Interview

ANNABEL WILSON gets up close and persONal with Hamish Pinkham and Alex Turnbull, then we tell you all the cool stuff happening this week.

You know how the saying goes: it takes two to tango. It usually takes one person to seed the beginning of a great idea, and a couple of people to make it happen. Two lads who’ve made their idea take flight are Hamish Pinkham and Alex Turnbull – the partnership who will bring the two day Rhythm and Alps music festival to the Cardrona valley for the first time over December 30 and 31. I spoke to the boys about rhythm, fridges, fights and friendship. As I suspected, they’re a couple of switched on, innovative guys. Read the interview to find out why.

Rhythm is one of our favourite words with no vowels in it . Can you define what rhythm means to you ?

Hamish: Rhythm means motion so makes me think of moving forward, new things, change, ideas, action, and achieving goals.

Alex: The best party in all of the Pacific ocean.

We love “how we first met” stories . Tell us about how you guys know each other .

Hamish: I was dealing with Alex on a booking for the band Public Enemy. He was the agent and used to ring me every few days and try to and convince me to book his act for Rhythm and Vines.

Finally I was at a Melbourne Cup event when he called and he got me over the line after I’d had one too many champagnes.

Alex: I sold Hamish Public Enemy back in 2008. After that he came around for a roast, the rest is history and we are good mates.

If we raided your fridge , what would we find ?

Hamish: Currently half the remains of a PHD 3-day juice cleanse. I do it this time each year to reset and keep a clean and clear mind heading into the festival.

Alex: Veges, salad stuff, smoothie making organics and some cold Speight’s.

Who would play you in the movie of your life ?

Hamish: Matt Damon. I love him as Jason Bourne. In one movie they hold up his passport and we share the same birthday!

Alex: Wolverine.

When was the last time you got in a fight ?

Hamish: Bit of push and shove post Feast Gisborne last year when a young Gisborne farmer had had one too many vinos. Luckily (for him!) no punches were thrown but it definitely got the blood boiling!

Alex: 1986 – the other guy cut my lip and it was the last time.

What’s currently cranking on your I-tunes or Spotify?

Hamish: I have returned from the summer in Europe and loving the deep funky house that I heard at beach clubs

in Hvar, Croatia. Disclosure, Duke Dumont, Klankarussell, Hot Natured, and Julio Bashmore.

Alex: Lee Fields And The Expressions, Jurassic 5, Clean Bandit, Ta Ku, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

How do you stay in shape for summer?

Hamish: Running. It’s a selfish sport but means you can do it in your own time.

Alex: Bikram Yoga, running 25k per week, eating well.

Where will we find you at R&A?

Hamish: Getting shoulder tapped by a number of old friends and faces who are enjoying the festival. I’ll be keeping an eye on the Vodafone Vintage Club – the VIP area at R&A.

Alex: Hopefully not in the medic tent.

What’s ON ?

Hamish: The Kiwi Summer.

Alex: #Gigatownwanaka.

What’s Off?

Hamish: Relationship break ups.

Alex: Bad manners.

Advice for Rhythm and Alpers?

Hamish: Bring a jacket and make sure you get a pint of R&A Ale at the Cardrona Hotel both post and pre-festival!

Alex: Bring sunscreen and a head torch. Warm clothes are a must for the night. Drink plenty of water and have fun with your mates. Get your camping sorted soon, but Yello! are also running buses to and from the festival site.

Please write a one sentence job description for your co-founder .

Hamish: Wanted: One loyal, passionate live music professional with a hot head who knows what to do when you put a beer in front of him.

Alex: Always lead from the front and own it.

The Loch - A Poem

A poem I wrote on the bus between Oban and Glasgow in Scotland, inspired by the Loch Lomond.

The Loch

My love for you is like a loch
With depths below not yet explored
Beneath the surface, the level drops
Until a murky floor

Trees surround like friends we meet
And like our family, forever strong
Their boughs and roots and bonds grow deep
Their love is never gone

And stars will shine overhead
Like dreams and goals we share
Reflections of the heights we'll reach
Success beyond compare

And through the loch rows a single boat
But silent, yet as ripples run
The loch keeps the small vessel afloat
At first the only one

The loch provides its nurture
To carry safely from shore to shore
A symbol of the support we'll give
On which our love will pour

When dark clouds gather, heavens groan
The loch is calm, as storms pass through
As surface breaks and leaves are blown
Strong and steady, my love for you

And droughts will come, as seasons change
The summers through and through
As shores recede without the rain
Testing me and you

And from the mountains to the seas
Through rivers the waters drain
The flowing current, of you and me
Until gone, our love remains.

Our love is like a loch.

Hamish Pinkham
30th August 2013

IF - Rudyard Kipling

Probably my favourite poem that I often refer back to.

If by Rudyard Kipling

IF you can keep your head when all about you 
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: 

If you can make one heap of all your winnings 
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Power of Youth - New Delhi, India

I first came into contact with the Power of Youth team while I was in Edinburgh in June for TED Global. A turbaned man of Indian decent came out of the Scottish mist with two glasses and proceeded to teach me the intricacies of consuming and appreciating single malt whiskey.  Turns out his name was Gurjit and we hit it off immediately. He was a serial entrepreneur involved in a number of ventures all over the world and told me he was scouting for an entrepreneurs gathering called Power of Youth.  It was started by a couple of friends of his and the next event was in October in New Delhi India. We met the following day for a more sober recount of our discussions and I signed up thinking it would be a great thing to do on the way home from my European sojourn.

As it turns out I came home early for the NZ Tourism Awards so had to double back to get to Delhi. I was familiar with the 9-hour flight to Bangkok but the trip to India was further again and after a short transit in Melbourne I landed on the outskirts of Delhi. Was slightly nervous given it was my first time on the subcontinent.  My driver Devandra was there to greet me though, and take me to meet the other delegates at a local restaurant to enjoy the first of some piping hot vegetarian curries.

Power of Youth was started by a couple of young English upstarts Adam Purvis and Alex Tounge-Young.  Initially a youth gathering leveraging off a link between the European Commission and the Chinese Government, the POY summit takes places annually at different locations around the globe, with focus on the 'BRICS' (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) collection of developing economies. Having already held events in Beijing and Cape Town, along with an additional Scottish installment, the vast empire of India was on the agenda for 2013. The goals were to help values-led entrepreneurs succeed, to network, have fun and also to harness collective abilities to achieve some legacy from the summit.

My initial day I spent a day having a look around Delhi with Gurjit, trying to shake the jet lag. He showed us around a community Sheik temple where free lunches were offered to the poor and needy. We also visited a Hindu temple was interesting contrast, there are hundreds of numerous religions, languages and in this spares, diverse country, often changing village to village.  We enjoyed some spicy vegetarian curry and did some shopping.  I couldn't help but get a fresh squeezed OJ from a street vendor but stayed well clear of any food that was cooked locally. We made our way to the yoga retreat we were staying at - Zorba the Buddah - which was a slice of tranquil paradise nestled in the Delhi jungle.

The conference began with some icebreaker games games to get to know other delegates. I had probably come from furthest afield but there were others from Scotland, South African, Bulgaria and Lithuania.  Half the attendees were Indian and had interesting stories and backgrounds, along with being smart and charming. Between them they ran hotels, app development, restaurants, even a jewel trader.  One young delegate with a big future Rohin was launching an educational tablet he had been working on for the past 2 years. One Scottish character Andrew had been part of the POY network and ran a design agency in Glasgow. His friend Jen - a summer school programs for American kids. I befriended a Dutchy - Roger who had set up his own boutique online servicing website servicing from his base in Amsterdam, while Tom from Cheltenham ran a social media marketing company. Everyone was friendly, driven, ambitious and engaged for a big week of personal development, networking and a few casual beers as well.

I enjoyed a session learning about India as a potential market for entrepreneurs to invest in.  We learnt about how India is the third largest economy in the world and by next year will have the largest population of English speakers in the world. When 400 million people speak your language it becomes theirs'! Two growing markets of note include the rural market and the youth market. The average population age is 25 (ten years younger that the US) and they are hungry for western-led products from smart phones to music festivals. Although a lively democracy with a free and lively media, there are a number of challenges to working in India however.  Poor governance, creaky infrastructure and corruption all require some careful consideration when entering this exciting and dynamic market place. We discussed the emerging sectors in health care, telecommunications and entertainment. The opportunities really lie in the ' base of the pyramid' - providing products with lower margins to a large market. For example the Tata Car – the countries biggest selling car which retails for around USD$2000. Or the Micromax mobile phone which competes with Apple and Samsung and only needs to be charged once every 30 days.

After a couple of days bonding and bouncing ideas in the retreat, Thursday was off site to a central park complete with 500 year old temples. Then it was free time in the afternoon so local man-about-town Gautam Ghai took us to the infamous Haus Khas Village, a popular hospitality center in Delhi. We enjoyed Tibetan / Butanese food at Yeti before we watched the  golden sun go down over the ruins. The birds flew over head through the dusty heat as the magic of India captivated us all.

One of the goals of the conference was to create a legacy or achievement for the group to leave behind. I joined the Indian focused group and we decided to work on a series of quarterly dinners that could connect the POY network with up-and-coming entrepreneurs. The other group focused on setting up infrastructure and systems for POY that we could all benefit from. In essence a network of like minded people and tools that we could access and tap into during the year.

The last day was free time so my Dutch friend Roger and I did a final day of sight seeing. We visited the Indian Gate and a couple of reknown markets. Couldn’t believe how much hassle I got from the local hustlers. One man followed me for 30 mins before I finally bought some fake Ray Bans just to get him off my back.  Was great for books I bought some famous self-help and Indian literature books for one euro each. We enjoyed a couple of bottles of Kingfisher for the tuk tuk ride drive back through the dusty streets to Zorba the Buddha.

Overall it was an inspiring week in Delhi. I decided to pass up the chance to keep exploring the country and headed back to NZ to bookend what has been a memorable year.  After a busy sabbatical I have had enough travel and have work to attend to, plans to make and goals to achieve. I left inspired and comfortable with my role as an entrepreneur.  A great network of business peers to keep in touch with to bounce ideas within our creative and dynamic business lives.  And a number of new friends to keep in touch with a visit from Kashmir to Bangalor.  I'm planning my next trip already...

Namaste.