Natural human values are held dear in the heart of all human beings. All traditions, secular and spiritual, acknowledge these values, sometimes called virtues, and provide guidance on their importance and how to live by them.

In our daily activities, there are three material aspects of our being that are continually engaged; our mind, our emotions and our physical body. How we use these faculties will influence the quality of our access to the fourth dimension, our spiritual being. It is my strong belief that if we live natural human values in the performance of daily activities, we will achieve a high degree of peace, happiness and love, which will manifest naturally in guiding us to serve the common good. This is the universal Golden Rule in practice.

We should establish a stable and balanced state of mind when making decisions. What is needed is a decision-making process based on a mindful awareness that enables you to remain calm and still within. To concentrate in order to be clear about your motives and the guiding principle that should be used as the basis for the decision. Key values in this realm are: stillness/inner silence; self-control and calmness.

We need to be clear about the vision, values and long-term, sustainable objectives of our work. One of the defining traits of a full productive life is a dedication to the service of other people through the proper fulfilment of our duties. The relevant values are: service, duty/responsibility and perseverance.

We need to be free from excessive desires, habitual reactions and claims for success or failure. We all have acquired certain habits and fixed expectations, that if mechanically followed can limit our response to the real needs of the moment. Useful values here include: consistency, temperance/moderation, detachment.

We should establish and maintain a harmonious environment for all activities with other people. Crucial to the personal efficiency, motivation and satisfaction, is a positive atmosphere, where mutual respect and an active concern for the needs of other people prevails. Such an environment puts more emphasis on ‘we’ than on ‘me’. Co-operation; respect; and compassion are values that help create fine harmony.

Be truthful and transparent in all your dealings with yourself and other people. To speak the truth is natural. Truth binds. The binding is called trust, it is essential to every kind of relationship. The vital values here are: truth/honesty, integrity; and trust.

We need to demonstrate real empathy for others and do what you can to help them to recognise and fully develop their talents.  By generously assisting other people in this quest, we are benefiting as well. The related values here are: empathy; patience; generosity.

We need to think about how we act and focus our energies on the right priorities and in the right way. Important here is to act correctly following a decision; to find effective ways of making the idea practical. The important values here are: discrimination; justice / fairness; and courage.

We must learn to deal effectively with challenges, mistakes and uncontrollable external factors. As life is full of uncertainties, the best way to respond to the inevitable challenges, is to maintain a balanced and unattached state, then our full faculties are available to discern the best response. The related values here are: equanimity, steadfastness, and determination.

We need to inspire other people by actions based on the natural human values, thus setting a fine example. Inspiration comes naturally, it is most powerful when a leader sets a fine example. The important values here are: selflessness, humility and loving care.

By putting into practice, by living the natural human values, great benefits accrue for all; family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues, the community, nation, society at large, and you. The natural results are: happiness; peace/contentment; and unity.

A pattern has been emerging over the years in all aspects of life , from classrooms to boardrooms. Success is measured by quantitative results, be it examination grades, business profits, yearly earnings, numbers of friends on Facebook, the price of your car or house etc etc. As a result natural human values such as honesty, fairness, compassion are all too often ignored or compromised. For example, someone may lie or pay a bribe to get a business deal, or cheat to get better exam results.

The consequence of basing our decisions on the wrong values is stress and tension which is being experienced on a large scale in our society, by adults and children as well. The degree of mental illness and the breakdown of families have risen dramatically in the last 20 years which is strong indicator that something is not right in society today.

What has been seen as a need today for all of us, especially young people, is to be reminded more often about the natural values and as well as the guidance that has been offered down through the ages about how to live these values.

Timeless Values for Today, is a compilation of Value-based resources, using traditional communication methods, like books, and modern technology, like apps and websites like this one, to offer reminders. Hopefully we can make a contribution to shift the focus from results to values, from short term success to real and lasting happiness.

Paul who has worked in management positions for 51 of his 56 year business career was initially employed for 16 years by the global computer company, Control Data, in both the US & Brussels. His last assignment for them was as General Manager of a new computer based education business, the first of its kind in Europe.

In 1980 he was accepted for a one year Diploma in Education programme at Oxford University, where in addition to his studies he worked with Headmasters of schools and educational consultants also attending the course to explore how computers could best applied in Education. His conclusion at the end of the course was that computers were not well suited for primary education and so in 1981 he moved to London and set up as a self-employed consultant in the field of computer based training or e-learning as it has come to be known.

After helping many companies learn about and then introduce this new technology and also acting as an advisor to the UK Government’s Manpower Services Commission, in 1987 he founded an e-learning based training company, Intellexis, which specialised in financial training. Intellexis grew steadily developing more than 70 hours of financial training, much of which was offered in 9 languages. The courses were used extensively by many of the world’s largest companies e.g. Nestle, Unilever, IBM, Rolls Royce.

In 2001 Intellexis became a public company listed on the London AIM Stock Exchange. Paul was initially the CEO and then later took up a positon of developing the International business in countries like India and China. Intellexis Plc later changed its name to the ILX Group after a series of acquisitions and is now part of the Progility Plc who are still listed on AIM. Paul retired from the organisation in 2011.

Principled Business

In 2012 Paul and Chris Rees, founded the Principled Business partnership offering drama based ethics training. Their course, Ethical & Effective, is available in DVD and e-learning formats as well in classroom sessions. They have also co-authored a book, From Principles to Profit.

Principles Business was closed down in 2018 and the Ethical & Effective content given over to If I Can…CIC, who have included it in the Ethical Entrepreneur offering.

 

Regents University, London

Paul is currently a Guest Lecturer in their Business School’s Entrepreneurship Programme.

School of Philosophy and Economic Science

For 48 years Paul has been a member of this education charity offering programmes in Economics and Philosophy based on both the teaching of the both western and eastern spiritual traditions.

For 46 years he has been a tutor of Philosophy courses. He studied a number of subjects in the school including Calligraphy, Plato and Sanskrit in which he is still actively involved. For 11 years until it closed down in 2016 , Paul was the Assistant Organiser of a major yearly arts festival run by the School called Art in Action. It was a 4 day event which attracts around 20-25,000 visitors each year and is run entirely by volunteers - about 600 each day. See https://schoolofphilosophy.org

St James School

Founded in 1975 St James School offers education for students, boys and girls, from 4-5 years old up to the end of secondary school at 18 years old. Over the past 35 years Paul has served the school in various capacities e.g. Careers Advisor, Head of Fund Raising, Head of Meditation tutorials for the Senior Boys school and Manager of St James Publishing , an operation founded to enable the St James teachers to write their own text books. www.stjamesschools.co.uk

Sanskrit @ St James

From 2012 until 2019 he was the Director of a charitable operation, Sanskrit @ St James, whose aim is the promotion and support for the teaching of Sanskrit in schools on a global basis. Their activities include raising the awareness of the value of the subject, developing teaching materials for teachers and students, running teacher training courses and promoting and supporting the expansion of the Cambridge IGCSE Sanskrit exam. www.sanskritatstjames.org.uk   www.sanskritexams.org.uk

Waterperry Gardens Ltd

Since 2019 he has been a member of the Board of Directors, serving as the Acting Chairman for a 6 month period in 2020. Waterperry Gardens were initially made famous by Beatrix Havergal who established her School of Horticulture for Ladies there from 1932 to 1971. It is now home to 8 acres of beautifully landscaped ornamental gardens, a quality plant centre and garden shop, gallery and gift shop, museum and tea shop. See https://www.waterperrygardens.co.uk

If I Can...CIC

In 2013 he founded If I Can...CIC, a Community Interest Company, which provides the free If I can… values app ( www.ificanapp.com) offering daily reminders about fine natural values. A Schools version, values-based stories and a YouTube Playlist of values-based videos are also included.

If I can…CIC is also the entity behind the design, development and distribution of the Ethical Entrepreneur training products and services.