Munich

Two weeks ago, I took my first flights on Ryanair, between Munich and London. Last week, the Irish budget airline announced that, for the first time since going public 13 years ago, it would pay a dividend to its shareholders.

Those familiar with change management will know that the key to changing organizations and individuals is to create a "sense of urgency". I’ve just experienced two very different approaches to getting me to change my behaviour. 

On the one hand, there was my flight from Munich to London with one of those "quick and dirty" airlines. On the other,  a train journey from Munich to Paris last week.

London and Munich are so very different, but they are my favourite cities. When I’m in one, I often can’t help comparing it to the other.

The United States is officially in a recession, and the number of jobs fell by over half a million in November. Germany is also in a recession, but you wouldn't have known that if you had been in the centre of Munich on Saturday. Things were crazy.