I have the power

Took a field trip from the office yesterday to attend The Power Within, billed as an “educational, motivational and leadership event.” Like Live8 for business and self-help gurus, it comprised a sequence of speakers to an audience of 5,000 in a darkened concrete hall the size of a hangar at the Metro Convention Centre.

The lineup included the descendant of a preacher striding across the stage, raising his hands and bellowing advice; Belinda Stronach, wearing a hellacious explosion of knitted zigzags in purple and burnt orange, stammering through a speech on cue cards about working for Daddy's company and joining politics because she wants to serve; Michael Eisner, armed with clips from Roger Rabbit and a sexy gravely voice, recounting the resurrection of Disney and arguing executives shouldn’t always be punished for their failures since they take risks; and Richard Branson — glassy-eyed, hung over, rambling, leaning to and fro in his seat and fiddling with his wedding band. He was interviewed by a fawning, thickly built radio personality. Richard’s advice? Work hard. Buy Virgin.

The day was pleasant. I rarely hear anything new at these hoo-has, only rephrased suggestions, platitudes about surviving in business and tales of sacrifice and triumph. But the speeches flared with occasional insights, such as Belinda's absorbing if clumsy recount of crossing the floor to join the Liberals; and the preacher's advice that success depends more on commiting to goals than holding back figuring out how to achieve them. I welcomed the encouragement. And so, back to my notebook.