BCC Conference, 14 - 16 February 1981, London

The '81' conference series achieved an astounding dynamic which brought together officers from around the world who became fully aware of the global dimensions of our organisation and the strength of our collective talent. The meetings created matrix through which managers in BCC countries were able to develop business across borders and continents. Having exchanged ideas face to face, they gained direct knowledge of the business possibilities that exist when people work together in harmony, aware of each other’s skills and local business needs.

During 1981 we wanted BCC to enjoy very substantial growth. But in order to have real growth there must be an increase in capital, which itself comes from higher profits achieved through successful marketing.

The first '81' conference in February was conceived to launch a new structure of marketing throughout BCC. It was destined to introduce a new era in BCC history. The participants were not interested in specific goals or targets, but rather in the central ethic and vision that would make possible real growth throughout our organisation. The definition of marketing that emerged became the guiding light for all of us during the year: “Marketing is a compelling urge an insatiable thirst to achieve. Those who showed a major urge for growth earned the title Profit man. They became the embodiment of the BCC philosophy, combining within themselves dynamic action and a deep personal humility. In nature these two qualities go together. Our growth is natural, so we find these qualities developing within us.

Other conferences followed the London inauguration of '81'. In Abu Dhab (UAE) in March the participants adopted humility as a way of life to be practised with patience and perseverance until the vision that is at the heart of BCC becomes a tangible reality. There are sound scientific reasons for this. The material world is an expression of the material world is an expression of the non-material. The forces that govern the unseen have a far greater potential than forces of manifest creation. We. can 'only dimly conceive of their unbounded dignity and value.

In March, at Dubai (UAE), delegates came to understand humility as a latent hum quality. It is the silent seed from which all other qualities and actions spinning. Through action everything is created, and in order to destination is created, and in order to reach our destination our and efforts in must be ceaseless.

By the time of the Karachi (Pakistan) conference in April, this dialogue had gained a momentum of its own. The participants realised that the more we reach beyond ourselves the more we transcend - the more successful we will be. Successful marketing means breaking the boundaries of time and space.

BCC is a family with its own culture. We have a strong corporate identity which has emerged through the process of growth. The conferences in Cairo (Egypt), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Paris (France) were increasingly concerned with unfolding our full potential. This led to a series of discussions on the most important questions that anyone can ask himself. If our corporate body is to be strong, it must be composed of strong units. Therefore, the discovery of oneself becomes a topic of crucial importance. How can we act successfully as a family of bankers if we are unsure of our identity as individuals? By the end of ‘81’ we have crated and unstoppable dynamism.

The topics that concern us today will evolve into new concerns, but it is worthwhile reflecting on those that are now at the forefront of our collective consciousness. They are the discovery of oneself, moral commitment, our home base growth, its relation to containment, and the twin concepts of the centre periphery.

The discovery of oneself it is a very simple concept to understand. It means “Do we know who we are?” and Do we know what is the purpose of life?” Human life is a very precious thing. But what is its value to us as individuals? Are we happy or anxious? These questions are important because the quality of our actions and our performance as bankers depends on the extent to which we know who we are and understand the purpose of life.

Action is based on knowledge. Without knowledge, action is weak. It is like a tree without roots. Knowledge of oneself is the difference between merely existing and existing, with a purpose in mind. If we live and existence of simple survival, then we can relate only to the limited activity in which we are involved. Our life becomes dominated by right boundaries of perception and understanding. There is not much value in this. But if we are able to see a wider horizon and relate ourselves to it, then we actually assume the value and the purpose of our increased understanding. This ideological difference is of crucial importance: we can choose to relate to something of little value or something of great value. If we consciously make the choice between little values and big values, we can discover ourselves in the moment the choice is made. Choose something worthwhile because life is worthwhile, and anything less is a frittering away of a precious gift.

We should choose to love and serve our fellow men and to do something that contributes to the happiness of a large number of people. Once we make this decision then we begin to live a life of rich possibilities. We continue to live within boundaries, of course. We go about our daily activity as before, but with the added dimension of knowing that our purpose is to serve others. We do not believe in tangible boundaries, so let us ensure that they do not trap us.

There are clearly two separate objectives for BCC; the first relates to our performance as bankers. Whether we are an officer, a clerk, a manager or an executive, we all have specialised knowledge and arc committed to ensuring maximum profit. This is the limited dimension in which we operate. The second objective, in the broadest sense, is to serve humanity. It is an inspiration. What could be more uplifting than giving a purpose to our lives? Everything that we do then fits into a fulfilling and satisfying context. Once we recognise the purpose of life and integrate it into our daily routine, it enriches the style in which we live. The boundaries of perception and action are extended by serving a higher goal. But therein lies a superb irony. While their value is enhanced, the boundaries themselves decrease insignificance. It ceases to matter whether you are a humble cleaner or an executive. What counts is that we have the ability to serve.

Another topic that greatly concerned us during '81' was the nature of moral commitment. Certainly, BCC advocates a strong commitment to material success. The example of the last nine years provides ample evidence of this. But there is also a commitment to one's fellow men. There is so much that needs to be done in the world, and if we have some small part to play in this, then with God's grace, let us do it. This kind of commitment is not hemmed in by boundaries. It is truly infinite in potential.

So the first stage is to discover oneself as a human being with a higher dimension, then offer to return these higher values to the material world by doing service wherever it is needed. Two foundations have been established at BCC. The general objective of the first is to do what we can in the world at large. The second is for staff benefits. By now there are sizable amounts in both foundations. It is the aim of BCC to look after our people better than any other organisation. This is only what we deserve. We have shown ourselves more adaptable to change and better able to take advantage of it than any other group of people. In BCC we understand that the basis of creation is change. Everything is always moving. All creation is an expression of pure energy. That is what physicists now tell us. Everything has its own rate of change, but the very concept of existence implies creation, balance and dissolution. When something moves from one position to another, then a vacuum is created and, since nature abhors a vacuum, something must move into that empty space. A vacuum is an opportunity. Since creation is always changing there is at all times an infinite number of opportunities. We simply need to be able to understand this point and have the energy combined with an enterprising spirit to make use of it.

A man becomes a visionary through his ability to move in tune with the flow of creation. A visionary does not see anything extraordinary. He sees what is, but he must at times consider that some of his fellow men are wearing blinkers. A visionary is free from the tyranny of everyday life. He does not escape &om it but he can see it in its broadest perspective. He can see what is of supreme importance and what is of lesser importance. It is interesting that a visionary is usually much more effective at dealing with everyday chores. He becomes enriched with his own heightened values.

There is a grand design in nature. Scientists tell us that nature does not function in a chaotic manner. The grand design shows itself through the movement and adjustment of all the particles of energy that make up creation. They are given shape and form in certain organisations. In our organisation each of us represents those particles of energy. We come together and a shape evolves from our conjuncture. An evolutionary purpose is inherent in the thrust of our organisation. The purpose of BCC is to change the world for the better. We can call this the will of God.

We add to this high purpose our technical and professional skills as bankers and this provides the mechanic; by which we will achieve our aims. Our identity has at least these two sides to it. We are very successful as bankers, and we have a mission. The two are not contradictory: they are two sides of the same coin which both exist comfortably within us. In this integration of our moral and material commitments, BCC staff can take an active part in the growth of our organisation.

Every other bank in history has started in one country and with growth, has developed interests overseas. The original country is regarded as the home base. When BCC started it had no home base so we should make a virtue out of necessity and say that the entire free world is our home base. With one courageous stroke we discover that our base is larger than any other banks. We are exalted by this discovery. The US dollar is a universal currency; it is found everywhere. In every country there is a domestic currency for home operations, but the flow of international trade is in dollars.

Each country can provide dollars for us. So, our home base is the dollar. It is a country for us. We live in dollars, and we feel comfortable in our homes.

Growth is a part of nature, and we must be careful not to allow anything to impede this natural growth. In some circumstances, the routine involved in doing a job leads to a dulling of the creative faculties. We can become a victim of the environment if, every day, we do the same things and see the same people. We feel contained by the environment whereas the natural status of man is to be free to allow his creative faculties to express themselves. Life is not enjoyable when restricted by boundaries.

This process of containment can happen without us being fully aware of it happening. Then the quality of our work is affected. From this analysis, we have developed the concept of the centre and periphery.

At the centre are the people who are already directly involved in producing profit for our bank. They are the managers, the officers and the people who are kept permanently busy running the bank. On the periphery are the people who do not suffer from containment through the routine of their work, and therefore retain a fresh vision and an undimmed courage. In combining these characteristics, the BCC group will be able to refresh itself and achieve its ambitious targets. The difficulties of the marketplace can be overcome, and the process of containment vanquished. By creating a periphery around the centre, we can ensure higher production levels.

We will not try to impose a periphery on a branch or a regional office. If we did this it could result in a strained relationship between the centre and the periphery. The centre that is already producing a profit must fed a need to enhance its profitability by encouraging the growth of a periphery. Its relevance will depend on how much pleasure a centre takes in increasing the productivity of a periphery.

The concept of the centre and periphery operates at all levels. At group level BCC is a commercial bank. We want to create a periphery for the group profit centres in other disciplines of banking, travellers’ cheques for example. We are always looking for new areas in which we might become active. With the concept of multi leadership that is so much a feature of BCC, we all have the opportunity to take an initiative in this matter.

The laws of nature that are responsible for all of creation arc also responsible for bringing about BCC. To continue our successful thrust into the contemporary world, we must keep our management philosophy closely attuned to the laws of nature. We believe that we are doing this. The keywords to our philosophy are movement, vacuum, unlimited possibilities, purpose, perception of a flow of invisible energy, and humility. or these, humility is the most important. When you are totally humble, the laws of nature will find their home in you and the energy that is creation itself will start to flow through you. This is enlightenment. At BCC we have a role to play in bringing about an enlightened world.

These, then, arc the topics that concern us now. We will find as we look into them more and more that they are seeds that have started to sprout. These seeds will come into full blossom. The results of '81' are now visible in BCC's strength and growth throughout the past year. And yet the concept of '81' and the rewards that we have achieved are only a foretaste of what can and will be gained '81 to infinity.

BCC PROFIT PERFORMERS 1981

The following were also Profit Performers during '1981 whose photographs were not available.