And there were wins elsewhere too when Talking UP’s main sponsor Edinburgh communications agency Design Links won the Community Mark award from Business in the Community. Design Links was one of only 21 companies, including banking and retail giants TSB Foundation for Scotland and the John Lewis Partnership, to win the award this year. In Design Links’ case, it was the company’s work with partners that included Talking UP for a Change, international orthopaedic prosthetics charity 500 Miles and Craigroyston Community High.

If anyone has a good idea and things it may have legs. Tell your MSP or go straight to the relevant minister with a proposal. That’s what democracy is about – it only starts with casting your vote.

Two inspirational Scots we should treasure.

Hosted by Mike Stevenson, managing director of Edinburgh communications agency, Design Links and founder of Talking UP for Change (www.talkingupchange.co.uk), the event attracted a large number of people from across Scotland, as well as businesses and organisations from as far afield as Leeds and London looking for innovative approaches to creating a positive working environment.

Mike Stevenson, the founder of Talking Up for a Change (www.talkingupchange.co.uk), outlined the challenges from around the world that now faced Scottish businesses and communities: from competition from abroad and international online retailing; to global warming and the changes it was already driving in businesses and communities; to changes in consumer expectations and the welcome influx of talented migrant labour from Eastern Europe. Change was, according to Mike, now something that had become unavoidable – more than that it was essential to embrace it if Scotland were to continue to be a leading commercial player.

A practical example of just how well Scotland could respond was showcased by Steve White of Pinnacle, the management consultancy company, brought in by Mark Turley, the director of services for communities for the City of Edinburgh Council, to work with staff from the City of Edinburgh Council’s Building Services Division to transform the organisation from within, working in partnership with staff. Now radically transformed whilst retaining its original staff, the Division is now competing and winning against major private sector contractors. It’s a complete change of outlook on so many levels.

Mike Stevenson brought a countervailing Talking Up perspective to the Festival of Spirituality and Peace in a talk he gave on August 15 at St Cuthbert’s (Festival Venue 122), exploring the practical ways in which the churches, business and individuals could create change by going back to traditional Scottish values.

Business success doesn’t just equal a yacht in Monaco – that’s why Scotland produces people like Anne Gloag with her work in Africa and Tom Hunter, someone who invests in schemes of social and business improvement which seek to move government policy on and get further financial backing.

And it’s why Scotland’s produced social benefactors and improvers such as Andrew Carnegie and Frances Hutcheson with their belief in moral altruism and the idea of individual success being dependent on the happiness of others. It’s a lesson Scotland needs to learn again: it’s only by working together and having a bigger vision than our own advancement that we will we achieve real success as a nation and as individuals…

Instead of “We’ll get back to you” try the more, honest accurate and helpful “I need some time – I’ll contact you by 5 p.m.”

Instead of “I’m not fussy”, try “That would be great. Yes please”.

Dump “It’s not my job” for “I’ll find someone who can help you”.

Remove “I disagree” and substitute it with “Have you thought about…”.

Don’t say “It’s only/just me” (when making a phone call), say “It’s Jim/Shona etc.  I’m really glad I got you…”.

Forget “Ill never do that” – try “It’s difficult, but I’ll give it a go”.

Don’t cover things up with “I’m not bothered about it/it doesn’t matter” – try “Let’s deal with this”.

We all know the immortal put-down “Ah kent his faither” – try “He’s done well for himself” instead.

“There’s nae point” – try “Let’s give it a go”.

There were many more…And yes, although they are “only” words, it’s words that make all the difference to how we think and feel.  People tend to remember words long after they’ve forgotten everything else.

Last night was the start of something big…making the most of Scotland and realising our hopes for the future. Let’s not settle for being just the “best small country” – there’s nothing, and there never has been anything, small about Scotland and our ambitions.

New ideas are Scotland’s currency and contributions last night came from people across business, sport, the voluntary sector, finance, law, architecture and retail. Backing came from three major Scottish sporting stars, Gavin Hastings, Gregor Townsend and James McCallum, Scotland’s medal winning Commonwealth Games champion.

Discussion ranged over redefining Scottish values, finding positive new approaches and identifying ways of creating change in our domestic, organisational and business life. We’re a humorous people, but why is it, for example, that this sense of fun is so often missing in our business life? It doesn’t have to be this way.

We need that humour and we need the ideas of all if we’re to regenerate Scotland, making it a more positive country. Talking Up for a Change is going to be part of this and is already being asked to work with traditionally marginalised communities where people’s view have not been sought or sought in the right way. Invitations are also coming in from schools where we can work to help shape a more dynamic and positive view of the future with young people.

Scotland has much going for it – we really can create the vision of a fit, healthy and creative “superpower” that our guests envisaged last night. Let’s start with ourselves.

Not bad / nae bad / not too bad /could be worse:
good, braw, barry (Edinburgh), magic (Glasgow)

Cannae or can’t:
I’ll do my best, I’ll gie it a shot, nae bother

I’ll try:
consider it done, leave it to me, I’ll sort it

It’s not my department:
I’ll deal with it, leave it with me

It’s not my problem:
I’ll sort it

Why did you come tae Scotland?:
Welcome to Scotland, thanks for coming, it’s great to see you here

You cannae dae that here:
you’d be better off at… , let me show you how to get there

Nae chance:
sure, that’s fine, my pleasure

The right word really can change everything. Email your new improved versions of phrases to Mike (mike@designlinks.co.uk), or click on ‘Comments’ (below) to add your thoughts, words and phrases to the thesaurus.

The School Act of 1696.  It might seem distant and arcane, but Scotland’s Parliament really did make history when it passed a law to establish a free public school in each parish.  It not only led to the most literate nation in Europe, but it embodied the idea of education as a way of life for all people – much more than just a means to professional or social advancement.   Now, that’s real ‘lifelong learning’! Could we not learn from this even today?

Encyclopaedia Britannica – first published in Edinburgh in 1768 and intended as a complete summary of all scientific and human knowledge. 

The Scottish Enlightenment – the flowering and bringing together of arts and sciences into the common purpose – the advance of humankind

A compelling vision of a “free society” in the shape of Francis Hutcheson’s moral philosophy, which rings down through the centuries – “action is best, which produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number.”

The draft of the American Declaration of Independence, written by Charles Thomson, an Ulster Scot.

The creation of the American Supreme Court as “the jury of the country” and one of the US’s most democratic of institutions – largely the work of one man, James Wilson, originally from Carskerdy.

The lad o’ pairts, exemplified by James Watt, the self-taught man who single-handedly powered the Industrial Revolution.

And the best is still to come…