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| Client Interview
Allan Ramby
©
Karen Boesen |
Allan Ramby owns and is the CEO of Ramby &
Partnere - a real estate company focusing on business estates and primarily operating for large
companies. The company manages business sales in Denmark as well as internationally and is very
active in the society of MIPEM. Allan Ramby has a Masters degree in national economics and has
formerly been employed with among others Christian Hjort. Allan Ramby has used business astrology
since 1991. Allan Ramby can be contacted by phone + 45 39 76 08 00.
Why did you choose
to contact a business astrologer?
From my youth I was interested in astrology without going into any greater
depth in the subject. This is why I registered for a course held by Børsen
some years ago - Astrology as a management tool. Karen Boesen lectured
at the course on among other things personal analysis, company analysis,
manager and employee selection and development. I found it very interesting.
A year prior to this course I had been meeting with an amateur astrologer
who gave a sort of prognosis about my partnership and my financial situation.
I had never moved further with this astrologer. At the course I suddenly
found that astrology had a higher level. Also Karen Boesen appeared a
presentable business woman, who could have stepped right out of a board
room - it filled me with confidence that astrology could actually be a
serious phenomenon. A colleague of mine arranged a meeting with Karen
Boesen and came back with a report of an interesting conversation. This
whetted my appetite and I set up a meeting for myself.
Have you used any
other forms of consulting in your company?
Only once. I was contacted by a staff recruiting firm in 1997, and after
a brief conversation with me, they presented me with candidates - without
my asking them to do so. Just in case I spoke to the candidates, as it
would have been a pity to miss out on a potential good employee. I ended
up sending a couple of them to my business astrologer, and I actually
hired one of them. But my experience with the staff recruiting firm was
unpleasant. I didn't feel that the operated in a fair manner and they
didn't seem trustworthy.
Was there any particular
event in your business which induced you to choose to contact a business
astrologer?
At the time when I contacted the astrologer, my company had quite serious
problems. There was problems in relation to employees and partners, and
there were latent financial problems. All problems were acknowledged -
I was curious to see what an astrologer could advise me to do.
What value, in your
opinion, can business astrology add to your company?
I can mention three areas where business astrology in my opinion excels.
They are
- planning
- prognostication,
and
- resource allocation.
Can you get this type
of advice from a non-astrological consulting firm?
Yes, in fact I can - but the advice is not as exact. Many large companies
have planning departments and budget departments that operate based on
former results, statistics etc. They are often very good indeed, but it
takes a great amount of resources, experience and tradition as well as
a comprehensive foundation of statistics and analyses to bring about a
credible counseling. With astrology you get to the core immediately and
directly. My attention is pointed to a number of precisely defined areas
to dig into - for a far smaller investment.
Can you give any examples
of business astrology having given you advice that notably changed the
decision process in your company?
It is more a case of examples of advice I couldn't have received anywhere
else, and which has consolidated my business. The original analyses from
Karen Boesen were based on a company horoscope which was in part worked
out by the amateur astrologer I mentioned earlier - specifically, I had
selected a day, and then asked the astrologer for at good time. The company
actually did not have a good horoscope and it was consequently dissolved.
I was made aware of that there was no reason to hold on to this horoscope,
and I had a new one constructed based on my natal horoscope. This has
provided a much better foundation for my company. But already when I dissolved
the partnership, my attention was directed to a problematic - and hidden
- financial situation, and this prevented me form losing unnecessary funds.
Another example is the overall strategy for business areas in my company.
The entire real estate market was bearish in the 1990'ies, many large
companies had to shut down or were at least in a very frail situation.
Through the astrological analyses I was told that I had a good chance
of working with international activities, and thereby I could specialize
and differentiate myself from other colleagues on the market. In the given
situation with a tough market, I dared take the chance to get international
assignments and was successful, because I had confirmation that I could
put resources into this field. Another area where the advice has helped
me, is a recommendation to enter into networks. International networking
has characterized my company through the later years. I also work more
and more with freelancers - instead of many employees - and this allows
me to haul in relevant specialists to the jobs I have. And then generally
on counseling: As a client with Karen Boesen, I have never been told that
I should do so and so. I see a high degree of ethics and professionalism
with her, and she encourages one to take charge and responsibility. I
am shown opportunities and threats and a framework within which I can
act freely.
In which areas do
you make use of business astrology?
In my company I use business astrology for structural analysis, strategic
planning and prognostication, moves, business areas (abroad) and employee
selection.
Are there any reasons
for not selecting certain fields of business astrology?
My company's size - it is comparatively small - makes certain fields irrelevant.
What is your attitude
to the criticism of astrology and using it for recruitment?
In my experience the critics haven't bothered to investigate the area
properly.
What feedback have
you received from people who have participated in an employee selection
process?
I have had several employee selections - the first time was in 1991. Initially
I had advertised for a consultant, and from the stack of applicants I
asked a handful to an interview. I chose four people and sent them on
to a conversation with Karen Boesen. I told the four potential employees,
that they were completely free to decide whether or not to participate
in this conversation and that it wasn't disqualifying to say no. Everyone
was ready, however, and one was even very keen. Then I informed them about
what the consultation would consist of - a personal analysis and a prognosis.
One applicant didn't want the prognosis - and we respected that. The result
was that my own first priority was also selected by Karen Boesen - but
this person got another job, before we managed to secure him. Out of the
three remaining applicants one was rejected because of lack of credibility
- hidden for me, but visible in the horoscope. This person otherwise appeared
very agreeable, and I could easily have chosen the person, if I hadn't
involved an astrologer. I ended up hiring one of the other two candidates.
I am well aware that this statement is provocative - imagine someone being
rejected based on what an astrologers says. I can only invite you to consider
what you reaction would have been, if a psychologist had said something
similar. Not a single eyebrow would have been lifted then. The consultations
with the astrologer were confidential, by the way, and all applicants
had to permit the astrologer to communicate information to me. Here I
would like to point out that you must be very observant about the astrologers
professional proficiency and moral integrity - both in general because
of common courtesy to other people, but certainly also because of society's
present view of business astrology. The feedback from the candidates I
have involved in an astrological employee selection process has been neutral
or positive - never negative. One applicant in 1997 had already participated
in another personality test, and the comment was that this test was very
similar to the astrological personal analysis, but the prognosis was something
quite unique and very positive.
Are you open about
your use of business astrology?
Yes - but diplomatic. I have been cited in papers, radio and television
about my use of astrology, for instance about employee selection which
is a controversial subject, so my use of astrology is definitely not hidden.
But on a daily basis I evaluate others opinions with tentative questions.
If people are uninterested, or even dislikes astrology, there is no point
in my dominating the conversation with information about my use of astrology
- this practice actually goes for any conversational subject. But I gladly
explain to interested people about why I use astrology and what my results
have been. In consequence the reaction shave been positive and people
have shown more interest. If I just went about clamoring the fact everywhere,
I would probably receive more marked and negative reactions. If I had
been employed in a like position in a large company, I would probably
have operated more discreetly on account of the general attitude of the
surroundings.
What do you see as
particularly positive about business astrology?
Honesty - it is straight to the point. "You can't cheat the universe."
What do you see as
problematic about business astrology?
It can be difficult to use astrology pragmatically when interacting with
colleagues, teams, networks, vendors and customers for the simple reason
that astrology isn't universally accepted.
Have you any advice
for potential users of business astrology?
It is important to choose a capable astrologer - I place great weight
on professional proficiency and moral integrity. As when choosing any
other form of counseling, it pays to do your research and get references.
And it is a good idea to test the astrologer on a couple of other assignments
before you venture into employee selection.
How do you see the
perspective of the use of business astrology in the future?
This is a question for an astrologer or a clairvoyant …. The media coverage
and the Internet will influence the development to a great extent - as
they have already done in the case of personal astrology. Business astrology
is still very new. Even I hadn't considered that you could do horoscopes
for companies - and I have after all been interested in the subject. The
subject demands patience and time for adaptation in the companies. The
interest could also be increased by existing users of astrology. If for
instance a customer experiences good service, proficiency and integrity
when using a company's services, and then finds out that this company
makes use of astrology, the interest can be spread that way. You don't
quit working with a company just because it uses astrology. I believe
that business astrology will calmly and quietly become more and more accepted.
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