Giving Back

A recent announcement by ActionCOACH outlines a new initiative that will reward veterans for the service they have rendered with the opportunity to join our community and reintegrate into society. This move reinforces one of the 14 Points of Culture that ActionCOACH proudly upholds:

Abundance

I am an abundant person, I deserve my abundance and I am easily able to both give and receive it. I allow abundance in all areas of my life by respecting my own self worth and that of all others. I am rewarded to the level that I create abundance for others and I accept that abundance only shows up in my life to the level at which I show up.

In a recent conversation with an old friend, we discussed the importance and desirability of "giving back." This particular friend had a series of great opportunities that rewarded him with substantial material wealth and prosperity. Up until this point he had led a good life and was able to achieve many worthwhile goals. But the realization had hit him that it was time to give back. I was impressed as we discussed ways and means to invest in the people and world around us to better the legacy that we would leave one day for others to carry on.

The emphasis that ActionCOACH places on "World Abundance" is one of the many reasons I am proud to be a part of this community. Don't spend all your days picking the roses this world has to offer - plant some of your own. You can experience the joy of giving in no other way.

A World Without Facebook

I had my first dose of social media education when I undertook training to become an ActionCOACH, and have since learned a lot about the power of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other giant social media engines. For those of you that still wonder if a Facebook page is a good investment, take a look at the infographic that Soshable posted. Suddenly it becomes painfully clear that social media is a huge part of our everyday lives.

The impact of social media hit home to me the day I connected with an old friend. We hadn't seen or spoken to each other in several years, but connected on Facebook and began exchanging messages. The result was an opportunity to meet in person and catch up. It was a real pleasure - life has taken us down different roads, but the values and knowledge that brought us together initially are still the same. We enjoyed great conversation and discussed our varying experiences in the business world and in our personal lives. One end result was two people that are better people for having known and interacted with each other. That is what social media is all about.

Today, more than ever, we have the opportunity to seek these rewarding relationships on a global basis. Whether you are simply looking for conversation, seeking advice, or wanting friendship; whether you are campaigning for a cause, broadening your customer base, or expanding the reach of your advertising; whether you are researching new ideas, products or methods: whatever demographic you belong to, social media has something to offer. Take the opportunity to expand your opportunities, and log on.

The Week and the Weekend

It's a big time for Canadians - the NHL playoffs are in full swing, a federal election is looming, and Easter weekend is imminent. For those of us living in Alberta, the snow finally stopped coming (we never thought it would end) and we might actually see the sun if the weatherman's promises prove true. The economy is still stumbling its way along, the effects of the devastation in Japan are rippling through, and technology continues to make us feel like if we blink we'll miss the next big thing (how's that iPad 2 treating you?). This is the world we live in, and it's closer to home than its ever been.

The result of living in a global economy is that anything you want to see, experience, purchase, try out, or deliver is only a few clicks away. No longer do many businesses cater only to the clientele within a geographical location - in fact, your clientele can come from anywhere in the world. The explosion of social media and the resulting marketing campaigns have closed the gaps that once kept businesses from expanding too far from their local neighbourhoods. The catch to this is that business has also become remarkably susceptible to global forces. I've heard several people joke about it "raining in China" or inquiring what the "price of rice was in China" as a means of indicating that something meant nothing to their immediate situation. Unfortunately, the price of rice in China, and whether or not those rice fields are well-wetted, is becoming a determining factor on supply and demand in many, many nations. Problems in Libya drive the cost of fuel up in North America. Mad cow disease in Canada affects beef markets in the USA and Europe. And tsunami devastation in Japan affects electronics and automobile suppliers far across the Pacific Ocean.

How does this affect local businesses? It means rising to meet the competing forces on a grander scale. It means offering your clientele every advantage you possibly can to make your product the best product. It means delving into your own ammunition of social media presence and market share. It means grabbing the reins of your business and figuring out how to navigate your enterprise through new challenges and issues. It means drawing your team into a close-knit group of overperformers that rely on one another and yet can still lead individually (and take your company up with them). And it means tracking every minute and every penny to make sure nothing is falling through the cracks. Now is not the time to waste anything - to get your head above the rest, your business needs to outperform on every level.

Advertisers are jumping at playoff coverage slots, businesses are anxious to increase awareness of political decisions that could topple their profit margins in a single day, and many are wondering if they can afford to observe another statutory holiday. At this point, I would say there's a lot of cards on the rickety economic table - it's time to bolster your business with proven analytical efforts and ensure your profit base is as secure as you can make it. It's time to redouble your efforts and put your company first. Business is still booming, but your business needs to take that pace of growth in its stride. Start today to make your business the best its ever been. Call or email me to find out what ActionCOACH can do for you.

www.actioncoach.com/davidgreen
davidgreen@actioncoach.com
403.929.1380