In writing each of my books I have found that much of the information and enjoyment received is through the strength of weak ties and the kindness of strangers There have been interesting articles written under these titles, one particularly by David Constant, Lee Sproull and Sara Kiesler titled "The kindness of Strangers: The Usefulness of Eectronic Weak Ties for Technical Advice". Although such articles are based on the world of business, the principle applies equally well in other aspects of life. In my case I wanted to write about people in different lines of business, from sport, community and service, the arts and sciences. In some cases I knew the people but in many I didn't so approached them through friends or other strangers who I believed would be able to 'put me in touch'. The point is that people generally like to be helpful to others - I have been impressed by their kindness and over time my circle of 'friends' has grown to include many of these 'weak ties' and former 'strangers'.
Read more...
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Celebrating milestones.
Queensland, the fastest growing State in Australia,
is about to celebrate its 150th birthday. I’ve been talking to people across the State for my book 'Queenslanders All Over' – from a tiny island off the far north tip of Cape York, where beautiful pearls are farmed, to the State’s far outback where mining and cattle farming are often the main occupations with rodeos and camel racing an annual highlight. I’ve been constantly surprised by the courage and larrikin humor of people who live in remote areas. With world class educational facilities and a government dedicated to attracting new business the cities too are attracting people from interstate and overseas. Queensland is enjoying its burgeoning popularity as a great place to visit and to live.
There are some great characters and great stories including one I heard about ancient footprints of stampeding dinosaurs out near Winton and the bones of giant marsupials, the ancestors of the kangaroo that David & Judy Elliot found on their property. They run an excellent newsletter about local finds, it’s called “The Australian Age of Dinosaurs”.
I spoke with a resident of Burketown recently about an interesting phenomenon that occurs there in Spring. She tells me that 'the morning glory cloud’ is a big roll of cloud which can go the whole length of the sky and is quite deep.
It's like a large wave but rolling the opposite way and is proving something of an attraction for extreme sportsmen with their hang-gliders who come to ride the clouds like surf riders. Way too dangerous for my liking as apparently you can be thrown up and over if you get on the wrong angle!
For more this image of the morning glory cloud see the meteorological site: www.jeffsweather.com/.../01/morning_glory.html
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
is about to celebrate its 150th birthday. I’ve been talking to people across the State for my book 'Queenslanders All Over' – from a tiny island off the far north tip of Cape York, where beautiful pearls are farmed, to the State’s far outback where mining and cattle farming are often the main occupations with rodeos and camel racing an annual highlight. I’ve been constantly surprised by the courage and larrikin humor of people who live in remote areas. With world class educational facilities and a government dedicated to attracting new business the cities too are attracting people from interstate and overseas. Queensland is enjoying its burgeoning popularity as a great place to visit and to live.
There are some great characters and great stories including one I heard about ancient footprints of stampeding dinosaurs out near Winton and the bones of giant marsupials, the ancestors of the kangaroo that David & Judy Elliot found on their property. They run an excellent newsletter about local finds, it’s called “The Australian Age of Dinosaurs”.I spoke with a resident of Burketown recently about an interesting phenomenon that occurs there in Spring. She tells me that 'the morning glory cloud’ is a big roll of cloud which can go the whole length of the sky and is quite deep.
It's like a large wave but rolling the opposite way and is proving something of an attraction for extreme sportsmen with their hang-gliders who come to ride the clouds like surf riders. Way too dangerous for my liking as apparently you can be thrown up and over if you get on the wrong angle!
For more this image of the morning glory cloud see the meteorological site: www.jeffsweather.com/.../01/morning_glory.html
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
artist's books
I have always enjoyed reading books, writing and illustrating my books soon followed, now I find the making of them is another dimension that I am keen to explore.
An artist friend, Helen Sanderson, has introduced me to this skill and helped me to make my first small book. I have included here a photo of Helen and a few words of her's about artist's books.
"Artist's books come in many forms. It is a popular passtime amongst people who love artist's books to try and define them. However, in defining artist's books invariably the definition limits the vision of the myriad of artists who are involved in producing them. Books are one of the oldest forms of communication in the world, much loved by most people. It is a vehicle that we are very used to. A book with many pages, and a cover, with binding that allows us to easily turn the page. A well made book feels lovely in our hands, and a visual feast as well.
Artist's when taking the book as a vehicle for expression use a multitude of ways to create their books. For some, the book stays in a familiar format. For others, the book is just a jumping off point, and the book becomes a sculptural object that relates to the content.
The first artist's book I saw was a couple of decades ago in a visiting exhibition in the QAG, where the artwork was a book, in the shape of a gun, and the content had to do with Nazi Germany. It was a potent and aggressive object that got much of its message across before the book was even opened.
Books that artists make today are often made by the artists. Some artists take existing books and alter them...creating altered books. These books are often satirical and political. Many printmakers are interested in making books of their prints, and creating prints to tell a story. These editioned books, mostly printed by the artists, are a showcase for the etchings, lithographs inside."
An artist friend, Helen Sanderson, has introduced me to this skill and helped me to make my first small book. I have included here a photo of Helen and a few words of her's about artist's books.
"Artist's books come in many forms. It is a popular passtime amongst people who love artist's books to try and define them. However, in defining artist's books invariably the definition limits the vision of the myriad of artists who are involved in producing them. Books are one of the oldest forms of communication in the world, much loved by most people. It is a vehicle that we are very used to. A book with many pages, and a cover, with binding that allows us to easily turn the page. A well made book feels lovely in our hands, and a visual feast as well.Artist's when taking the book as a vehicle for expression use a multitude of ways to create their books. For some, the book stays in a familiar format. For others, the book is just a jumping off point, and the book becomes a sculptural object that relates to the content.
The first artist's book I saw was a couple of decades ago in a visiting exhibition in the QAG, where the artwork was a book, in the shape of a gun, and the content had to do with Nazi Germany. It was a potent and aggressive object that got much of its message across before the book was even opened.
Books that artists make today are often made by the artists. Some artists take existing books and alter them...creating altered books. These books are often satirical and political. Many printmakers are interested in making books of their prints, and creating prints to tell a story. These editioned books, mostly printed by the artists, are a showcase for the etchings, lithographs inside."
Read more...
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Philanthropy – giving and doing
Most of us enjoy giving – it makes us feel good. I wonder if this is nature or nurture? Certainly it seems to be a part of many if not all cultures around the world.
Businesses donate in a variety of ways. One well-known example is McDonald’s who through their international program of Ronald McDonald Houses, provide a ‘home away from home’ for families who have seriously ill children in hospital.
In Australia the Surf Life Saving Foundation is less well known but their charter is to raise funds to equip surf lifesavers with rescue boats and helicopters along with other necessary equipment for protecting swimmers along Australia’s popular coastline.
Many not-for-profits, like for example the Vancouver Foundation in BC have been founded on the need for a centralized organization that can achieve big things with the many small donations made.
Individuals who are working long hours often find it easier to donate a check than give their time to a worthy cause. Others do provide their time, like an African American family from Missouri that I interviewed recently for my book on couples in franchising – every weekend they collect the unsold bread from local bakeries and repack it to give to needy families in their town – it’s become a tradition, started when their children were young and now continuing with their children and grandchildren all involved.
Others give anonymously like Chuck Feeney, who for many years has been giving away millions of dollars anonymously through Atlantic Philanthropies, while personally living a very frugal life – probably one of the only millionaires traveling coach on airlines until in his 70s.
What fascinates me is the difference an individual can make. I heard recently about the friend of a friend of mine who visited Tanzania and felt compelled to do something to help people in the village of Changarawe, in the Morogoro Region of Tanzania. Her name is Carolyn Walford and she lives in London. In 1997 with Felistas Kalomo in Tanzania she founded The Changarawe Project. They built a small nursery school in 1999, which started with 22 children, the poorest of the poor. It grew rapidly with the children staying in the school for 2 years before moving to a primary school at 7. It’s called The Zawadi School which means ‘gift’ in Swahili. They find orphaned children, widows and abandoned mothers or grandmothers with orphans to care for.
If you'd like to find more information about them you can do so at: http://www.changaraweproject.org/.
Perhaps you know of other ventures like this? I'm sure there must be others and I'd be interested to hear about them. Projects that have been started and run in partnership by people from two countries - financed from one country and run successfully for the poor in the other.
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
Businesses donate in a variety of ways. One well-known example is McDonald’s who through their international program of Ronald McDonald Houses, provide a ‘home away from home’ for families who have seriously ill children in hospital.
In Australia the Surf Life Saving Foundation is less well known but their charter is to raise funds to equip surf lifesavers with rescue boats and helicopters along with other necessary equipment for protecting swimmers along Australia’s popular coastline.Many not-for-profits, like for example the Vancouver Foundation in BC have been founded on the need for a centralized organization that can achieve big things with the many small donations made.
Individuals who are working long hours often find it easier to donate a check than give their time to a worthy cause. Others do provide their time, like an African American family from Missouri that I interviewed recently for my book on couples in franchising – every weekend they collect the unsold bread from local bakeries and repack it to give to needy families in their town – it’s become a tradition, started when their children were young and now continuing with their children and grandchildren all involved.
Others give anonymously like Chuck Feeney, who for many years has been giving away millions of dollars anonymously through Atlantic Philanthropies, while personally living a very frugal life – probably one of the only millionaires traveling coach on airlines until in his 70s.
What fascinates me is the difference an individual can make. I heard recently about the friend of a friend of mine who visited Tanzania and felt compelled to do something to help people in the village of Changarawe, in the Morogoro Region of Tanzania. Her name is Carolyn Walford and she lives in London. In 1997 with Felistas Kalomo in Tanzania she founded The Changarawe Project. They built a small nursery school in 1999, which started with 22 children, the poorest of the poor. It grew rapidly with the children staying in the school for 2 years before moving to a primary school at 7. It’s called The Zawadi School which means ‘gift’ in Swahili. They find orphaned children, widows and abandoned mothers or grandmothers with orphans to care for.
If you'd like to find more information about them you can do so at: http://www.changaraweproject.org/.Perhaps you know of other ventures like this? I'm sure there must be others and I'd be interested to hear about them. Projects that have been started and run in partnership by people from two countries - financed from one country and run successfully for the poor in the other.
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Who wants to be an entrepreneur?
We tend to admire entrepreneurs as risk takers, some even looking down a bit on non entrepreneurs for being risk averse. We crave certainty and assurance and see strength in entrepreneurs’ ability to live with uncertainty and doubt.
As more people continue working after marriage, either as dual career couples or as copreneurs, work-life balance become a major issue for employers, employees and the self-employed.
We admire entrepreneurs for their courage in the face of adversity and willingness to keep trying new things while we ordinary mortals just keep inching along, doing the same old things and hoping to make it to retirement in one piece.
So we celebrate entrepreneurs but we know that new entrepreneurial ventures largely fail- about 80% in the first two years - and we know those entrepreneurs cannot all recover and come back for more. Some will have to become non entrepreneurs and some will just give up altogether. There is also a point at which all those admirable qualities that entrepreneurs have turn into liabilities rather than assets, when risk taking simply becomes recklessness.
Talking with franchisors and franchisees when researching for my book, I fell to thinking about where franchising sits on the entrepreneur- non-entrepreneur – high risk - low risk spectrum. Seems to me it's somewhere in the middle. The franchisor certainly has to take an initial risk in developing the franchise formula. On the other hand once the formula is proven the franchisee takes the risk when investing in the franchise. In the end, both the franchisor and the franchisee are able to hedge their bets.
Perhaps neither is a ‘true’ entrepreneur and perhaps that’s a good thing- a case of ‘balanced entrepreneurship’.
(By the way does ANYONE know a word that means the opposite of ‘entrepreneur’?).
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
As more people continue working after marriage, either as dual career couples or as copreneurs, work-life balance become a major issue for employers, employees and the self-employed.
We admire entrepreneurs for their courage in the face of adversity and willingness to keep trying new things while we ordinary mortals just keep inching along, doing the same old things and hoping to make it to retirement in one piece.
So we celebrate entrepreneurs but we know that new entrepreneurial ventures largely fail- about 80% in the first two years - and we know those entrepreneurs cannot all recover and come back for more. Some will have to become non entrepreneurs and some will just give up altogether. There is also a point at which all those admirable qualities that entrepreneurs have turn into liabilities rather than assets, when risk taking simply becomes recklessness.
Talking with franchisors and franchisees when researching for my book, I fell to thinking about where franchising sits on the entrepreneur- non-entrepreneur – high risk - low risk spectrum. Seems to me it's somewhere in the middle. The franchisor certainly has to take an initial risk in developing the franchise formula. On the other hand once the formula is proven the franchisee takes the risk when investing in the franchise. In the end, both the franchisor and the franchisee are able to hedge their bets.
Perhaps neither is a ‘true’ entrepreneur and perhaps that’s a good thing- a case of ‘balanced entrepreneurship’.
(By the way does ANYONE know a word that means the opposite of ‘entrepreneur’?).
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
Friday, May 8, 2009
50 plus and looking for new horizons
Looking at global statistics recently on mature age entrepreneurs I was interested to find the number of new starts being initiated by people at or approaching retirement age. In 2002, although those aged 50 plus made up 25 % of the workforce, they reportedly comprised 40% of the self-employed. It’s said that solo business formation in the future will be driven by people who take early retirement or whose jobs just disappear. Interestingly, it’s estimated two thirds of these consider franchising as one of their options.
Many people do not wish to “retire” on someone else’s say so. They have accumulated business experience and wish to continue to earn a return from it, either in their current line of work or another. Whatever their choice, it will probably involve acquiring some new skills.
Lifelong learning is becoming a necessity rather than an option. The question is how to combine old knowledge and new knowledge to maximum advantage?
When interviewing franchisees recently I was interested to hear how they combined their previous business experience with the training given by the franchisor. One franchisee for instance who had been in the banking industry used his knowledge to obtain initial funding to buy a franchise and later to expand his franchise holdings once he'd gained experience as a franchisee. Another told me how she’d worked for many years for a successful franchisee and learned every aspect of his business then when he wanted to retire she was able to buy his franchise and has since become extremely successful.
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
Many people do not wish to “retire” on someone else’s say so. They have accumulated business experience and wish to continue to earn a return from it, either in their current line of work or another. Whatever their choice, it will probably involve acquiring some new skills.
Lifelong learning is becoming a necessity rather than an option. The question is how to combine old knowledge and new knowledge to maximum advantage?
When interviewing franchisees recently I was interested to hear how they combined their previous business experience with the training given by the franchisor. One franchisee for instance who had been in the banking industry used his knowledge to obtain initial funding to buy a franchise and later to expand his franchise holdings once he'd gained experience as a franchisee. Another told me how she’d worked for many years for a successful franchisee and learned every aspect of his business then when he wanted to retire she was able to buy his franchise and has since become extremely successful.
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Work-life balance when working with your spouse
Changing work patterns, particularly over the past 30 plus years have seen an increasing number of marriages where both partners work full time. Many women don’t want to end their careers when they marry and have children - others simply can't afford to stop work.
Back in the 50’s men worked from 9-5 and in general their wives stayed home. That’s less common now and two incomes are often needed to pay off housing and other living expenses. Many young women are faced with the dilemma of not being able to afford to stop work for as long as they want when their children are young. It’s at this point many abandon the corporate sector for alternatives – like independent self employment or purchasing a franchise.
Most small businesses, including franchises, are bought and started by those at or approaching retirement age (see my post on over 50’s) or the young, who may be starting a family or have young children to care for.
Work-life balance becomes less of an issue if you can work from home – which probably explains it’s growing popularity. When researching for my book ‘Couples in Franchising’ I was surprised to find how many different types of business can be run successfully from home. Many multiple franchise owners for example manage their businesses from their homes.
Wherever the work gets done the old maxim still holds true - ‘little things mean a lot’. I remember talking to the copreneurial owners of an Ace Hardware store recently - the husband mentioned that he always makes sure his wife has fresh flowers on her desk.
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
Back in the 50’s men worked from 9-5 and in general their wives stayed home. That’s less common now and two incomes are often needed to pay off housing and other living expenses. Many young women are faced with the dilemma of not being able to afford to stop work for as long as they want when their children are young. It’s at this point many abandon the corporate sector for alternatives – like independent self employment or purchasing a franchise.
Most small businesses, including franchises, are bought and started by those at or approaching retirement age (see my post on over 50’s) or the young, who may be starting a family or have young children to care for.
Work-life balance becomes less of an issue if you can work from home – which probably explains it’s growing popularity. When researching for my book ‘Couples in Franchising’ I was surprised to find how many different types of business can be run successfully from home. Many multiple franchise owners for example manage their businesses from their homes.
Wherever the work gets done the old maxim still holds true - ‘little things mean a lot’. I remember talking to the copreneurial owners of an Ace Hardware store recently - the husband mentioned that he always makes sure his wife has fresh flowers on her desk.
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
Copreneurs can holiday & maintain control at work
Having your own business is rather like having a child. You nurture it and you do all you can to ensure its success. Work can take over though and when you live and work together 24x7 it’s not always easy to find time for yourselves as a couple.
Technology though has made a huge difference to the way businesses can be run. I was talking to a couple recently who are owners of a Gold’s Gym in Virginia. They told me that because they are now so well equipped technologically (with computers and email and video cameras) they’re able to run their facilities from wherever they are, yet still be involved in day to day operations and decisions.
They tell me this had provided dual benefits. They make regular visits and they maintain control of all financial matters but they delegate the rest. This allows their front office people opportunities to grow and take managerial control – and their business continues to grow.
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
Technology though has made a huge difference to the way businesses can be run. I was talking to a couple recently who are owners of a Gold’s Gym in Virginia. They told me that because they are now so well equipped technologically (with computers and email and video cameras) they’re able to run their facilities from wherever they are, yet still be involved in day to day operations and decisions.
They tell me this had provided dual benefits. They make regular visits and they maintain control of all financial matters but they delegate the rest. This allows their front office people opportunities to grow and take managerial control – and their business continues to grow.
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Sustainability issues in the business arena
There are increasing numbers of eco-friendly business decisions being made now by individual small businesses and large multi-nationals alike. Multinational franchises too are going green with the multiplier effect having ripple effects across their global coverage. In the restaurant industry two such franchise organizations are McDonald’s and Subway.
I’ve mentioned McDonald’s first LEED certified restaurant in Savannah, Ga in a previous blog-post. Another is planned for Chicago. Other initiatives include McDonald’s Energy program which they say has saved 200,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions – and saved the company thirty million dollars, so a win-win for all concerned.
Subway too have worked closely with the U.S. Green Building Council to follow (LEED) certification requirements, to build stores that conserve both energy and water. Subway have now opened several "Eco Stores," the first in Kissimmee, Fl., with subsequent eco-stores in St. Helens, Ore., and Keizer, Ore. There are plans for a fourth in Laplace, La. Other Subway initiatives include napkins made of 100 percent recycled materials, saving 140,000 trees a year. Also, by redesigning their shipping packaging, they’ve eliminated over 97,000 pounds of plastic annually. See the National Restaurant Association’s Conserve website: http://conserve.restaurant.org/conservenow/success_subway.cfm
The ink and toning franchising industry is another field where environmental sensitivity is on the rise. I was speaking with the owners of several CartridgeWorld franchises in Tennessee who said that 350 million cartridges are tossed into land fills annually in the United States alone and that it takes almost 1 gallon of fuel to produce a new laser cartridge. On top of that I’m told a cartridge takes around 450 years to decompose.
They said that customers are happy to give their cartridge refilling service a try when they learn that they’re not only ‘becoming more green’ but at the same time are ‘saving some green’ (around 40% to 50%, on new print cartridge prices).
It’s nice to see ‘green economics’ becoming a reality for the consumer.
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
I’ve mentioned McDonald’s first LEED certified restaurant in Savannah, Ga in a previous blog-post. Another is planned for Chicago. Other initiatives include McDonald’s Energy program which they say has saved 200,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions – and saved the company thirty million dollars, so a win-win for all concerned.
Subway too have worked closely with the U.S. Green Building Council to follow (LEED) certification requirements, to build stores that conserve both energy and water. Subway have now opened several "Eco Stores," the first in Kissimmee, Fl., with subsequent eco-stores in St. Helens, Ore., and Keizer, Ore. There are plans for a fourth in Laplace, La. Other Subway initiatives include napkins made of 100 percent recycled materials, saving 140,000 trees a year. Also, by redesigning their shipping packaging, they’ve eliminated over 97,000 pounds of plastic annually. See the National Restaurant Association’s Conserve website: http://conserve.restaurant.org/conservenow/success_subway.cfm
The ink and toning franchising industry is another field where environmental sensitivity is on the rise. I was speaking with the owners of several CartridgeWorld franchises in Tennessee who said that 350 million cartridges are tossed into land fills annually in the United States alone and that it takes almost 1 gallon of fuel to produce a new laser cartridge. On top of that I’m told a cartridge takes around 450 years to decompose.They said that customers are happy to give their cartridge refilling service a try when they learn that they’re not only ‘becoming more green’ but at the same time are ‘saving some green’ (around 40% to 50%, on new print cartridge prices).
It’s nice to see ‘green economics’ becoming a reality for the consumer.
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
Leadership shown in sustainable development
People everywhere are becoming accutely aware that we all have a responsibility to our own families and others, to leave this world in as good a state as we can.
Individuals and businesses are now consciously making decisions about 'sustainability' of their businesses into the future, and there are an increasing number of admirable organizations either doing their own thing or collaborating with others to 'make a difference'.
One such company is Melaver, Inc. a third-generation, family-owned business based in Savannah, Georgia. This real estate developer is committed to sustainable development and currently has eight LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design process) certified projects in their portfolio. They developed one of the first LEED certified buildings in the U.S. which is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Melaver Inc. also developed Abercorn Common, the first all retail LEED shopping center in the country which incidentally includes the first LEED McDonald’s worldwide. In this development stormwater seeps into the soil through porous pavement and the interior of the building is kept cool by the heat reflecting rooftop - on most days the sun serves as primary lighting. See http://carriagetradepr.wordpress.com/2008/02/26/melaver-inc-45/
I'll be interested to hear about other such initiatives ...
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
Individuals and businesses are now consciously making decisions about 'sustainability' of their businesses into the future, and there are an increasing number of admirable organizations either doing their own thing or collaborating with others to 'make a difference'.
One such company is Melaver, Inc. a third-generation, family-owned business based in Savannah, Georgia. This real estate developer is committed to sustainable development and currently has eight LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design process) certified projects in their portfolio. They developed one of the first LEED certified buildings in the U.S. which is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Melaver Inc. also developed Abercorn Common, the first all retail LEED shopping center in the country which incidentally includes the first LEED McDonald’s worldwide. In this development stormwater seeps into the soil through porous pavement and the interior of the building is kept cool by the heat reflecting rooftop - on most days the sun serves as primary lighting. See http://carriagetradepr.wordpress.com/2008/02/26/melaver-inc-45/
I'll be interested to hear about other such initiatives ...
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The Value of a Smile
I was sent a note by a friend recently and as it applies as much in business as in a social context I thought I'd include it here. I haven't been able to find out who originally penned it so have to credit to 'Anon'....
A smile costs nothing, but gives much. It reaches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory sometimes lasts a lifetime.
Noone is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and no one is so poor but that he can be made richer by it.
A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business, and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged. A smile is sunshine to the sad, and is nature's best antidote for trouble.
Yet, it cannot be bought, begged, or borrowed or stolen, for it is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.
Read more...
A smile costs nothing, but gives much. It reaches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory sometimes lasts a lifetime.
Noone is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and no one is so poor but that he can be made richer by it.
A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business, and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged. A smile is sunshine to the sad, and is nature's best antidote for trouble.
Yet, it cannot be bought, begged, or borrowed or stolen, for it is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.
Read more...
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Business Opportunities in Going Green
I saw an interesting program recently about the regeneration of a rust belt town thru green industries. The town is Braddock in Pennsylvania, just 8 or 9 miles outside Pittsburgh and the turn around seems due to the inspired leadership of their visionary Mayor, John Fetterman. I found an interesting report about this on the Web http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/jan-june08/greenjobs_05-12.html .
In the case of Braddock the town appears to be developing and attracting all sorts of innovative ventures, for example oil (from restaurants and every other conceivable source) is being treated and recycled for use in cars rather than treated as waste. As each new green industry starts it also spawns other - not necessarily green - jobs as the services of electricians, plumbers, welders and builders are involved. A town and a whole community that was dying can now be seen rising like the proverbial Phoenix from the ashes.
Across the world, innovative minds are seeking solutions to the problems facing us. No one has all the answers – but no individual’s efforts need be wasted if they work as part of a community. This does however take good leadership, with an open minded attitude to finding sustainable and innovative solutions to problems, along with an ability to keep everyone aiming at the same goal. John Fetterman Mayor of Braddock is clearly one example of such leadership.
Another example of innovation and inspired leadership in this area is I believe, to be found in McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry LLC with their ‘cradle to cradle’ approach to design, and it’s potential effect on supply chains and industry generally. See http://www.mbdc.com/c2c_home.htm
Innovation has always been an interest of mine. When problems are seen to be sufficiently major and as a result capable of attracting significant media attention, funding invariably becomes available for the necessary research. Al Gore was hugely instrumental in attracting people’s attention to the severity of problems we face in Global Warming. The subsequent release of the Stern Report and other scientific data has reinforced the message. Where previously people who espoused green credentials were described as ‘the loony fringe’ now it’s ‘cool to be green’ and that’s a healthy change of attitude. I just hope the current economic crisis doesn't push the need for truly sustainable business initiatives 'off the agenda'.
Perhaps you know of other innovative business and community initiatives involving green issues. If so I’d be interested to hear about them.
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
Read more...
In the case of Braddock the town appears to be developing and attracting all sorts of innovative ventures, for example oil (from restaurants and every other conceivable source) is being treated and recycled for use in cars rather than treated as waste. As each new green industry starts it also spawns other - not necessarily green - jobs as the services of electricians, plumbers, welders and builders are involved. A town and a whole community that was dying can now be seen rising like the proverbial Phoenix from the ashes.
Across the world, innovative minds are seeking solutions to the problems facing us. No one has all the answers – but no individual’s efforts need be wasted if they work as part of a community. This does however take good leadership, with an open minded attitude to finding sustainable and innovative solutions to problems, along with an ability to keep everyone aiming at the same goal. John Fetterman Mayor of Braddock is clearly one example of such leadership.
Another example of innovation and inspired leadership in this area is I believe, to be found in McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry LLC with their ‘cradle to cradle’ approach to design, and it’s potential effect on supply chains and industry generally. See http://www.mbdc.com/c2c_home.htm
Innovation has always been an interest of mine. When problems are seen to be sufficiently major and as a result capable of attracting significant media attention, funding invariably becomes available for the necessary research. Al Gore was hugely instrumental in attracting people’s attention to the severity of problems we face in Global Warming. The subsequent release of the Stern Report and other scientific data has reinforced the message. Where previously people who espoused green credentials were described as ‘the loony fringe’ now it’s ‘cool to be green’ and that’s a healthy change of attitude. I just hope the current economic crisis doesn't push the need for truly sustainable business initiatives 'off the agenda'.
Perhaps you know of other innovative business and community initiatives involving green issues. If so I’d be interested to hear about them.
http://www.joanburton-jones.com/
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