I have a cunning plan

My goal is “A world where business and purpose collide”. Basically, this means a world where we have thriving communities supported by thriving businesses.

This is an optimistic goal, and one where the cynic says hang-on, I can’t change the world. This is true, but my cunning plan is to help other people change the world. I simply need to influence, support and enable changemakers. Give them the tools and encouragement them to do their thing.

I love this quote from Great Leaders & Organizations Have a Just Cause​ (2019). It sums up my view on the goal I’ve set myself:

“Idealistic It’s not about becoming the biggest, the best or number one.  It’s not about reaching some arbitrary revenue target, even if it is huge. It is about pursuing something that is infinite – for all intents and purposes you will not ever attain it. It is, indeed, a vision and not a goal. And as you make progress toward that better future state you imagine; you will be able to feel and measure your momentum. A Just Cause is an ideal. It is something so noble that we would be willing to devote our lives and careers toward advancing it. And, when our careers are over, the Just Cause can live on and serve to inspire further progress; that can be our legacy.”

I can’t change the world – but I want to support others so that they can

The introverts are fighting back…

A couple of weeks ago I posted about networking for introverts.

Yesterday I noticed this great post on another platform “I reckon someone should offer workshops which cater for introverts. No group exercises. No role-playing. Maybe just some reading and an online form we can submit anonymously? I love learning new things but can’t stand workshop formats. Icebreakers can definitely sod off.”

Trainers and event organisers tend to be more extroverted so this must influence how their sessions/events are conducted.

Let’s start thinking about designing things to better include introverts.

and while we’re at it, let’s get the hash tag #introvertsunite trending (apparently trending hashtags can change the world…. sarc)

Opportunity awaits just through that door

Many of us ‘paper shufflers’ (ie office workers) are still doing our standard hours albeit working from home not the office.

This is all well and good but the simple fact is we don’t deserve a medal, rather we should be getting a good kick up the backside!

Very few of us are in roles where lives depend on us doing 8 – 10 hours work a day.  We also need to remember that businesses rely more on customers than the documents, spreadsheets and zoom calls that we spend our time doing. The sad fact is, we’re really not that essential in the greater scheme of things.

Do our organisations really expect the same level of output during a lockdown? It’s not very likely, most are far more human than that. And if they do – I’m sorry but it says something about what’s important to you if you keep working in a place like that.

I’ve posted before about a favourite old saying that spent many years pinned to the wall in front of my desk “your family prefers your presence to your presents”.

Amongst the very real problems and issues resulting from covid-19 lockdowns, we still need to find the positives. The biggest positive is just through that door – please open it and say hi to your family.

Mentoring

Lately I’ve been really enjoying helping others on their various journeys. Well I would define it more as more supporting and being a sounding board.

Being a “sounding board” has been so rewarding and something I’m keen to keep on doing – so I thought I’d do a bit of up-skilling.

Mentoring is only one part of the process but on Friday I attended a “Mentoring Skillshop presented by Geoff Knox of Better Business Academy (thanks to the great folk at CELF).

Engage : Share : Practice : Perform

#nevertoooldtolearn

Do introverts hate networking?

First off – let’s stop stereotyping. You simply cannot make such broad and sweeping statements about roughly half the population. Remember the old saying “label jars not people”? Well that applies to any label you are think of using!

Secondly let’s stop making assumptions about what networking is, and where it takes place. A 19 year old woman with green dyed hair may not feel that comfortable networking in a corporate board room filled with old men in suits (but remember, they may also feel very comfortable). If you’re hard of hearing, trying to network in a very loud, crowded space may simply not work.

I’m an introvert, I networked at an event with a great person who inspired this post. Did I enjoy meeting her and chatting? – absolutely. Was it really networking? – of course it was. Turns out, others at the event also felt the same.

People can identify as introverts and still enjoy networking – and can be really good at it.

Instead of making assumptions about people, let’s spend some time thinking about expanding the ways we engage with networking.

For example, standing around after a full day conference, talking loudly in a crowded event foyer works well for some people. For others, a relaxed chat about a topic, in a small group and in a quiet, comfortable room may work better.

If you’re organising an event where you want networking to occur, pause and think about ways you can get everyone to engage.

To Profit or Not to Profit

Rob Campbell comments to a financial analysists conference were reported in Stuff

He made the very valid point that “Business is not a machine whose purpose is to spit out money to shareholders in a reliable stream forever“.

I saw this article on LinkedIn and thought I’d add my views…

Business is just a resource. It’s up to us how we use that resource, and how we use the outcomes of that resource. Making money for shareholders isn’t wrong, in and of itself. It can even be seen as an impactful purpose, depending how the profits are used. We need to be more open and more strategic around ‘purpose’. Imagine if Amazon was owned by a charity that used the profits as a resource to help eliminate food poverty around the globe. In this case, Amazon’s purpose to make a profit is obviously a good thing.

Of course just because profit could be a ‘good’ purpose, that doesn’t have to mean profit at all cost. It’s just why that organisation is operating that particular business. Like all organisations (not just businesses), it should be values driven, seek to support it’s communities and basically operate as a good citizen.

Rob Campbell is obviously talking about large corporates but we also need to remember that the NZ economy is made up of a significant number of SMEs. Operating a business with the intent to support your family is still a purpose.

I don’t believe that making a profit is where we need to have the conversations.

The two key focus points should be how we make that profit and then how we use that profit

What really matters is how we use business to do good!