We have met the enemy and the enemy is our apathy
Are we drowning in a sea of apathy and if we are how do we get out of it?
Apathy displays itself as not giving a damn. It displays itself as indifference, hopelessness and why should I bother. Apathy is the result of feeling helpless and powerless. We are drowning in a sea of apathy in our businesses, governance, education and daily life.
Apathy (Photo credit: Toban Black)
The ways that apathy shows itself include
- Lack of respect for each other and their property
- Increase suicide and depression
- Reality shows that show obnoxious behavior, abuse and bullying
- No service, caring or interest in the workplace
- Bullying both in person and cyber bullying
- Voting for the least offensive candidate because there is no one running who could do a good job
- Criticizing those who try to get the job done
- Ignoring the wrongs around you because you are afraid of being targeted or abused
Is there a solution to the apathy that is overwhelming the world and business?
Probably! But to solve this will require you to take a risk and commit to living today as if it was your last day on earth.
It takes doing your best every moment of every day with whatever tools you have available regardless of what the challenge is.
It takes keeping your word and respecting both yourself and the person you committed to.
It takes a thick skin when people unknowingly or knowingly insult you. Remember most people are self-centered and only see things from their point of view.
It takes stopping jumping to conclusions about what people will say or do in the circumstances.
It takes never regretting your choices but accepting that did your best, kept your word and lived for today.
It takes living the 5 Agreements
Everyone Needs AAA but sometimes it takes a 2 by 4 to get out of the apathy
The three As are Acknowledgement, Acceptance and Appreciation and every human being needs these things every day. When used in your daily life and in business then we have the opportunity for 3 more As – Action, Achievement, Accomplishment.
Today will you be apathetic or will you fight apathy and acknowledge someone who is different, accept them as being perfectly them and appreciate the differences between you and them and the fact that you are both here on earth for a purpose?
In the comments share how today, you intend to fight your apathy. What will you do today to be the difference you want to see in the world?
To your success
Roberta Budvietas
3 – 5 – 7 Business By the Numbers
The Ebook 10 Critical Criterialays out the 10 areas that can help every business be more commercial, more competitive
3 Keeps you moving
and more successful. The criteria is based on years of study, research undertaken by the Canadian government and much observation and application of the material in assisting businesses.
However, for most business owners the key to success lies in the 3 needs, the 5 agreements and the 7 areas of activity.
The 3 needs relate to purpose – Meeting your needs, while meeting buyer needs so that you meet the needs of the community. This concept has been written about in several other blogs on this site, including Creating Purpose and Passion, Purpose, Performance.
The 5 is the 5 agreements. Adapted from Don Miguel Ruiz‘s The Four Agreements Toltec Wisdom Collection: 3-Book Boxed Set which will assist you to live on purpose, deliver on time, on budget and as promised. The 5 agreements form the basis of a manifesto – see our manifesto for an example of how it can be applied to a business like yours.
The 7 are the 7 areas of business: sales, production, administration (the 3 main ones), marketing, research, prototyping (the overlaps for the future) and general management to keep an eye on the balance in any business. It is essential that you do the selling, production and administration 90% of the time.
Each of these numbers represents other things that are key for a business to succeed but if you remember 3-5-7 in all your decision making and activities you can operate a successful business effectively and simply.
And remember just because something is simple, it rarely is easy to do.
Are you using 3-5-7 in your business? Are you using 3 or 5 or 7? If you are, would you share them below?
Roberta
Passionate, Purposeful Performer
Create commercial syndrome businesses for a sustainable future.
Your Reputation and Your Belief
If you believe you are an expert, then you create your message as an expert.
from the title sequence of the Superman cartoons.
If you believe you are a failure then you talk like a failure.
If you believe you have a lot to learn, then you keep asking questions and finding out what else needs to happen but you can also come across as incompetent and fumbling.
If you believe you have a skill then you practice that skill and deliver using that skill.
If you believe that you have a message that others want to read, then you keep writing even if no one seems to be reading or commenting on what you say.
If you are like Superman a mild mannered reporter by day then everything you do will be incompetent and fumbling and that is how others will see you. But when you dawn those sexy tights and put your underwear on outside your tights and attach the cape, everyone sees you as able to do the impossible.
And whether anyone else recognizes you as whatever you say you are, you are what you are if you believe it.
And your message in everything you do needs to convey that without apology or fear of ridicule. The only thing that truly works is your belief system
Today, believe you are the authority in your area.
Represent yourself as such. Brand your self as such. And more importantly when you doubt, go back to the place in your heart where purpose resides and you can find your belief in YOU and your ability and experience. Doubt and second guessing will kill you as fast or faster than starvation.
In the comment below, will you be bold enough to state what you believe about you?
Roberta
Passionate, Purposeful Presenter
Free Webinar Take Your Business Idea to a Viable Business Plan in Only 30 Bites
How to annoy your customers
One of the worst things any business can do is annoy those wonderful people who buy from them regularly. It will likely
Getting it wrong
lose them that client and worse, it will lead to the client telling the world (well at least 20 people) how bad your business is.
Some of the common ways that businesses annoy their clients are:
- Failing to meet delivery dates
- Invoicing for a different amount then agreed, usually much more with additional charges
- Providing defective product or inadequate service
- Ignoring messages, contact and requests for answers
This results in a loss of trust. And trust once lost is difficult to regain especially if the client finds themselves out of pocket.
Guarantees and warranties can help a client have confidence to deal with you in the first place but if you renege on those in any way shape or form, the client will know that you were only offering a false assurance and may report you to either the police for fraud or an appropriate government department.
And then there is what can happen through social media. There are thousands of stories of angry clients posting on Twitter or Facebook a negative experience and what happens is that complaint goes to their friends who send it on to their friends and their friends.
When a client calls for an explanation or to ask questions, the worst thing you can do as a business is avoid them Most clients are asking questions because they just want clarity but if you fail to answer their inquiry, the client assumes that you are trying to deceive them. While this may be your intention, I believe that most business people are honest and the reason they fail to answer client questions is because they do not know the answer or worse the answer will cost them money, time or effort.
Recent court cases where CEOs have been charged with fraud, malfeasance and other terrible crimes against shareholders and clients, state that they were unaware of what their staff were doing. This argument fortunately does not get them out of trouble and it does not remedy the problems of their clients or shareholders either. Even if they go to jail for a few years, their family lives in comfort and their shareholders and clients are forced into bankruptcy and foreclosure.
And it all starts with how you, the business owner, treat your customers, clients, prospects, staff and shareholders.
If you treat people with respect and keep your word, answer their concerns and deal with them above board then all will be well with your business. Treat them to deceive and protect yourself and you are writing your own ticket to disaster.
Starting today, run your business to satisfy your clients, deal with them always as you want to be dealt with and provide the service you promised plus a little extra.
Please comment on any time that you were annoyed by a business and what happened to the relationship. (Keep names, and dates out of the post though).
Roberta
Passionate, Purposeful Performer
To reduce risk, ask more questions
One of the greatest challenges we have in the business world today is assumptions.
Please sir.....
Advertising campaigns are built on assumptions, often pre-tested, that if people are told something at a certain time and in a certain way, they will rush to buy that product or service. It has worked but not always.
Many millions of dollars are wasted each year on advertising campaigns that fail miserably to return even their costs. Just see these examples by companies like Sony and Coke. http://goo.gl/oMEZL.
Products are developed and tested and then introduced into the market and they fail to excite the market.
Were enough questions asked? Obviously not but maybe the wrong questions were asked too based on the assumptions made.
We assume that because statistics show or people we trust say or Google shows evidence that things are true that it must be so. But do we actually ask enough questions? Do we allow our personal prejudices and assumptions to get in our way opportunities and useful information?
Risk insurance and assurance costs for a business increase every year. Why?
Because the business owners, insurance companies and others make assumptions about the future and what they think is likely to happen. They make educated guesses because we never can have perfect future knowledge.
Assumptions are a part of life. We go to bed at night assuming that the sun and ourselves will rise in the morning. And if we don’t see the sun in the morning, we assume that it is shining beyond the clouds.
Life is built on assumptions. You will never escape them but you can test out your assumptions and then once you have chosen a course of action, you can keep asking for the outcome you want.
Test and tweak is a good motto for every business owner to adopt early and practice often.
Many operation and quality management programs spend more time documenting what happens when things go wrong that they omit how to do things to get the results the business wants.
When we think about the bad things that could happen from an action, we can fail to ask the question -”what happens if all goes well?”
In business you should never stop asking.
Ask your staff what they see is happening in the world around them
Ask your clients what is happening for them and more importantly how you can help them more.
Ask your peers what is happening in their world.
Listen to any negatives and plan how you can react if you experience any of those negatives. Imagine what positive outcomes you could achieve if you ask for them.
Sales people are taught to ask for the order but often they need to ask for information to reduce future risk.
Crystal ball gazing is bunk but when we are told a possible future will be positive, we seem to be able to manifest it.
What are you asking for in your business and life right now?
What is the picture in your head for your business right now?
Who are you asking to help you achieve it?
Roberta
Simplifier, Presenter, Mentor/coach
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Guest Blogging with Jon Morrow
