Emma Jones, Founder of Enterprise Nation
I have just read an uber useful report by a brilliant woman I know called Emma Jones. I got to know Emma when she was doing some work here in Cumbria a few years ago and we ended up at quite a few entrepreneurial master classes together. I was really fortunate to get to work with her on a project that she was heading up. We were encouraging entrepreneurship in our area of Cumbria and addressing the brain drain of young talented people. She is one smart woman, beautiful inside and out and one of the things I really like about her is that she always makes you feel good when she talks to you. She is a serial entrepreneur with the Midas Touch and everything she does is first class and top quality. She runs a business called Enterprise Nation which is a free one stop shop resource centre for those of us working from home. She also wrote a book a couple of years ago called Spare Room Start Up and I had the pleasure of attending the launch when she took it on a national tour. It is an excellent book, a best seller on Amazon and I always recommend it to delegates when I do trainings on start-up. My signed copy is one of my favorite books because it keeps reminding me of the crucial fundamentals of business.
So Emma sent me this report today, in response to an e-mail that I sent to her asking if she had any research about stats about entrepreneurs and their needs. I was chuffed to bits to get The Home Business Report 2009 which was launched last week. It is based on real-time grassroots information. Any reliable and valid information is rare in the home business sector and the report has answered a lot of my questions. I will be able to use this as part of my evidence base to present to funders for a local project that I am setting up to train young creative entrepreneurs. This is a unique document as there is very little information out there about the growing trend of home working.
For instance, did you know that the number of people starting and growing a business from home has risen to 2.8 million and the combined contribution to the annual UK economy is 284 billion? Enterprise Nation coined the phrase ‘Working 5 to 9’ which refers to those holding down a day job and building a business at nights and weekends. This is something that is often not admitted online by the crowd who claim that they make money in their sleep with little to no work. Any decent business takes blood, sweat and tears in the early days. You have to put the hours in. She advised that this is the best way to start as it gives you a chance to build confidence and cashflow, before making a full-time move into self-employment.
She said that one of the factors that has influenced the increase in home business start-ups is affordable technology. This is really important to me and my fellow entrepreneurs in Cumbria, it makes it possible to work remotely. In her extensive Home Business 2009 Survey she discovered:
"81% of respondents asserted that ‘technology is critical to the success of my business’ and the majority of home business owners choose websites and blogs as their first port of call for business advice." I think that this is a massively significant phenomenon. Some people think that the 'Freeconomics Era' is damaging the economy, but I think it will eventually separate the credible experts from the spammers and scammers. This will mean that anyone can prove their competency regardless of their educational background and to a certain extent their financial position.
Respondents of the home Business Survey also referred to the freedom and flexibility that they enjoy and an improved work/life balance. What was brilliant to hear was that a stunning 89% are expecting their turnover to grow during the next year. The great thing is that they are growing their businesses without taking on staff. Technology is allowing them to outsource and sub-contract and Emma calls on the Government to ensure that business support projects and policies are aligned with this modern approach to building a business. I echo this as I have seen a number of grants that are available in support of job creation or employing the unemployed, but there is little support for the development of entrepreneurs. Flying Start is good, but only available to graduates and does not always ensure the ongoing support and mentorship that is required. There is next to nothing available for start up enterprises which is crazy because entrepreneurship is what is required to lead us out of the recession. In times of hardship and recession, leverage is essential for recovery.
Emma Jones went on to describe the leverage that is possible through technology: "this re-defines our attitude towards growth which has historically been based on number of people on the payroll." This is a hugely exciting wave that we are riding the crest of and it will be fascinating to see where it goes and all of the implications it will have on economy, culture and social trends. Think about it: Not so long ago, women were fighting to get out to work and now men are working hard to find ways to work in slippers and have some quality time with their families. Some socioeconomical themes emerged in the report.
The 5 themes covered in the report are:
Growing the business without outgrowing the home
How home businesses are starting out
Bringing families together
Trading across borders
Having a positive impact on the local conomy and community.
Each theme is illustrated through stories about successful Uk home based businesses and they are really inspiring. It was very interesting to read about the top 100 home business hotspots in the UK and a summary of how business support is responding to the needs of home business owners. Is your area one of the top 100? Emma is no stranger to making herself heard in political forums and I really love that she is conducting such quality research that truly represents what is happening at the grassroots level. The home business world now has a voice and this will inform decisions made at central government level. She has a great way of communicating with policy-makers and I think she will make a difference to future policies no matter which political party win the general election.
Emma, who founded Enterprise Nation, spoke of the great strides that have been made in the past 12 months, including the UK's first ever Home Enterprise Day and Business Link's national home business guide (which I find brilliant) and the Central Government encouraging live/work developments. She goes on to say that more needs to be done to encourage home working to fully flourish and she calls on various bodies to take action within the report.
If you are an entrepreneur working from home in the UK, you would be really missing out if you don't read this report, and sign up to Enterprise Nation. It is a quality site populated with useful information and lively interactive forums that help to reduce the isolation experienced by many work at home entrepreneurs. It is the UK's largest community of successful home business owners and it is full jam packed with the kind of stuff that will give you the edge in your home business.
To find out more, visit Enterprise Nation and say hi to Emma, you will love her!
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
This is HOT off the PRESS SOCIAL MEDIA
This is the hottest new thing in social media and could be excellent news for charities and social enterprises.
How it works
SendSocial makes sending things to your friends and relatives easy – you don't even need to know where they live.
You can send an item knowing only your recipient's Twitter ID or email address. We'll send your request to the individual, and – if they choose to accept – will take their address details from them.
You'll then receive a notification that they're happy to hear from you, and will be asked to confirm the collection address and pay by credit or debit card. Once this is complete, we'll provide you with an address-less label to stick to your package, which will be collected by myHermes, our delivery partners, and delivered in 3-5 working days.
The barcode contains all the important delivery information. myHermes have upgraded their systems to be able to read these: this means that items can travel safely from A to B quickly and easily, whilst giving you the peace of mind that your privacy is guaranteed.
This means that with a bit of a brainstorm, you could come up with a really hot fundraising campaign before Christmas....think of joint partnerships here. Do you have any corporations supporting your cause who might be able to benefit from PR injection? Secret Santa? Competitions?
They have kept their pricing structure simple, charging one of three rates depending on the weight of your package. They don't have any hidden charges, either - what you see is what you pay. The prices for optional extras, such as a signature on delivery, are explained below.
Parcel weight Price
0-2kg £3.99
2-5kg £6.99
5-10kg £7.99
Additional services Price
Signature on delivery £0.99
Remote area surcharge* £1.91
Up to £25 compensation cover free
Send social is set to be the biggest thing in social media next year, and the bandwagon has not left the station yet!
How it works
SendSocial makes sending things to your friends and relatives easy – you don't even need to know where they live.
You can send an item knowing only your recipient's Twitter ID or email address. We'll send your request to the individual, and – if they choose to accept – will take their address details from them.
You'll then receive a notification that they're happy to hear from you, and will be asked to confirm the collection address and pay by credit or debit card. Once this is complete, we'll provide you with an address-less label to stick to your package, which will be collected by myHermes, our delivery partners, and delivered in 3-5 working days.
The barcode contains all the important delivery information. myHermes have upgraded their systems to be able to read these: this means that items can travel safely from A to B quickly and easily, whilst giving you the peace of mind that your privacy is guaranteed.
This means that with a bit of a brainstorm, you could come up with a really hot fundraising campaign before Christmas....think of joint partnerships here. Do you have any corporations supporting your cause who might be able to benefit from PR injection? Secret Santa? Competitions?
They have kept their pricing structure simple, charging one of three rates depending on the weight of your package. They don't have any hidden charges, either - what you see is what you pay. The prices for optional extras, such as a signature on delivery, are explained below.
Parcel weight Price
0-2kg £3.99
2-5kg £6.99
5-10kg £7.99
Additional services Price
Signature on delivery £0.99
Remote area surcharge* £1.91
Up to £25 compensation cover free
Send social is set to be the biggest thing in social media next year, and the bandwagon has not left the station yet!
3 Ways to Approach Internet Marketing
3 Ways to Approach Internet Marketing
There are 3 different internet marketing strategies that you could use to start a home based business, mostly based around the level of investment that you want to or can make when you start out. Obviously, any new business requires some kind of investment, both in terms of time and money and you can choose how you want to balance it. If you are thinking of starting an online business, then you will need to work out how to get people to visit your website in order to make money. You could have the best web design in the world, but if you don't use some kind of advertising strategy, then you will not be a successful internet marketer. However, with the right internet marketing tools, you can advertise your new business for free.
Free or low cost Internet Marketing Business Opportunities
This web marketing strategy involves putting a lot of time into making sure that you get found online. There are no two ways around it, success online does not happen by chance, and there are a number of marketing tools that you need to become familiar with and you need a clear plan of action. Otherwise, you will be making a lot of noise that no one will hear above the rest. I think it is best to have someone show you an exact step by step system that is proven to work so that you get the foundations under your belt. If you want to learn how to do something well, you should learn from a consultant who is honest and knows what they are talking about. Affiliate marketing is a great way to get started, but you do need a plan. This is the way that many of the great internet marketing giants started out, like Chris Gardner for instance, but equally people can lose a lot of money if they don't have a clear strategy. For my money, I would recommend The Turn-Key Marketing 4 Step system. This proven system will walk you through, Step-By-Step EXACTLY how to set up your income stream quickly. In fact, some people have reached a 5 Figure monthly income in around 3 months. It is one dollar to take a 2 week trial, and for that you get 4 training videos, and action manual and 10 free digital products to resell and keep 100% of the profits. After this you can take the manual and run, or continue in the coaching club for a minimal monthly investment. The coaching club gives you access to webinars, an online community of experts and access to stepping your business up to the next level.
Mid Range Investment to an Internet Marketing Business Opportunities
This option suits someone who is able to invest some money into a business that has higher profit levels and therefore has a bigger earning potential for the same amount of time needed to advertise it. You can sell mid range products and still use free advertising strategies but then get a higher return. Using this approach, the serious entrepreneur will then re-invest some of the money in either a high ticket internet business, or some really slick advertising for the mid-range one. The trick is working out how much of the business can be automated. If the answer is a lot, then keep ploughing money back into it. There is a new opportunity about to be launched that is going to be an absolute winner. It is called Primo Vacations and it offers top quality holiday destinations at next to nothing about 80% off!!!. It is like having your own travel business that you can use or sell. A brilliant product to launch in this economic climate where people have cut back on fancy holidays but are in desperate need of a good break. The compensation plan is unrivalled, and it is an easy business to get into. There is some investment required of course, but you would soon be on holiday yourself and probably find yourself in the company of all the top internet marketers who are taking advantage of a great deal! Pack up your laptop and work by the beach!!
High Ticket Internet Marketing Business Opportunities
These businesses are for people who are online to make serious money. These are not hobbies or experiments, they are for single-minded determined entrepreneurs who are set to make 6 or 7 figures and come hell or high water will do it. Some people come to this after working their way up through the other two options, and some jump in feet first. If you have worked your way up to high ticket sales, you probably have some money to employ others to do some of the work and can then leverage some of your time and exponentially increase your earnings. This is when it gets really exciting. The the premier online package is Your Net Biz. They aim to aim to partner with serious entrepreneurs and give them a direct line to success. They provide unmatched value with our product suite, distinct and innovative marketing solutions, and cutting edge, real time, marketing training, which will give you all the internet marketing tools you need to go straight to the top. This is not for everyone, you do need to have the right mindset to make it work. However, if you are interested in getting the free 4 step training manual and videos, this would be a great place to explore whether it is right for you. It will give you a clear idea about what is involved. To your success!
There are 3 different internet marketing strategies that you could use to start a home based business, mostly based around the level of investment that you want to or can make when you start out. Obviously, any new business requires some kind of investment, both in terms of time and money and you can choose how you want to balance it. If you are thinking of starting an online business, then you will need to work out how to get people to visit your website in order to make money. You could have the best web design in the world, but if you don't use some kind of advertising strategy, then you will not be a successful internet marketer. However, with the right internet marketing tools, you can advertise your new business for free.
Free or low cost Internet Marketing Business Opportunities
This web marketing strategy involves putting a lot of time into making sure that you get found online. There are no two ways around it, success online does not happen by chance, and there are a number of marketing tools that you need to become familiar with and you need a clear plan of action. Otherwise, you will be making a lot of noise that no one will hear above the rest. I think it is best to have someone show you an exact step by step system that is proven to work so that you get the foundations under your belt. If you want to learn how to do something well, you should learn from a consultant who is honest and knows what they are talking about. Affiliate marketing is a great way to get started, but you do need a plan. This is the way that many of the great internet marketing giants started out, like Chris Gardner for instance, but equally people can lose a lot of money if they don't have a clear strategy. For my money, I would recommend The Turn-Key Marketing 4 Step system. This proven system will walk you through, Step-By-Step EXACTLY how to set up your income stream quickly. In fact, some people have reached a 5 Figure monthly income in around 3 months. It is one dollar to take a 2 week trial, and for that you get 4 training videos, and action manual and 10 free digital products to resell and keep 100% of the profits. After this you can take the manual and run, or continue in the coaching club for a minimal monthly investment. The coaching club gives you access to webinars, an online community of experts and access to stepping your business up to the next level.
Mid Range Investment to an Internet Marketing Business Opportunities
This option suits someone who is able to invest some money into a business that has higher profit levels and therefore has a bigger earning potential for the same amount of time needed to advertise it. You can sell mid range products and still use free advertising strategies but then get a higher return. Using this approach, the serious entrepreneur will then re-invest some of the money in either a high ticket internet business, or some really slick advertising for the mid-range one. The trick is working out how much of the business can be automated. If the answer is a lot, then keep ploughing money back into it. There is a new opportunity about to be launched that is going to be an absolute winner. It is called Primo Vacations and it offers top quality holiday destinations at next to nothing about 80% off!!!. It is like having your own travel business that you can use or sell. A brilliant product to launch in this economic climate where people have cut back on fancy holidays but are in desperate need of a good break. The compensation plan is unrivalled, and it is an easy business to get into. There is some investment required of course, but you would soon be on holiday yourself and probably find yourself in the company of all the top internet marketers who are taking advantage of a great deal! Pack up your laptop and work by the beach!!
High Ticket Internet Marketing Business Opportunities
These businesses are for people who are online to make serious money. These are not hobbies or experiments, they are for single-minded determined entrepreneurs who are set to make 6 or 7 figures and come hell or high water will do it. Some people come to this after working their way up through the other two options, and some jump in feet first. If you have worked your way up to high ticket sales, you probably have some money to employ others to do some of the work and can then leverage some of your time and exponentially increase your earnings. This is when it gets really exciting. The the premier online package is Your Net Biz. They aim to aim to partner with serious entrepreneurs and give them a direct line to success. They provide unmatched value with our product suite, distinct and innovative marketing solutions, and cutting edge, real time, marketing training, which will give you all the internet marketing tools you need to go straight to the top. This is not for everyone, you do need to have the right mindset to make it work. However, if you are interested in getting the free 4 step training manual and videos, this would be a great place to explore whether it is right for you. It will give you a clear idea about what is involved. To your success!
Monday, 23 November 2009
Cumbria Underwater, Please Donate
Hi, it is Monday the 23rd November 2009 and all is not well in Cumbria. Since Thurs, we have been experiencing relentless rain and flooding and some parts of the county are in a state of emergency. Thousands of people in Cumbria have been warned today that they could be cut off for months because some of our bridges have either collapsed or are now too dangerous to use.
As a county, Cumbria is mostly rural and perhaps best known for The Lake District National Park. It is one of the most gorgeous parts of the UK. Tiny roads run cross country between towns that are miles apart. It is a big county, and with mountains, forests, lakes and a coastline. People love visiting because of the natural beauty and because of the wide open spaces and places to get away from it all. We rely heavily on tourism and many industries are seasonal.
The flooding at the moment is devastating. People have been evacuated from their homes in Workington, Carlisle and Cockermouth. Many of our old bridges, that were designed for horse and cart traffic have either collapsed or are in danger of doing so. As I write it is still raining. Workington is in danger of being cut off for months. The Calva bridge that links the north and the south of the town is no longer safe, so the town is completely divided. The whole town was cut off from the rest of the county when the Northside Bridge collapsed on Friday. PC Bill Barker was killed when he was swept away stopping a bus from crossing just as the bridge collapsed. Chief Constable Craig Mackey has created a Face Book page to pay tribute and already there have been an overwhelming 10,000 + people pledging their support to his family and colleagues. I hope this support continues beyond the hype of the news. So many families will be emotionally and financially suffering for months to come. The area was already hard hit by the recession and they will need massive help to recover from this.
Currently, engineers and military experts continue to monitor the county's 1,800 bridges which are in danger of collapse. Gordon Brown has pledged a million pounds to help with the clear up, I'm not so sure how much difference that will make to the 50-100 million pounds of damage. About twenty boats on Lake Windermere have sunk due to the floods and holiday homes near the lake have been evacuated. A recovery company is meant to be coming today to raise the boats, but it is still raining.
Thirteen primary schools and five secondary schools will be closed today, with the majority hoping to reopen on Tuesday. Our local high school, Ulverston Victoria has been used as a refuge centre for people with no where to stay. About 60 people were still sheltering in the two main reception centres. Local people are offering temporary accommodation to those affected by the floods. If you would like to be added to this list - please send your name and contact details including phone numbers - and a brief summary of what you can offer, to Julian at Visit Cumbria: julian@visitcumbria.com Tel 07747 146816. Local tradespeople offering help with flood damage clearance and repairs are also invited to send contact details and a brief summary of what they can offer and can have a free listing on Visit Cumbria.
Another downpour is expected in the coming days, with strong winds tomorrow night. The Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund, set up by the Cumbria Community Foundation reached £145,000 so far, but so much more is needed. If you would like to help, you can donate through the Cumbria Foundation. http://www.cumbriafoundation.org who have a Give Now button on their site.
As a county, Cumbria is mostly rural and perhaps best known for The Lake District National Park. It is one of the most gorgeous parts of the UK. Tiny roads run cross country between towns that are miles apart. It is a big county, and with mountains, forests, lakes and a coastline. People love visiting because of the natural beauty and because of the wide open spaces and places to get away from it all. We rely heavily on tourism and many industries are seasonal.
The flooding at the moment is devastating. People have been evacuated from their homes in Workington, Carlisle and Cockermouth. Many of our old bridges, that were designed for horse and cart traffic have either collapsed or are in danger of doing so. As I write it is still raining. Workington is in danger of being cut off for months. The Calva bridge that links the north and the south of the town is no longer safe, so the town is completely divided. The whole town was cut off from the rest of the county when the Northside Bridge collapsed on Friday. PC Bill Barker was killed when he was swept away stopping a bus from crossing just as the bridge collapsed. Chief Constable Craig Mackey has created a Face Book page to pay tribute and already there have been an overwhelming 10,000 + people pledging their support to his family and colleagues. I hope this support continues beyond the hype of the news. So many families will be emotionally and financially suffering for months to come. The area was already hard hit by the recession and they will need massive help to recover from this.
Currently, engineers and military experts continue to monitor the county's 1,800 bridges which are in danger of collapse. Gordon Brown has pledged a million pounds to help with the clear up, I'm not so sure how much difference that will make to the 50-100 million pounds of damage. About twenty boats on Lake Windermere have sunk due to the floods and holiday homes near the lake have been evacuated. A recovery company is meant to be coming today to raise the boats, but it is still raining.
Thirteen primary schools and five secondary schools will be closed today, with the majority hoping to reopen on Tuesday. Our local high school, Ulverston Victoria has been used as a refuge centre for people with no where to stay. About 60 people were still sheltering in the two main reception centres. Local people are offering temporary accommodation to those affected by the floods. If you would like to be added to this list - please send your name and contact details including phone numbers - and a brief summary of what you can offer, to Julian at Visit Cumbria: julian@visitcumbria.com Tel 07747 146816. Local tradespeople offering help with flood damage clearance and repairs are also invited to send contact details and a brief summary of what they can offer and can have a free listing on Visit Cumbria.
Another downpour is expected in the coming days, with strong winds tomorrow night. The Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund, set up by the Cumbria Community Foundation reached £145,000 so far, but so much more is needed. If you would like to help, you can donate through the Cumbria Foundation. http://www.cumbriafoundation.org who have a Give Now button on their site.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
eFundraising Offers You Help with an Experienced Fundraising Consultant
eFundraising offer a variety of fundraising kits for you to choose from to raise money for your non-profit organisation. They are a Canadian company who have created a variety of solutions for third sectors to raise money.
They offer personal consultation and up to 90% of the profit and give you a choice of proven fundraising programmes. Their online store has a variety of products at competitive prices, including chocolates, scratch cards, magazines, cookie dough and lots more. Once you have requested a free information kit, you are given an opportunity to discuss this with an experienced fundraising consultant. They like to help you make sure that you are choosing the right programme for your charity, school, support group or other not for profit organisation. This is based on your financial needs, your group type, your past fundraising experience, the expected participation rate and the motivation level of your group, as well as your geographic location.
If you are interested, just browse through the site and check out the selection of programmes, select a kit and then you can call them if you like to discuss. Once you have run your campaign, which should last about 2 weeks, you can place your order online or on the phone.
Obviously the more successful you are, the more successful they are so it is in your interest for them to help you.
Dutch Mill Bulbs are another company who might interest you. They offer a wide variety of spring bulbs, an ideal gift for keen gardeners. This would lend itself well to a heritage or development trust.
There are lots of companies out there offering this kind of service. Try and pick one that you think offers the best range of products for your organisation. Have fun and good luck!
They offer personal consultation and up to 90% of the profit and give you a choice of proven fundraising programmes. Their online store has a variety of products at competitive prices, including chocolates, scratch cards, magazines, cookie dough and lots more. Once you have requested a free information kit, you are given an opportunity to discuss this with an experienced fundraising consultant. They like to help you make sure that you are choosing the right programme for your charity, school, support group or other not for profit organisation. This is based on your financial needs, your group type, your past fundraising experience, the expected participation rate and the motivation level of your group, as well as your geographic location.
If you are interested, just browse through the site and check out the selection of programmes, select a kit and then you can call them if you like to discuss. Once you have run your campaign, which should last about 2 weeks, you can place your order online or on the phone.
Obviously the more successful you are, the more successful they are so it is in your interest for them to help you.
Dutch Mill Bulbs are another company who might interest you. They offer a wide variety of spring bulbs, an ideal gift for keen gardeners. This would lend itself well to a heritage or development trust.
There are lots of companies out there offering this kind of service. Try and pick one that you think offers the best range of products for your organisation. Have fun and good luck!
Saturday, 14 November 2009
Joint Venture Partnerships
Joint venture partnerships are becoming more and more popular and are offering both businesses and charities a bail out solution. Many main stream businesses are approaching charities to work together. It gives the charities a financial solution and a way to raise money with little effort and it gives the company a unique selling point. It also means that the charity will be endorsing the company to its members.
The consumer wins too, because he or she gets to support a charity and buy something at the same time as opposed to making a straight donation.
Businesses are jumping on this bandwagon too, and recognising that if they are seen to be supporting a charity, they will get corporate social responsibility points. A company that is advertising the fact that it is supporting a charity is advertising itself as a caring company: Subtext, buy from us we care about such and such and we are doing well enough to give to charity.
So Printing Direct offer a collection of Corporate Charity Christmas Cards. You can choose from over forty UK based domestic and international charities to support when ordering your cards. Printing Direct then have the advantage over other printing companies who don't team up with a charity, the business advertises itself and the charity wins as well. This isn't news, but what is new is how easy it is to do this online. You can have them personalised, personalised inside with your company details. The logo and description of your selected charity will also appear on the facing page inside your card.
Charities could take the initiative themselves, they could a potential joint venture partner and have cards made up and then ask their members to place an order with a company.
Combined Charities Christmas Shops 1971 - 2008 is an amazing company if you are thinking of doing this.
Combined Charities began in 1971, with 12 participating charities. It has now grown to 5 times that. The internet venture seemed a logical extension of what they were already doing and allowed them to provide the service to charities with no local volunteer effort to support a position in the shops.
But get this:
1] Charities, whether in their shops or on their web-site, get 100% of their sales.
2] No-one working for Combined Charities is paid.
Get in touch if you are looking to produce cards, check out the site knowing that charities get 100% returned to them.
How lovely to know that such people still exist.
The consumer wins too, because he or she gets to support a charity and buy something at the same time as opposed to making a straight donation.
Businesses are jumping on this bandwagon too, and recognising that if they are seen to be supporting a charity, they will get corporate social responsibility points. A company that is advertising the fact that it is supporting a charity is advertising itself as a caring company: Subtext, buy from us we care about such and such and we are doing well enough to give to charity.
So Printing Direct offer a collection of Corporate Charity Christmas Cards. You can choose from over forty UK based domestic and international charities to support when ordering your cards. Printing Direct then have the advantage over other printing companies who don't team up with a charity, the business advertises itself and the charity wins as well. This isn't news, but what is new is how easy it is to do this online. You can have them personalised, personalised inside with your company details. The logo and description of your selected charity will also appear on the facing page inside your card.
Charities could take the initiative themselves, they could a potential joint venture partner and have cards made up and then ask their members to place an order with a company.
Combined Charities Christmas Shops 1971 - 2008 is an amazing company if you are thinking of doing this.
Combined Charities began in 1971, with 12 participating charities. It has now grown to 5 times that. The internet venture seemed a logical extension of what they were already doing and allowed them to provide the service to charities with no local volunteer effort to support a position in the shops.
But get this:
1] Charities, whether in their shops or on their web-site, get 100% of their sales.
2] No-one working for Combined Charities is paid.
Get in touch if you are looking to produce cards, check out the site knowing that charities get 100% returned to them.
How lovely to know that such people still exist.
Friday, 13 November 2009
Use the X Factor to Propel your donations
X Factor Charity Single for Great Ormond Street: Watch Sunday
This is a superb bit of fundraising that will inspire people to give to such a worthy cause. Online, immediate and easy. See how it is done?
Ok, so you don't have access to X Factor, but you could partner with others? This is the way forward. If you are doing something worthwhile, people will back you and you don't have to fit in to funders' criteria, you can take it to the public vote...dead lock, go for it! The following text is taken from the below address where you can make donations.
http://www.inentertainment.co.uk/20091112/x-factor-charity-single-for-great-ormond-street-watch-sunday/
As you all know, it’s the “X Factor” live results show on Sunday nights and every week, the finalists perform a group song to open the show. And this Sunday, is going to be a very special performance for the “X Factor” finalists.
According to itv.com, all of this year’s finalists will be reunited this Sunday, for an exclusive first performance of their Great Ormond Street Hospital charity single, which this year is Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone.”
Over the past few weeks, all twelve finalists have been busy working together to record the new single, which will be available to download on the Sunday, and available to buy in the shops from the Monday 16th November.
The moment has almost arrived now, for the 12 finalists to unveil their new charity single and it appears that they couldn’t be more excited. Jamie Archer said that they all feel honoured, to be part of such a great cause.
Rachel Adedeji said that they hope it gets to number one. And we hope that it goes to No.1 as well, as a percentage of the proceeds from every single downloaded and every CD purchased, goes to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
And if you want to know more information about Great Ormond Street Hospital and the amazing work that it does, then you can by visiting www.gosh.org/x-factor/.
This is a superb bit of fundraising that will inspire people to give to such a worthy cause. Online, immediate and easy. See how it is done?
Ok, so you don't have access to X Factor, but you could partner with others? This is the way forward. If you are doing something worthwhile, people will back you and you don't have to fit in to funders' criteria, you can take it to the public vote...dead lock, go for it! The following text is taken from the below address where you can make donations.
http://www.inentertainment.co.uk/20091112/x-factor-charity-single-for-great-ormond-street-watch-sunday/
As you all know, it’s the “X Factor” live results show on Sunday nights and every week, the finalists perform a group song to open the show. And this Sunday, is going to be a very special performance for the “X Factor” finalists.
According to itv.com, all of this year’s finalists will be reunited this Sunday, for an exclusive first performance of their Great Ormond Street Hospital charity single, which this year is Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone.”
Over the past few weeks, all twelve finalists have been busy working together to record the new single, which will be available to download on the Sunday, and available to buy in the shops from the Monday 16th November.
The moment has almost arrived now, for the 12 finalists to unveil their new charity single and it appears that they couldn’t be more excited. Jamie Archer said that they all feel honoured, to be part of such a great cause.
Rachel Adedeji said that they hope it gets to number one. And we hope that it goes to No.1 as well, as a percentage of the proceeds from every single downloaded and every CD purchased, goes to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
And if you want to know more information about Great Ormond Street Hospital and the amazing work that it does, then you can by visiting www.gosh.org/x-factor/.
6 Weeks to Christmas Have you Got a Campaign?
Ok, so we are on the run up to Christmas and I thought I would feature different charities and third sector organisations who are running interesting, creative and successful fundraising strategies online. It will give you some ideas and also make you think about what else you could be doing all year round.
Today's featured charity is Childline who have teamed with Ichameleon. The following text is from their website:
Last year's ChildLine appeal website, designed and built by Ichameleon, exceeded all expectations in raising over 10 times the expected fundraising target. This allowed ChildLine to answer an additional 157,000 calls from children in need. This year ChildLine has again asked Ichameleon to spearhead the Christmas fundraising campaign with a site designed to appeal to the child in everyone.
Packed with fun features, activities and stunning images, this year's site is a one-stop-shop for anyone wanting to find ways to support the charity. The site cleverly integrates with payment gateways and third party applications to make the whole process of giving and supporting easy.
Highlights include:
Order a personalised letter from Santa
Buy cards and gifts online
Choose which Reindeer heads Santa's sleigh
Track Santa from space via satellite
Ichameleon is delighted to be partnering with ChildLine again on this exciting project and we are confident that this year's site will capture supporters' imagination and deliver a fantastic return to help even more children this Christmas!
I think this is brilliant and I am going to be looking out for this one. The genius of it is that it is giving people something exciting but without it having to be manned. That's the idea, automate as much as you can.
Today's featured charity is Childline who have teamed with Ichameleon. The following text is from their website:
Last year's ChildLine appeal website, designed and built by Ichameleon, exceeded all expectations in raising over 10 times the expected fundraising target. This allowed ChildLine to answer an additional 157,000 calls from children in need. This year ChildLine has again asked Ichameleon to spearhead the Christmas fundraising campaign with a site designed to appeal to the child in everyone.
Packed with fun features, activities and stunning images, this year's site is a one-stop-shop for anyone wanting to find ways to support the charity. The site cleverly integrates with payment gateways and third party applications to make the whole process of giving and supporting easy.
Highlights include:
Order a personalised letter from Santa
Buy cards and gifts online
Choose which Reindeer heads Santa's sleigh
Track Santa from space via satellite
Ichameleon is delighted to be partnering with ChildLine again on this exciting project and we are confident that this year's site will capture supporters' imagination and deliver a fantastic return to help even more children this Christmas!
I think this is brilliant and I am going to be looking out for this one. The genius of it is that it is giving people something exciting but without it having to be manned. That's the idea, automate as much as you can.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Think Before You Tweet!
Tweet Quiz: What kind of poster are you?
What started out as social media is in danger of becoming very anti-social I think. I have met some really great people who have become proper friends, lots of people who have inspired or taught me and others who I delete from my profile pretty quickly. I have been really fascinated by the ways that some people communicate on social media platforms. I wonder if they behave like that in real life or if they just forget that they are making contact with a real person? Well, even that's debatable some people's tweets are so automated that they just have conversations with other autoresponders!
I have noticed 7 different types of social network posters:
Autoposters
These are the ones who use a completely autogenerated system of following, unfollowing and responding. They can grow thier twitter accounts without ever going near twitter and even send out tweets. Not very social, and it is fairly obvious to the tweetee. It will be interesting to see whether the long term success of having artificially inflated numbers of followers does in fact have any impact on the long-term success of businesses or in fact Twitter. Surely if this trend continues Twitter will lose its value once it reaches a critical mass.
Funnyposters
I love these! If they are really funny. I have a strange sense of humour, so what I think is funny may not appeal to anyone else, but I do love it when someone makes me laugh outloud. One that I read recently was "I hate peeing on electric fences." It was a welcome reprieve from the many aggressive posts that I was bombarded with that day.
Aggressiveposters
These are the really loud and irritating ones who scream at you as soon as you friend them up or follow them. They scream buy my product, you are crazy not to, one time only...blah blah blah. They know nothing about you and they keep bombarding you with hard sales, mostly for snake oil calibre products. MLM, matrix, health products, weight loss solutions and get rich quick scams. It is a kind of spam and I don't like it. Delete. Unfollow, get out of my face.
Helpfulposters
These guys are cool. They give you information, ideas and links to articles that teach us something useful. They have knowledge or insights to a subject and they share the information. They save you time and introduce you to new concepts. They are there for the good of the online community and are confident enough about themselves not to have to scream at you the second you meet. They generally have a good clean online presence and conduct their business with respect, kindness and a helpful spirit. I like dealing with them and would be more likely to build a relationship with them and eventually buy from them.
Holyposters
Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and it is great to share them....when you have permission or invitation to do so.
Helps us learn. . .however, don't knock me over the head with your beliefs. I have my own thank you very much. Some people use social network platforms like a podium to inflict the world with their (often rigid and dogmatic) doctrine. Case in point is the story about Carrie Prejean who is dominating Twitter conversations because she has upset so many people with her religious fanatacism.
Friendlyposters
These are people who are personable and warm and give something of themselves. Done skillfully these guys are the ones who really make social contact with others and are likely to become friends. However, done clumsily or in an over familiar way, they can be a real turn off. It is always great to get behind the scenes and find out people's stories, and feel as though we are getting to know them a bit. When we get insights into their lifestyle, habbits, likes and dislikes we begin to get a sense of the person behind the business. We are social creatures, we make decisions based on what we think of someone we might enter into a transaction with.
Inspiringposters
These guys are wonderful. I love clicking on some profiles of people who really walk their talk and this wonderful warm feeling oozes from between thier wise words. I think it is really obvious when you visit their sites that they are the genuine article. They add value to the day, make the world a better place and talk about things that really matter and hold meaning. They remind us to be better people.
What kind of posts do you leave and what does this say about you as a person? let's not fill the internet up with such rubbish and be mindful of our words, they are your shop window.
What started out as social media is in danger of becoming very anti-social I think. I have met some really great people who have become proper friends, lots of people who have inspired or taught me and others who I delete from my profile pretty quickly. I have been really fascinated by the ways that some people communicate on social media platforms. I wonder if they behave like that in real life or if they just forget that they are making contact with a real person? Well, even that's debatable some people's tweets are so automated that they just have conversations with other autoresponders!
I have noticed 7 different types of social network posters:
Autoposters
These are the ones who use a completely autogenerated system of following, unfollowing and responding. They can grow thier twitter accounts without ever going near twitter and even send out tweets. Not very social, and it is fairly obvious to the tweetee. It will be interesting to see whether the long term success of having artificially inflated numbers of followers does in fact have any impact on the long-term success of businesses or in fact Twitter. Surely if this trend continues Twitter will lose its value once it reaches a critical mass.
Funnyposters
I love these! If they are really funny. I have a strange sense of humour, so what I think is funny may not appeal to anyone else, but I do love it when someone makes me laugh outloud. One that I read recently was "I hate peeing on electric fences." It was a welcome reprieve from the many aggressive posts that I was bombarded with that day.
Aggressiveposters
These are the really loud and irritating ones who scream at you as soon as you friend them up or follow them. They scream buy my product, you are crazy not to, one time only...blah blah blah. They know nothing about you and they keep bombarding you with hard sales, mostly for snake oil calibre products. MLM, matrix, health products, weight loss solutions and get rich quick scams. It is a kind of spam and I don't like it. Delete. Unfollow, get out of my face.
Helpfulposters
These guys are cool. They give you information, ideas and links to articles that teach us something useful. They have knowledge or insights to a subject and they share the information. They save you time and introduce you to new concepts. They are there for the good of the online community and are confident enough about themselves not to have to scream at you the second you meet. They generally have a good clean online presence and conduct their business with respect, kindness and a helpful spirit. I like dealing with them and would be more likely to build a relationship with them and eventually buy from them.
Holyposters
Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and it is great to share them....when you have permission or invitation to do so.
Helps us learn. . .however, don't knock me over the head with your beliefs. I have my own thank you very much. Some people use social network platforms like a podium to inflict the world with their (often rigid and dogmatic) doctrine. Case in point is the story about Carrie Prejean who is dominating Twitter conversations because she has upset so many people with her religious fanatacism.
Friendlyposters
These are people who are personable and warm and give something of themselves. Done skillfully these guys are the ones who really make social contact with others and are likely to become friends. However, done clumsily or in an over familiar way, they can be a real turn off. It is always great to get behind the scenes and find out people's stories, and feel as though we are getting to know them a bit. When we get insights into their lifestyle, habbits, likes and dislikes we begin to get a sense of the person behind the business. We are social creatures, we make decisions based on what we think of someone we might enter into a transaction with.
Inspiringposters
These guys are wonderful. I love clicking on some profiles of people who really walk their talk and this wonderful warm feeling oozes from between thier wise words. I think it is really obvious when you visit their sites that they are the genuine article. They add value to the day, make the world a better place and talk about things that really matter and hold meaning. They remind us to be better people.
What kind of posts do you leave and what does this say about you as a person? let's not fill the internet up with such rubbish and be mindful of our words, they are your shop window.
Monday, 9 November 2009
Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur!
I have been single parenting now for about 10 years and I want to share some of the highs and lows with you. My family are the most important thing in my life, and I am a real home bird. I would also consider myself very ambitious and a career woman, so for many years I have been pulled in lots of directions trying to get the best of both worlds. My career has centered around empowering others and I have given it my everything, and sometimes there was not much of me left at the end of the day. I have had jobs, but I have also run my own businesses, basically I did what it took to live a middle class life style and make sure the kids could do all their lessons, and opportunities. In short I was exhausted.
The lone parenting bit has been good, I feel complete and happy with myself and my children. I have learned how to be strong, resilient and independent. I am resourceful and spirited and I think my kids have become stronger for it too. I enjoy really close and quality relationships with all my children who I think are also independent, fun, free-thinking individuals. I am really proud of all of them. I have mostly managed to be there after school and in school holidays, although it has meant some serious juggling acts over the years. I tried different home businesses to earn extra income but it took me a while to find the right one that would give me career satisfaction, time at home with the kids and substantially more than just extra income. No more juggling acts!
The answer for me has involved some retraining and learning all about internet marketing. It is a big complex industry with many facets and opportunities. I trained with a company who offer a comprehensive program, personal coaching and a ready made network. This means that I work for myself (hooray) but never by myself and I have much more time with my children. It has given me unlimited earning potential and as many choices as I give myself. The best thing is the leverage it offers, freeing up time and energy.
Internet marketing is a really great option for parents who want to work from home or people like airforce Moms who move around a lot and would otherwise have discontinuity in their careers. I really like the offline side of it too, I have met some really wonderful people online who have now become offline friends and colleagues. My dream is to help lots and lots of single parents end their financial and energy drain struggles and create the kind of income that will allow them to enjoy their family growing up. I know how exhausting single parenting can be, and if you are looking for a way of changing your financial situation, I would be very happy to chat with you about internet marketing as an option. I am not promising that it will make you a millionaire, although it is certainly possible, but many people replace their yearly income monthly. It's not for everyone, but it could just be the answer you are looking for.
The lone parenting bit has been good, I feel complete and happy with myself and my children. I have learned how to be strong, resilient and independent. I am resourceful and spirited and I think my kids have become stronger for it too. I enjoy really close and quality relationships with all my children who I think are also independent, fun, free-thinking individuals. I am really proud of all of them. I have mostly managed to be there after school and in school holidays, although it has meant some serious juggling acts over the years. I tried different home businesses to earn extra income but it took me a while to find the right one that would give me career satisfaction, time at home with the kids and substantially more than just extra income. No more juggling acts!
The answer for me has involved some retraining and learning all about internet marketing. It is a big complex industry with many facets and opportunities. I trained with a company who offer a comprehensive program, personal coaching and a ready made network. This means that I work for myself (hooray) but never by myself and I have much more time with my children. It has given me unlimited earning potential and as many choices as I give myself. The best thing is the leverage it offers, freeing up time and energy.
Internet marketing is a really great option for parents who want to work from home or people like airforce Moms who move around a lot and would otherwise have discontinuity in their careers. I really like the offline side of it too, I have met some really wonderful people online who have now become offline friends and colleagues. My dream is to help lots and lots of single parents end their financial and energy drain struggles and create the kind of income that will allow them to enjoy their family growing up. I know how exhausting single parenting can be, and if you are looking for a way of changing your financial situation, I would be very happy to chat with you about internet marketing as an option. I am not promising that it will make you a millionaire, although it is certainly possible, but many people replace their yearly income monthly. It's not for everyone, but it could just be the answer you are looking for.
Friday, 6 November 2009
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Third Sector Rant
Unite Trade Union has warned against the growing trend for social enterprises to deliver health care that has up until now been delivered by NHS. The Trade Union has launched a campaign against the proposal of a newly launched social enterprise in Kent and has also called for a ballot of staff in a Hull NHS primary care trust about an SE called City Health Care Partnership. Unite believes that the creation of social enterprises could break up the health service and increase existing costs.
My question is why are these enterprises being set up in the first place? I believe that the creation of more social enterprises means the creation of many more choices that are not available on the NHS. I also think that they will be able to provide a better and more cost effective service in many cases. Lastly, they will be able to deliver a very personal and individualised care package. I know that this does happen in some areas of NHS care, but it is not always possible. My neighbour is a nurse, and I know how stretched she is, often she is expected to be doing much more than she has time for. I used to work as a nurse and I felt frustrated by the way that money was spent and not spent. For instance, nutrition should be of primary concern for people who are going through a healing process, but the budget meals remain a false economy in many hospitals. In contrast, there were many uneccesary medicines distributed to patients as a matter of routine, which then created side effects that eventually cost more money.
Enough ranting about that, the point is that I believe that if the proper processes are in place, that third sector organisations are well placed to deliver the kind of quality that we expect in the private sector but with the accessibility of the public sector. They will be able to deliver care based on sound research and common sense and be able to make choices based on what is needed locally. Win Win. Unite are worried that the inevitable collapse of social enterprises will mean that our health care will then be farmed out to the private sector.
Well, (rant continues), then support the social enterprises financially and give them good business guidance to help them become sustainable. Too much money gets wasted arguing about how the money will be distributed by the fundholders on big fat salaries. By the time it dribbles down to the charities and social enterprises it is hardly surprising that they have to work so hard to be sustainable.
Unite also argue that this move towards social enterprises will lead to defragmentation of the services. I argue that in this information age, it is so easily remedied and in fact stacking websites could mean a much easier access to all of the services available and more unity in the health care sector.
These days, social enterprises are highly accountable and will only get funding if the correct policies and procedures are in place and are adhered to. I suspect they come under even more scrutiny than the public sector at times but the difference is that they have more scope to be able to deliver context specific services.
Under Department of Health policy, all primary care trusts are becoming commissioners rather than providers of services and have the choice of becoming foundations, trusts or social enterprises. change is happening whether we like it or not. I would prefer to see the third sector take a leading role in our health care service and create a system of health promotion rather than illness fixing.
Rant over, this is a subject close to my heart and I really believe that the rise of the social enterprise could have a massive effect on the health and well being and our economy of our country, if it is supported and funded properly.
My question is why are these enterprises being set up in the first place? I believe that the creation of more social enterprises means the creation of many more choices that are not available on the NHS. I also think that they will be able to provide a better and more cost effective service in many cases. Lastly, they will be able to deliver a very personal and individualised care package. I know that this does happen in some areas of NHS care, but it is not always possible. My neighbour is a nurse, and I know how stretched she is, often she is expected to be doing much more than she has time for. I used to work as a nurse and I felt frustrated by the way that money was spent and not spent. For instance, nutrition should be of primary concern for people who are going through a healing process, but the budget meals remain a false economy in many hospitals. In contrast, there were many uneccesary medicines distributed to patients as a matter of routine, which then created side effects that eventually cost more money.
Enough ranting about that, the point is that I believe that if the proper processes are in place, that third sector organisations are well placed to deliver the kind of quality that we expect in the private sector but with the accessibility of the public sector. They will be able to deliver care based on sound research and common sense and be able to make choices based on what is needed locally. Win Win. Unite are worried that the inevitable collapse of social enterprises will mean that our health care will then be farmed out to the private sector.
Well, (rant continues), then support the social enterprises financially and give them good business guidance to help them become sustainable. Too much money gets wasted arguing about how the money will be distributed by the fundholders on big fat salaries. By the time it dribbles down to the charities and social enterprises it is hardly surprising that they have to work so hard to be sustainable.
Unite also argue that this move towards social enterprises will lead to defragmentation of the services. I argue that in this information age, it is so easily remedied and in fact stacking websites could mean a much easier access to all of the services available and more unity in the health care sector.
These days, social enterprises are highly accountable and will only get funding if the correct policies and procedures are in place and are adhered to. I suspect they come under even more scrutiny than the public sector at times but the difference is that they have more scope to be able to deliver context specific services.
Under Department of Health policy, all primary care trusts are becoming commissioners rather than providers of services and have the choice of becoming foundations, trusts or social enterprises. change is happening whether we like it or not. I would prefer to see the third sector take a leading role in our health care service and create a system of health promotion rather than illness fixing.
Rant over, this is a subject close to my heart and I really believe that the rise of the social enterprise could have a massive effect on the health and well being and our economy of our country, if it is supported and funded properly.
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Spirituality and Social Conscience
I have been networking on Facebook for a little while now and have acquired many new American Friends who are not afraid of talking about their spirtual beliefs in the same breath as their business promotion. This is much less likely to happen on this side of the pond, but something is changing. No longer is cash king and I often hear people refering to the 'tripple bottom line' (people, planet and profit) and in this country, we an influx of third sector organisations. I am interested in looking beyond the ppp model and exploring the s- spirituality in charities and social enterprises, and specifically in entrepreneurship.
What is spirituality? Well, there is no academic or theological consensus about what spirituality is, but what I am referring to is personal values and qualities like honesty, compassion, trust, integrity, responsibility, personal awareness, awareness of something higher beyond the self, and social awareness. There is some kind of communication with the higher power like prayer or meditation and this informs behaviour with self, others and the environment. To me it is generic and inclusive and nothing to do with a specific religion.
What does spirituality have to do with entrepreneurship? I guess for me, entrepreneurs are the movers and shakers, the shapers and the trend setters. They have direct and indirect effects on the global economy, buying patterns and even thinking patterns, especially in this instant information age.
We see this happen in big business, where people are inspired by entrepreneurial giants to make millions by following their spiritual success formula. Take The Secret for instance. This was a group of highly successful entrepreneurs who got together to tell the world about how their spiritual beliefs were directly responsible for their success. This created an exponential growth of mastermind groups, internet marketing of Secret products, Law of Attraction paraphanalia, coaching courses, new books, ebooks and it changed the way that lots of people approached business.
Then we see people like Jim Rohn, who is a popular American motivational and business coach who has been giving seminars to large companies and indivuals for more than 40 years. He is a many times published author of books about spirituality, success, leadership, business skills, self development, dealing with customers, and motivation. He works with people to help them improve self-confidence, determination to succeed, mental attitude and ambition. Louise Hay has also been connecting spirituality with business and success for many years and has never changed her bottom line, she teaches that if we love ourselves and give to others, everything else will fall into place. Her own success was built on these principles and she grew in wealth and popularity when she began her work with AIDS victims in the 80s, teaching them to love and accept themselves.
For the past few years, I have been actively seeking out creative and social entrepreneurs and have been meeting with them to find out exactly how they do success and what drives them to be successful. I have noticed that some entrepreneurs have made millions lost and regained, some come into it in later life and some people start at about age 5 or 6 and never stop. I am deeply curious about the links between spirituality, mindset and success and continue on my journey of exploration. I am watching the effects of the internet, corporate downsizing, the move towards working from home and the emergence of like-minded individuals forming remote companies. It is an extremely interesting time for business and it could be said that the recession was needed to break down the old structures and create a big enough discomfort zone for new structures to emerge.
I wonder if there are increasing numbers of people who are identifying as spiritual-social entrepreneurs and this is a growing movement or whether the internet is just allowing us to find each other? Maybe we are all just getting a little braver about talking about it, or maybe the effects of people like Jim Rohn and Louise Hay and Deepak Chopra have reached a critical mass? Are we getting wiser to the unethical entrepreneurs who would prey on vulnerable individuals and can we prevent the human race re-creating the old model of world economics? Are there enough 'conscious' entrepreneurs to make fundamental changes to the way that we think about wealth creation and distribution?
Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, was one of my personal heroes for lots of reasons. She built a company based on strong ethical principles and she made a moral decision to employ the unemployable and put 25 per cent of the net profits back into charitable work. She was determined to keep the soul of the company alive. In today's economic climate people are having to dig deep, seriously reflect on and consider their current direction and values and assess whether their game plan is really working for them. It is a time of challenge and opportunity. In the words of Kahil Gibran, The Prophet, “Work is love made visible.”
How do you approach success?
What is spirituality? Well, there is no academic or theological consensus about what spirituality is, but what I am referring to is personal values and qualities like honesty, compassion, trust, integrity, responsibility, personal awareness, awareness of something higher beyond the self, and social awareness. There is some kind of communication with the higher power like prayer or meditation and this informs behaviour with self, others and the environment. To me it is generic and inclusive and nothing to do with a specific religion.
What does spirituality have to do with entrepreneurship? I guess for me, entrepreneurs are the movers and shakers, the shapers and the trend setters. They have direct and indirect effects on the global economy, buying patterns and even thinking patterns, especially in this instant information age.
We see this happen in big business, where people are inspired by entrepreneurial giants to make millions by following their spiritual success formula. Take The Secret for instance. This was a group of highly successful entrepreneurs who got together to tell the world about how their spiritual beliefs were directly responsible for their success. This created an exponential growth of mastermind groups, internet marketing of Secret products, Law of Attraction paraphanalia, coaching courses, new books, ebooks and it changed the way that lots of people approached business.
Then we see people like Jim Rohn, who is a popular American motivational and business coach who has been giving seminars to large companies and indivuals for more than 40 years. He is a many times published author of books about spirituality, success, leadership, business skills, self development, dealing with customers, and motivation. He works with people to help them improve self-confidence, determination to succeed, mental attitude and ambition. Louise Hay has also been connecting spirituality with business and success for many years and has never changed her bottom line, she teaches that if we love ourselves and give to others, everything else will fall into place. Her own success was built on these principles and she grew in wealth and popularity when she began her work with AIDS victims in the 80s, teaching them to love and accept themselves.
For the past few years, I have been actively seeking out creative and social entrepreneurs and have been meeting with them to find out exactly how they do success and what drives them to be successful. I have noticed that some entrepreneurs have made millions lost and regained, some come into it in later life and some people start at about age 5 or 6 and never stop. I am deeply curious about the links between spirituality, mindset and success and continue on my journey of exploration. I am watching the effects of the internet, corporate downsizing, the move towards working from home and the emergence of like-minded individuals forming remote companies. It is an extremely interesting time for business and it could be said that the recession was needed to break down the old structures and create a big enough discomfort zone for new structures to emerge.
I wonder if there are increasing numbers of people who are identifying as spiritual-social entrepreneurs and this is a growing movement or whether the internet is just allowing us to find each other? Maybe we are all just getting a little braver about talking about it, or maybe the effects of people like Jim Rohn and Louise Hay and Deepak Chopra have reached a critical mass? Are we getting wiser to the unethical entrepreneurs who would prey on vulnerable individuals and can we prevent the human race re-creating the old model of world economics? Are there enough 'conscious' entrepreneurs to make fundamental changes to the way that we think about wealth creation and distribution?
Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, was one of my personal heroes for lots of reasons. She built a company based on strong ethical principles and she made a moral decision to employ the unemployable and put 25 per cent of the net profits back into charitable work. She was determined to keep the soul of the company alive. In today's economic climate people are having to dig deep, seriously reflect on and consider their current direction and values and assess whether their game plan is really working for them. It is a time of challenge and opportunity. In the words of Kahil Gibran, The Prophet, “Work is love made visible.”
How do you approach success?
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