Saturday 24 January 2009

The Difference Makers Community

The following are some of my observations about who difference makers are and what they do.

Difference makers:
*put other people first
*never knowingly do anything that harms our planet
*show kindness at every opportunity
*speak up about issues affecting the welfare of people, our planet, and for peace
*have a cause beyond profit
*don’t wait for other people to take action
*serve without attachment to getting back
*put people and the planet before profits
*collaborate
*strive for a shared view being prepared to let go previously held view/s
*turn information into insight
*turn insight into inspiration and ideas
*perservere until ideas are successfully implemented (innovation)
*pick themselves up and dust themselves off when ideas don’t work or fail
*inspire others by example
*co-create workplace cultures that are empowering and often like great families
*give away a percentage of their income
*know how much is enough
*raise children who take personal responsibility
*volunteer to help others less fortunate than themselves
*see themselves as global citizens who know that what they do has huge effects locally, nationally, and internationally

If the above is you, then you may wish to join The Difference Makers Community which I formed on the 1st November last year. There is no fee for the online discussion forum membership. A second level of membership, Torchbearers, requires a one off fee of $275.

Torchbearer Members of The Difference Makers Community have unlimited access to a life-long learning vault where there are tools, templates, tips, techniques, podcasts, ebooks, and all kinds of resources, to help people make a difference. Torchbearer members also get access to my around the world Coffee Stop Schedule, meaning we can meet for coffee and chat about making a difference, and maybe take action together.

Further information here or download the PDF
here
You can either join online or simply send me an email asking to join and I will send you an invitation.

Be remarkable
Ian
International business speaker on why doing good is great for business
Founder The Difference Makers Community™

Wednesday 21 January 2009

From 'Yes we can' to Now We are

As a speaker I watched President Barak Obama's inauguration speech in awe and with tears in my eyes. As a fellow human being I was struck by his use of the word we. I felt in my heart that this is the beginning of a ‘now we are’ time like never before in history.

I am trusting that the 20th January 2009 is the day we will look back on as the day we really began to

make poverty history
provide clean water for every human being
stop people dying from preventable disease
make peace with one another regardless of our religious or political beliefs
collaborate to tackle climate change
build sustainable businesses
allow every human being the opportunity to have a home, earn a livelihood, receive an education and health care
free the world from violence

I am pessimistically optimistic!

Be remarkable
Ian
International business speaker on why doing good is great for business

Saturday 17 January 2009

New Years Resolutions often result in no change?

I have no resolutions for 2009 except a resolve to make changes in my life as soon as I become aware of the need to change. Lately as I have been working on some changes I have become aware I need to make, I have resurrected an exercise I used some time ago that had fallen of my radar.

You may find the exercise valuable.

On the left side of a sheet of paper write the heading 'Everything I am I wish I wasn't' and make a list underneath. On the right hand side write the heading 'Everything I am that I'm glad I am' and make a list underneath. You may find as I have that the list on the right is often opposite to the list on the left.

I am carrying my list with me. I have already made some changes and when I have made all the changes I am aware I need to make, it will be time for a new list!

Be remarkable
Ian
International business speaker on why doing good is great for business

Saturday 10 January 2009

Room to Read - builders of our new world

Over the recent holiday season I read several books as is my practice.

My favourite was John Wood’s 'Leaving Microsoft to change the world'. This is the inspirational story of how social enterprise ‘Room to Read’ came into being. It is a wonderful story about how one person has a dream, shares it, others join in, and transformation occurs.

Since its inception in 2000, Room to Read has established over 5,600 libraries in the developing world.

My already enduring passion for corporate social responsibility has been uplifted by John Wood and his team. They are builders of our new world. You can find out more about Room to Read here
I love their tag line "World Change Starts with Educated Children®"

Be remarkable
Ian
International business speaker on why doing good is good for business