The Power of Caring

I work for a wonderful company in Michigan called ForeSee Results (www.ForeSeeResults.com). As one of the first employees, my first day on the job occurred two weeks after September 11, 2001. We now have over 130 employees and growing - even in that economy and even in today's economy....even in Michigan.

You may not have heard of us yet, but you will. Why? Because most everyone who works here cares. We care if our customers are upset or need something. We care if our fellow coworker is upset or needs something. And when you care enough, you can do anything.

The company measures customer satisfaction of websites. If you go to BestBuy.com or IRS.gov, you'll probably see ForeSee Results gathering the voice of the "little people" - the visitors to those websites who would not otherwise have a voice in how the site is run. We not only help the managers of those websites make more intelligent business decisions based directly on people who visit those sites, but we help the actual people visiting those sites - you and me. And we care when you complete the survey (how else could we collect this feedback). We care about what works for you on the site, and what doesn't. And we help your voice to be heard.

For managers of those sites, we help to differentiate between the voices that are loud merely because they're angry, and what's loud because it's important.

My job is to provide credible, accurate, and reliable voice-of-visitor feedback to the people in charge of these websites in a way that allows them to confidently prioritize web changes (based on the American Customer Satisfaction Index - www.theacsi.org).

I don't get paid to write this, and I'm certainly not trying to sell anything. It's my voice in Michigan stating that there are companies and people here who care deeply about helping others and growing together.

What Really Matters?

None of us want individually what we are doing collectively.

How different would we be if the news portrayed good Samaritans as often as it portrays murderers? How different would we feel if television supported each of us for who we are - encouraging us to connect to each other, to support each other, to love each other?

What can our society be like if we stop listening to the absolute garbage the media pawns off as "news" and start understanding that the only true voice we should listen to is our own heart. Look around. Be kind. Love yourself, and be supportive of your hopes and dreams. Then, share that with those around you.

In good times and In bad...........

Where is your faith? I don't mean "religion", I mean Faith - faith in ourselves, faith in our neighbors, faith in our co-workers.

Of course we know the economy is in a recession. It's probably a depression, but that will take another 10 months to figure out.

We don't need to go shopping. We need to be giving. Giving of ourselves, our canned goods, our clothing we've long since forgotten we owned. Knowing that we're making a difference. But how do we do this?

1. Shut off the Television. Remove yourself from the local news - it's just too depressing right now, and, more importantly, it's not telling the full story.

2. Give thanks. Look around you, and be thankful for your life....if you can't feel the thanks in your heart, look at the birds, your cat or dog, or the sky. Watch the sunset and the sunrise. Look up at the stars. Know we're going through this for a reason.

3. Listen to the reason. WHAT do we have to learn from the state of the economy? If America were a person, what would she be saying to us? Are we listening?

4. Find your strengths. Our ancestors (my grandparents) looked to the Great Depression as their call to courage. To band together, find their creativity (such as making clothes, stretching a bag of flour to feed the family for a months, etc), and succeed.

They had faith. This is not the end. Not yet. And we need to live every moment with love in our hearts and the knowledge that we will be ok.

Charity versus Giving

I've started thinking more aboutgiving - the at of sharing resources and knowledge to others who need it. Creating groups that build connection. For example, connecting nonprofit donation recipients with the donors of that money.

Connecting people who need jobs with those who have jobs to give (pink-slip parties)

Connecting website visitors with people who run website

Connecting Senior Citizens with technology to give them a voice in this world.

Connecting students with politicians to give them a voice in this world.

Think tanks maybe. But with more authentic connection??

Connecting

"How we speak defines who we are", or is it "who we are defines how we speak". In any case, if my company comes across as cold, uncaring, profit-hungry, that is the face potential customers see.

If, however, I want to come across as a friend - a friend who understands what you've been thru, your insecurities, and your strengths, then I have to speak your language. Yet so many businesses fail to recognize this somewhat obvious point.

If I want to market to the Non-Profit Industry, I do not go in there touting my recent presentation of "how to make $50 in 50 minutes" (completely fictitious presentation by the way). I have to put myself in the shoes of someone heading a Non-Profit Industry. What challenges are they facing? What keeps them up at night? And How can I help?

I will build all of my presentations around that answer.

Spending Smarter

Seth Godin said " If you're going across town, you're very specific: "188 Fifth Avenue, on the east side of the street please."

On the other hand, when you go on vacation, you tell people, "I'm going to Paris," not "we're going to 8 rue du Cherche-Midi." And if you're going even farther than that, you skip the city and country altogether and just say, "we're going to Africa.

Short version: If you want people to embrace your version of the future, talk about it like it's right around the corner, not on another planet."

SO, when we keep hearing the $700 Billion Dollar Bailout - that might as well be Mars. What does this mean to you and me? What should WE - the general public - be doing now to help lessen the hit we're taking in this market? The Answer: Spend Smarter. Make choices now about where you are putting your money - are you giving it to McDonald's to buy one meal or are you giving it to your local farmer to so you can feed your family for a few days?

Pay yourself first - this rule confused me when I was younger. I thought it meant I could pay myself first by purchasing a cool shirt I saw at Macy's. Then I realized that, when I do this, I am paying Macy's first. Follow the cash. Paying yourself first means putting the money in the bank - yes, the bank - and saving it for the smarter choices you will make when you do spend your hard-earned money.

Passion vs. Pragmatism

Do practical considerations block your passion? Should they? How do you know when you're being practical vs letting fear prevent you from your passion?