Remarkability

Walking the Talk

2009-06-29T13:49:00.003+10:00

I spoke last week at the Referral Institute Conference in San Francisco. At lunch on the first day I sat with the founder of the organisation, the very famous Dr Ivan Misner. I have heard many things about this man and I was amazed and impressed by his humble persona and his commitment to walk his talk. He also founded the world's largest networking organisation called Business Network International, which is founded on the philosophy of "Givers Gain".

The first question Misner asked me over lunch was "How can I help you grow your business?" Many times I tried to turn the conversation to talk about him and each time he sent the focus right back to how he could assist me. I have to say he proved to be most helpful and is now a willing business ally who truly walks his talk.

Who do you serve? Serve others and you will serve yourself too. Givers truly gain.

Lindsay Adams

The CEO of the Future - Indra Nooyi

2009-06-22T08:51:00.002+10:00

On 12th May 2009 PepsiCo Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Indra Nooyi addressed The Economic Club of Washington. Her topic was The CEO of the Future.

Mrs. Nooyi explores
“performance with purpose”
why companies of the future have to think of what they are for as well as what they do
why companies of the future have to be guided by their obligation to society
thinking long term
understanding the way public and private sectors are coming together
thinking global and acting local
adaptability
bringing “an abundant dose of emotional intelligence to the job”

It is a profound address. I highly recommend it to you. You can download Mrs. Nooyi’s full address here.

Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business

5 steps to happiness

2009-05-27T14:21:00.001+10:00

1. Read any book that nurtures your soul. My favourite is Anthony de Mello’s “Awareness” and my second favourite is “Handbook for the Soul”, edited by Richard Carlson & Benjamin Shield, described as “a magnificent gathering of Warmth and Wisdom to nourish your soul”.

2. Choose to discover what you are passionate about, and then start to take the steps to pursue that passion. It takes courage to venture into new areas out of the comfort zone, but it’s highly unlikely that you are learning unless you do something uncomfortable.

3. Accept the fact that every time you achieve a goal, and enjoy the fruits of the achievement through ‘being happy about it’, the next thing that happens is that you set a new goal and the journey starts again! Yet most people choose only to be happy when their goals are achieved, so they are almost perpetually unhappy. Therefore, choose to be happy while pursuing your goals: enjoy the journey as well as the destination.

4. Practise your daily disciplines after you have written them out and displayed them where they are easily seen! Every act of discipline builds your self-esteem and self-confidence, key ingredients in the happiness equation. Some examples of disciplines are:
a. Exercise regime
b. Meditation
c. Affirmations
d. Eating regime.

5. Become aware that every experience in life has benefits & drawbacks: even if you win $10 million in Tattslotto, there will be drawbacks, such as
a. Family and friends who ask for, indeed even demand, that you help them
b. Need to learn how to protect your winnings, and increased fear of losing money
c. Increases need for taking security measures
d. Loss of friends who are left behind because you choose a new, more extravagant lifestyle.
Understanding the benefits and drawbacks helps you to always see your life as a balance, and that happiness is truly a choice: you can choose to be happy by focussing on the benefits of your experiences rather than the drawbacks. When you do this, you become incredibly grateful for the wonderful experience that is life on planet earth.

2009-04-30T11:35:00.002+10:00

First the Global Financial Crisis...and now Swine Flu. Now I understand the quote "Cursed is he/she who lives in interesting times".
The danger is that these events can distract us from the fundamentals. I just spoke to over 40 CEOs and HR managers in Singapore and said that the fundamentals of employee engagement havent changed - although the priorities have shifted.
Recent research (March 09) done by Gostick and Elton (The Carrot Principle guys) shows that the top three things that employees crave now are (1) an organisation that gives them an opportunity for growth and is concerned about their well-being (2) trust and (3) pride in the organisation they work for.
When you think of the images of CEOs of former blue-chip corporations being walked out of courtrooms in handcuffs, numbers (2) and (3) make a lot of sense.
Awareness of this means that smart organisations will bend over backwards to communicate to their staff that they 'get it'...and they will set in place processes that show they are serious.
Otherwise, when the recovery comes, you best staff could well be wrking for the competition.

‘The Art of Non-Conformity’

2009-04-30T09:54:00.000+10:00

One of the most interesting bloggers and builders of our new world is Chris Guillebeau.
Check out his ‘The Art of Non-Conformity’ site for many great and unconventional strategies for life, work and travel. If you have a special interest in conducting business from home and on the internet I also highly recommend you download Chris’ 279 days manifesto.

Be remarkable
Ian
Founder Differencemakers Community
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for busines

Hope from future leaders

2009-03-25T09:12:00.000+10:00

The lost generation video on YouTube makes very compelling viewing.  
I commend this 1 minute 44 seconds video to you. It renewed my trust that the future is in good hands. Watch it here

Be remarkable
Ian
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business

Which organisations are truly making a difference?

2009-03-14T12:28:00.001+10:00

Find out where the business world is headed, check out Fast Company’s top 50 most innovative companies The slideshare link makes interesting viewing.

What struck me was the number of companies who appear to be geniunely embracing doing good.

Contrast this Fast Company's list with Forbes latest top 100 so called best corporate citizens list here.

You may, like me, find the comments below the list more interesting than the list.

Be remarkable
Ian
Writer and International Business Speaker on how doing good is great for business

Are you waiting or creating?

2009-02-04T08:11:00.001+10:00

Everyday I meet people waiting: business waiting for government; government waiting for business; folk waiting for the economy to improve; people waiting to see whether President Obama can bring about change (he can’t on his own) People waiting ...

I also meet the “pessimistic optimists”, now that is a paradox.

The good news is I am also meeting people not waiting, rather they are getting on with with the job of building a new world.

Are you waiting or creating?

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

“I thought someone should do something. And then I realized I was someone.”
President John F. Kennedy

Moving from 'Yes we can' to Now we are

2009-01-21T08:49:00.000+10:00

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

New Years Resolutions often result in no change?

2008-12-31T10:25:00.000+10:00

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 it 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!

Happy New Year and may 2009 be your best year yet.
Ian

Expect More From 2009

2008-12-14T14:48:00.001+10:00

This year is the 3rd time I have been a contributing author to an ebook organised by my good friend and internet marketing guru Gihan Perera. This years offering contains 40 articles by thought leaders on how to make the best of the year. You can download it here. Enjoy!

Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers

Branson's a great example of a modern leader

2008-12-04T15:40:00.001+10:00

I have read all of Sir Richard Branson’s books. I also regularly fly on his airlines and use his mobile phone services, so I am obviously a fan. His latest book ‘Business Stripped Bare’ is in my view his best yet. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Social Responsibility.

Branson writes “Several years ago, I realised that if Virgin really wanted to make a difference with some of the tougher issues facing humanity, we had to start pulling together everything we were doing.” The result was Virgin Unite. “Our fundamental belief is that doing good is great for business. It’s not about the ‘golden charitable cheque’ but, rather, it’s about making sure that we leverage everything we have across our businesses ... There is such a thing as enlightened self interest, and we should encourage it. It is possible to turn a profit while making the world a better place.”

May there be more Richard Branson’s leading our businesses. For more on Virgin Unite click here

Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers

I left my wallet in a taxi and got it back!

2008-11-26T10:09:00.000+10:00

I left my wallet in a taxi yesterday and got it back. What’s more there was nothing missing out of it. I paid the taxi driver and got out of the cab and retrieved my briefcase from the boot. Then I went to put the receipt in my wallet only to discover I don’t have my wallet. By now the taxi has gone and despite the best efforts of the hotel concierge to chase after it, all to no avail. One concierge guy was brilliant in how quickly he telephoned the taxi company and using the cab registration number on my receipt eventually got onto the driver who returned my wallet intact.

Perhaps I was lucky. Perhaps it is because of the overall honesty of the people in Singapore. Perhaps it was the speed of the concierge. The following things I know. I felt encouraged by the good of humanity, that honesty is the best policy, and that little things make a big difference.

Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers

Perseverance and Team Work

2008-11-03T20:53:00.003+10:00

I have just spent an interesting day driving across town from appointment to appointment, talking with clients and also spent time coaching a sales team,a regular commitment I have. The crazy thing is the number of people who are talking down their sales and opportunities at the moment due to the so called "financial crisis". It is my belief that a lot of the attitude and results in the market today are driven by the thinking of the sales people before they even ask for the sale.

The sales team I spent time with today were planning for a reduction in sales for the next few months and didn't really have any hard data to support their planned reduction in sales other than reading negative articles in the newspaper and listening to the TV doom and gloom sayers. They had already decided that sales would fall before they left their office. Their attitude had affected the outcomes, not the customers saying no!

A lot of people are affected by what they hear or what they read and take action based on this negative news. Newspapers and financial journals feed on and thrive in times of doom and gloom. If you are to make a success of your business you must persevere, maintain a positive attitude and adopt an atitude of gratitude. be thankful for the opportunity to have a business, be thankful for the ability to continue to provide outstanding service to your existing clients and the many new clients that you will surely serve if you continue to deliver positive, quality service.

To maintain a positive attitude in negative times takes perseverance, so rally round your team and encourage each other to remain positive and keep making the calls, keep delivering outstanding service and your business will surely prosper in good times and in even better times.

Lindsay Adams
Team Transformer

Thriving when most are simply trying to survive

2008-11-03T10:14:00.000+10:00

The following was written recently by David McNally CPAE, a speaking colleague and a builder of our new world:

“I took up the challenge of discovering what it means to be a ‘thriver.’ Here are the results of a survey sent to over six hundred organizations asking them to identify the thrivers in their midst and to describe those people in terms of attitudes and behaviors. Here are the key themes that define how ‘thrivers’ think and act:

Survivors Focus On The Future As Uncertain

Thrivers Focus On The Future As Unlimited

1. Thrivers have a global perspective – The competition created by a global economy has become so rigorous that we are participating in what might be described as an Olympics of Business. Thrivers meet these demands by doing whatever it takes to be ready mentally, physically, and emotionally to compete at the highest level.

2. Thrivers take personal responsibility for their own careers and happiness – George Washington’s comment, “If the citizens of the United States should not be free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own,” summarizes the thriver’s philosophy of life. Rather than make excuses, thrivers make commitments.

3. Thrivers seek to maximize their contribution –Thrivers have a strong need to contribute, to feel that their work is important. Professionally, they are continually creating opportunities to add value, whilst simultaneously ensuring their work is rewarding and fulfilling.

4. Thrivers appreciate their uniqueness - Thrivers understand that while there is always someone who can do something better than they can, there is always something they can do better than anyone else. Rather than being satisfied just to meet standards, thrivers leverage their gifts, talents, skills and abilities to set the standards.

5. Thrivers work in harmony with others – A powerful lesson of the global economy is this: whereas technology is an incredible tool, people are still the artisans. Thrivers understand that to succeed in multi-cultural environments requires the ability to collaborate with a complex mixture of people whose differences deserve to be honored. Rather than wish for conformity, thrivers value diversity.

6. Thrivers know what matters - Thriving is not an appearance but an experience. With all of its absurdities and challenges thrivers have learned that life is the only game in town and they are determined to wholeheartedly participate. Thrivers flourish because they are continually learning, contributing, laughing and loving. Whilst the future may be uncertain, thrivers see the future as unlimited.”

There is no doubt in my mind that ‘thrivers’ are new world builders.

Find out more about David McNally here

Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers

Be a 'go-giver'

2008-10-23T18:04:00.000+10:00

Lindsay Adams and myself have bought and given away a lot of copies of the book ‘The Go-Giver’ by Bob Burg and John David Mann and published by Penguin 2007. The key lessons of the book

"The law of value: your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.
The law of compensation: your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.
The law of influence: your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people's interest first.
The law of authenticity: the most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.
The law of receptivity: the key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving."

These are all key laws that underpin the building of our new world.

Be remarkable.
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers

Authentic corporate social responsibility

2008-10-09T08:40:00.000+10:00

Recently I was privileged to be a keynote speaker at a conference in Singapore organised by Singapore Human Resources Institute. I spoke about ‘Tomorrow Today a future for business - authentic corporate social responsibility’, which of late has been one of my most requested talks. To those in the audience interested in further reading I provided an ebook I have written on the subject that traces defining moments of the past 25 years and the five shifts we are making to build our new world:

a move from competition to collaboration

a move from self-interest to shared interest

a move from dominance to diligence

a move from greed to greater good

a move from reaction to responsibility

You can download the ebook here

Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers

'The Lexus and The Olive Tree'; 'Hot, Flat, and Crowded'

2008-10-05T10:25:00.000+10:00

My reading in the past week or so has been Thomas Friedman’s latest book ‘Hot, Flat, and Crowded’. It is exciting to see a writer of Friedman’s class join the Green Revolution. I also re-read his excellent book ‘The Lexus and The Olive Tree’, which is about globalization and how to make it work for the good of all. A lot of lessons here for the troubled folk on Wall Street.

Friedman is a builder of our new world. I highly recommend him to you. Visit his website here for more information.

Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers

Greed has never been good

2008-09-26T12:36:00.001+10:00

I am not aware that anyone has named the major causes of the current financial crisis that has our world in turmoil. Greed and lack of accountability are the causes as I see it. We will get past this. Until we do something about the causes however, trouble will come again as surely as night follows day.

Further none of the people who have acted with gay abandon and just plain stupidity have been held to account. Lets us hope that French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s words are adhered to; “Let us build together a regulated capitalism in which whole swathes of financial activity are not left to the sole judgement of market operators” He called for a new system in “which those who jeopardise people’s savings are punished.” (The Strait Times 24/9/08)

Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers

Rule Makers, Takers, and Breakers

2008-09-06T01:24:00.000+10:00

In an article for Harvard Business Review ‘Strategy as Revolution’ Volume 74, Issue 4, July-August 1996, page 69, Gary Hamel says each industry consists of three kinds of people; “Rule Makers (Industry leaders), Rule Takers (peasants who only keep what the Lord does not want), and Rule Breakers (revolutionaries who overturn the ‘curse of incrementalism’, rewrite industry rules, and overthrow industry boundaries).

Rule Breakers are the builders of our new world. Are you one of them?

Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers

7 characteristics of the best company’s

2008-08-27T03:37:00.000+10:00

In one of the great books written about the successful present and future of business in my view, ‘Firms of Endearment’, authors Raj Sisodia, David B Wolfe, and Jag Sheth, put forward 7 characteristics that differeniate the best companies from the rest as follows:

“freely challenge industry dogma
create value by aligning stakeholder interests
are willing to break traditional tradeoffs
operate with a long-term perspective
favor organic growth to growing by mergers and acquistions
blend work with play
reject traditional marketing models”

How would you rate your organisation against these?

I highly recommend this book. In my view it surpasses the work by Jim Collins in his best selling book ‘Good to Great’

Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers

True differentiation

2008-08-10T09:44:00.002+10:00

My wife and I recently had dinner at a Richtree Market Restaurant in Toronto, Canada. If you are ever in Canada make a visit here a priority.

This is a truly remarkable place, a fresh food market and several restaurants all in the one place. You choose your food, have it cooked and enjoy your meal in very pleasant surroundings. Plus the service is exceptional.

What are you doing to truly differenitate your business from everyone else?

Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers

Test our all your ideas before discarding them

2008-07-16T18:27:00.001+10:00

We bought a new kettle the other day. This story on the side of the box it came in intrigued me. “Kambrook was founded in 1972 by Frank Bannigan, an Australian inventor with an obsession for electrical appliances and a mission to bring the price of quality products within everyone’s reach. Frank converted his home garage into a workshop and named the company after the street he lived in.

Kambrook set out to provide customers with practical products that would enhance every day life. This philosophy quickly led to the invention of Kambrook’s first major product - the 4 way power board, which Frank developed out of pure frustration - he did not have enough power points to test his products.”

The 4 way power board is no longer remarkable. All sorts of versions exist with many having more than 4 points! Many of our ideas don’t see the light of day because we don’t see them as being remarkable, rather a means to an end. Don’t waste any of your ideas. At least test them out. You never know which ideas will turn out to be of high value to others and therefore provide a reward for their inventor.

Be remarkable
Ian
strategic advisor to difference makers

Alto Hotel On Bourke Street, Melbourne

2008-07-11T18:17:00.003+10:00

I have just returned from a trip to freezing Melbourne. I stayed at the Alto Hotel in Bourke Street. This place never ceases to amaze me. I have stayed there three times previous and already the staff know me by name and call me by name. Not only that their teamwork is exceptional. I checked in and went to my room to drop my bags. By the time I made it up to my room and back down to the restaurant the front desk had alerted the restaurant staff that I had arrived and Francis the Head waiter greeted me at the door and made me welcome, again greeting me by name.

This extra effort will keep me going back for more, the rooms are well priced,clean and I feel welcome. The thing I admire most though is their teamwork and customer service focus. They work hard at making each other look good and in turn the customers (that would be me) keep coming back. Well done Alto Hotel staff, I salute you!

Continue to Be Remarkable!
Lindsay
Team Transformer

Never Miss a Chance to Say Well Done

2008-07-08T22:39:00.003+10:00

I just spent three hours today with a client reviewing their years progress and making plans for the coming months. The business owner was very happy with the efforts of his team and the profit the company had made. Sitting back with a smug look on his face I said "OK, what's next?" His reply, "get back to work". "Not so fast" was my response. I want you to now go and say thanks to each and every member of the team for their part in making this such a successful year.

He pondered this for a while before figuring out how he would do that in a way that was appropriate for each of his eleven staff. Saying thanks for a job well done is crucial if you want your team to back up and do it all over again and again.

As the financial year has just closed, make the effort now to go congratulate your team for their efforts and renew their enthusiasm for the coming year.

Be remarkable
Lindsya Adams
Team Transformer