Sears - An Exeplairy Corporate Citizen

By law companies must hold jobs open for reservists who are called to duty.  Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in their salaries and maintaining all benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all called up reservist employees for up to two years.  They are to applauded.

Robert Welch 1958

Undocumented Immigrant

Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented immigrant' is like calling a drug dealer an 'unlicensed pharmacist'.

Announcing The Four Freedoms!

In commemoration of Independence Day, I am delighted to announce the publication of The Four Freedoms available at Amazon.com.

The Four Freedoms is a story about a man who discovered the wisdom of the ages and applied it in his life to create success beyond his imagination.

It was written for those that have a yearning for freedom--freedom from bad habits, freedom that prosperity brings, freedom from misery, and the freedom to be happy in relationships and in life--for those who have an innate sense that there is something more but just cannot figure out what it is.

I hope you enjoy it.

The Art of Networking

“Networking is the art of making and using contacts. It is the single minded persuit of useful contacts at every convention, seminar and neighborhood barbecue. And today networking is exploding. It is changing the way we do business and the way we socialize. Some people say it is purely a pragmatic technique but the true networker knows it is more. The true networker proposes a new outlook. Previous societies considered every stranger an inherent threat. To the networker, every stranger represents an opportunity, the chance to find prospects, reach targets or meet friends.”

As timely as this article seems, it may interest you to know that it comes from the August 1985 issue of Success. Yes, 1985. Twenty-five years ago!

Yet twenty-five years later I find that people are clamoring for networks and yet repeatedly disenchanted with them. It begs the questions, "Why?" and "What can be done?"

Permit me a suggestion. If our networking seems fraudulent, difficult or unfulfilling, perhaps it is due to intent. If everyone at an event is of the mind of “what’s in it for me” then everyone is taking and no one is giving. The result is a networking vacuum.

Networking is, by defenition, connecting. Connecting requires giving. Try instead to see how much you can give–referrals, advice, introductions, useful information–any kind of value add. Les Brown says that the universe hates a vaccume. In order to get you have got to give. The more you can give the more will you get back. Conversely, you cannot recieve if both hands are busy holding one to what you have.

Your Brand and You

According to Kevin Roberts, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide and author of Lovemarks: The Future Beyond Brands, the magic is simple and sincere-literally.

On the one hand, brand is about connecting with customers on an emotional level: intimacy, sensuality, and mystery that results in loyalty beyond reason.

On the other hand, brand is a “sacred promise” about improving customers lives. The way in which a company commits to improve customers lives becomes the hallmark of the company. It permeates every facet of communication and and guides every decision of the company.

It starts with a positioning statement which identifies target audiences, hones in on competitors, and pinpoints the businesses most compelling benefit. From this the promise can be formulated.

How clear is your company’s mission statement?

In the B2B world the most important things that set your company apart from the rest are offering reliable customer service and close relationships.

Coca-Cola is the premier example of fullfilling both in their branding. Changes in packaging and marketing have always included “being happy, always sociable, and always part of the local community.” These emotional promices are what have given Coca-Cola their edge–simple and sincere.

Americans Stand Up

There is one thing that I am pleased to see and that is Americans standing up.  History has shown us demonstrations, marches on Washington and so forth.  Above all it is important that government be reminded that they get their their power from we the governed; we must remember that we are the ones who empower government.  Let us not shirk our civil responsibility.

CING Presentation

Presented an introduction of the The Four Freedoms to Denver's Construction Industry Networking Group (CING).  I presented as my role of Business Architect and shared with them the three Cornerstones of Success: Truth, Communication, and Purpose.  On these rest any and all success in any endeavor.  Time permitted that I share the most important thing so I told them about the importance vision plays to purpose.

From the Rainbows and Roads speech I shared with them what I call the Great Golden Nugget of Truth:  Only one in twenty are living to their capacity in wealth, health, satisfaction and relationships, etc.  The rest of us are chasing rainbows.  The philosophy of the rainbow is "If only _____ then everything will be fine."

Success and failure are the accumulation of every small decision that we make every day.

It is easy to do the right things; it is just a bit easier not to.

It takes knowing where we want to go to give us what we need in order to choose to do what we should when we should.

Most of us don't know what we want.

Finally I gave them an exercise to help determine what they want.

I love teaching!

Thomas Jefferson Predicted It

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.   Thomas Jefferson  

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.   Thomas Jefferson  

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.   Thomas Jefferson      

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.   Thomas Jefferson  
 

No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.   Thomas Jefferson  

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.   Thomas Jefferson  

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.   Thomas Jefferson  

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.   Thomas Jefferson  

Thomas  Jefferson said in 1802
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered..'



How long shall we as a nation continue to ignore the future which history has show is inevitable upon our present course?

The Threat of Socialism Then as Now

Government of the People, by the People, and for the People

I ask you, how can a government be of the people when its elected officials and their influence are to be had by the highest bidder?

How can there be government by the people where the legislators are not themselves bound by the very laws they enact upon the people?

How can there be a government for the people when our unified voice is blatantly disregarded?

Thomas Jefferson said, "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty." The American government should be very, very afraid.

For we the people will no longer sit idly by as they continue to erode our liberties.

Steve Jobs Commencement Speach

Steve Jobs knows something about creating financial freedom. Hear his advice to Stanford University's graduation class of 2005.