47 Life Lessons – Business and Personal

I celebrated my birthday this week and I thought I’d share with you 47 lessons I have learned in life. Some are business lessons and some are personal lessons. They all have impacted my life in a profound way:

1. What people say about you, says more about them than you.

2. When you learn to quiet your mind and manage your thoughts, you will then begin to know yourself.

3. Praise publicly. Hash out issues in private.

4. When leading or helping someone find their answers, it’s important to lead them back to themselves.

5. Never accuse. Always give people the benefit of the doubt.

6. You can’t grow if you are not willing to step out of your comfort zone.

7. Laughter is medicine.

8. Have an insatiable curiousness about the world.

9. People matter more than things.

10. Always set clear expectations and understand what is expected from all parties before signing on the dotted line.

11. Don’t invest in something you don’t understand.

12. If it comes in wrapping with a bunch of words that are hard to pronounce, it’s most likely not a healthy food choice.

13. Take responsibility for the choices you have made in your life.

14. Ignore your naysayers.

15. Surround yourself with people who support your vision, dreams, and goals.

16. Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

17. Change is constant.

18. Never make a hasty decision when it comes to business. Always read the fine print.

19. There are always two sides to every story.

20. Understand how your target audience thinks and how they make purchasing decisions.

21. Our thoughts determine the outcome of our lives.

22. Focus on people’s good qualities.

23. Be a problem solver, not a complainer.

24. Don’t blame, judge, or criticize.

25. Don’t let your ego get in the way of doing the right thing.

26. Relinquish the thoughts that no longer serve you.

27. Give without expecting anything in return.

28. You can’t control how others think and behave.

29. You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

30. Just because that’s how it has always been done, doesn’t mean that’s how it should continue to be done.

31. Be inclusive, not exclusive.

32. Ask not what others can do for you, but what you can do for them.

33. Set healthy boundaries in relationships.

34. Dance wildly. Sing out loud. Hug humans.

35. Lift others up and promote their work.

36. Stay Human.

37. Feel grass blades on your feet and the sun on your skin.

38. Take time to do NOTHING.

39. Step into your POWER.

40. Be present. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not arrived.

41. Look deeply into the eyes of your pet dog or cat and connect with them.

42. Be humble. Be grateful.

43. Plant. Grow an organic vegetable garden.

44. Ask the question: What are my intentions?

45. Hug a TREE and feel the energy of Mother Earth pulsate through your body.

46. Just because you don’t understand something does not mean you need to be afraid of it.  Ask questions.

47. Forgive yourself.

Feel free to add some of your favorite Life Lessons in the comments below!

I had a moment of pure ecstasy  while consulting with a client the other day. We shared laughter together. Deep, belly laughter. Wide open mouths of teeth and tongue displayed for all to see. Nostrils flaring open and eyes shutting tightly as we exhaled our emotions of happiness. It was what I call a human moment. One my favorite musicians, Michael Franti calls it Staying Human. Are you in the business of another transaction, sale, proposal, or deal? Or are you in the business of Staying Human?  Are we letting go of the fear and ego that prevents us from engaging and interacting with authenticity and transparency? What is our relationship with our clients like? When we connect with them, do we recognize your own humanity? Are we Staying Human?

Incorporating Social Activism into Business

While at a fundraiser in San Francisco last week sponsored by Ben and Jerry’s Ice-cream company, I had the good fortune of meeting Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, founders of Ben & Jerry’s. The growth and success of their small business over the last 32 years is quite extraordinary. What makes their story exceptional and inspiring is how they have cultivated a company culture of fun, transparency, and social activism while growing their business. It seems they were way ahead of their time as much of the business world today is struggling to understand how to implement transparency and activism into their own business model.

In the social & environmental assessment report in 2008 from Ben & Jerry’s CEO, (Chief Euphoria Officer) Walt Freese, he states the following:

1. Use our company to further the cause of Peace and Justice.

2. Harmonize our global supply chain and ensure its alignment with our company values.

3. Take the lead promoting global sustainable dairy practices.

The report also has a section called, Leading with Progressive Values Across our Business:

“We have a progressive, nonpartisan Social Mission that seeks to meet human needs and eliminate injustices in our local, national, and international communities by integrating these concerns into our day-to-day business activities. Our focus is on children and families, the environment and sustainable agriculture on family farms.”

Here is a link to the entire content on their social and environmental report.  This BOLD report, which they proudly display on their website, caused me take great pause in how any business would go about incorporating something similar into their own strategic and/or business plan.

We are now entering the second half of the year.  And here at Hware, we are preparing for our own upcoming two-day strategic and business planning retreat. We will be looking at our financial projections, marketing campaigns, sales forecasts, product development, etc. We will be using our own business planning methodology called Envision Plan Act to help guide us through the two day meeting. Ben and Jerry’s company model has given me much to ponder as we reassess our business model, redesign our website and update our content.

What about you? Have you found a company that inspires you to grow your small business in a more creative and daring way?  Who inspires you? What inspires you? Please share your comments below.

Rework, 37 Signals, and 3 Million Customers

Keeping Business Simple

Rethink Your Business

This Book Is Not For Status Quo Keepers

Do We Need Daily Rituals and Routines?

Do you have a place where you go to quiet your mind on a daily basis?  It’s no big news that everyone, especially small business owners need some quiet-time to renew, recover, and re-energize. Running a small business can be overwhelming at times and we all need a place where we can silence our mind, be still, and listen to our inner voice or intuition.  We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with distractions, diversions, and detours. It is so easy to get off track and become unfocused. That is why we need our daily rituals and routines. The consistency of daily good habits eventually become a lifestyle. There’s plenty of data that show the benefits of meditation and calming activities. Here are a few daily routines that I do that help me quiet my mind, get grounded, and stay focused.

Do You Have A Place You Call Your Sacred Space?

A few years ago, I converted a home office space into my very own “sacred space.” I use it to do yoga, meditate, read books of inspiration, and write in my journal. I have been keeping a journal since I was a teenage girl. This one ritual alone is incredibly powerful. It is where I write my intentions, my dreams, and voice my insecurities and fears. The exercise of putting my thoughts to the written word has always served me well. For example, I wrote in my journal about ten years ago that I wanted to organize a fundraiser for kids in the foster care system in my local community.  I wanted to help them find permanent loving families who would adopt them. At the time I had no idea how I was going to do it because I had no real experience in spearheading such an event. I was also working full-time in a very fast-paced industry with brutally long hours. Nevertheless, it was something that I felt compelled to do. Fast forward a few years later —- I, along with the help of many volunteers, organized a fundraiser for Sierra Forever Families. Together, we raised over $350,000.00 and were able to help many children. I stumbled upon that journal entry a few months ago and was amazed that I not only fulfilled that intention, but I exceeded my goals.

What’s Does Your Retreat Look Like?

The other routine I have is connecting with nature. I live in a forest in Northern California. I hike about 2.5 miles on my trails just about everyday. Whenever I am feeling out of sorts or stuck, I spend more time with nature by heading to the hiking trails. By doing so, it allows me to flush out my thoughts. Being able to connect with the Earth and her ecosystem is a gift I am very grateful for. I always feel rooted and centered when I am with nature. Next summer 2011, I will attempt to hike around the entire Tahoe Rim Trail, a 165 mile hike with 30 pounds on my back and 16 days of sleeping underneath the stars. The last time I completed such a physically enduring hike was when I summit Mt. Whitney ten years ago.

My Daily Computer Habit

One final tip I want to share with you is a time-out reminder software tool I use called Dejal Time-Out. I sit in front of my computer most of the day and this tool reminds me to stand up and look away from my computer for about 30 seconds. During this time I also do a quick stretch. The reminder shows up on my computer screen about every 30 minutes.

So how about you? Do you have a daily ritual that helps you move with ease throughout the day? Where do you retreat when you have to make some hard business decisions or spend some time giving deep thought to a situation?  If you work in an urban area or home office in the suburbs, what things do you do to help you stay on track? I would love to hear about it.  We have much to learn from one another.  Please share your feedback in the comments section below.

Couture Cottons designed using eco-friendly fabrics

Go Green Down Under

Earth Day is this week and while the “Green” industry has exploded along with some green washing, there is however the Green Festival that ensures reputable green exhibitors and businesses at their annual conferences. I found such a company a few weeks ago while attending the event in San Francisco. Couture Cottons lingerie — beautifully designed undies using eco-friendly fabrics. Their tag line is Go Green Down Under. I had the opportunity to meet Sandra Castro Richards, the owner and founder of Couture Cottons, from San Antonio Texas. The more we chatted, the more I liked her and her approach to building her business.

The External Cost of Cheap

Most clothes sold in America are made in sweat shops by children and women in third world countries. The wages are low, the hours are excessive, and the emotional and physical abuse is rampant. Costs are kept low so that we can buy the clothes at an affordable price. Unfortunately, there is a huge price tag on affordability. It’s called external costs. The external cost of cheap has everything to do with the inefficiencies and pollution of shipping raw materials over seas, exploiting human labor, then shipping the finished product back to the USA where more oil is consumed by trucking the product to the department stores where it will be displayed along with other petroleum-made clothes. That’s not the case with Couture Cottons. Couture Cottons has turned down contracts with major department stores in the USA because they could not make a profit selling their undies at the cheap price the stores were asking. Couture Cottons provides jobs for Americans. Their undies are manufactured in the USA where people are paid a fair wage and treated with dignity and respect. The organic undies cost a bit more, but the tradeoff is knowing that your money (voting with your dollars) went to support a small business that is not waging harm on the environment and humans. In addition, the undies are made with organic cotton. That means there are no chemicals sprayed on the cotton, which is much safer for the planet and the people handling the cotton. Now that is what I call a “values based” business. Couture Cottons is clear about their core values. They know where to draw the line in the sand. When your values are clear, then your business decisions are much easier.

People Planet Profit

Richards is part of a growing number of business owners who are putting the triple bottom line concept into action — People, Planet, Profit.  The triple bottom line is about building a profitable business, but not at the expense and exploitation of the planet or her people. This trend has been steadily growing over the last decade. I am seeing more and more eco-green business conferences and green business coaches emerge. Many are legitimate while some are just jumping on the “Green” bandwagon.  How can you tell the difference?  Here are a few of my favorite resources to help you decipher. Be sure to sign up for their blogs and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. Are you a green business or have a green resource to share? Post it in the comments section below. We’d would love to know about it.

Sustainable Industries – A business source for leaders of the new economy.

Bioneers – An annual conference with a focus on sustainability.

LOHAS – Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability; Market segment news focusing on the environment, sustainable living, and social justice

Triple Pundit – Online news with a focus on green business

Global Exchange – Focus is on building the new global economy

GreenBiz.com – Online news with a focus on green business

Presidio Graduate School – Green MBA programs

Green America – A directory of screened and approved green businesses. Hware is a member.

Earthsite.net – Agency for sustainable brands specializing in social media strategy, and web marketing

She Hated her Job

Have you ever had a job that just felt so wrong for you? Monday morning would come and you would get this sick feeling in your stomach. Or, you’d show up to work and felt like being anywhere else but there? But you sucked it up and made yourself stay there because you had “financial obligations.” Or, you told yourself that you would do it for X amount of time so that you could build your resume.  Recently I sat next to a young woman on an airplane. It was a crowded flight and I could feel the intensity of her “don’t-talk-to-me” energy while moving towards the seat next to her. Reading her cue, I did not initiate a conversation with her for the two-hour flight time until we flew over Lake Tahoe, at which time she blurted something out that was barely audible, but I nevertheless took the opportunity to strike up a conversation.  Fast-forward 30 minutes later, I found out that she HATED her job. She was miserable and felt that she was trapped in the corporate world going no where. Being the curious and inquisitive person that I am, I asked this 20-something year old loads of questions about her interests, strengths, talents, attributes and what she believed her gifts were to the world. Some of my questions stopped her dead in her tracks and some of my questions validated what she was already feeling – unappreciated, not using her strengths, feeling stifled by not sharing her talents at work.

A Mediocre Life

Life is Short! It is too short to not work, play and live LIFE sharing your STAG with the WORLD! Too often, we stay with meaningless jobs, unfulfilling partners, we surround ourselves with mediocre friends and uninspiring people, we consume highly-processed foods that give us heart-burn and make us bloated, and participate in uninteresting conversations because we feel obligated to do so. The young woman on the plane seemed as if she was waiting for someone to give her permission to quit her job and start living the LIFE she envisioned for herself. I know because I was once that young woman…waiting for someone to SAVE me or validate me or give me the nod of approval. She reminded me of how often we succumb to society’s rules and standards that have nothing to do with our inherent gifts. We are bombarded daily with images of who we should be and who we should look like so that we can fit in…while we gradually let go of who we really are.

2010

I want to encourage and remind all of us that when we work, play, and live from our strengths, talents, attributes, and gifts, life is so much sweeter and when our life is sweet, that in turn makes for a healthier and happier family, community, society, country, and world.  Here are some short definitions I created for STAG:

1. Strengths – Something that comes naturally for you, i.e., numbers, words, speaking, athletics, etc.

2. Talents – Taking a strength and turning it into a talent, i.e., mathematician writes algorithms, writer becomes an author. Oprah took her strength of speaking and became a talk-show host. The founders of Google took their strength of math and developed software that created a search engine.

3. Attributes – Attributing one’s strengths and talents to a person’s character. For example, Oprah’s ability to visualize her OWN network. Or Lance Armstrong’s discipline and ambition to win.

4. Gifts – Your LIFE is a gift to be shared. It is honorable and sacred and it is to be shared in relationship with humanity and the WORLD. When we are clear and fully understand the importance of our STAG, we will no longer wait for permission to be wh0 we already are.

In the famous words of Alice Walker, “We are the Ones we have been waiting for.”  So, what are you waiting for? 2010 is just around the corner. I would love to hear your stories when you felt you were at a dead-end job. What was your deciding moment to leave? How did you feel?