Success Minus Charity Equals Lost Opportunities

Success minus charity equals missed opportunities

Commentary by: Earle Airey

People would rather do business with organizations they can trust. Trust promotes safe relationships that build on a foundation of truth, service, and accountability. Friends of mine that worked in the automotive industry whose career spanned multiple brands found their families buying the models they worked on. When the technician was working for a Dodge dealer, the family bought Chrysler products. When they started working for Saturn, the family eventually started driving Saturns.

Obviously the trust built was not totally in the product, but rather in the person. In the Disney movie about Preston Tucker it was mentioned that people don’t buy stock in companies, they buy people they can trust. Trust must be the cornerstone for any organization that desires to make a positive difference in its industry and consequently in our society. That trust must be cultivated externally (customer/clients, vendors, suppliers, etc.) as well as internal (employees, temp workers, sub-contractors, etc.).

What does this have to do with charity? Charity is a gift selflessly given. People can usually tell when gifts are sincere. It can be used as a trust builder. We enjoy the comforts of safety and trust is a wonderful enabler. When given the choice in my experience, people will gravitate towards those they can trust (I know, a real duh moment.). Let me share some examples.

There is a company in the Cleveland/Akron area that provides IT support for small to medium businesses (SMB’s). They have monthly “lunchinars” where they share relevant information useful to their target audience. It is free to attend this event and they provide lunch. Once a year they have a picnic that anyone can attend in celebration of customer appreciation and another year of successful business operations. They briefly mention who they are and what they do but 97% of the focus is on delivering relevant content that is practical to their audience. By being charitable with their information this company has draws clients regularly and enjoys repeated growth.

A software company in the Cleveland area makes it a point to get involved in the community. A manufacturing company in the Akron area does the same. The effect is that when well executed it builds trust in the community. Lives are positively affected and a reputation is built. I don’t know about you, but I love a story that has a happy ending. When stories about what these companies have done in the community go public, the happy ending they created swings trustworthy creditability in their favor. That’s an ROI you just can’t buy.

Any company has the resources to be charitable. The Internet enables doing this for only the cost of a computer with access to the web which most of us have already. A newsletter, blog, social media, and more are just a few ways to give freely. This blog you are reading now is one such example. If I can do it, anyone can.

I would challenge to say that with all of the examples of organizations that give freely of themselves in a responsible sincere manner will reap what they have sown…and then some. Of course there is no guarantee, but the potential is well worth the risk and there is so little to loose by the effort.

So in summary I would just reiterate the title, success minus charity equals lost opportunity. An organizations success can be enhanced through charitable giving that will give it a competitive edge not just because of better public relations, but because they deserves it.

What’s your take? Talk back; your comments are always appreciated.

Seething Towards Failure

Seething Towards Failure

Commentary by: Earle G. Airey III

Anger is typically thought of as a negative emotion and thus should be avoided. True, anger left unchecked can have disastrous consequences and can sneak up on us in ways many realize only after the fact.

A light bulb burns out. You don’t have a fit about it, just replace the bulb. Thunder and lightning are breaking your concentration as you try to write a report. You eventually tune it out and keep on working. A tree limb falls in the road and you have to detour. You don’t like it, but it’s no big deal. Right?

How about that pickup truck weaving through traffic? What a jerk. How about that your car repair that was supposed to be done by end of day, now they have to keep it overnight? How about the boss that makes you work on the weekend at the last minute? Now how do you feel?

Most of the time we can forgive a burned out bulb, thunder and lightning, a fallen tree limb because these things happen. They couldn’t be helped. So we deal with it and move on. But how about when there is an identifiable human being behind the issues. People may get angry, their body language changes, choice of words may not be so choice, and most of all they can seethe. To seethe is to bubble up as a result of being boiled. As one’s anger rises we may associate this with temperature, which is usually hot.

Why do people seethe? Many studies by researchers in cognitive neurosciences suggest that within our brain are mirror neurons. These neurons are ultra-sensitive to the point where they may be processing stimuli that the person may not be consciously aware of. The thought is that these neurons are important in aiding humans understanding one another, learning by example and is completely bi-directional. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_neuron for additional thoughts.

So again, why do people seethe? From my experience I have witnessed people’s actions and reactions that were based on their comfort level with a particular situation. When there is a doubt of one person’s power over another they typically react appropriately. The one who feels their position is weaker using a particular medium (such as physical engagement, verbal arguing, etc.) they may switch to one that is of greater comfort. I suggest that deep in the human subconscious mind there is an autonomous response to threats similar to the “fight or flight” syndrome that can apply to these mirror neurons. So one may not be able to best their opponent in a physical or verbal altercation, but they can seethe them back to the Stone Age (check out the song “If Looks Could Kill” by Heart). Similar to a fistfight, seething rarely resolves the situation and can begin a downward spiral towards eventual failure.

Currently I’m doing research into how external and internal stimuli affect brain chemistry. My preliminary findings have revealed that various stimuli evoke a release of chemicals into the brain that has a similar effect to narcotics. So does seething help produce these chemicals? If the answer is yes, then can people become addicted to seething (or any strong emotion)? Other researchers suggest it is possible.

When growing up parents, teachers, and other adults told me that the best way to quit using drugs is to never start. Now there is no way that people will never get angry, however I suggest that it is possible to turn anger into creative thought by…

1.     Being aware of one’s emotional state. Especially when getting angry.

2.     Concentrate on the actual elements that brought on the anger. What are their opposites?

3.     Would that action leave a more positive emotional potential state?

Would that outcome create a win-win or a win-lose (the latter would probably leave the other party seething)?

This is a deliberate exercise in moving from an emotional deficit state to a surplus state. When some people get angry they may disengage from the situation to “cool down.” However depending on the circumstances the problem that moved them into the seething state may still be there, threatening to plunge them back into that deficit state. I suggest that by reevaluating the circumstances from the perspective of “if I could go back in time and relive that moment, I would…” to seek a solution that can stop the emotional sacrifice of the situation…if it gets that deep.

This could be why when some people are upset they need to talk about it. They are not necessarily asking for help with a fix, they just need to think out loud. There is a therapeutic element to this and I suggest talking with someone whom you can trust to share the particulars of the situation with.

Hopefully this will help raise awareness of what I call “The Seething Syndrome” and keep it from taking up resident in our lives. When you notice the downward spiral of negative emotions (like seething), what are some of the ways you overcome such challenges?

Your input is greatly valued. Thanks for sharing.

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Education is no substitute for ambition

Education is no substitute for ambition, so what else you got?

Commentary By: Earle G. Airey III

I don’t remember where, but it stuck in my memory when I heard the statement, “Education is no substitute for ambition” it stuck in my mind. First I want to go on record to say that education is a powerful enabler and good schools are invaluable. They can stir imagination and foster creative thought. But in less that experience is put into action, a good education is no better than none at all.

I remember a former co-worker mentioning to another that they finished school and that act paid their dues and thus was entitled to the same elements as others who may have this in addition to years of practical experience. This perspective was not popular with the other co-workers. Whether or not there was entitlement to the items in question based on education, I have come to realize over the years that education, alone is not enough to guarantee a successful career. Before you educators beat me with erasers let me explain my perspective.

Now I am not attempting to define what makes successful career, however those who desire to promote themselves professionally I suggest that education should not substitute ambition. Ambition is one of those elements that can serve good and evil intentions. So I don’t fault ambition in of itself, but rather the misuse for self-serving purposes at the expense of others. Positive ambition is a virtue, not a vice.

Quality education is important. It builds up knowledge, which is the beginning of wisdom. However I suggest unless education is put into motion it is nearly useless. Those who may have feel like my former co-worker (that education alone is enough) may find himself or herself frustrated when trying to start or advance their careers. I remember during my graduate school commencement ceremony the keynote speaker shared, “You may have been a part of this fraternity, or that committee. You may have been class president or volunteered for some noble cause. However when you are sitting with a representative of the company you are interviewing with and he or she is going over your list of accomplishments they will ask…what else you got?” In no way do I believe that these extracurricular activities are a waste of time. There are even times when a waste of time has value. However one should seek out ways to put their education to work even while still acquiring it.

To what levels will ambition push someone? Will they stretch outside their comfort zone to make a point? To share with others? To show them what else you got? The nature of the Internet makes this easier than ever. This has encouraged me understand basic web building (not an area of my IT expertise), blogging, podcasting, and other elements that help me to answer the question, “What else I’ve got?” Giving the gift of your opinion, wisdom, honesty, and experiences costs no more than a personal computer with Internet connectivity. So whether you are in the midst of your collegiate or professional career I encourage use any of these elements (or ones you are comfortable with) that gets who you are out there.

There is no school that will teach you on how to be you. Sorry, but you’ll have to figure that one out for yourself. However I suggest that if the learning and subsequent sharing is done with transparency and intentions are honorable one can make a big difference in the community. Show the world what you are becoming or have become. Find ways to make a difference now. Show them what else you got.