In a recent discussion on a group that I am on, the topic was raised, What Is Your Responsibility As A Citizen? In the context of maintaining one's personal sovereignty how does one balance these two concepts?
This seems to be an issue of confusion. Personal Sovereignty may be an attitude, it does not however, bestow rights over and beyond those that other individuals enjoy in fact - even though they may deny themselves what to me may be a privilege of assuming Personal Sovereignty. Some will view such a concept as anathema, and want no part of it. My Personal Sovereignty, if it is to be so, does not bestow on me the right to disregard the rights of others.
My responsibility as a citizen is to live within the legal boundaries set down for the community. My sense of duty to others may take many forms. When I step outside the boundaries dictated by the rules of the community in which I am a member, I may or may not be acting in the interests of the wider community. At this point however, I run the risk of allowing my own hubris to override that good of the community, as is generally agreed and set down in law... in favour of following my own whim. Good intentions aside, I am as problematic to the society to which I claim citizenship, as any with poor intentions, if the action is the same.
Within the context of the society in which we reside, and claim citizenship, there are many ways that we can exert our personal sovereignty. Pretending that this extends to having our own personal set of rules that owe nothing to the context of the society in which we live is not only foolish, it despoils the whole notion of Personal Sovereignty.
Even kings... especially kings... understand the limits of their office.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Facebook - But Which Face?
There are miles of text written each day on the various social networking sites. Large among them, in recent times, is Facebook.
A little more social and a little less 'buttoned-up' than other networks, like LinkedIn, the question arises as to how much of "you" should you reveal in these online situations?
Anyone who has been involved in social networks online for any length of time will probably agree, that to maintain a fictitious character over time is not only going to be hard to do - it is likely to be a waste of time. People bond online, in much the same way that they may do so in a face to face situation. Simply put, the truth, whatever that is, or at least the vibe that we send out into the netosphere, if it is to be consistent over time will give you away, no matter what your intentions.
Spooky, but there you have it.
Trying to second-guess what people might like 'better' than your 'real' self, is a game for mugs.
Get out there. Be who you are when you aren't worried about it, and add something to the social networking fabric. Of course if you have nothing at all to add, you can keep that to yourself too!
A little more social and a little less 'buttoned-up' than other networks, like LinkedIn, the question arises as to how much of "you" should you reveal in these online situations?
Anyone who has been involved in social networks online for any length of time will probably agree, that to maintain a fictitious character over time is not only going to be hard to do - it is likely to be a waste of time. People bond online, in much the same way that they may do so in a face to face situation. Simply put, the truth, whatever that is, or at least the vibe that we send out into the netosphere, if it is to be consistent over time will give you away, no matter what your intentions.
Spooky, but there you have it.
Trying to second-guess what people might like 'better' than your 'real' self, is a game for mugs.
Get out there. Be who you are when you aren't worried about it, and add something to the social networking fabric. Of course if you have nothing at all to add, you can keep that to yourself too!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
LinkedIn and Left Out?
The world, if you believe the mountain of opinion on the internet currently, is about to witness a revolution in the form of social network wars. Facebook, LinkedIn... numerous other bit players whose names are forgettable...who will win?
Never mind the platforms, at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is people. What platform ultimately 'wins' (in the unlikely event that only one is left standing), is merely technology. People are what counts. Without the people, the technology is worthless.
Great networking tools, won't make someone with no social skills, great at networking. Without a genuine liking for the people one networks with, there can be no relationship. Without a relationship, networking is doomed to be nothing more than a name collection hobby. Of course, having a relationship is no guarantee either, that constructive use of the network will happen.
These are extra issues that require a clear understanding of the rules of the engagement, a willingness by all players, and a level of trust to experience and work through issues till the network partners get it right.
Never mind the platforms, at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is people. What platform ultimately 'wins' (in the unlikely event that only one is left standing), is merely technology. People are what counts. Without the people, the technology is worthless.
Great networking tools, won't make someone with no social skills, great at networking. Without a genuine liking for the people one networks with, there can be no relationship. Without a relationship, networking is doomed to be nothing more than a name collection hobby. Of course, having a relationship is no guarantee either, that constructive use of the network will happen.
These are extra issues that require a clear understanding of the rules of the engagement, a willingness by all players, and a level of trust to experience and work through issues till the network partners get it right.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Words That Sell
Sometimes keeping in touch with clients can be the most powerful thing we can do - and the hardest! The only thing harder? Writing for people who are not yet clients.
Knowing the words that sell is a great start to developing those relationships with clients, and increase your profits!
Here are some links to get you started
Business Proposals that Sell - Writing Clinic
Yellow Ads and Classifieds that Sell - Writing Clinic
Ideal marketing toolkit for Mortgage Brokers. Includes all the letters and how-to information that Mortgage Brokers need to market themselves on a daily basis.
112 Mortgage Broker Marketing Letters that Sell
Click here for 100's of marketing forms, checklists, analysis tools, marketing how-to's and over 800 pages of direct marketing, advertising and internet marketing secrets
Marketing Forms & Tools!
How To Write A Winning Tender
Take the challenge. You need a full range of marketing materials to use with your existing clients and future clients, both to attract new business, and develop relationships with your customers. Learn how to communicate with customers.
Knowing the words that sell is a great start to developing those relationships with clients, and increase your profits!
Here are some links to get you started
Business Proposals that Sell - Writing Clinic
Yellow Ads and Classifieds that Sell - Writing Clinic
Ideal marketing toolkit for Mortgage Brokers. Includes all the letters and how-to information that Mortgage Brokers need to market themselves on a daily basis.
112 Mortgage Broker Marketing Letters that Sell
Click here for 100's of marketing forms, checklists, analysis tools, marketing how-to's and over 800 pages of direct marketing, advertising and internet marketing secrets
Marketing Forms & Tools!
How To Write A Winning Tender
Take the challenge. You need a full range of marketing materials to use with your existing clients and future clients, both to attract new business, and develop relationships with your customers. Learn how to communicate with customers.
Friday, May 11, 2007
For All Who Work With Rude Customers
This was sent to me by a client this morning. Now I don't believe in having rude customers, but for those businesses that have yet to sign up to operate with Positive Expectancy in their business and life, then this may look like poetic justice.
Lindy
For all Employees Who Work With Rude Customers
An award should go to the Virgin Airlines gate attendant in Sydney some months ago for being smart and funny, while making her point, when confronted with a passenger who probably deserved to fly as cargo. A crowded Virgin flight was cancelled after Virgin's 767s had been
withdrawn from service. A single attendant was re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travellers. Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket down on the counter and said, "I HAVE to be on this flight and it HAS to be FIRST CLASS".
The attendant replied, "I'm sorry, sir. I'll be happy to try to help you, but I've got to help these people first, and I'm sure we'll be able to work something out." The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?" Without hesitating, the attendant smiled and grabbed her public address microphone: "May I have your attention please, may I have your attention please," she began - her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal.
"We have a passenger here at Gate 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to Gate 14."
With the folks behind him in line laughing hysterically, the man glared at the Virgin attendant, gritted his teeth and said, "F... You!"
Without flinching, she smiled and said, "I'm sorry sir, but you'll have to fly QANTAS for that service."
Lindy
For all Employees Who Work With Rude Customers
An award should go to the Virgin Airlines gate attendant in Sydney some months ago for being smart and funny, while making her point, when confronted with a passenger who probably deserved to fly as cargo. A crowded Virgin flight was cancelled after Virgin's 767s had been
withdrawn from service. A single attendant was re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travellers. Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket down on the counter and said, "I HAVE to be on this flight and it HAS to be FIRST CLASS".
The attendant replied, "I'm sorry, sir. I'll be happy to try to help you, but I've got to help these people first, and I'm sure we'll be able to work something out." The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?" Without hesitating, the attendant smiled and grabbed her public address microphone: "May I have your attention please, may I have your attention please," she began - her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal.
"We have a passenger here at Gate 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to Gate 14."
With the folks behind him in line laughing hysterically, the man glared at the Virgin attendant, gritted his teeth and said, "F... You!"
Without flinching, she smiled and said, "I'm sorry sir, but you'll have to fly QANTAS for that service."
What I Choose, Is What I Am.
This week has turned into my week for remembering that Positive Expectancy as a way of operating in business and life is not a univeral point of view. Not yet anyway! It occurs to me that it is also another aspect that fits, hand-in-glove, with understanding that we create our own reality. That's an unpopular idea with many people, I realize. It is however, the only position that gives one control over our own outcomes and empowers us to move forward, no matter what happens. Far more flexible (and therefore useful) than playing "victim" and reducing our responses to cowering and moaning when things don't go the way we prefer.
I've a quotation that I favour, so much in fact that I have it printed and posted in my office. It has no attribution for author and I have been unable to find a source for it so far. In any case, it is this:
My position in life
is equal to the sum
of all the decisions
I have made,
Or allowed
others
to make for me.
What I choose
is what I am.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Calculators: Credit Card - moneymanager.com.au
Calculators: Credit Card - moneymanager.com.au
One of the handiest things on the internet are the calculators that are available to compare different interest rates, weights, measures, currency etc. And I often Google up a calculator to work out distances or relative dimensions and the like, but I've never seen a calculator that shows how payments to credit cards will compare, when you alter the minimum monthly payment for example, with the time it would take to pay that amount owing back.
In the example that I selected, $7,000 since I understand that is supposedly the average credit card debt in the US currently (check the figures if you wish, this is a guide, not verified), at at a rate of 17.5% which is relatively low, the payment time is 28 years. Naturally this assumes that nothing else is added to the card ;-)
Check it out.
Calculators: Credit Card - moneymanager.com.au
One of the handiest things on the internet are the calculators that are available to compare different interest rates, weights, measures, currency etc. And I often Google up a calculator to work out distances or relative dimensions and the like, but I've never seen a calculator that shows how payments to credit cards will compare, when you alter the minimum monthly payment for example, with the time it would take to pay that amount owing back.
In the example that I selected, $7,000 since I understand that is supposedly the average credit card debt in the US currently (check the figures if you wish, this is a guide, not verified), at at a rate of 17.5% which is relatively low, the payment time is 28 years. Naturally this assumes that nothing else is added to the card ;-)
Check it out.
Calculators: Credit Card - moneymanager.com.au
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