Can we agree on something better?

• Posted on 16th August 2011
• in Art Based Solutions, Community Change Management, CRM Strategy, Cultural Fusion Art as Philosophy, enVision Subscribers, Green Business, Relationship Management, Social Capital
• by ydubel

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Listening to people discuss current events on the radio - I felt myself move from anger to disappointment as each one acted as defender of their position and then set about vilifying the other person on the opposing side. At the end of discussion, only the last 20 seconds gave attention to what action could help move things forward, however incrementally. It is so typical as to be accepted as normal that little real attention has been given to real change needed or happening. Frustrating.

It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

Would it make a difference if as much energy and attention was given to the many people operating and supporting work that is making an incredible positive difference every day? Instead of addressing the problems inherent in broken systems it feels as if tons of energy goes into unproductive debating about the spackle that is piled on to the most noticeable eye level cracks in the system walls.

As I am always one to look for the bright side and find the lesson…the recent and ongoing collisions of economic, social, and political fronts is teaching us many things I am sure. Certainly one them is that no matter how stupid and ill-informed you think the other side’s position is, progress can’t happen until you learn to collaborate. Politicians as performance artists

My most recent mantra has been: Innovation happens when we open up to what is possible. Something better than this is possible. Now I think I should add a qualifier. I want to pay some attention to what something better than this would look like...how does it feel? What do people say about it? What does it take to get there? It's no small thing for all of us - especially business owners, to begin asking these kind of questions. There's an important internal journey of bridging the gap between where we are now and where we can be. That aspect of ones experience can not be allowed to go ignored. Because it is the foundation of growth. For an organization or community to thrive their must be growth within and for the individuals within it. Common sense, right? I get excited when I get the chance to work with people who see their business - their brand value as being connected to the impact they are having on the world and the customers they serve. This personal experience and its relationship to the brand you are building does have an intimate relationship... Using that to add value to your brand, enhance your quality of life, build or enhance relationships just makes sense. That's what I love helping people do and what I love hearing people talk about. Can we have more of those conversations?

Tags: brand value, branding, current events, marketing, possibility, relationship marketing, response to news, strategy