An Assortment of Ramblings about Business, Our Economy, and Famous Quotes
I have always challenged famous people, quotes, and statements made by teachers, figures of authority, and our national leaders/media for their validity. Just because it is spoken, is it always true?
I do a fair amount of study reviewing and evaluating different authors on the subjects of business and self-improvement. Anything that has to do with business excites me. I am always working to discover what works for me and clients.
One of my colleagues talks about how we value the written word versus spoken word. He will tell you that the same information can be:
- Hand written on a piece of paper
- Printed from a computer printer
- Appear on a website
- Be printed in the Wall Street Journal
- Appear in the American Medical Journal
In each case the magnitude of acceptance increases by where it appears respectively. The magnitude of acceptance by 90% of the public has little or nothing to do with the content from his view point! My observation is similar. Substance should out weigh where it appears or who says it. Their politics, nationality, origin of race, or the business (unless they are THE expert in their field) of the presenter should have little to no bearing on the content. We have become a society of mindless followers judging outcomes by who says it rather than evaluating what is said.
Do we take responsibility for our actions today? My biggest eye opener came when society demanded that we label “Hot Coffee” on coffee cups. And now we are spending tax payer money for companies and individuals that made ill-advised business decisions.
Take John F. Kennedy’s most famous quote, “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Or consider Will Rogers, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” And then we can consider Mark Twain’s “Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen.” We could create volumes of text discussing (through thought) the truth, current value for now/then of these famous individuals. Was it true then? Is it true now? Does it even apply? Is there something that fits the situation better? Why do we just accept what we are told just because someone old, dead, or experienced said it? And who are the they in “They said it?” Because “They said it,” we are to believe it?
As I write this the nation’s unemployment rate is over 10%. That means that almost 90% are employed. The good news is 90% are employed! The next time you hear a negative statistic you might ask yourself, “What is the upside of that statistic?”
So how does this apply to our businesses? It is in the way we make decisions. When I hear people in business talk about the recession today I consider it background noise. Anyone who is truly in business is figuring out how to measure, market, and mange their business for growth. Now, if you are using the recession as a method for attracting more business, I support you. As example, in the Real Estate industry, realtors I know are using “Bank Owned” signs as a marketing tool to attract new clients. Congratulations!
Gerry Rose runs INTEGRITY Networking Solutions in Oceanside, CA. He works with people in business who want to attract the right prospects and generate more referrals. More than 10,000 businesses have been presented the INTEGRITY Networking Solutions system in San Diego, Riverside, and Orange Counties.
Gerry’s stimulating presentation Unlimited Prospects, Unlimited Referrals is ideally suited for small business owners, home-based businesses, and independent professionals who want clearer direction and want to attract more prospects, develop dynamic systems, and strengthen their companies’ accountability. Gerry does one on one consulting, conducts a range of keynote speeches from thirty minutes to full-day education workshops.
His book series, Unlimited Prospects, Unlimited Referrals, are available on the website, www.integritysd.com.
Gerry has more than 20 years’ experience directing business owners how to grow their businesses. He is a networking dynamo. Those who know him will assure you that he does a great job of bringing people together—which is why he started INTEGRITY.
Involved with networking organizations since 1984, Gerry is a Distinguished Toastmaster, a member of Toastmaster International, and has chaired numerous chambers of commerce and non-profit organizations.
Are you truly committed to attracting the right prospects and generate more referrals? If so then contact INTEGRITY Networking Solutions for availability and information. You can contact Gerry by mail at 1610 Quiet Hills Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056. Direct dial (760) 439-4623; e-mail to gerry@integritysd.com. For more information, go to www.integritysd.com
