Sanders Says

Sunshine is the cure for spiritual cancer

Here's an excerpt from my new book, Saving The World At Work:

Many employees spend their entire work life under artificial lights. This situation can affect their moods as well as their performance.   A landmark 2003 study for the Environmental Protection Agency by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that natural light improves an employee's vision, function, and productivity, but most important, mood-it wards off depression and alleviates job stress.

In their book Cradle to Cradle, William McDonough and Michael Braungart talk about a new Herman Miller furniture factory that was redesigned with bigger windows and skylights, allowing sunshine to pour into the entire workspace. The employees' mood improved immediately, and so did productivity.

The factory managers noticed a side benefit as well: A number of workers who left for higher wages at a competitor's factory returned in a few weeks. Asked why, they told management they couldn't stand to work in the dark.

You can also make a difference with seating assignments. It's easy enough to move people around, especially in a cubicle environment, so that no employee has to work in 100 percent artificial light for more than a few months at a time.

No matter what your job title, you can effect change. At Aveda, an electrician came across a Web site featuring a new hybrid lighting system developed by Oak Ridge National Labs. Unlike solar power, which transforms sunshine into electricity, the hybrid system pulls sunlight into a rooftop dish and pipes it into the building, spraying it directly into a room while filtering out any harmful rays.  The electrician, who was working in a windowless room at the time, thought it was an excellent idea and showed it to his boss, mechanical engineer Jim Gausman. Gausman decided the system would mesh naturally with Aveda's alternative-energy program, so he pitched it to CEO Dominique Conseil, who immediately gave it the green light.

NOTE:  I just heard Bidwell Center founder Bill Strickland speak at the Conscious Capitalism conference.  With regards to natural light he said, "The cure for spiritual cancer is natural light, fresh flowers and enthusiasm.  People are a function of their natural surroundings.  Put them in a building that feels like a prison, and they'll behave like prisoners!"

If you've never seen Bill Strickland give his famous slideshow presentation, watch it now!  It will change your life and inspire you to help others reach their potential.  (Bill Strickland at the TED Talks with Herbie Hancock)

Practice getting fired

With the economy on the slide, layoffs and cutbacks loom over our days. 

If the corporate grim-reaper makes a visit to your cube this Winter, are you ready?  Will you act like you 'saw it coming' or make a desperate fool out of yourself?  It really comes down to the element of surprise. A few weeks ago I visited Gene and Julie Gates at KVIL where they host a morning show radio program. 

They told me a great story about how they knew they were going to be fired, so they rehearsed it!  (Gene and Julie practice getting fired).  What was the benefit of such work?  Dignity.  Since they'd already been through it, when the actual time came, they were calm about it.  

If you know someone (hint) that might be getting fired/laid off or downsized, suggest a rehearsal. Remember:  When the economy improves, many people are offered their job back.  

Unless they totally freaked out when they were cut! 

Ghostland Observatory: Folie a deaux

My good friend JB Hager showed me a YouTube video of Austin art dance-duo Ghostland Observatory. 

In short, they rock.  They killed at Austin City Limits, and their new record is like Air meets The Killers with a dollup of NIN.  They have one of the most exciting 2 person live shows in alt-club world.  

I just picked up their newest disc, Robotique Majestique.  Check out track 3 (No Place For Me) and track 4 (Freeheart Lover) for a taste of this act.   There is something very special about this singer, so don't miss one of the big indie-electro buzz bands of the year.   There are more than six great tracks on this disc, so buy it in full -- this is no one-hit-flashband.  

Look for synergies and you will find them

John Mackey's Conscious Capitalism conference/conclave was a magical event last week in Austin. 

For three days, about one hundred likeminded souls gathered to present, listen and interact around the theme of business as agent of common good.  There were so many great ideas, I'll likely be reporting on them for months.  

One of the key takeaways came from John Mackey's closing remarks at the event.  He explained that supporting local development, for example, can have high costs/risks or create incredible synergies.  If you are looking for high costs or downside, you'll find them, he said.  

However, if you are looking for synergies and mid to long term payoffs, you'll find them too.  So look for them, he explained.  Wow.  He's right.  This whole issue (measuring the biz ROI of conscious capitalism) wheels around the company's VALUES.  

What do I mean?  In my new book, I define values as "the criteria by which we allocate resources."  If you value contribution, you'll allocate resources to find synergy -- even if it is hidden below the surface of easy facts.  If you value covering-your-behind, you'll dispatch resources to estimate costs, budget, potential negative reactions, etc.  You won't likely do both.  

So look for synergies, yet be realistic about costs.  Look for low cost (think time, effort, advice) opps and spend some time imagining how helping others will help the company in the long term.   

Catch my last public tour gig in West Palm Beach FL!

On December 3, in West Palm Beach, I'll be giving at talk at the Get Down To Business Lunch, hosted by Easter Seals Florida. 

It's the last talk on the 2008 book tour, a great cause and a wonderful location. 

I love the Easter Seals mission to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities.  

Please join me in celebrating the tour, the cause and life at this event. 

Networking for Mentoring

Guest post by Mark J Carter (with Saving The World at Work/Networking For A Cause)

When you're networking what are you usually looking for?  Clients? 

If it's business relationships within your own company, then what?

For both those cases there's a new reason to network: to become a mentor or find a mentor.

Tim says in "Saving The World At Work": "Corporate mentorship programs help employees become more successful at the company and lay the foundation for flourishing careers." and "If your company doesn't have a mentorship progra, think about creating one yourself."

Here's a quick strategy for networking for mentoring (both at events and within your company):

If you want to BE a mentor know what your expertise is, how much time you have to offer and talk about those with people.  Ask them (at events) what type of people they're looking for and why.  If they mention struggling with the subject of your expertise offer to help, even if it's a phone call.

If you WANT a mentor isolate one or two skill sets you'd like to learn...then talk about them and directly tell people you're looking for someone to help you learn.  The best mentors tend to be the most giving people.

Mentoring can be one of the most rewarding experiences.

Have you been a mentor?  Had a mentor?  How did that professional relationship help your career?

Post your response below; looking forward to talking!

 

Gary Hamel on "The Leadership Training Fallacy"

I'm at the Conscious Capitalism conference in Austin this week. 

It was organized by Whole Food's founder and CEO, John Mackey.  There are a cavalcade of thought leader gurus here, and one of them is Gary Hamel.  He wrote the fabulous book, Leading The Revolution.   

One of his remarks really struck me:  "This country was founded by geniuses and mostly run by idiots. Conversely, many companies are started by idiots [with good timing].  What does this mean?  We spend much time and money training employees to become leaders and not enough time teaching them to be successful with crummy leadership in place." 

Wow.  If you step back and think of it, that is pretty deep.  Have you ever worked at a company with mediocre leaders, but good products?  If you, and your coworkers, knew how to succeed despite them, you are saving the company!  

Why would mediocre leaders still be in place?  Family run companies, organizational momentum, charisma, the list of reasons is endless.  Hamel's right, though.  I've never heard of training for success in a low quality leadership environment.  Do you have any suggestions?  

Why birthdays are an important to your relationship life

Today is my 47th birthday. 

So far, I've received about 20 thoughtful emails from friends and biz mates wishing me a great day.  How do they know it's my birthday?  They found out somehow, put it in their calendar and remembered to send me a note or call me today.  They also probably voted! 

I really appreciate the thought, and it makes me feel special. 

I've learned that birthdays are a platform (excuse) to let someone know how much you care about him or her.  Done on other days, a person might be suspicious or cynical.  On your birthday, anyone can give you some love! 

I've noticed that great networkers are birthday wishing fanatics.  They find out the birthday early on, schedule a reminder and take the time to follow up.  Facebook makes it even easier as most users have their birthday on their profile and your 'friend feed' shows all your friends having birthdays.  

My New Year's resolution is to be much much better at being a B-Day wisher.  

PS -- If you want to do something nice for me today, buy a copy of Saving The World at Work for yourself, your friend or your team.  Nothing would make me happier!

Interview social media expert Chris Brogan

Posted by Mark J Carter (with Saving The World at Work & Networking For A Cause)

Tim Sanders will be interviewing bloggers and online community managers/leaders about what is important to YOU when it comes to "Saving The World At Work".  I'll be organizing the interviews and posting them here as well as on Facebook and on www.SavingTheWorld.net (this one can be found at http://tinyurl.com/5sb8tz)

Below is an interview with Chris Brogan.

Chris Brogan is a ten year veteran of using social media and technology to build digital relationships for businesses, organizations, and individuals. Chris speaks, blogs, writes articles, and makes media of all kinds at [chrisbrogan.com], a blog in the top 20 of the Advertising Age Power 150 and in the top 100 on Technorati.

Sanders: What are your top priorities as a person and a blogger, when it comes to changing the world?

Brogan: As a person, my top priorities are to be helpful. I've shifted from working on myself to working on raising up as many other people as I can. The reason is simple: I'm only one man and can't scale well. Now, I need an army.

Sanders: What ways would you say bloggers can create social change within the communities they belong to?

Brogan: Bloggers have the tools to spread information around quickly and simply. They are the Gutenberg Press of our times. They are the newspaper, the TV, the radio, and more. With this in mind, they can bring voice to previously silent needs.

Sanders: What other socially conscious bloggers do you respect and why?

Brogan: Beth Kanter, hands down. She is the patron saint of showing people how tech (especially online media) can help change the world. She's the best at what she does.

Sanders: What causes are most important to you and why?

Brogan: I'm very supportive of children's causes, probably because I'm a dad, but honestly, I support causes that benefit humans in need. I'm not as fussy about political issues, because I feel that some of those situations are higher up in Maslow's hierarchy of need. Let's just make the kids okay as a start.

****Be sure to visit www.SavingTheWorld.net; the new online community for socially conscious people and businesses. Create your own free profile, blog and more!

Create a network for good @ work

Here's one of the most inspiring stories from Saving The World at Work (The Joan story). 

Joan works in the legal group in one of Microsoft's business units in Washington.  She's passionate about the environment, and wanted to help Microsoft become a leader in this area.  She moved the needle at that massive company by forming a network of Micro-Greenies and pointing them in the right direction. 

Download the Joan Krujewski mini eBook

Buy my new book on Amazon 

Buy my new book at Barnes and Noble online