1000 Cranes Blog

Advice from the CDC

With all the discussion surrounding the announcement from the World Health Organization regarding the likelihood of a swine flu epidemic, here are some tips that came directly from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta's website. 

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

• Stay informed. This website will be updated regularly as information becomes available.
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies.
• Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.

I must admit, I'm rethinking my travel arrangements for the next several month until this disease is better understood.   If several countries around the world are monitoring flights coming from all counties in North America, this is serious business.   We are such a mobile society, that it doesn't hurt to be cautious. 

Are you changing your habits to adapt to the swine flu outbreak?

Why do you think there is so much attention on this particular outbreak? 

Are You Prepared?

With all the discussion right now about the swine flu outbreak, it gives us pause to think about how fragile life can be and how we need to appreciate every day we have on this earth.   It's also a wake-up call for all of us to keep our affairs in order and to put together an action plan for crisis situations. 

Not only do we need to think about precautions to keep ourselves healthy with vaccines and face masks, we also need to look at how we can protect ourselves and our loved ones in case of an emergency.  

I have a health care power of attorney and living will in place, but it hasn't been revised in over five years.  This incident helped me realize that it's time to get my affairs in order...just in case.  This may blow over without incident, and I'm hope the best for everyone. 

What are you doing to prepare yourself and your loved ones? 

Have you considered what you need to do to get your affairs in order? 

The Psychology of Spending

According to a recent CNN article, Clark Howard recommends that to reduce the amount you spend, just don't touch the merchandise. 

He states that "the Journal of Consumer Research confirms what many have long believed, when you touch something in a store, you feel a sense of ownership and you're more likely to overpay for that item."  So, it's very simple, if you don't touch an item when you're in a store, you're less likely to buy it.  If you don't feel you have a sense of ownership over an item, you're less likely to pay for it.  

Psychologically, advertisers also know that if you even imagine yourself owning an item, then you are inclined to seek it out as well.  

He also mentions that sometimes people shop as a way to overcome the blues.  If you know you're this kind of person, the best thing to do is to avoid the stores!  Go to the park or take a walk instead of shopping.  It's the best therapy. 

He also mentions that he shops without a shopping cart, if he can't fit it in his two hands.  If he doesn't have the space to carry it, he isn't likely to do impulse spending. 

So in a nutshell, to save on your spending habits:
1) Don't touch it.
2) Don't imagine owning it. 
3) Don't use shopping as a way to overcome the blues.
4) Don't use a shopping cart! 

Have you found yourself in these economic times purchasing items out of impulse to fill an emotional void? 

What other strategies do you use to curb your spending? 

Happy Earth Day!

In my travels to DC, I found it very convenient to take the train.  On Monday, I flew to Baltimore to attend the Muhammad Yunus event, and then the following Tuesday morning, I took the MARC train to downtown Washington, DC.  Both MARC and Amtrak are so convenient!  It's easy to purchase tickets the same day of travel, and there is no fuss with security lines, etc.   So in celebration of Earth Day, traveling back to Cary, NC by train made the most sense.   

What did you do to celebrate Earth Day! 

Have you considered public transportation for any business or leisure trips you have scheduled? 

Muhammad Yunus in Baltimore

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of hearing Muhammad Yunus speak at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, and it was inspiring to see how this man took a simple concept of microloans to the poor and turned this into a movement.  What started as the first $27.00 loan to a group of families in Bangladesh became the start of The Grameen Bank which means "The Village Bank."  

He only spoke for about 40 minutes with 20 minues of questions from the audience.  It was far too short of a talk as I could have listened to him much more about the journey he has taken to earn him such recognition around the world. 

It was wonderful to hear how our modern-day notions of who is "credit-worthy" has truly changed especially with what has happened in the world economy.  The poor who have been often overlooked because they didn't have the proper pedigree or credentials are indeed the ones who are coming through on their promises.

The Grameen Bank has a phenomenal success rate of 99% or better.  What was surprising was that he opened a Grameen Bank in New York City just before the implosion of the banking crisis in the private sector.  He said he has over 600 clients in the New York City area in Queens and some of the other boroughs, and he has a 99.6% success rate in the collection of his loans. 

It's surprising with the success that he has had that more bankers have not taken the time to follow his model. 

Muhammad Yunus also mentioned the need to rethink the system of banking.  Although we are in the middle of a financial crisis, this is an opportunity for us to rethink the systems and to become more inclusive and expanding the loans to include the poor.  We need to rethink how we view people in this world. 

It was also a treat to watch the event with some friends in the area.  Chester France (of The C. Whitney Group) and I had worked on a speech regarding "Consulting with the Faith-Based Community" nearly three years ago in Los Angeles, so it was great to catch up with him again.  I also met with Jessica Anders of NeighborWorks America and her friend, Nell.   It was a wonderful evening of inspiration and fellowship that was well worth the trip. 

How do you think about the banking industry and the idea of microloans to the poor?

Why do you think the Grameen Bank is so successful when other banks have been remiss in collecting its payments? 

A Truly Interconnected World

I'm currently reading the book, "The Blue Sweater:  Bringing the Gap between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World," by Jacqueline Novogratz, and the title of the book refers to an act of circumstance that shows how truly interconnected we are to the world.  

The blue sweater was a favorite of hers that had been given to her by a dear uncle.  She wore that sweater with pride for many years and wrote her name on the tag so she always knew it was hers.  She decided to  donate it to a local Virginia charity in her high school years thinking she would never see it again.  Fast forward over a decade later, and she's while she's jogging in Africa, in Kigali, Rwanda, she comes across a young boy wearing her sweater!   She stops him and checks the tag, and indeed it is her sweater. 

Some would call that synchronicity or serendipity or divine intervention.  No matter what words you choose, it is truly remarkable. 

I had an opportunity this week on a small scale to experience that myself.  I received an inquiry from the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin.  They are in search of consultants and found my name in the Alliance for Nonprofit Management website and were drawn to the name of the company, 1000 Cranes.  When reflecting back on the organization, I realized that this is the same organization that carried the beautiful holiday cards I sent to customers in 2007.   In fact, I was a customer of them prior to their call. 

I've sent them a quotation, and I hope I'll have the opportunity to report some good news if we decide to work together.  Regardless, I was so moved by their outreach, that I provided some consulting tips regardless of what consulting firm they choose. 

My friends often tell me I give away too much, but honestly, I don't find it a burden to give advice that will help nonprofits.  It's part of the circle of paying it forward.  I know good will come of it regardless of the outcome. 

What kinds of serendipitous events have happened to you where you've had a "blue sweater" moment?

What are you willing to do to give of yourself for the benefit of others?

What are you holding back?

Millions of viewers were absolutely blown away when Scotland's Susan Boyle unleashed her voice on the world.  She is now a YouTube sensation thanks to the break she was given by Simon Cowell to appear on "Britain's Got Talent". 

As she introduced herself, the audience was skeptical about what they were about to witness.  An outwardly normal and ordinary looking person showed the world that anyone with talent can become a star. 

When asked why she hasn't become a star, she said "I've never been given the chance before." 

It shows you that you never know when your hidden talent will be discovered.  You have to get out of your comfort zone and put yourself out there to get recognized.  Believe in yourself inspite of the skeptics out there!  Susan Boyle is an inspiration! 

What dreams have you put on hold because you had been holding back?  

What have you done to pursue your dreams lately?

Unfortunately, they've disabled the embedding function, so please go to the following link as you must witness this! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z0h1NNk1Ik

Know Your Deadlines!

We all have April 15th ingrained in our heads after years of filing income tax returns.  It was no surprise to me that today, two days before tax filing day, the post office was packed with people submitting their packets.  This year, my account will be filing an extension since there are more details to handle from the transactions from last year. 

In the nonprofit world, deadlines are common place.  Whether it's an RFP (Request for Proposal), a grant submission or a Call for Speakers document that's required for submission, deadlines are so important as it's often the first gateway for consideration. 

Take the time to read deadlines carefully, sometimes the timelines may be more unusual than expected.  I recently submitted a proposal on behalf of 1000 Cranes to the City of Charlottesville, and their deadline was posted as April 9, 2009 at 2:00pm.  That's a Thursday in the middle of the day!  They also required placing the RFP number in the lower left hand corner of the outside envelope so they can process these more easily. 

Attention to detail is crucial whether it's taxes or proposals.  Know your deadlines! 

Have you found that your submission to a deadline was crucial in you winning business and what happened as a result? 

Do you have stories regarding people who have missed deadlines? 

Moose Hunting - A New Way to Look at Marketing

I have been reading "Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do", by Robert H. Schuller.  He is the pastor who created the Crystal Cathedral of Garden Grove, California and talked about keeping a positive attitude inspite of what may be happening around you.  He wrote this book in 1983, and it interesting that 26 years later, the book is still relevant.

He mentions one section regarding when you are looking for prospects, think about what it takes to hunt a moose?  Hunt a moose you might ask?  I am not one for violence against animals for sport.  But if the hunt is for sustenance and survival, then it's necessary.  So the analogy applies to business as well.  In order to survive in business, you need to find your rmoose or customers to sustain yourself.  

If you are Sarah Palin or any other moose hunter, what is the first thing you need to do?  You need to think about where the moose are.  So you wouldn't go to Florida to hunt moose, you'd go to Canada or Alaska or other areas where you can find moose.  Similarly, when hunting moose, what are their behaviors?  What can you do in the way of attracting moose to your area?

Depending on your organization and the market you are pursuing, these are important questions.  Your market may have moved or the "moose have migrated", you need to adapt your business as well to meet the changes in the market. 

What I like about his book is that he continues to encourage the reader to never give up, to continue inspite of how bleak things may seem.  Considering this book was written 25 years ago, I hope that when we reflect 25 years from now on what is taking place in the economy that we'll see that this was only a phase and we'll return to brighter times.

With the changes in the economy, what are you doing to adapt to the market and track the moose? 

Can you think of other analogies similar to moose hunting that might apply to your organization? 

Homeland Security for our Children

I just heard word from my brother's family who lives in Gilbert, AZ that a young 8-year-old-girl, Serena "Rena" Sanchez, has been missing since 3:40pm today.   She was last seen getting of her school bus in her neighborhood, and her backpack was found only a block and 1/2 away from her home. 

With the recent disappearance and death of Sandra Cantu of Tracy, California, this doesn't bode well for our country's children.  Rena Sanchez and Sandra Cantu need to be protected by the predators that roam our streets within this country.  We spend so much time focusing on the problems of drug trafficking and illegal immigration, what about protecting the young people within our own borders? 

I'm particularly disturbed by this as it comes during the week of Passover and just before a holy celebration of Easter Weekend.  When people should be practicing peace and salvation and brotherly love, these acts of evil surround us.   It is truly disturbing, and it is my hope that we will look for ways to help protect our children. 

What do you think should be done to help increase the safety of our neighborhoods? 

Where do you turn in times of stress for neighborhood support?