1000 Cranes Blog

Happy New Decade! Question to consider: "Can I help you?"

It's great to start a new year and a brand new decade!  There is always much to reflect upon when you look back ten years. 

I've been very fortunate as just a few days ago in the span of one day, I was blessed to be reminded of the importance of family, friends and community four times! 

1) It all started with a simple walk with my dog in the morning.  My neighbor was struggling unloading a family heirloom from her SUV.  I stopped and just asked the simple question:  "Can I help you?"   You could tell from the look in her eyes that she was so grateful that I had come along.   It only took minutes for us to move the item together, and I loaned her a hand truck that she could use to move it later once she decided the best place for it in her home.  Such a simple gesture meant so much to her, and it was a gift to me as well.  

2) Next came a scheduled meeting over coffee with a person who was in transition looking for a new marketing position.  We had a mutual friend, and he suggested that the two of us chat.  In this economy, it seems that everyone I know is looking for work.  I feel blessed that I've been able to continue my consulting practice since leaving my full time corporate position in July 2005.  Even though things are sporadic at times, I've been able to survive in these turbulent times.  I've found that partnering with others and creating a strong network have been extremely helpful in surviving.  I was glad to provide her some advice, and perhaps from this conversation, she will be able to help me, too. 

3) Later that afternoon, I drove to Greensboro to attend the funeral of an acquaintance through Toastmasters.  The ceremony was very tasteful and the best part was seeing my Toastmasters family.  I'm not being trite here...it truly felt like family paying tribute to one of our own.  After the tears, hugs and commemoration at the church, we headed to the Cracker Barrel for some reflection and comfort food. 

4) Since I was in Greensboro already, I visited a friend who is recouperating at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem from literally the Mother of All Surgeries (MOAS).   I would prefer not to go into details to protect her privacy, but I do want to say that I admire her courage and strength to go through this.  I was glad I could be there for her so she didn't have to go through this alone.   It was a bit amusing that every medical person who came in contact with her kept asking if we were sisters when I helped to check her into the hospital earlier in the week.  Yes, we're both Asian, but we honestly don't look alike at all...so we just decided that she will be my little sister from now on since everyone thinks that anyway.   Otherwise, I'd have to use my line of "we're half-sisters...she has a different mother, and I have a different father."   :-)  All of this started with the one phrase, "can I help you?" when she told me she had no one to be there with her in the hospital.  I feel that God told me to be there for her, and I was glad I could help.

It seems we live in a society where we think we need to be as strong as possible and do things alone when it's so important to reach out to each other to either ask for help or to simply give it.  Also remember to be specific.  Whether you need help moving something or getting a ride somewhere, all you need to do is ask! 

It's so important to stay connected during any time of need.  Whether it involves simply moving furniture, providing advice to an acquaintance, supporting a family through a funeral or supporting a friend through an illness, community bonds help and heal.  The thing to keep in mind is to be mindful of asking for help where it's mutually convenient.  Most people are happy to help if they know you are also being mindful of them as well.    

Do you feel that you need to be so strong that you don't need help? 

Do you reach out to your family and friends, and how do you extend your help?

What can you do to let your friends and family know you need them?  Don't be embarrassed or ashamed, just ask!  

Generational Perspectives on the Recession

According to the Retuers.com article, A Financial Primer for Generation Y, this is the first generation that may not have equal or greater opportunities than the generation preceding it. 

We have always expected that our children and future generations would have increased opportunities, access to jobs, healthcare and a cleaner environment.  What we're finding is instead, opportunities have declined, fewer jobs are available, little or no healthcare is available, and climate change is a centerpiece of global concern. 

For some who were born during the Depression in the late 1920's to early 1930's many of them are seeing their savings dwindle and to paraphrase a quote I heard at a speech two weeks ago "I'm going to be born during the Depression and die during a Depression."  These people are known to be extra cautious regarding their finances already because of the time they were born, but now that they are in their golden years, to some, this has caused them to rethink retirement or start another career just to make ends meet. 

As technology has allowed us to increase our lifespans and distribute data systems around the world, we are now faced with some of these realities of jobs going overseas and more people vying for what jobs are left whether workers are in their early 20s to early 80s.   People are faced with tougher decisions regarding their purchases and lifetsyle habits.  

With tough times comes strength, I believe.  This is the time when greatness shines in people.   It is also the time, if we're not careful, where the bitterness and anger can come out too. 

When faced with tough times, I have always believed that it's best to remember that this is only a phase.  We may be faced with a problem or a crisis in our lives, but it ALWAYS passes.  It may take days, months or years,but it always passes. 

Regardless of how you feel about the current situation in the world, it's also important to remember the greatness that you and your community holds. 

During tough financial times, what do you do to make ends meet whether in your personal life or in your business?  

Why do you think a person's character is tested during tough times?  Why does their greatness shine through then and not everyday?

Where would you be today if you didn't have challenges to face in your life? 

Funding for Social Enterprise Ventures

Diana Ransom wrote an excellent article about some of the challenges entrepreneurs face when starting a social enterprise. 

Unlike traditional businesses where investors expect high returns based upon the risks they take, social enterprises often can't offer those kinds of returns.  They must attract investors who may be willing to take a lower return on investment financially but reap the rewards of the social impact they are making in communities. 

Since nonprofits are not allowed to raise capital based on stock sales or direct equity investment, many of them must position themselves for investment by other means in order to move forward their visions and missions of social enterprise. 

In the article, "Starting Up:  Funding Your Social Venture," there are four ways discussed, these are:

• Social Investment Funds (ex. Nonprofit Finance Fund and the Acumen Fund)
• Foundations (ex. The Ashoka Foundation and the Skoll Foundations)
• Banks and Corporations (ex. ShoreBank, Citigroup Foundation and Google Foundation)
• Angel and Venture Capitalists (ex. The Investors Circle and Underdog Ventures)

Sound familiar?  Although all four of these reflect similar kinds of investment vehicles that would be used to fund a for-profit venture, these twists have a few things in common:

1) Focus on community development and/or social missions.
2) Lower than market rate returns.
3) Lean toward early stage or seed capital projects. 

As more people become aware of the benefit of investment in social enterprises, it's anticipated these kinds of funding pools will grow.  Perhaps it also reflects the change in our attitudes in society about how to empower economic prosperity in a traditionally underserved world.

If you had the opportunity to invest in a social enterprise, what would it be? 

Why do you think more investment vehicles are now available for social enterprises?

What else would make social enterprise more attractive to investors? 

Building Green Business "DNA"

Of course being a gradudate from UC Berkeley in Genetics and Microbiology, I was intrigued when I came across the article in Ecopreneurist called "Triple Bottom Line:  The DNA of a Green Business Starts with People".  It's the first of a series of articles that talks about the three concepts of green and sustainable businesses which are people, planet and economy.  

In this article, John Ivanko mentions two of the four stakeholder groups of people.  These are customers and workers. 

Customers will drive how you deliver your services.  They may demand less use of plastic and more use of recycled paper products.  They may request that fair trade goods are provided at your facility.  They may also ask what you do with construction projects in developing green buildings and whether you use no volatile organic compounds (no-VOC)  such as environmentally safe paints. 

Workers are an important part of the equation as they need to be treated fairly and given a respectable wage.  Workers who feel they contribute to the growth of the organization and also reap the rewards will continue to help the organization thrive. 

One of the phrases which he highlights is "you don't need to grow large to be exceptional". 

I think we can all learn from that.  1000 Cranes has been a small company for the last five years.  This year we've expanded slowly with office locations in Washington, DC and Toronto, Canada, and we are now launching our first set of public courses that will embody some of the principles of social responsibilty.  You don't have to be big to be great! 

When you think about successful businesses or organizations, do you often believe that is because of their size or stature? 

What do you think makes an exceptional organization? 

Why do you think smaller businesses do a better job at meeting customer needs? 

An Upcoming Historic Election and V3 Campaign

2008 will prove to be one of the most talked about elections in the United States as the Republicans have named Sarah Palin as their Vice-Presidential candidate.  Although this is not a political blog, I want to give equal time to the posting I did recently about Barack Obama's nomination.  With the nomination of Sarah Palin, no matter who wins, we will be breaking barriers and giving opportunities to those who had not had them in the past. 

I was in Great Britain at the Social Enterprise World Forum during the Republican National Convention, and since I was representing Canada it was interesting to see the responses of the Brits to the pomp and circumstance.  As a Canadian representative (1000 Cranes has a Toronto office), many Brits felt free to openly bash Americans in front of me even though I'm a US Citizen.  It felt like being a fly on the wall, and there is quite a bit of distaste against our current administration.  Clearly, the world is watching our elections as closely as we are, and it will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

One thing that came out of the conference I attended was a call to action by Robert Egger with his "V3 Campaign".  He is very excited that we will be having an election that does not include an incumbent.  With the V3 campaign which stands for Voice, Vote and Value, he asks the nonprofit community to band together to ask how each candidate will plan to partner with the nonprofit community.  This isn't just the President and Vice-President offices but any office from mayor and above. 

The nonprofit community collectively holds $3Trillion dollars in assets and collects $260Billion in contributions.  If the nonprofit community was a country, it would be the 7th largest economy in the world equivalent to that of a country like India!   

So it's time to ask our politicians the question no matter who gets into office.  What are you planning to do to partner with the nonprofit community so that they have a say in the decision making process? 

Now that you know the nonprofit community has such a large asset base, what do you think our politicians should do to work with the nonprofit community?

What issues engage you with each political candidate and how will these apply to nonprofits? 

How do you think the world will view the United States based on the outcome of the election? 

Scottish Landowner to Reintroduce Species

It seems fitting that while I'm here in Edinburgh, Scotland for the Social Enterprise World Forum, I found an article on CNN called "Scottish glen takes highland fling with big beasts." 

Paul Lister is a landowner of a 93,000 hectare tract in the Scottish Highlands at Alladale, 45 minutes north of Inverness, and he intends to reintroduce big species such as bear, lynx and wolves on his Alladale Wilderness Lodge and Preserve.  He wants to do this as a way to reintroduce species that have gone extinct in this area of the UK in a controlled manner.   He is working closely with Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) to ensure the release of species is done in a prudent manner.

When deer and sheep were introduced into the area in the 18th and 19th century, much of the land was felled in order to accommodate the grazing requirements of these animals.  This in part resulted in the decline of these big species. 

He has already introduced wild boar into the area as well as some elk which are helping with aerating the land to allow the seeds from trees to germinate. 

Mr. Lister is running into some obstacles from the Ramblers' Association of Scotland.  According to the article, "since 2003, Scotland has had right to roam legislation, allowing members of the public access to the countryside, but Lister's plans include a boundary fence, which, critics say, will keep the walkers out­ unless they are prepared to pay for a guided tour­ as well as keeping the animals in."

The ramblers fear that if Mr. Lister gets his way, several areas which should have public access will become "modern day Jurrasic Park." 

I think Mr. Lister has good intentions, but it may be short-sighted.  Species don't tend to stay in an enclosed area, especially species such as the wolf which is known to travel great distances in packs.  Focusing on reforestation projects may be a better approach with a small introduction of animals as he's already done with the boars and elk.  Turning this into a tourist attraction undermines his intentions if indeed he is altrusitic.

Do you think a landowner has the right to introduce dangerous species onto his land and why? 

What other ways can we work to preserve land? 

Do you think the ramblers should have their walking rights based on the 2003 legislation?  Or should the legislation be changed in order to accommodate Mr. Lister's request? 

Historic Day for the United States

Regardless of whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, today is a historic day where Barack Obama was officially nominated as the Democratic candidate for President.  It will be a tough act to follow for the Republicans next week when they take the stage in Minneapolis.  No matter how inspiring the speeches, they will have a tough time upstaging Barack Obama's historic nomination.

This blog is not intended to be a proponent one way or another, and to give equal time, I will post something for John McCain when his name is put up for nomination next week.   I only mention Barack Obama's nomination as it is a historic event and one that can't be ignored. 

What we need to celebrate here is not the partisan politics, but the ability for our country to go about an election process that is nonviolent, one that provides a smooth transition of power no matter who we choose to be our leader. 

Unlike Zimbabwe, whose President, Robert Mugabe, used intimidation and force to remove his opponent from competition, the US system (as with other International democratic systems) allows the people to vote every four years for the candidate of their choice.  This transition is done peacefully, and through a process that involves the people. 

How do you think our society would differ if we had a different approach to government?

How do you think our government voting process could be improved to better encourage the people to become more involved?   

With this historic transition, what other opportunities do you think will be available to future candidates? 

Monkeys Choose the "Prosocial" Option

I came across an article in Reuters called "Monkeys experience joy of giving, too, study finds."  In the study, it was shown that capuchin monkeys when given a choice of a token to feed only themselves or get enough food to feed themselves and another monkey the chose the "prosocial" option.

The study shows that capuchin monkeys are capable of showing empathy and that they find reward in helping others.   According to researchers at the Yerkes Research Center at Emory University, "subjects systematically favored the prosocial option provided their partner was a) familiar, b) visible, and c) receiving rewards of equal value."

The idea of helping another shows how these monkeys found reward not only in feeding themselves but of knowing their action helped others.  If monkeys were very familiar with another, then their tendency was greater.  This ties very closely with the importance of having close relationships.  Whether you are part of a team or a partnership, it's important to build these close bonds of familiarity.

If you were given a choice as the monkeys were above, would you choose the option to feed yourself and another?  And would you be more likely to pick that choice if you knew the person who would be rewarded?

Why do you think relationships are important in our social fabric?

What could you do to build closer relationships with your partners? 

The Blind Helping the Weary

The Olympics have been taking place in Beijing, and I could only imagine what it would be like as a spectator.  Sometimes when I get a chance to travel, I'll get a massage to ease my weary muscles.  When you're attending a convention, often this can be extra tiring, so massages are often worth the investment!

While surfing the Reuters site, I came across this video of a massage parlor in Beijing that has a specialty of blind masseuses!  So what could seem as a disadvantage in this career becomes advantageous in treating people's ailments.

As you know, I am a proponent of helping others, and I like to see ways that people can make an honest and profitable living inspite of any disabilities.  This is a very inspiring story to see that this business is thriving with a staff that may not have the same opportunities in other fields. 

Can you think of other ways that a supposed disability can be used as an advantage? 

What other training can be done to ensure the customers' needs are met in this business model?

Could this business model be construed as exploitation, or do you think (like I do), that this is a way to encourage others with disabilities to think about some innovative career opportunities? 

What is Your Quiet Revolution?

Seems like Brazil is undergoing what the BBC calls a "quiet revolution",  With the abundance of land and excellent growing conditions, Brazil is poised to be the leader in production and delivery of food to some of our fastest growing Nations. 

What some have described as panic conditions with more people around the world demanding more food, Brazil is discovering it is poised to become a leader in being able to meet this demand. 

When Thomas Friedman discussed the issues of food in "The World is Flat", we are now looking at a global market food chain where the interdependencies of many countries will drive the winners and losers in this new world. 

What fascinates me about this article is how interdependency of human basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter will be the areas that drive countries, businesses and organizations into successful International markets. 

With the onset of social enterprises around the world, there will be a quiet revolution of non-governmental organizations also taking advantage of this "flattening world". 

What industries do you anticipate will help non-governmental organizations grow in this new world economy? 

Do you see your country becoming a greater importer or exporter of food in this global market food chain? 

What other impacts do you see between Nations as economies become more tightly intertwined especially in industries fulfilling basic human needs?