Grateful

It's often said when you're stuck or feel down, helping someone less fortunate can be the biggest gift for both of you. No matter your religion or cultural background, there are points in your life when you have felt beaten down and sad.

Those are the times to take out a piece of paper and a pen and write down all the things that are going well. You may not think it's a long list but if you let your mind go, be kind to you, and think deep, you will find it. And it might just change your life.

Here's my list for today.

I am grateful for my health and for my loving family.
I am grateful for wonderful friends who are family and for food in my belly.

I am grateful for the ability to help others and for collaboration.
I am grateful for a vast network of people to explore new and exciting ideas.

I am grateful for chocolate. and or all of my senses and physical abilities.

I am grateful for music and for the ability to live in a cool town.
I am grateful for a charmed life and for creativity.

I am grateful for the desire and chance to do something bigger than me.
I am grateful for a great home and for freedom.

I am grateful for my passion for cooking and for learning my lesson.

I am grateful for a remarkable group of colleagues around the world.
I am grateful for curiosity. I am grateful for sharing and for coffee.

I am grateful for being able to give back and for perspective.
I am grateful for possibilities and for the ability to share this with you.

I am grateful for the blessing of a clever mind and for compassion.

Now it's your turn.
__________________________________________________________________

I Am Grateful

It's often said when you're stuck or feel down, helping someone less fortunate can be the biggest gift for both of you. No matter your religion or cultural background, there are points in your life when you have felt beaten down and sad.

Those are the times to take out a piece of paper and a pen and write down all the things that are going well. You may not think it's a long list but if you let your mind go, be kind to you, and think deep, you will find it. And it might just change your life.

Here's my list for today.

I am grateful for my health. I am grateful for my loving family.
I am grateful for wonderful friends who are family. I am grateful for food in my belly.

I am grateful for the ability to help others. I am grateful for collaboration.
I am grateful for a vast network of people to explore new and exciting ideas.

I am grateful for chocolate. I am grateful for all of my senses and physical abilities.

I am grateful for music. I am grateful for the ability to live in a cool town.
I am grateful for a charmed life. I am grateful for creativity.

I am grateful for the desire and chance to do something bigger than me.
I am grateful for a great home, I am grateful for now. I am grateful for freedom.

I am grateful for my passion for cooking. I am grateful for learning my lesson.

I am grateful for a remarkable group of colleagues around the world.
I am grateful for curiosity. I am grateful for sharing. I am grateful for coffee.

I am grateful for being able to give back. I am grateful for perspective.
I am grateful for possibilities. I am grateful for the ability to share this with you.

I am grateful for the blessing of a clever mind. I am grateful for compassion.

Your turn.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit

37 Business Ideas

If you’re in business, it’s safe to say you want to win. And if you don’t want to win, one must ponder the reason you’re in business.

Often companies are looking for the competitive advantage.

Imagine for a moment that you had to find those things you could do better than your competition and you had no additional capital to do so. Not much of a stretch these days!

In no particular order, here are 37 ideas you may want to try…

1. Be honest with yourself.
2. The customer may not know what they need.
3. Read Cluetrain Manifesto. Free copy here.
4. Don’t blame others.
5. Mean it.
6. Actually keep an open mind.
7. Have a plan.
8. Help others when there’s nothing in it for you.
9. Lighten up.
10. Actually give good customer service.
11. Over deliver.
12. Never call yourself an expert.
13. Return emails.
14. Demand honest perspective from others.
15. Focus.
16. Anticipate customer need.
17. It’s not about price.
18. Laugh often.
19. Drive a different way to work
20. Say thank-you.
21. Figure out what you can win.
22. Listen or watch something motivational every day.
23. Don’t hide.
24. Ask for feedback and wait for the answer.
25. Avoid preconceived notions.
26. Your resume is irrelevant.
27. Tell the truth.
28. Be willing to give some for free.
29. Keep it simple.
30. Don’t over-think. Don’t under plan.
31. Listen to customers. No, really.
32. Have lunch out of the office by yourself.
33. Work smarter.
34. Deliver what you said you would deliver.
35. Manage expectations.
36. Eat more chocolate.
37. Remember, none of us gets out of this alive.

@knealemann

photo credit: mag3737

The Choice Is Ours

Recently a friend sent me an article about the future of television and the growing success of cable or specialty outlets.

I have always been fascinated by the never ending shift in what I call 'The 3 T’s': Tastes, Trends, and Technology. And what is most fascinating is the egg and chicken are ever present.

Does technology create new trends? Do audience tastes create demand for new technology? Do trends simply morph to whatever is available?

Ten years ago, there were no iPods. Now, Apple owns over 70% of the market in portable mp3 players. Did we need a portable music device that plays thousands of downloaded songs? No, but we don’t need chocolate ice cream either. Okay ...bad examples ;-)

It’s hilarious when a sensational story hits the news cycle – editors and producers scream on their boxes of soap about the public's need to know. Designers will spout the need to satisfy consumer pressure for new gadgets and advancements. Who creates this desire for the new shiny thing? Us or Them?

I like options, I’m sure you do too. But the next time you’re in an electronics store frozen with indecision over the azure or vermillion ear buds, mouth breathing at the Google screen, or frozen in front of the plasma for something to watch …remember, we may have asked for this.

km