Business solutions at your fingertips

As your business life evolves, you'll encounter obstacles and naturally seek effective solutions. One thing it's useful to learn is that no single, correct view exists for any situation.  Just as you think you arrive at the best solution, you discover other possible answers. This may drive you crazy!

Recognize that any notion of a permanent answer is unfounded because life is always evolving.  Your understanding of a matter is always changing.  How you perceive yourself and the issue will change with time.  If you decide to believe there is only 'one right way,' you may have to learn to live with anxiety and uncertainty.  Yet, if you decide to remain flexible, you'll value changing answers to multi-faceted issues. Business strategies are always accessible at your fingertips.

Consider how you react to an unsatisfied customer can teach you much about yourself.  Although situaions and perceptions may be constantly changing, if you treat people well, this reflects back.

1) Are you calm and understanding? If a client expresses negative energy and disconternt, it will not help matters if you get upset too.  This is an exercise for your tolerance and self-control.

2) Do you express gratitude? When you agree with a client, it empowers that person.  You're business wouldn't exist without clients.  Show you value their time, comments and satisfaction.  If you aim to provide a product or service, the more you learn about them, the better off you'll be.

3) Can you emphasize more positives? As you listen to complaints, you're in a position to determine whether the item was helpful in some ways. Redirect that energy.  Then, highlight how you can assist the client, rather than focus on what is irrelevant or beyond your capacities.

4) Could you refer peers? None of us know it all.  If the client is unreasonable, obscene or overly emotional, or you simply can't assist in a matter, referring the client to someone else could help solve the issue.  This portrays strong teamwork.

5) Have you indicated you'll follow up? Commitment is part of what defines a good reputation.  If you clarify what a client can expect and on what timeline, and you meet that, you will gain the client's respect.  It's desireable to under-promise and over-deliver. Don't over guarantee things.

Radical change requires radical thinking

For anyone who dreams of radical change, waiting for other people to act can seem very slow. A comprehensive 2001-2005 United Nations Millennium Report explained the state of the Earth's ecosystems and confirmed that our sustainability is highly-threatened.  Governments and industry admitted our planet may not support future generations unless radical measures are implemented.

This U.N. report explains why humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively in the past 50 years than in any comparable period of history. Humans justify their behavior as a way to meet rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber and fuel. This has resulted in a substantial and irreversible loss in the diversity of life on Earth. Over 1,300 authors from 95 nations participated in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, and results are public.  Yet, this kind of report isn't as effective as people who make changes in their attitude and choices.

Although it's agreed the need exists to revive and protect the world's oceans, dry lands, forests and interdependent species, influencial government and industry actors aren't proactive in policy and behavioral change. Consider existing tariffs and controls for import- exports, agricultural subsidies, laws about where industry can outsource workers, how they manage sanitation, and define acceptable pollution.

If they are truly serious about change, why not change their trade laws, implement and publicize more financial or other incentives for environmenally-friendly practices, for alternative energy use and inventions? Some such incentives do exist. Are you informed enough about how you can help? Radical change may require your own radical thinking or action. Think about your own life. What more could you do?

Wearing Sustainably: Consider an innovative team in Philadelphia, USA.  They came up with the 100-mile suit. If you look at the labels on your clothes, you'll realize that a lot of oil was burnt to ship those items to you.  If you're wearing artificial fabrics, oil products may also be on your back.  Add costs of growing, processing and shipping any or all materials and the environmental costs skyrocket.  The Philly team created a man's outfit (almost completely) of materials grown, processed and tailored in a 100-mile radius around Philladelphia. They prove change in mindset is possible. The question is, what would it take for you to give up your favorite brands or styles in favor of what can be made in the vicinity where you live? What kind of sacrifices are you ready to make?

Eating Sustainably: Consider local activists in different countries who choose to eat only what is grown locally in particular seasons. If you live in a country with warm climates all year, this increases the variety of fruits and vegetables available to you. We should all be informed consumers. If you can shop at a farmer's market, where all the food is local, you can ask upfront about farming practices and pesticides, and ensure that the food meets your freshness and quality standards. Food travels an average ~1,500 miles to get to consumers. Imagine the fossil fuel required to fly the huge planes or power the 18-wheelers, oil that influences political and religious conflict with the Middle East, oil that pollutes the environment, oil we could conserve for other uses. Do you realize the origin of your food and drinks? Rather than continue what you may have always done, why not spend money on free range eggs, grass-fed meat, or produce that may be healthier?

Building Sustainably: Consider that the building industry is booming around the world. How often do people simply build the standard structure which looks like everything around it? It may seem cheaper nd easier, but is it really? Many governments offer tax breaks and other incentives for incorporating eco-energy, water conservation-oriented plumbing and environmentally-conscious practices for more than heating and cooling.  Have you truly investigated your options? You'll discover advantages in using more local and renewable materials, like wood, stone products, real wool carpets, cork or natural paints. More responsible building includes low-toxic, energy-efficient, solar and recycled content products, avoids synthetics and endangered natural items. Consider Australia's most healthiest, eco-friendly building, "Council House 2": For more information visit this site: http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=171&pg=1933

8 lessons learned though travel

You may dream of a more peaceful world. How can you learn to enrich your views of surroundings?  Here are 8 lessons I've learned through travel and also through the stories of other travellers:

1) Travelers learn that all people in the world are basically alike.

We all desire to eat, drink, find shelter, companionship and ultimately survive. In any country or part of town you are, you can strike up a conversation with a stranger in a bus, train, plane or in another vehicle, and you'll likely find something in common. This kind of interaction can enable you to feel more connected to people worldwide. It compels understanding and self-directed learning.

2) Travelers discover people perceive themselves as wiser or better than others.

I’ve learned just because I’ve lived in one place, this doesn’t mean my acquired know-how will be useful anywhere. I choose not to assume I know more than everyone.  Consider Sir John Franklin was a British Naval Officer and historic arctic explorer. He thought using technology of his era and taking enough supplies would guarantee success in his attempt to be first through the Northwest Passage. Lack of foresight led to the death of his crew. He felt he knew everything, based on his past experiences elsewhere. This arrogant attitude became his downfall.

3) Travel makes us care about strangers.

My own experiences of dangers and difficulties have sensitized me to other peoples’ plights. Travel enables us to learn to care more about strangers. When you notice someone needs food, shelter, you may be more likely to share. Jim Rogers and his fiancée Paige Parker describe themselves as true adventurers. From 2001-2002, they visited 116 countries. They experienced luxury all the way to "five-roach hotels.' They lived the reality of having no water, no electricity. I understand why they evolved to carry their own toilet seat. Their travels taught them that famine or crisis are no longer as distant when you visit such areas and experience hardship yourself.

4) Travel teaches not everyone shares your beliefs or ways of thinking.

My own travel has shown me many different kinds of people, belief systems and perceptions exist. Recognizing this reality at home and 'on the road' is an opportunity to develop tolerance and understanding. You learn you won't agree with everyone. Consider Marco Polo’s journey through Asia apparently lasted 24 years. He was a European who travelled further than anyone of his time, beyond Mongolia and deep into China. His books explain why listening was his best skill.

5) Travelers learn more than one solution exists to a problem.

During travel, I've learned benefits in becoming attached to people I meet as well as appropriately detached during hardship unconnected to me. I like to think solutions can always be found and at the sme time I learn other people wish to resolve their own situations.  Roald Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He became the first man safely through the Northwest Passage and first man to reach the South Pole. His travel experience demonstrates benefits of having a focused purpose, adequate knowledge of climates and geography, careful planning, and attention to detail. His strength was openly interacting with locals to learn survival strategies. He couldn't help the inuit adapt to their changing climate or incoming Europeans, but he was their friend.

6) Travel teaches you to recognize that you’re part of a minority.

No matter who you are and what your background, gender, religion or skin color, recognize you're part of a minority somewhere. You decide whether this has advantages or not. Consider Mother Teresa, the Macedonian Saint who devoted her life to serve poor in Calcutta.  Her work taught me much about widespread perceptions in the Western world.  For example, the poor may be seen as a disadvantaged majority with respect to groups in social status and education. In developing countries, being a minority can be an advantage. It means you have food, shelter, and inner peace when a majority of people are hungry, ill and needy. Being a minority is perceived as you choose.

7) Travel teaches humility.

If you understand travel as a series of two-sided exchanges, locals may learn as much from you as you choose to learn.  Consider that no matter where the Dalai Lama goes, he remembers where he came from and that he is connected to everyone else. Travelling widely simply reinforces his ability to be humble. He holds a modest opinion of himself and estimate of his own importance. He also shows the value to be found in nurturing an observant and uncensored mind.

8) Travel enables you to make life-long friends.

If you choose to maintain contact with people you connect with during travel, you have the ability to develop enduring relationships.  I've stayed in contact with some people ~20 years or more. Staying in touch with people and remaining open to learning reminds me of Freya Stark. She was an adventure traveler who evolved to admit her standards and understanding of the world are not everyone’s standards. She learned to discriminate the values which were not her own values, but she also learned not to judge people simply because they were different.

Beyond self-discovery

If you talk to anyone about travel, you'll discover each person has a dream destination. The reasons people why come to define dream journeys vary widely. The person may have visited a special place and hopes to return, or, the person may even imagine a desirable paradise that was seen in images, heard about or simply conjured up in the mind. Don't forget travel to improve a sense of security. Some of us are forced to migrate as refugees, traveling due to events beyond our control.

People also dream of travel to leave what they know behind or as a way to courageously face uncertainty. You may think of travel as a way to avoid as the life you've known has been difficult or painful. You may not choose to pinpoint the influence of your emotions. You may also sense very strongly that any happiness you associate with visions of travel would only really be a side effect of a deeper longing to settle down or, the result of self-delusion that settling anywhere is possible. 

Whatever your particular dream destination, the journey is incentive to develop your abilities and insights into your motivation. You may assume you have the right or duty to travel to help someone other than yourself. Most physical trips require money or other means to realize them. Where will that funding come from? How long will the journey take? Do you sense your final destination? Does a strong sense of direction even matter?

You may venture from place to place because or you actively seek a sense of progress. In a brief survey, the 10 most popular reasons people said they travel were:

1) To escape fear or troubles;

2) To experience freedom & make a living;

3) To learn new things;

4) To visit friends or family;

5) To interact with honorable people (shared cause);

6) To seek self-discovery;

7) To support eco-tourism;

8) To build self-confidence;

9) To survive a crisis or disaster;

10) To relax or promote healing.

Travel is a means to learn about yourself by yourself or with others. You may have choices to travel or you may be forced to travel due to adversity. What kinds of reasons have you had for travel in the past? What about escaping the results of a hurrricane or earthquake? You may seek to find a place to build a new home.

Hope is the foundation of your personal growth. Thoughts of travel enable you to learn from what you've done and evolve to better understand why you seek new experiences. How would you like to experience future journeys? Where would you go if you had no restrictions? Why? What would you hope to gain from this travel? Determine how your emotions factor in to your perception of travel. Whether you have expectations for others during travel will influence your satisfaction.  You'll learn travel is more than a journey of self-discovery.  It prompts new understanding.

Kids teach us some clinchers

It's common for people to dream of knowing more about the environment, but how do we react to what we do know? You may be startled to discover more and more kids regularly consult world maps and climate details on Google Earth. Geography is now a more popular school subject than history. Why do you think so? Where adults traditionally felt a need to teach children tools and principles for them to survive, youngsters are suddenly turning around to offer their wisdom and ideas to adults.

Younger generations feel increasingly inter-connected to the fate of our terrestrial environments and to individuals they've never met. Proactive young people set an example to remind us that no matter how much information we have about our environment, we may never feel its enough. Yet, everyone can still become an environmentalist with a cause based on what they know now.

Young people demonstrate that caring for our future begins as a mindset in each of us. As you nuture that attitude, and convince yourself you have the power to make a difference, you will seek like-minded people somwhere on the globe, and inspire meaningful, innovative projects that preserve and restore environments.

1) Circumstances do not have to hinder your abilities. Wherever you are, you can learn and raise awareness about what others can do to reverse global warming and help mitigate disasters. During the 2004 tsunami which devastated southeast Asia, children from varied backgrounds, as young as 10 were the true heros. They knew tsunami early warning signs, and acted quickly to warn people on beaches. The humble efforts of children saved lives even if the actions didn't necessarily result in prime media coverage or new policy. What do kids teach us about our priorities?

2) Adolescence doesn't have to hold you back from assisting the planet. As the result of efforts of teen Dutch school kids who challenged themselves, they and the Dutch public have devised ideas to surpass European Union minimum Kyoto Protocol goals of 8% reduction in energy use. These teens boldly challenged bureaucrats to reduce their consumption and energy use with high success. Vehicles at the Ducth environment ministry will also only run on natural gas by spring 2007. Teens also create their own non-governmental organisations (NGOs) linked to U.N. agencies like UNEP to undertake their own grass roots projects. What does this teach us about barriers we may construct between people and leaders? Are they not like us?

3) Limited means do not have to disconnect you from the planet .  Students in diverse areas of the globe are communicating with other schools through Internet projects. School children in industrial countries initiate projects to assist with fundraising and building new structures for kids in schools they have never visited in the Middle East, Africa, South America and remote central Asia.  Kids in developing country schools also reach out through international organisations and pen pals. What does this teach us about our understanding of distance, limitations, human emotional connection and ingenuity? Do we not often limit our own potential?

4) Geography doesn't have to blind you from environmental reality. One visionary school in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia challenged its students to foresee and react to possible change. It designed a country campus to educate students who never thought their future would be closely tied to rural life. A key focus became a special building called Wadambawilam or "learning place." This functional example of sustainable living has had facilities to grow food and resources, while it has been designed for maximum insulation, using solar panels and windmills for power. What do futuristic projects like closed biodomes teach us about our current energy and consumer choices? Could imagining life-sustaining environments prompt us to build and live this mindset?

5) Seasonal school breaks don't have to be unproductive.  More and more kids desire to attend eco-summer camps. They connect with nature, return to school energized, and come to demand recycling programs. Young people are proactive in asking to integrate environmental realities into curriculums.  They vote for field trips to places like farms and factories to learn where plant and animal products come from. They inquire about visiting dumps and council compost projects. High school students initiate independent study that include sustainability projects in greenhouses, hydroponics, tree planting and wilderness restoration.  They speak out on how their schools and homes can reduce waste and consumption. What does this say about our awareness of our own lifestyles and lean toward alternatives?