“Rain Man” as Mirror into Your Liminal Dimension

June 30, 2013 in Success in business | Tags: , , , | 2 comments

Reprinted with permission from today’s guest blogger, Jon Hokama!

“To have a firm persuasion, to set out boldly in our work, is to make a pilgrimage of our labors, to understand that the consummation of work lies not only in what we have done, but who we have become while accomplishing the task.”

-David Whyte, Crossing the Unknown Sea (emphasis mine)

While employed in corporate America, I drew strength and inspiration from David Whyte’s book, Crossing the Unknown Sea.  I began reframing the challenges of that environment as an influence over my character which was being shaped for good at times and for ill at others. Remembering Whyte’s insight, a classic movie was the poetic inspiration that burnished a waypoint mirror for my current journey toward business maturity.

Read the rest of this entry »

Recharging your vision

June 23, 2013 in Christianity, Success in business | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

THIS WEEK I had a chance to participate in the CMAA Sacred Music Colloquium. That may not seem relevant to a business-related blog, but it actually is.

I do this because I’m passionate about the subject, but also because it re-centers me back on to some of the core values in my life.  In this case, it’s spiritual, but I do other things to keep other values focused in my life.

When you’re trying to direct a values-based business, this is quite necessary.  Read the rest of this entry »

Building a powerful environment

June 16, 2013 in Business profiles, Success in business | Tags: , , , , | 1 comment

THOSE OF YOU here in Fort Collins know how crazy it would be to leave OtterBox and their amazing employee culture.

Kristin GolliherKristin Golliher did exactly that, back in February last year.  To start a new business called WildRock Public Relations & Marketing.  She has great passion for what she does: providing professional services to companies large and small across the nation.

But she has an even deeper passion for the kind of company she’s trying to create.

Read the rest of this entry »

Polarizing your customers

June 9, 2013 in Success in business | Tags: , , , | 4 comments

WHEN YOU communicate a set of values out to your customers, some of them will reject your message.  But then again, others will be attracted to it.

This WILL polarize your customer base.

But that shouldn’t scare you off, because this kind of thing happens all the time.  If I have a restaurant which targets the affluent, it’s going to turn off those people who are cheapskates like me.  But another restaurant which highlights affordable meals for the masses will be looked down upon by those who believe it’s beneath them.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bringing God’s hope

June 2, 2013 in Business profiles, Christianity, Success in business | Tags: , , , | 4 comments

BRIAN and PAM DAY are an amazing couple.  They’re bringing an approach which is helping people on their spiritual journeys.

I’ve known Pam for a long time as a friend and experienced and gracious coach.  I think I first met Brian at a Christmas party a decade ago, but it’s hard to remember exactly when.

23rhfbrf.jpg Pam and Brian DayI’ve been following their journey, which has taken them to the ends of the earth, literally and spiritually.

Read the rest of this entry »

Trusting people to do the right thing

May 26, 2013 in Business profiles, Success in business | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

GREEN RIDE COLORADO is a well-known local award-winning leader in shuttle buses to and from Denver International Airport.  For such a commodity service, people are constantly surprised at how they give a special experience of customer service and professionalism.

It all starts with the culture.

I had a chance to speak with Bob Flynn recently, who started Green Ride with Ray Schofield, and is a wonderful friend.  He wanted to start this company because he was tired of working for bosses who treated employees like generic machines.  Bob Ray GreenrideAnd he really didn’t like being a manager in that environment.

So Ray and Bob went out and started their own company, to create the kind of employee culture that they would love.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Eagle

May 22, 2013 in Christianity | Tags: , , , | 2 comments

AFARMER found an eagle egg.  He decided to raise it along with the chickens in his farm.

A naturalist came by one day, and exclaimed: “That’s an eagle!”

“No,” the farmer replied, “it’s just a chicken.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Providing sales for talented artisans worldwide

May 19, 2013 in Business profiles, Success in business | Tags: , , , | 1 comment

TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES is a US-based company with a powerful mission to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries.  Formed in 1946, they now buy from 37 countries, have 78 branded stores in North America, about 260 other retail partners, and sales of $42M for the year ending March 2012.

They are one of the largest and most successful fair-trade organizations on the planet.

10kVillagesI had a chance recently to speak with Wendy Poppen, who runs our local store.  She brings a powerful passion in this role:  “I’m going to leave this planet a little better than I found it.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Altruism vs. Deep Values

May 12, 2013 in Success in business | Tags: , , , , | 2 comments

MLKquotePEOPLE are sometimes puzzled by this concept of “deep values” in the for-profit world.  Partly that stems from an overlap with the idea of altruism.

Altruism is the idea of putting others’ needs ahead of your own, being able to give without expectation of return.  We do this all the time in our families:  You’ll help out others just because of the close relationship, not because you expect something back.  Well, not exactly true – you expect a certain amount of reciprocation, or trust and closeness will degrade over time.  But that’s not very specific.

And in the case of the commitment to your spouse or kids, you’ll give and give and give.

Read the rest of this entry »

Losing your company values

May 5, 2013 in Success in business | Tags: , , , | 1 comment

YOU SEE this all the time:  A company once respected and admired has become a shell of its former self.  Employees wonder why they’re still around, other than to pull down a paycheck.  Customers turn cynical because there’s no longer any credibility behind the high-minded words.

You can probably name as many examples as I can.  But why would we struggle to name even one company which has gone the other direction?

Read the rest of this entry »

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.