If I could figure out how to make a living from this, I’d spend my whole life promoting One Laptop South Florida. That’s how much I love it; that’s how much I believe in what we’re doing.
Let me take this opportunity to thank Whole Foods in general and particularly Damien Garcia, Team Leader of the Whole Foods store in Naples, for throwing a “5% Day” for us, and for our partner Big Brothers Big Sisters.
You’ll be hearing a lot more about Whole Foods and Damien in future entries of this blog.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Paul Newman
The following article is from Ethics Newsline, from the Institute for Global Ethics, which I have recommended once or twice (or a dozen times) in the past. It's about Paul Newman, my favorite Bleeding-Heart Capitalist. I share it with you because toward the end of the article there is a lead I'm about to follow that will tie in nicely with the Adam Smith Award for Socially Conscious Businesses, which The Naples Institute will be unveiling quite soon. The lead is the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy. I'll report back when I've learned more.
Wall Street Journal piece recalls Newman’s involvement with activism, urges business leaders to keep giving even in tough times
NEW YORK Last month’s death of Paul Newman at age 83 promoted two proponents of corporate giving to examine the role of ethics and philanthropy in the actor’s career.
Writing in the Wall Street Journal, John C. Whitehead and Peter L. Malkin recalled: “Paul used to joke that he had to keep making movies to support all of his philanthropic projects — and that wasn’t too far from the truth. To millions he’s perhaps better known as the face of Newman’s Own food products than he is for his superb performances in ‘The Hustler,’ ‘Cool Hand Luke,’ ‘The Verdict,’ and scores of other films.”
“What many may not know,” Whitehead and Malkin note, “is that he donated 100 percent of post-tax profits and royalties from the Newman’s Own company to charities worldwide — more than $250 million to date. He was also passionate about the Hole in the Wall Camps he helped found for children with life-threatening illnesses, and he was deeply involved with a variety of other innovative nonprofit organizations including his most recent undertaking, the Safe Water Network.”
Whitehead and Malkin were among the corporate bigwigs Newman approached in 1998 to form the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, which has grown to include more than 150 CEO members from 150 corporations and is responsible for more than $10 billion in annual corporate giving.
Whitehead and Malkin concluded the piece by urging business leaders to learn from Newman’s example and maintain or increase corporate giving programs in today’s turbulent economic times.
Wall Street Journal piece recalls Newman’s involvement with activism, urges business leaders to keep giving even in tough times
NEW YORK Last month’s death of Paul Newman at age 83 promoted two proponents of corporate giving to examine the role of ethics and philanthropy in the actor’s career.
Writing in the Wall Street Journal, John C. Whitehead and Peter L. Malkin recalled: “Paul used to joke that he had to keep making movies to support all of his philanthropic projects — and that wasn’t too far from the truth. To millions he’s perhaps better known as the face of Newman’s Own food products than he is for his superb performances in ‘The Hustler,’ ‘Cool Hand Luke,’ ‘The Verdict,’ and scores of other films.”
“What many may not know,” Whitehead and Malkin note, “is that he donated 100 percent of post-tax profits and royalties from the Newman’s Own company to charities worldwide — more than $250 million to date. He was also passionate about the Hole in the Wall Camps he helped found for children with life-threatening illnesses, and he was deeply involved with a variety of other innovative nonprofit organizations including his most recent undertaking, the Safe Water Network.”
Whitehead and Malkin were among the corporate bigwigs Newman approached in 1998 to form the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, which has grown to include more than 150 CEO members from 150 corporations and is responsible for more than $10 billion in annual corporate giving.
Whitehead and Malkin concluded the piece by urging business leaders to learn from Newman’s example and maintain or increase corporate giving programs in today’s turbulent economic times.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Customer Service and your Organization
As most of my regular readers know, I’m a customer service author and keynote speaker: it’s been said I wrote the book on customer service, but that’s only half the story. I wrote the two books on the topic. At least, my favorite two.
So imagine my surprise when I learned last Wednesday that it was customer service week. Customer service week!
Every week should be customer service week! What is wrong with people!?!
*****
I find the following rich in ironic humor.
I was reading a local paper this weekend and found a story on a local “nonprofit” (knowing how this group operates, I beg to differ) that offers coaching to the boards of other citizen sector orgs.*
Here’s the funny part, speaking of customer service: “Physician, heal thyself!”
The first thing I want to know when I hire an expert consultant is, does this person live what she teaches? If you’re a wealth advisor, are you wealthy? If you’re an ethics trainer, how ethical are you? If you’re a management consultant and teach corporate culture, how healthy is your own firm’s culture?
So if you teach boards how to function most effectively, my question for you is, how well-run is your own organization?
For instance, do you know if your executive director is seen by her peers at other influential organizations around town as unprofessionally discourteous? Are you aware that your organization’s #2 is downright surly?
Do you know that quite a number of leaders in the nonprofit community resent your organization and even have a disparaging name for it, "The Predatory Foundation," because word on the street is that your organization is quite savvy at shaking affluent donors down for money, but much less dedicated to actually helping the community you are charged to serve?
Actually, to this organization’s credit, they do know that their #2 is a Bitch with a capital B.** I spoke with last-year’s board president. She confided as much without my having to name this “lady” first. I also spoke with another board member about this, who confirmed her colleague’s assessment.
…Which of course brings me to the question, “If you know one of your staff is unpleasant and making enemies all over town, why don’t you fire her post-haste?”
I'm not timid, so I actually asked both board members that very question. The former president said, "She'll be retiring in two years."
Okay, guys, give her early retirement!
That is today’s leadership, culture, and customer service lesson. If you have jerks representing your organization, fire them. Don’t feel bad about it, because we all choose our attitude, and jerks can choose to be nice if they like. So can them, right away: today. No warning - we learn to be nice before grade school; we shouldn't need a warning! - just get it done.
Only then should you advise others on how they can run their own organization.
The Predatory Foundation lacks authenticity. Steer clear, at least until they get their own house in order.
*There are a number of groups around town that do that, so hopefully I’m being vague enough that this group won’t feel implicated. In fact, their leaders will probably read this and cluck-cluck-cluck at the “other” organization I’m writing about.
**If she were a man, I would call her a Dick, so please don’t come down on me as sexist.
So imagine my surprise when I learned last Wednesday that it was customer service week. Customer service week!
Every week should be customer service week! What is wrong with people!?!
*****
I find the following rich in ironic humor.
I was reading a local paper this weekend and found a story on a local “nonprofit” (knowing how this group operates, I beg to differ) that offers coaching to the boards of other citizen sector orgs.*
Here’s the funny part, speaking of customer service: “Physician, heal thyself!”
The first thing I want to know when I hire an expert consultant is, does this person live what she teaches? If you’re a wealth advisor, are you wealthy? If you’re an ethics trainer, how ethical are you? If you’re a management consultant and teach corporate culture, how healthy is your own firm’s culture?
So if you teach boards how to function most effectively, my question for you is, how well-run is your own organization?
For instance, do you know if your executive director is seen by her peers at other influential organizations around town as unprofessionally discourteous? Are you aware that your organization’s #2 is downright surly?
Do you know that quite a number of leaders in the nonprofit community resent your organization and even have a disparaging name for it, "The Predatory Foundation," because word on the street is that your organization is quite savvy at shaking affluent donors down for money, but much less dedicated to actually helping the community you are charged to serve?
Actually, to this organization’s credit, they do know that their #2 is a Bitch with a capital B.** I spoke with last-year’s board president. She confided as much without my having to name this “lady” first. I also spoke with another board member about this, who confirmed her colleague’s assessment.
…Which of course brings me to the question, “If you know one of your staff is unpleasant and making enemies all over town, why don’t you fire her post-haste?”
I'm not timid, so I actually asked both board members that very question. The former president said, "She'll be retiring in two years."
Okay, guys, give her early retirement!
That is today’s leadership, culture, and customer service lesson. If you have jerks representing your organization, fire them. Don’t feel bad about it, because we all choose our attitude, and jerks can choose to be nice if they like. So can them, right away: today. No warning - we learn to be nice before grade school; we shouldn't need a warning! - just get it done.
Only then should you advise others on how they can run their own organization.
The Predatory Foundation lacks authenticity. Steer clear, at least until they get their own house in order.
*There are a number of groups around town that do that, so hopefully I’m being vague enough that this group won’t feel implicated. In fact, their leaders will probably read this and cluck-cluck-cluck at the “other” organization I’m writing about.
**If she were a man, I would call her a Dick, so please don’t come down on me as sexist.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Paul Newman, 1925-2008
To most people, Paul Newman was one of the greatest actors of all time; granted, I loved his acting, too. But to me, his importance on this earth comes from his giving - hundreds of millions of dollars from his for-benefit corporation Newman's Own. He is an inspiration to me as few others will ever be.
For more on Mr. Newman, visit www.savvycapitalist.blogspot.com
For more on Mr. Newman, visit www.savvycapitalist.blogspot.com
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Social Justice and Leadership by Edward Morton
The caliber of talent attracted to The Naples Institute (www.institutenaples.org) continues to amaze me. One of our newer members, Ed Morton, wrote the piece below, which he was kind enough to share.
Take out mention in the last two paragraphs of Collier County, and this speaks for all humanity, across the globe.
Social Justice and Leadership
By: Edward Morton
Leadership has been read about and analyzed from every possible point of view. My belief, however, is that when reduced to its essence, leadership can be defined by one word, influence. It is through influencing others that we collectively achieve the more meaningful things in life. Leadership is not a trait but a process whereby individuals influence others’ opinions. By influencing the opinions of others, leaders effect change within their organization and community.
Social justice has been defined in a variety of ways. It’s most common definition is the creation of an economic and social environment which protects and insures human dignity. Some seek to define social justice in terms of the redistribution of wealth while others in terms of nothing more than economic opportunity.
When many of us think of justice, we tend to think of what we may claim from others. This is an individualistic and narcissistic view of justice. But there is another instinct which has a broader sense of justice – social justice which shifts our thinking from what we claim from others to what we owe to each other.
Social justice is about duties and responsibilities, about building a better more compassionate community. Within this enlightened perspective, social justice is the obligation which falls upon us individually and collectively to meet the reasonable expectations of this community’s citizens so that they may realize and exercise their fundamental human rights. If social justice is to be a hallmark of this community, then we must fulfill our obligation in social justice to all of our citizens in terms of healthcare, housing, education and general welfare.
Our community and its leadership are undergoing a test. It is a test in the sense that we will be measured by the comprehensiveness of both our concerns and our actions. We will be judged by those that come after us in terms of what we actually accomplish and not our patronizing rhetoric.
All of us who constitute local leadership must look beyond special interest claims and partisan differences to unite this community in a new commitment to meet the economic and social conditions of our citizens.
We must recognize as was suggested by Adam Smith in his seminal treatise on ethics and capitalism, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, that our individual and collective existence is best protected by adopting a commitment to social justice. Smith implied that by avoiding the obligations imposed upon us by social justice we legitimize an ever expanding role of the state. Eventually, sufficient wealth is confiscated by the state to destroy free enterprise which alone gives rise to our freedom and liberty. Thus, it is in our own enlightened self interest that we join together as leaders (from both the public and private sectors) of this community and address the inequities brought upon by the unique challenges of living in “paradise”. We are indeed blessed that we live in a community where so many willingly give of their time and treasure; however, private initiatives will not suffice.
In the 21st century, as our social order has become increasingly complex, we must recognize that a proper sense of mutual responsibility requires, no demands, a greater presence of our local governmental leaders in insuring that all of Collier County’s citizens realize their human potential.
Let we who call ourselves the leaders of this community take a vow. A vow that we will do all that we can, individually and collectively, to dedicate ourselves to addressing the social and economic needs of all who call Collier County their home. That we from this day forward, will influence those around us to believe that what we do unto others we do unto ourselves. Social justice demands nothing less.
Take out mention in the last two paragraphs of Collier County, and this speaks for all humanity, across the globe.
Social Justice and Leadership
By: Edward Morton
Leadership has been read about and analyzed from every possible point of view. My belief, however, is that when reduced to its essence, leadership can be defined by one word, influence. It is through influencing others that we collectively achieve the more meaningful things in life. Leadership is not a trait but a process whereby individuals influence others’ opinions. By influencing the opinions of others, leaders effect change within their organization and community.
Social justice has been defined in a variety of ways. It’s most common definition is the creation of an economic and social environment which protects and insures human dignity. Some seek to define social justice in terms of the redistribution of wealth while others in terms of nothing more than economic opportunity.
When many of us think of justice, we tend to think of what we may claim from others. This is an individualistic and narcissistic view of justice. But there is another instinct which has a broader sense of justice – social justice which shifts our thinking from what we claim from others to what we owe to each other.
Social justice is about duties and responsibilities, about building a better more compassionate community. Within this enlightened perspective, social justice is the obligation which falls upon us individually and collectively to meet the reasonable expectations of this community’s citizens so that they may realize and exercise their fundamental human rights. If social justice is to be a hallmark of this community, then we must fulfill our obligation in social justice to all of our citizens in terms of healthcare, housing, education and general welfare.
Our community and its leadership are undergoing a test. It is a test in the sense that we will be measured by the comprehensiveness of both our concerns and our actions. We will be judged by those that come after us in terms of what we actually accomplish and not our patronizing rhetoric.
All of us who constitute local leadership must look beyond special interest claims and partisan differences to unite this community in a new commitment to meet the economic and social conditions of our citizens.
We must recognize as was suggested by Adam Smith in his seminal treatise on ethics and capitalism, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, that our individual and collective existence is best protected by adopting a commitment to social justice. Smith implied that by avoiding the obligations imposed upon us by social justice we legitimize an ever expanding role of the state. Eventually, sufficient wealth is confiscated by the state to destroy free enterprise which alone gives rise to our freedom and liberty. Thus, it is in our own enlightened self interest that we join together as leaders (from both the public and private sectors) of this community and address the inequities brought upon by the unique challenges of living in “paradise”. We are indeed blessed that we live in a community where so many willingly give of their time and treasure; however, private initiatives will not suffice.
In the 21st century, as our social order has become increasingly complex, we must recognize that a proper sense of mutual responsibility requires, no demands, a greater presence of our local governmental leaders in insuring that all of Collier County’s citizens realize their human potential.
Let we who call ourselves the leaders of this community take a vow. A vow that we will do all that we can, individually and collectively, to dedicate ourselves to addressing the social and economic needs of all who call Collier County their home. That we from this day forward, will influence those around us to believe that what we do unto others we do unto ourselves. Social justice demands nothing less.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Volunteerism on 9/11 - 7 years later
As my regular readers can gather - and as you can see by my membership on the board of Volunteer Collier (link to the right of this column) - I am a firm believer in the benefits of volunteering to help out in one's community... or even traveling to do it abroad.
Below is a clipping from today's Naples Daily News.
NAPLES — A wave of volunteerism swept through the country right after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
From giving blood to becoming involved with community service groups, Americans turned out in droves to make a difference.
Seven years and a sluggish economy later, some wonder if the volunteer fervor has died down.
“People do get discouraged and disheartened (in bad times),” said Sheila Phillips, administrative director for NCH’s Community Blood Center. “We are very cognizant of the challenges that are facing everyone.”
For the rest of the story: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/10/maintaining-volunteer-spirit-after-9-11-remains-ch/
Below is a clipping from today's Naples Daily News.
NAPLES — A wave of volunteerism swept through the country right after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
From giving blood to becoming involved with community service groups, Americans turned out in droves to make a difference.
Seven years and a sluggish economy later, some wonder if the volunteer fervor has died down.
“People do get discouraged and disheartened (in bad times),” said Sheila Phillips, administrative director for NCH’s Community Blood Center. “We are very cognizant of the challenges that are facing everyone.”
For the rest of the story: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/10/maintaining-volunteer-spirit-after-9-11-remains-ch/
Sarah Palin: Teddy Roosevelt or Dan Quayle?
Fighting for social justice, the credo of The Naples Institute, is ingrained in my very soul. You can't stay completely out of the political fray if you really care about making the world a more just place.
I have been nominated for a fellowship with a prestigious international organization. One of the conditions of acceptance is that I will be forced to stifle my political views. I have agreed to live by that, but they haven't chosen me yet. This may be my last chance to weigh in on the 2008 election!
Collier County, home of Naples, has 100,000 registered Republicans, 50,000 Democrats, and 50,000 Independents. Suffice it to say, I have quite a number of friends who are going to vote for McBush this year. As Mom always says, "What are ya gonna do?" I'm certainly not going to let it get me down.
I'm voting for Obama because I think he will do better for our economy and national defense - for one thing, he is dedicated on finding Osama Bin Laden and fixing the mess we've allowed to fester in Afghanistan. Bush has had long enough, so I'm not going to support his crony.
The following is an email exchange with a dear friend here in Naples.
The Friend passed this along:
Who Am I? Guess who. I am under 45 years old, I love the outdoors,I hunt,I am a Republican reformer,I have taken on the Republican Party establishment,I have many children, I have a spot on the national ticket as vice president with less than two years in the governor's office. Did you guess? I am Teddy Roosevelt in 1900.
My reply:
_____, come now! TR was one of the best presidents we've ever had, a charismatic leader. He was an outcast from his own party because he was a progressive who wanted to advance human rights and fight big business's Robber Barons and trusts (monopolies), not the opposite. New York was one of the most populous states in the Union; Alaska only has 700,000 people.
By contrast, Sarah Palin is the worst VP pick since Dan Quayle. Here are a few of her faults:
* She is anti-woman's rights and anti-environment.
* Among her anti-woman's rights acts was selecting a police chief for her town who charged rape victims for their rape kits. The state of Alaska had to pass a law against that specifically because of Sarah Palin's town.
* Her lack of experience means that McCain can no longer use his best weapon against Obama, which is Obama's lack of experience. (Thankfully!)
Sarah Palin repeatedly lies about her acts as governor. For instance:
* She claims she fired her chef, but all she did was reassign her. That lady still works for the state of Alaska.
* She claims she is a reformer, but she hired a lobbyist who got her town of 6,500 people $27 million while she was mayor.
* She claims she sold the governor's plane on eBay, but the state actually sold it through a plane broker.
She is not only a liar; she is also corrupt.
* She charged her state $17,000 for lodging and a per diem for nights she spent in her own home while governor.
John McCain used to be a man to admire, despite his stand against a woman's right to choose. Bush and Rove broke his spirit in 2000. Now he employs many of the consultants who reported to Rove and helped orchestrate his defeat in the 2000 primary season against Bush. He has voted with Bush 95% of the time, but he claims to be a reformer. He is a third term for Bush, and nothing more.
I love ya to death, _____ - you're one of my best friends in Naples. But you've got to change the channel from FOX "News" to something a little less biased. Might I suggest the Daily Show and Colbert Report? They're biased, but at least they don't pretend to be "fair and balanced."
Go Obama!
I have been nominated for a fellowship with a prestigious international organization. One of the conditions of acceptance is that I will be forced to stifle my political views. I have agreed to live by that, but they haven't chosen me yet. This may be my last chance to weigh in on the 2008 election!
Collier County, home of Naples, has 100,000 registered Republicans, 50,000 Democrats, and 50,000 Independents. Suffice it to say, I have quite a number of friends who are going to vote for McBush this year. As Mom always says, "What are ya gonna do?" I'm certainly not going to let it get me down.
I'm voting for Obama because I think he will do better for our economy and national defense - for one thing, he is dedicated on finding Osama Bin Laden and fixing the mess we've allowed to fester in Afghanistan. Bush has had long enough, so I'm not going to support his crony.
The following is an email exchange with a dear friend here in Naples.
The Friend passed this along:
Who Am I? Guess who. I am under 45 years old, I love the outdoors,I hunt,I am a Republican reformer,I have taken on the Republican Party establishment,I have many children, I have a spot on the national ticket as vice president with less than two years in the governor's office. Did you guess? I am Teddy Roosevelt in 1900.
My reply:
_____, come now! TR was one of the best presidents we've ever had, a charismatic leader. He was an outcast from his own party because he was a progressive who wanted to advance human rights and fight big business's Robber Barons and trusts (monopolies), not the opposite. New York was one of the most populous states in the Union; Alaska only has 700,000 people.
By contrast, Sarah Palin is the worst VP pick since Dan Quayle. Here are a few of her faults:
* She is anti-woman's rights and anti-environment.
* Among her anti-woman's rights acts was selecting a police chief for her town who charged rape victims for their rape kits. The state of Alaska had to pass a law against that specifically because of Sarah Palin's town.
* Her lack of experience means that McCain can no longer use his best weapon against Obama, which is Obama's lack of experience. (Thankfully!)
Sarah Palin repeatedly lies about her acts as governor. For instance:
* She claims she fired her chef, but all she did was reassign her. That lady still works for the state of Alaska.
* She claims she is a reformer, but she hired a lobbyist who got her town of 6,500 people $27 million while she was mayor.
* She claims she sold the governor's plane on eBay, but the state actually sold it through a plane broker.
She is not only a liar; she is also corrupt.
* She charged her state $17,000 for lodging and a per diem for nights she spent in her own home while governor.
John McCain used to be a man to admire, despite his stand against a woman's right to choose. Bush and Rove broke his spirit in 2000. Now he employs many of the consultants who reported to Rove and helped orchestrate his defeat in the 2000 primary season against Bush. He has voted with Bush 95% of the time, but he claims to be a reformer. He is a third term for Bush, and nothing more.
I love ya to death, _____ - you're one of my best friends in Naples. But you've got to change the channel from FOX "News" to something a little less biased. Might I suggest the Daily Show and Colbert Report? They're biased, but at least they don't pretend to be "fair and balanced."
Go Obama!
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