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This Newsletter
... is a quick tip ezine for Managers who believe in "Results Derived from Within"
Written by:
Vickie Bevenour, a Professional Certified Coach, PCC
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April 2010
What
have you done to build your professional legacy Recently I was invited to attend a small private breakfast with Ken Cook, President and co-founder of the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org). In preparation for the meeting I visited their website and was over whelmed (in a good way!) at the amount of information presented. My reason
for putting this into a newsletter is that this month, April, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. While I am still a “newbie” to the sustainability, free trade movement, the basic concept of doing business in a more environmentally friendly way is surely appealing to us all.
As a business professional you have a reputation (whether you consciously or unconsciously created it). Your reputation is your Professional Brand. It is your Living Legacy. There is much that a Brand or Legacy includes: it defines for others who you are and what you believe in. If you are behaving authentically, your actions will mirror what you believe in; and ultimately the impact that you make on others will be based on their perception of
your reputation. From an environmental perspective, the key message that Ken had for us at this breakfast was that by embracing self-sustainability in even some small way, the impact would be very good for the individual, his/her family and our world at large, including our business.
That leads me to the question: What drives change in any organization? The simple answer is that change is driven by the promise of improvement. Change is driven by the idea that the “new world” will be better than the current status quo. If an organization is determined to meet in on-line web meetings, rather than burning fossil fuels to meet “in person,” the organization will save time, money and fuel. An obvious improvement.
Move that question from an organizational perspective to a personal perspective. The first question is: What change do I need to make to truly live my professional legacy? Your answer could be committing to reduce in person meetings or changing suppliers. Now measure it: If I make that change in my life right now, what would be the impact? If I take meetings on-line instead of in person what is the savings to me, my company and the environment? If
I take an active role in sourcing suppliers who are sustaining the environment while providing a quality product, does that speak to my reputation? To the vision of my Brand or Legacy?
What needs to happen for you to find the courage to reject the status quo? So often we complain about “the way it is” but we do little to change the situation even when it’s US who will be the beneficiary. What needs to happen to drive you to action?
What goal have you had in the back of your mind and not taken action on?
- It could be as simple as going to EWG’s site and picking a better product for use by you and your family.
- It could be as complex as reviewing and revising your company’s procurement policies and find suppliers that are more environmentally friendly.
- It could be instituting one evening a week as family night when you spend time playing a non-electronic game.
- It could be taking on that new project at work or as a volunteer that is in an area that you are passionate about.
Whatever change that you choose to make this month, keep Mother Nature in the back of your mind. As we celebrate Spring, April’s showers and the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, think of the impact that one small environmental change might have on your living legacy. Congratulations you are well on your way to building your professional brand and
deriving results from within.
*To review any of these past newsletters, please visit the Newsletter section of www.CoachVickie.com
If you like the tip, let us know but more important, share it with a friend or colleague. As always, YOUR SUCCESS IS MY GREATEST PLEASURE.
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Volume 8, Issue