The Difference YOU Can Make
I don’t know about you, but I’m on news-overload. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed. Unemployment is high and millions of people are out of work. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. The US produces more food than ever before yet more people are going hungry. The poverty rate for working age people between 18 and 64 rose to 12.9 percent last year, its highest in more than four decades[1]. It’s natural to feel powerless. Defeated.
Those big issues are for big organizations or government to solve, right? And many companies do make an effort. Yes, it would be nice if you and I were working for companies that donate millions of dollars annually to multiple charities both nationally and internationally. Some companies even encourage their employees to do volunteer work on projects that improve the well-being of society. Other companies match your donations to charities. (I know donations to my nonprofit, UnplannedGood.org, from eBay and Apple employees are matched).
That’s the obvious stuff. Beyond what my employer does to improve the world, what can I do?? How can I be part of the solution?
“I’m just one person working in high tech”, you say.
Well, each of us who is employed is paid to do a specific job.
What if…
What if we each devoted ourselves each day to doing the very best job we can do?
What if we focused our energies on achieving our short-term goals?
What if my whole team delivered 100% of their monthly or quarterly objectives??
What if we all did absolutely everything in our power to contribute to our company’s success?
That’s the ticket. That would make a difference. Each company would do better, be more profitable. And in turn, each company would grow, expand its workforce, increase its headcount because we’d need more hands on deck to meet the greater demand we are creating. We’d have a stronger future.
Not convinced?
There is a direct correlation between employment levels and poverty levels. Not only do jobs increase social mobility, they also lead to increased happiness and provide meaning in life. A recent Urban Institute study found that single mothers who stopped receiving welfare and entered the labor force saw drastic reductions in their poverty levels[2].
Make a difference where you can. Help build the business. Spend each and every day doing all you can to make your company successful.
What if each of us began to …
Treat each project as if it made up 100% of your next review. Treat each customer as if their satisfaction were the only yardstick. Treat each meeting as if your most respected colleagues were joining you to solve the most pressing problems.
For my part, I make sure that my client’s messaging is as crystal clear and compelling as I can possibly imagine. I make sure that it resonates with the target customer and helps my client stand out in his competitive landscape. I ensure that my client wins the battle for mindshare and market share. I can safeguard my client’s positioning by being certain that it’s truthful, compelling and supported with technical proof points & features. Helping my clients win helps my own company to be successful and thrive.
What about you?
At the end of each day, or the end of each week, write down two or three accomplishments and three to five “to do’s” for tomorrow or next week. It will center you, and give you perspective. It will remind you how you are contributing to making your company successful – and jobs will follow.
Making your business successful is one of the best ways you can give back to your community.
In order to solve long-term problems with lasting solutions, people need enduring, stable jobs, not temporary Band-Aids. So, focus on job creation. That means running a solvent, sustainable, profitable, growing business, providing products and services to a market segment with a future.
This was, in part, my motivation for writing my latest book, The Path to Revenue: Secrets of Successful Tech Leaders. The idea was to give some tips and strategies, backed up with anecdotes, to show how a customer focus can help put your company on the ‘path to revenue’ and become a longer-term sustainable, successful company. When the company is stable and profitable, the jobs are long-term, too.
Everybody wins.
SO – focus on making your company successful. Your community will be better off and the country will be more prosperous.
[1] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/good-jobs-the-only-cure-f_b_719412
[2] https://www.theperspective.com/perspectives/businessandtechnology/do-more-jobs-help-reduce-poverty/