What you do during a national disaster says a lot about who you are and how you handle relationships. This blog puts a lot of energy and attention into customers because they are the most scarce thing in business today. Therefore, they are the most valuable.
Let's pause a moment from the running discussion in this blog about your business, your customers and your success. Let's focus, instead, on stimulating other kinds of useful actions. It's been four days since we came here to blog and we're back to share a list of things you can do to make a difference. This is what we've been doing lately, instead of blogging. Maybe some of this makes sense for you, as well. There's a lot you can do.
Give your resources. If you now have more than others, open your wallet and give. Use your communications and marketing skills to help others give. One association we work with got email out to their thousands of members and told them to send their checks to headquarters by Friday, made out to the American Red Cross. The association will handle the collection and get the one, big check to where it will do some immediate good. For one, associations are all about belonging and community, and the value of that is more evident to everyone, now. Organizations can count noses and make sure everyone gives something. There are many worthy Katrina relief channels. Just search on Katrina Relief and you'll find more than one that may spark you to give.
Put this disaster in perspective. This is tough to do when the events on television are so intense and overwhelming. Shift your attention to abundance. Think about all you have going for you and how that can be used in much better ways. Take a longer view. That will help a lot. You will need to conserve fuel for a long time, so figure out now everything you can do to conserve energy. Just staying home and not running around so much might help. Start now to change some fuel burning habits because you'll need those dollars to donate to relief efforts. Winter comes next, so think now about fuel efficiency as these days keep getting shorter.
Say a prayer. Whatever your religious beliefs, get with the program. And say a special prayer for those called upon to give of themselves to make things better for others.
Use your talents to influence others to give. This is where your creativity, heart and head need to go into overdrive. Like the association, can you organize any effort that starts with your own check and adds others to it? Can you match your employees' giving? Can you call four or five friends and reserve a time for yourself at the next and nearest blood drive being run by the American Red Cross? Summer is the critical time for blood, anyway, and now there are many cities knocked out of the game of giving. So roll up that sleeve and give the gift of life.
This disaster will ask a lot from all of us for a long time. It will have a wide impact for months and linger for years. We can do this. You can make a difference.
There's just one thing we would request, and it's the same thing we ask for every time we blog here in the Duct Tape Marketing Channels. Here it is: You must turn your intentions into commitment and then turn that commitment into action. Enough talk. Turn off the TV or turn off the blog long enough to go do something that you and others can count. A check. Volunteer hours. A pint of blood. Everything counts--now more than last week.
Comments