The Small Business Community Network (SBCN) offers our members and guests the chance to speak at the monthly events we host. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the person and the business, and the audience benefits by gaining knowedge via the wonderful presentations.
As a professional speaker for the past 12 years I knew instinctively when I began my speaking career that the audience do not want to be sold to! Unless of course it is a sales conference dedicated to selling, which works well. The keynote speaker has a message to share with the attendees, and specific points related to the conference in question. The really top notch speakers, and yes I include myself in that arena, know how to bring the audience into our lives, and how to weave a story that enthrals, interests and at the same time motivates them to want to know more.
The people who have the opportunity to speak at the SBCN events are offered tips and ideas on how to influence the audience, inspire the audience and, we are very specific on this one, never sell from the platform. Obviously over the years we have had a few challenges where speakers have done this but you can lead a horse to water, as they say, but you can't make it drink!
Recently to start of the New Year one of the SBCN Members, a very successful business owner, Kim Edmundson, who is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (R.N.C.P.) & BIE Practitioner, came along and offered a superb presentation entitled Nutrition Myths. As SMB's we all want to be able to work productively and know we are practising healthy routines and eating as healthy as possible to ensure we can continue to work and be successful. Kim is a great example of someone who did not sell from the platform and was obviously passionate about helping the audience, and offered them tips and ideas and information that would assist them make the right choices for them. I was standing at the back of the seminar room as normal and I noted how the audience was engaged and interested and were ready to ask questions at the end of the presentation. This is where Kim was able and did mention a few of the things she offered through her business and this took away the fear factor from the audience who knew Kim was not there to sell to them. After her presentation quite a few people lined up to find out more about her. This is a good example of someone investing in their future, by building trust and sharing information.
Investing in our future to help build a stronger community, as the SBCN is well known for is another way to ensure success, but in this sense it benefits communities which does in turn benefit businesses.
Last but not least: investing in not only our future but the future of our children and their children and future generations to come, we consider Eco-investing.
"Eco-investing or green investing is the practice of investing in companies that support or provide environmentally friendly products and practices. These companies encourage (and often profit from) new technologies that support the transition from carbon dependence to more sustainable alternatives" (Wikipedia).
One such company that is workng towards helping the environment and reducing the carbon footprint is SAGE who for those of yuo who do not now, this company offers accounting software, please feel free to check out the link http://na.sage.com/ca
SAGE is one of the many companies who want to help reduce the carbon footprint and I like the way they offer this kind of advice to those of you who are ready to be a part of the change you want to see happen:
"... fact is, we all have to do our part to help the environment and preserve the earth for future generations. Company leaders might want to act as the front line in this fight, many times businesses waste more than people and other organizations. When simply operating as normal, how much does your small business waste? A lot of resources go unused. Consider paper for a moment. Many individuals have, at one time or another, printed out things they don't need, like an email that can simply be referenced on a computer or the page featuring the usually unnecssary small print on a plane ticket."
Another company that walks its talk in this area is TELUS a very well know and sucessful telecommunications company.
"You care about the environment. So do we. Responsibility for managing TELUS' environmental footprint is shared by senior leaders from across TELUS who have specific areas of expertise such as Risk Management, Network Operations, Real Estate Operations, Supply Operations, Legal Compliance and Procurement, in addition to our environmental consultants. The Corporate Governance Committee of TELUS' Board of Directors receives quarterly reports in regards to TELUS' ongoing environmental risk management activities."
Check out the website link to find out more about how TELUS is helping "Create a More Sustainable Future".
As a small business owner investing in your future cannot and should not be all about you, being a part of your community, working towards a better future for everyone and creating relationships and strong alliances to build strong communities is what your success is!
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