So this has probably never happened to you, and I'm a bit timid to admit that it happened to me today, but guess what? I forgot to include something in this email that is very exciting AND important to me. I was published in 2 major magazines in January and I want you to read the articles. Can't imagine how I forgot them - they were only at the top of my list of things to include. Oh well - what can I say - I guess I was distracted by the much needed rays of sunshine we're enjoying today?!?!?!
First, I have a feature article in "Associations Now" magazine, the main magazine for the association industry. The article is "Social Responsibility in the Workplace"
I hope you'll check them out - AND - forgive me for the additional newsletter today. Hope it's worth your time!!
Hello and Happy Heart Month!
In honor of Valentine's Day and Happy Heart Month - you'll notice splashes of red throughout my newsletter. As someone who has a family history of major heart disease, I am acutely aware of the risks associated with this disease. And ladies, heart disease is the number one killer of women, so do what you can to take care of your heart!
I've recently realized that if I don't take better care of my body, I won't be able to enjoy the rest of my life. (duh?!?) AND, I have a lot of life yet to live. You know - places to go, people to see. You bet - so I'm committing to better self-care - what about you???
There are a lot of new resources and opportunities available right now, and I want you to know about them. Take a look and act on any that are a good match for you and your organization!
I have just updated my website and added several new reports and studies. Click here to see what's there for you to read and help you grow.
Ann
Resources and Opportunities
I am constantly amazed at the wealth of information and inspiration that is available to us via the internet. Because I learn to love and grow, I have set up google alerts for the topics that are most important to me: social responsibility, values-based marketing, cause marketing, social entrepreneurship and nonprofits, just to name a few. And contrary to Peggy Noonan's comments on MSNBC late last week, I also have a google alert set up for my name. I don't think I'm narcissistic, but as a promoter of the brand, Ann Ranson, I think it's important to pay attention.
This simple tool - google alerts - allows me to stay on top of the topics that help me and help my clients. We live in such a fast paced, ever-evolving world, that I feel part of my responsibility - and passion - is to be a resource for you.
With that in mind - there are a few items of particular importance that I've run across in the past few weeks:
#1 Some of you may have heard the recent news out of Pepsi that they decided to forgo their investment of millions of dollars in commercials in the Super Bowl in favor of a new community based initiative called PEPSI REFRESH PROJECT. Given the meager quality of the SB spots this year, I'd say their absence but them in good company. Also not there: Nike, Gatorade, and other prominent brands.
Right now, they are looking for people, businesses, and non-profits with ideas
that will have a positive impact. The public will vote on the different ideas and decide who gets the cash.
Here's what they say:
"In 2010, Pepsi will give millions of dollars to fund good ideas, big and small, that make the world a better place. What's a good idea? Who gets a Refresh Grant? You decide."
Pepsi will give away up to $1.3 million per month - so go right now to their website to see if this is a good opportunity for you: PEPSI REFRESH PROJECT.
#2 I follow Will Marre on his blog, ThoughtRocket. I love his thought-provoking ideas and have recently purchased his new (ish) book, Save the World...
I've written about him before - you may find this post to be too political for your tastes, and if so - please know that I have no intention to offend, but rather to get us all to think more about what's working and what's not working in our country.
He recently posted a blog about "The Problem is About Bigness - Threatened by Dinosaurs"
I hope you'll read it and then post any thoughts you have on your favorite social media site - or send me an email and I'll post them.
#3 As mentioned above - I have uploaded several new reports on various aspects of social responsibility, including "Sustainability Drives Innovation" from the Harvard Business Review and from MIT Sloan "Sustainability and Competitive Advantage". Check them out here. I was particularly interested in the Sloan report as that is the topic of a presentation I'm giving next month in Colorado Springs at the ASAE Great Ideas Conference. Can't wait!
A couple of findings from the Sloan report - executives surveyed said that they often found MORE opportunities than expected when they made a serious commitment to sustainability. AND, I love the idea of looking at how sustainability is affecting business, rather than how business is affecting sustainability. Thoughts anyone???
***
Well, that's it for this time - I hope you find some of these opportunities and resources to be of value to you and your work. Until next time, I'll leave you with this thought:
"As a single footstep will not make a path on the
earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make
a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental
path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to
dominate our lives."
Henry David Thoreau
Upcoming Events of Interest
March 12 1130am-1pm
DFW American Marketing Association - Non Profit Special Interest Group
"The Anti-Event - Moving From Black Tie to a Budget in the Black"
Written by Ann Ranson to keep handy at work for those moments when you've misplaced your positive attitude. This Handy Guide or thought for the day will give you a quick thought and quote to bring you back to center.
Need a meaningful, yet affordable gift - order Intentions at Work:
In honor of the Olympics, a record snow in Dallas and on the east coast -
This is the tree on my patio - it was SO beautiful!
And this one is just fun to look at - - - from a distance :-)
JUST ADDED
March 31 - 5PM Central
FREE TELECLASS:
"Creating a Marketing Action Plan"
"Creating a Marketing Action Plan" will provide you actionable
steps and tools for moving on those ideas you have but never seem to execute. In
our busy world, it's easy to get distracted and fall into a purely reactionary
mode, even though we know - intellectually - that this isn't the most
productive approach.
In "How to
Create a Marketing Action Plan" you'll learn how to take your goals and
objectives and break them down into an action plan that gives you a detailed
roadmap for accomplishment. You'll receive templates to help you
organize your strategic information and your 'to-do' list and you'll receive a
marketing assessment that will help you understand your greatest areas of need.
Do
some homework in advance and you'll end the Free Teleclass with an
action plan ready for implementation.
Time
will be allowed for individual questions and answers to help you jumpstart your
action planning activities.
Having
a strategic marketing action plan will make you money - don't waste another
minute of time due to un-focused activities
The
teleclass will last 60 minutes, including time for questions and answers.
Send me an email to reserve your space. I will send you a confirmation
email including the conference call-in information and the hand-outs.
Thanks, I hope you'll join me for this action packed hour on March 31st,
as we talk about a 'Creating a Marketing Action Plan".
NOW AVAILABLE!
Strategic Planning Made Easy
Have you always been told that if you're in business (whether for profit or non-profit), you HAVE to have a strategic plan?
Have you thought about it, but either don't know where to start, or don't have the budget to hire a consultant?
Then, you're in luck! I have just released my new Bottom Lineł™ Strategic Planning System. The work you'll do is grounded on a foundation of Social Responsibility.
The Bottom Lineł™ Strategic Planning System includes complete instructions, a workbook, including worksheets and 5 audio discs of learning.
Ann Ranson is a sales & marketing
coach & consultant who works with small business owners & non-profits
who understand the power of marketing and want to be smart about increasing
revenue. Her platform of social responsibility drives her desire to help
her clients work smarter through partnerships - whether that's a strategic
alliance or a cause marketing campaign, because she's learned that when we work
together we are working smarter.
With a career
spanning 30+ years in the rough-and-tumble media world, Ann learned the art of
the alliance. Her real world perspective
comes from executing high-stakes sales and marketing campaigns, to quickly
learn what does and does not work.
Ann serves as Secretary for the NSA/North Texas chapter, the Director of the Non-Profit SIG of the American Marketing Association, is a member of the Consultant Affinity Group at the Center for Nonprofit Management and is a Certified Selling to Women Performance Coach and Facilitator.
Visit her website to learn more about how you and your organization can benefit from improving your business relationships, strategies and marketing efforts.
Ann Ranson is a sales & marketing
coach & consultant who works with small business owners & non-profits
who understand the power of marketing and want to be smart about increasing
revenue. Her platform of social responsibility drives her desire to help
her clients work smarter through partnerships - whether that's a strategic
alliance or a cause marketing campaign, because she's learned that when we work
together we are working smarter.
