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Meanderings from Jean's Desk....
Blog Archive
May 15, 2012: These Are The Good Old Days
May 1, 2012: How Much Communication Is Too Much?
Mar 18, 2012: Sharpening the Saw, Part 2
Mar 4, 2012: Sharpening the Saw
Feb 16, 2012: I Wonder, Wonder...
Feb 1, 2012: Transforming Our Thinking
Jan 2, 2012: Looking At Life From The Third Person This Year
Dec 15, 2011: There Is No Standing Still
Dec 1, 2011: Scarcity or Abundance?
Nov 15, 2011: Am I a Human Doing or a Human Being?
Oct 17, 2011: Seek Fresh Eyes To Ask Better Questions
Oct 1, 2011: Solving For A Greater Purpose
Sept 15, 2011: If Not Now Then When
August 22, 2011: Consider That Heaven Has A Better View
August 1, 2011: Though I May Not Be Gracious I Want Attention Too!
June 1, 2011: Albert Einstein And Problem Solving
Video
2009 Kenosha Business of the Year:
LMI Packaging Solutions, Inc.
If Not Now Then When
I have been feeling a bit Oprah-esque as of late, in that I am being called to a whole new level of self-expression. Since I have been writing this blog I have received many wonderful comments and enjoyed connecting with many new people. It has been quite wonderful, yet, there is a voice in my head that keeps taunting me, “Why aren’t you writing about what really matters to you.”
I have enough self-awareness to know the answer to this question but wasn’t quite sure if I had enough vulnerability and courage to face it. If I expose my soul what if everyone tells me I am naive and idealistic? Worse, what if I fail?
But here’s the thing. I turned 59 a few weeks ago. That means I am starting my 6th decade of life. How many more of these do I have left in me; maybe two, possibly three. IF NOT NOW THEN WHEN?
So here is what I am going to write about from now on.
At LMI Packaging Solutions we have declared our Vision, Mission and Corporate Values and I am passionate about the words we have chosen. We are a Triple Bottom Line Company ‘in training’ and I am passionate about the difference I believe we make in the world. For those unfamiliar with the term, it means that in addition to our financial bottom line we also hold ourselves accountable to our social and environmental bottom lines.
I learned a long time ago that if we lose the ability to grow our business’s bottom line we lose all the opportunities for influence and impact that come with being a prosperous business community. Therefore, our financial bottom line goals are more defined, and metrically supported, today then our social and environmental goals, alas, my "in training" descriptor.
We have a social vision that was created with input from our entire team.
It is: We believe that at a grassroots level, business can make a positive impact on the education of children in the United States. We can do this through the training and development of their mentors and parents, who are, all of us, in the business community. In so doing, we thrive personally, and we cause the communities we are a part of to thrive, including but not limited to our families and businesses.
These are the things I want to talk about and engage all of you in.
I’ll describe what we have learned on this journey and what the challenges we see facing us but more importantly I want to hear your thoughts and how you think we might move faster and be more effective in this mission. Mohandas Gandhi said, “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” I believe this to be true.
For each of us, THIS IS OUR TIME to make the difference we are capable of in the world.
Questions, comments for Jean?
If you have a question or comment, you can email Jean.