Bill Gates and Creative Capitalism - SMART giving

pauldunn — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:00:00 +0100

In TIME Magazine recently, Bill Gates wrote a keynote piece on giving. It's 'required' reading for all of us here at B1G1.

The accompanying diagrams with the article showed how giving 'started' in the 19th century (funnily enough with Cadburys!) and then really picked up in pace since 1960 when people like Dave Packard (of HP fame) were making statements about Corporate Responsibility.

The article also shows how, until now, CSR has been the 'domain&# [...]

Kids helping kids

david.anttony — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:00:00 +0100

For 30 years Kip McGrath Education Centres have dominated the after-school tutoring market with nearly 200 centres worldwide. But now, thanks to Australian Life Member Ken Hawkins leading the way, they have a new purpose.

Now Ken’s centre in Newcastle, Australia, is able to say ‘every time your child attends a session, a child in the Geetanagar slum in Mumbai gets to go to school for [...]

Microsoft, Kids and Me

pauldunn — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:00:00 +0100

Like many, I have what some describe as a love/hate relationship with Microsoft. Sometimes I think ‘WOW, that’s cool’. Other times I think “Oh boy, that didn’t work out so well” (And yes, Vista fits in that last category which I why I’m now such a passionate Mac user!)

In any event, I saw something recently in the ‘cool’ category. In fact, more than just ‘cool’, this was almost exactly Buy1GIVE1 cool. Take a look:

WORDS

pauldunn — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:00:00 +0100

Earlier today, I was having a discussion about words with my colleagues David and Masami.

Somehow or other the discussion got around to the development of new words. And when you think about it (or when you read people like William Sapphire in the International Herald Tribune), you realise that new words just appear because people use them!

So, I mentioned that this is already word: Killjoy. The online diction [...]

When Giving Gains Impact

pauldunn — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:00:00 +0100

Right now I’m on a plane from Australia’s Gold Coast to Melbourne.

And as always, being on a plane is a great time for reflection. Today it’s more than just reflection in some ways. I’m actually heading off for what we might call a ‘high-level’ meeting with one of Australia’s major retailers.

So I’ve done the background. And it’s interesting. This particular retailer g [...]

Sharing JOY - Can giving really attract more?

Masami — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:00:00 +0100

Why do we always talk about ‘sharing the joy of giving’? Isn’t B1G1 a new form of 'effective giving' program? Isn’t it about raising the profile of the company and creating socially responsible image while making sure the money we donate is effectively used? What is it to do with joy?

Well, these are actually some of the end results that our giving and sharing can lead us to. These just happen. But they shouldn’t be the sole intention of our gi [...]

Like a Child

pauldunn — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:00:00 +0100

Last Thursday I took a flight on AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. And when I fly, I like to read what the Chief Executive is saying in the in-flight magazine.

You can tell so much about the company from the CEO’s articles. Read the QANTAS one and it always strikes me as ‘stuffy’. Read the VirginBlue one from CEO Brett Godfrey and it’s ALWAYS upbeat, always focussed on the customer (in [...]

Could Buy1GIVE1 help elect Obama?

pauldunn — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:00:00 +0100

If you’re like me, you can’t help but get fascinated with the ups and downs of American politics. And, if you’re like me, you were pleased to see Barrack Obama come through as the Democratic candidate.

So what does this have to do with Buy1GIVE1?

Simply this. I was on a plane from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur this morning reading my favourite newspaper (the International Herald Tribune) before take-off an [...]

Charities Begging and Competing

pauldunn — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:00:00 +0100

An article in today’s Straits Times raised some interesting thoughts.

The article is about so called ‘Flag Days’ where volunteers have tins and rattle them when you’re walking or shopping to get donations.

Here’s a direct quote: ‘ … Singaporeans growing disdain for the army of volunteers waving tim cans in their faces each weekend. Teacher Coen Ching has had students [...]

Life-Changing Quotes in ONE Book - Part 3

david.anttony — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:00:00 +0100

The following inspiring quotes are excerpted from ONE, a book by Masami Sato.

On giving (and receiving)…

"When we give more and communicate wholeheartedly, we have less insecurity-both emotionally and physically."

"Giving love is the only way to be generously loved."

"The people who give more (time, money, kindness, love, ideas) have more of these things because that's the balance. And balance is the natural l [...]

Life-Changing Quotes in ONE Book - Part 2

david.anttony — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:00:00 +0100

The following inspiring quotes are excerpted from ONE, a book by Masami Sato .

On judgment…

"…judgment often has very little relation to reality."

"Actions and words don't always accurately reflect who we are. Every single one of us has had the experience of wanting to undo what we did or said."

On connection…

"Every single thing we do is to satisfy the need for connection."
< [...]

Life-Changing Quotes in ONE Book - Part 1

david.anttony — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:00:00 +0100

The following inspiring quotes are excerpted from ONE, a book by Masami Sato .

On mastering things…

"…doing things we've never done can often seem very difficult and complicated until the day we actually try them out."

"(Children) learn by playing and become the masters of the game. And they do it just by having fun."

"…when something more effective and easy comes along, we let go of the harder wa [...]

Smile Survey

david.anttony — Sat, 31 May 2008 18:00:00 +0100

I sometimes like to test out theories. Last week I was walking back to the office after dropping my son Kai off at kindy school, and I decided to do a simple experiment.

I had 100 metres to go before I got to the office. "What if I smiled at the next three people and did nothing but get eye contact with another three," I thought. I wondered if I gave smiles, I would receive smiles, and create a small piece of 'proof' to prove the theory that if you want to experien [...]

Is there a heart in corporate culture?

Masami — Sat, 31 May 2008 18:00:00 +0100

One of the biggest pieces of luck this week (there is so much magic happening right now), was meeting with the general manager of one of the biggest ratail chains in Australia at their Sydney headquarters to discuss how we could work together.

To be honest, before meeting this wonderful gentleman at the remarkable new office in the outskirt of Sydney, I had a feeling that working with a company this big may become a little limiting factor for us.

We have many interesting id [...]

Socks For Happy People

pauldunn — Sat, 31 May 2008 18:00:00 +0100

OK, I know that sounds like a weird title. but read on!

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE ideas and products that make me laugh. And when those ideas also have a great ‘give back’, it’s even better.

Just today I took a look at the material a new B1G1 Business Member sent us. And it scores on the laughing index and it scores hugely on the give back index as well. And to top it all off, the business, run by Tom Minter in the UK has a seri [...]

Too hard or easy?

Masami — Sat, 31 May 2008 18:00:00 +0100

As a parent of 2 young children, I sometimes struggle to have my children doing what I want them to do. When we are late to get to school in the morning and I am trying to make them walk faster, they usually play up more. The more I try to convince them to move, the more stubborn they become. Eventually, it becomes a disastrous morning and they all start crying regardless of my frustration and desperate attempts.

One day, I stopped in a situation like this and started to be curious about it. T [...]

"SEROTONIN RISING" � Giving Proven to bring happiness MORE than receiving

david.anttony — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:00:00 +0100

While on a late night web research exploration last night, I came across a most fascinating video film trailer called "SEROTONIN RISING". The clip is a preview to an upcoming movie about creating happiness. It stars some big names like Deepak Chopra, His Holiness The Dalai Lama, David Lynch and Donovan.

The video shares the scientifically discovered fact that when we receive a gift from someone, the serotonin levels in our brain increase. Serotonin is the 'happiness drug [...]

Aspire to Wealth

Masami — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:00:00 +0100

We are here in Sydney, Australia right now. We have had a wonderful weekend with a team of dedicated people from a company that shares the joy of wealth. B1G1 was sponsored to be here this weekend as a part of their event called ‘Aspire to Wealth Weekend’. What do they do?

So, here is one company that dedicates all their time and resources to educate individuals and business people to learn to manage their wealth more effectively by wisely managing their investment. Whe [...]

What do YOU do when 'stuff' doesn't come?

pauldunn — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:00:00 +0100

You’ve probably had it happen to you: you sit and look at your keyboard because you have to write something and nothing comes. So you ‘force’ it and it just doesn't feel right.

And then you’ve had those other times when everything just flows – you sit down, your fingers hit the keyboard and wonderful stuff comes out in what seems like no time at all.

Yesterday, the latter happ [...]

The Sandcastle Approach to Life and Business

david.anttony — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:00:00 +0100

When it comes to life and business there are countless ways that we can do things. In business there are methodologies for everything from improving staff performance to increasing the bottom line results.

One thing that I have noticed in life is that if I observe I learn! Most of what I have learnt in my own life has been free because I've simply observed. One day I was on Sentosa beach in Singapore and I learnt one of the most valuable lessons in my whole life simply by obser [...]

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