Guiding Vision

Recently another blogger reminded me of one of my all-time favorite speeches, given by  my all-time favorite rock star and activist, Bono.  He is one of the most outspoken advocates for the poor and marginalized.  This speech, which can more rightly be called a sermon, cuts to the heart and soul of the matter.

The one thing, on which we can all agree, is that God is with the vulnerable and poor. God is in the slums and in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them. 6,500 Africans are still dying every day of a preventable, treatable disease, for lack of drugs we can buy at any drug store. This is not about charity, this is about Justice and Equality.

~ Bono, Speech at National Prayer Breakfast February 2, 2006

The full text of the speech can be read at USA Today.

The book “One the Move” based on the speech can be read online for free, courtesy of the ONE Campaign

Or purchased from Amazon

Bono gave another major speech more recently at the California Women’s Conference on October 22nd.  In it he promotes ONE Campaign and its plan, which is, as he put it “a serious plan, supported by some of the sharpest minds in this country, and around the world.”

Here’s a clip with a few highlights:

The full speech can be seen at the ONE Website.

One of the best speeches ever… not just words, but truth we can take to heart. Regardless of party or ideology.  At this time, of economic struggles and global challenges we need to come together, “in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.”

I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how theyll make the mortgage, or pay their doctors bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who wont agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government cant solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way its been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand….

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, its that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

~ Barack Obama, Victory Speech November 4, 2008

Full text and videos at Huffington Post

I found this quote while researching the post I wrote yesterday, Desperation is Not Attractive - Even in Fundraising Appeal Letters

“It is characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things.”

~ Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”

~ Alexander Graham Bell

Thanks to Jay Stockwell for including this quote in today’s Associate Programs newsletter. Photo credit: Dave Gough

I wrote about my first impressions of Blog World while still at the event  It’s been non-stop busy since then, so I’m working on catching up with work, blogging and my sleep.

One session that was standing room only was called “Creating Customer Loyalty” and featured one of my favorite business leaders, Tony Hsieh (pronounced “Shay”) CEO of Zappos.com. The panelists talked about how companies are using online tools such as blogs and twitter to interact with customers.  Here are some of the notable quotes from that seminar:

“Being involved in the internet is the only way to retain customers.” ~ Frank Eliason, Comcast

[The internet and social media] “are changing expectations, changing the whole service model.” ~ Brian Solis

“Some companies say they care, we really do.” ~  Tony Hsieh, Zappos

There were many other good points to this seminar… though I was using the old fashioned paper and pen to take notes as my laptop had died by the last session of the day.

Southwest Airlines, who had a big booth at the conference, has been well known for years for its focus on the customer experience.  I’ve only flown Southwest a couple of times but now that we’re as close to Oklahoma City as DFW, I’ll have to try to book with them in the future.  At least they won’t charge me $15 per bag like American.

Anyway, on Sunday afternoon they showed some videos that their “blog-o-spondents” created over the weekend.  I just saw Abigail’s video (which was great) before I realized that I was missing the free snacks in the back of the hall.  They had scheduled sessions from 11-12 and 12:15-1:15 so by the time you got out it was starvation mode.  Unlike PubCon, which Tracie and I went to last year, Blog World did not include lunches with your conference registration.  On Saturday there was nothing at all, except overpriced pizza at the deli which I declined.  At least on Sunday there was lots of free Jones Soda to go with the chips ‘n dip.  I also met some neat people hanging out waiting for the next sessions to start.  So overall it was a great afternoon.

Today’s quote is one of my favorites.  It comes to us from Walt Disney, a man who had a remarkable idea, that went way beyond a little cartoon mouse.  His vision for an entertainment empire to bring together children and families formed the foundation for a company that today brings in an estimated annual revenue of $35 billion.

In 1959 Disney decided to build a much larger version of the successful Disneyland park.  With land totaling over 27,000 acres, he met with resistance from land owners and government agencies alike.  There were probably many people who didn’t believe that the park would ever happen.  But it did. Unfortunately Disney did not live to see the grand opening day in 1971.

His dream lives on and each new generation discovers the magic of Disney for themselves.

I dream, I test my dreams against my beliefs, I dare to take risks, and I execute my vision to make those dreams come true.

~ Walt Disney (1901 - 1966)

Before you begin a thing, remind yourself that difficulties and delays quite impossible to foresee are ahead. If you could see them clearly, naturally you could do a great deal to get rid of them but you can’t. You can only see one thing clearly and that is your goal. Form a mental vision of that and cling to it through thick and thin.

~ Kathleen Norris

Norris brings us this insightful wisdom about change.  When I begin something new I have to remind myself, change is not easy.  Even good changes are difficult.  As she says, obstacles lie ahead.  Challenges that are impossible to foresee.  But by creating a compelling vision of the goal the road can become easier to bear.

Moving our company into its new offices has been a change and a challenge.  Working with new freelancers and staff takes some extra time to get everyone up to speed and trained.  But I know where we are going will bring great rewards for everyone involved.

How can you maintain your vision even as unforeseen challenges arise?