A year ago the industry I am in was talking about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). A year later we are fighting the media which is bashing our industry because of the current state of the economy. It seems that CSR has taken a back seat, but it hasn’t. I believe now more than ever CSR will be at the forefront of the Meetings, Events, and Travel Industries. As Tim Sanders said last year at MeetDifferent in Houston, Texas, there is a business revolution coming. Whether you are a strong environmentalist or not, it is coming.  When this storm in our current economy passes, the CSR Revolution will be there staring us in the face.

We live in a Capitalist society and a Capitalist Economy is one of the best motivations in the world. You either make yourself marketable, you make customers want to do business with you, or you fail. We saw this coming on strong about a year ago with Corporate Social Responsibility. Going green will be one of the most important business tools right now and in the future.

I am a Capitalist and I believe the way to make change is through our system. I have seen hotels, convention centers, airlines, meeting supply companies, etc. make a change to green. They didn’t make the change to green because of the government, they made the change because they need to be green to be marketable. The companies that will survive are those that can make the change and put Corporate Social Responsibility at the top of their list.

The generation currently entering the workforce and those that follow value Corporate Social Responsibility. Take Apple, Inc. for example. One of the main marketing points for their new laptop is that it is the “greenest” computer on the market. Apple knows it has to be green to make money. The Meetings and Events industry realized that it needs to be green to thrive and to grow.

If you want to still be in business 10 years from now, it is time you start thinking about going green. As I stated earlier, the CSR Revolution will still be there when the recession is over. I do not care if you are an environmentalist, capitalist, or if you believe in manmade Global Warming or not, CSR will still be there. The change starts with you. I am excited to see the new innovations that will come to produce cleaner more efficient energy. I am excited to see innovations that will clean our air and I am excited that I will be able to walk through L.A. on a summer day without SMOG. “There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow, shinning at the end of everyday.” (Carousel of Progress, Disneyland and Walt Disney World).

Find out more about Tim Sanders at http://www.timsanders.com/

Find out more about CSR and the Meetings and Events Industry http://www.mpiweb.org/cms/mpiweb/mpicontent.aspx?id=11458

Lately we have been seeing a lot of changes in the world around us. Most of the changes that we have been experiencing are completely unexpected. Some of the unexpected changes has left many people jobless.

The unexpected changes that are occurring today are leaving a lot of people feeling like they have “failed.” Are you really a failure? In Batman Begins Thomas Wayne tells young Bruce Wayne, “Why do we fall? To learn to pick ourselves up.” I think that falling down is a necessary evil to get to success. Walt Disney had many “failures” or set-backs before he was successful and became a household name. Hank Aaron struck-out may times on his way to breaking the Babe’s record. Apple had set-backs before iPod, iMac, OS X and its current success. Do we find the perfect career path without set-backs or even firings/layoffs?

We need to change the definition of “failure.” When we fall down or find ourselves in a valley, that does not mean that we are to loose hope. When silver is being refined the temperature is raised at every step during the process until the refiner can see his reflection like a mirror. Can we learn to embrace “failures” and see them as necessary steps in the process towards success? Napoleon Hill once said: “Failure seems to be nature’s plan for preparing us for great responsibilities.”

“Failure is good. It's fertilizer. Everything I've learned about coaching, I've learned from making mistakes.” -- Rick Patino

I think that we all know someone who is jobless or who has lost their job, especially in this economy. Some of those people who have lost their jobs get right back on track while others stay down with their spirits broken. When an individual stays down and goes without a job for a long amount of time there is usually an underlying issue. Yes, even during this difficult time in our economy.

That underlying issue is our spirit or attitude. Our spirit and attitude make a huge difference in our relationships, careers and life. We have to be careful in watching all the areas in our lives when a painful event knocks us off course. If we pay too much attention to that one area all of the areas of our lives begin to suffer.
I know from personal experience that when a door closes in your career another one opens. When you fall down you have to learn to pick yourself up.

Here are some tips that may help if you find yourself jobless and with a broken spirit:

- Now is a good time for you to start a workout routine. Go for a long walk or run. Ollie Johnston, one of Walt Disney’s top animators, used to walk to spark creativity. This will help you also get anger out and increase your creativity. Take time to enjoy the simple things.

- Volunteer your time. You will be making a positive impact and you will making a difference. It will do wonders for your attitude.

- Stop watching the TV and don’t spend so much time on the computer. Begin reading inspirational material for an hour or more each day. Too much TV and internet will do nothing but depress you and keep you from getting out of your slump.

- Invest in your personal relationships. If there is ever a time you need the support of those around you it is now. You never know who may be looking for a great employee like you.

- Get a job. It may not be your dream job or the next big step in your career, but it will get you moving in a positive direction while you are searching. Today I looked on a career site and they listed 1,643 jobs in the Nashville area. So if the statistic is true that only 12% of what’s available is listed, that means there is about 13,600 jobs in the Nashville area.

- Use the tools that you have. Use MPI’s job bank, use your MPI Network. There are so many opportunities out there. Do not limit yourself.

Only you are ultimately responsible for your life. Charles Swindoll said it best, “I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there is no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.”

USA Today reports that companies across the country are slashing bonuses, severance packages and pay raises. 40% of surveyed companies plan to reduce the amount allotted for raises in 09 and 62% say they will be giving smaller bonuses than last year. The number of companies holding holiday parties is the lowest in reportable history. American Express just canceled its annual year-end bash. Companies that normally avoid any layoffs are now compiling lists of who will be let go. (We all know Holiday parties affect our industry)

Here is the interesting part of the story. A lot of charities are seeing an increase in giving. Some companies are reporting that employees are skipping the company holiday party and to feed the hungry instead. Justin Greeves, VP of Harris Interactive (a giving tracking organization) says that “in a year when people are having trouble meeting basic needs, giving by individuals usually increases.” Companies decide that instead of a lavish party, they’ll help those in need.

It seems that when we have too much we become greedy and hoarders. But when we are struggling ourselves, we are more willing to help each other out. What are you doing to help out?