One of the joys and corresponding responsibilities we feel in our organization is to give to those in need. We strive to make a difference not only locally, but globally. Compassion International has been one of the giving opportunities we have enjoyed over the last several years.

In 2009, we “adopted” Alphonse, a young man living with his family in Rwanda. He is now 19 and attending school with the goal of getting into the construction business. Alphonse’s parents are farmers, living on the plains of Murambi, home to approximately 15,000 people. The average monthly income in their area is $12. Alphonse is responsible for helping his family with cleaning, caring for their animals, carrying water and gathering firewood. His hobbies include soccer, basketball, reading, singing and listening to music.

We have been impressed with his dedication to helping his family and to working hard in school. Alphonse celebrates his 19th birthday this month (February 13) and we write this in his honor. We wish him a wonderful day with his family and their friends and hope he knows we are thinking of him. We hope he knows that a group of people from the other side of the world care about him and want to give him opportunities to succeed just as we have been given.

Happy Birthday Alphonse!

With the internet’s ever increasing reach, there are new opportunities to take advantage of technology to improve our ability to care for homes.  We are in the middle of testing the idea of monitoring the temperature of client homes remotely.  While this concept is nothing new or earth shattering, it has been previously limited to very high end homes that are built with specific capabilities to allow for remote viewing and management.  Translation:  very expensive and complicated.

 We are testing a system that is relatively inexpensive and easy to use.  The driving force behind this effort is to offer us another layer of protection on behalf of our clients.  This idea, along with the FloLogic, gives us an advantage over our competition as it allows us to check real time temperatures in a house as an indicator of potential HVAC issues.  Additionally, we will be notified via email or text if a temperature reaches a preset limit.

 More to come; “excell still more!”

Today’s business climate is a lot like the weather, very unpredictable and almost impossible to predict. The pace of change in our economy and our culture is accelerating-fueled by global adoption of social, mobile, and other new technologies-and our visibility about the future is declining. From the rise of Facebook to the fall of Blockbuster, from the downgrading of U.S. government debt to the resurgence of Brazil, predicting what will happen next has gotten exponentially harder. Uncertainty has taken hold in boardrooms and cubicles, as executives and workers struggle with core questions: Which competitive advantages have staying power? What skills matter most? How can you weigh risk and opportunity when the fundamentals of your business may change overnight?

Look at the global cell-phone business. Just five years ago, three companies controlled 64% of the smartphone market. Today, two different companies are at the top of the industry. This sudden complete swap in the pecking order of a global multibillion dollar industry is unprecedented. There is no question that we are in a new world.*

Sounds intimidating and scary. As businessmen and women, how do we react to this kind of worldview? I find great confidence in biblical principles that have been in place for 2000 years, are unchanged, and are a formula for success.

· Work is meant to be good and fulfilling; enjoy what you do

· Work deserves our best effort and commitment

· Let your yes be yes; your no be no

· Treat others (customers, vendors, employees) the way you want to be treated

· Put others before yourself

Worry and anxiety about the future become less important. Don’t be anxious about things we can’t control but claim the things we can affect. I know this to be true about our business: If we do great work every day, the future will take care of itself.

*Adapted from Fast Company magazine, February 2012.

David Packard, founder of Hewlett Packard:

“Why are we here? I think many people assume, wrongly, that a company exists solely to make money. We have to go deeper and find the real reasons for our being. As we investigate this, we inevitably come to the conclusion that a group of people get together and exist as an institution that we call a company so that they are able to accomplish something collectively that they could not accomplish separately-they make a contribution to society, a phrase that sounds trite but is fundamental.”

This from a technical genius that started his business in his garage. He understands the desire to provide a service that is of value and to do it really well. I believe our team takes this kind of pride and ownership in what we do every day for our clients. I also believe it is the drive that keeps challenging us to improve.

In USA today: summary of 2011

“All of our lives are seen from different angles of time and circumstance”

In the listing of notable deaths of people in the business world, I was struck by several things.

1. The large majority of those listed were in their late 70′s, or 80′s suggesting that they stayed active and engaged after retirement.
2. I had never heard of most of them although they typically lead major corporations.
3. They died

Given the above quote, I would guess that the majority of these men would rather be remembered by something other than being the head of a large company. I venture to guess they each have fascinating stories of relationships, hobbies and personal achievements.

A reminder that relationships are just as vital in our work lives as in our personal lives.