Today's Successful Business Must Be Remarkable

Business trends for 2013 show that businesses would begin to strive to be “remarkable.” Because the economy has evened out quality and pricing in products, the basis for the prediction was that consumers are looking for the extras that companies provide. According to experts, consumers look for companies with which they can identify. These are businesses that arouse interest, spur comment and get talked about in a positive way. They are, in short, remarkable.

How do you create a remarkable business today? To answer that question, you should think about the remarkable people you know. What makes them memorable? Passion is probably high on the list of characteristics you note. Others are creativity, originality and the willingness to go the extra mile. Those are all characteristics of remarkable businesses, too.

Branding is important. Remarkable businesses brand themselves not only in their product line but in their community involvement and outlook. Some remarkable businesses focus on being “green” companies. Others partner with health organizations or food banks to impact the communities where they are located. The services a company offers or the price that it charges may be standard. What “brands” the company is the personality of its leadership (think of the used car dealership advertisements with the salespeople in ball hats or Stetsons) and its image in the community.

People talk about businesses that go out of their way to help them find the product or service they need, even if it is only provided by a competitor. Consider the case of the insurance company that lists its premiums along with the costs of other companies, so consumers can see when they aren’t the cheapest.

Remarkable companies build an image and a corporate conscience and don’t deviate from it. They don’t settle for second best, and they keep positive outlooks. They build relationships with communities and consumers that keep them competitive. Most companies cannot match international corporations in production volume or in capital. They can, however, beat the “big boys” locally by leaning on those relationships.

Remarkable companies keep their strategies simple. They know what they are good at, and they concentrate on those areas. Remarkable businesses have a personality and a voice that comes through in their blogs and websites. It also is evident in the “handshakes” of their employees.

That last trait of remarkable businesses is important. Remarkable companies choose remarkable employees. Glen Gonzalez has been exceptional from the beginning of his career. His experience, though varied, bears the hallmarks of being remarkable. He has shown a willingness to go “the extra mile,” and has branded himself in both his cities of residence as someone with community ties who cares about things like preservation of art and culture.

The 2012 prediction that successful businesses would have to be remarkable businesses is not dated. It is on track in its assessment that products and services are becoming standardized and what sets successful companies apart is being “remarkable.” That means choosing people to operate the business who understand conscience and commitment: remarkable people build remarkable businesses.

Corporate Trainings

I am pleasantly surprised by the full support our managers are giving us regarding our professional and even personal growth. I say this because from my previous department, I barely had the opportunity to attend trainings and seminars. Not that the management discourages us, it was just that, asking permission was a bit of a challenge due to the demands of work. Also, we had to coordinate with other colleague to ensure that no one was on leave on the date I would attend my training. Unfortunately, there were times when the only offered available dates were on the times my other colleagues were on leave. I always end up sacrificing my chance to learn and develop.

The case now is very different in my new department. In a span of 8 months, I have already done 5 instructor-led trainings with my fellow colleagues and bosses. I am not even counting the online courses I have completed during that time.  I have never seen so much support from the management in my previous work experience. I am overwhelmed in a positive way because I love attending trainings, seminars and workshops. I love to learn more and acquire skills which I can use in my day-to-day tasks in the office and also, something to leverage my chances of promotion.

I am grateful that the opportunities are being presented to us in a silver platter. The one I just attended yesterday was a "mandatory" training arranged by my boss. Everyone in the team was present, including our big boss who did everything to ensure that all of us get our fair-share in learning and developing. Our whole unit was closed for the day while we acquire more knowledge in the workforce. Closing a unit for a day rarely happens in a company but our management deemed it necessary for our career growth and well-being. I think that's a very altruistic gesture from the management side and it's not left unappreciated.

And as of this writing, there is another training in the offing that the whole unit will attend to as instructed by our big boss. My quota is already filled to the brim!

Imagine, 5 trainings in 8 months in my new department as opposed to the very few trainings I had during the past 8 years in my previous department. Now that's what I call healthy working environment.

Darling

That's not what I call my husband. I just noticed that lately, I have been calling everyone "darling." From our messenger to my same-level colleagues. I can't recall when exactly it started. My colleagues and those that I call "darling" seem to not mind. Not that anyone said anything "yet."

I better stop this before it becomes a habit. There'a actually nothing wrong if I call anyone my "darling." It sounds sweet but a big no-no in the corporate world. 

So, come tomorrow, I will monitor myself and have to really cease the darling name-calling. Other people might give malice on the sweetness and I'll find myself in hot water.

Same Old Stuff, Different Day

Ah, the saga of the corporate bondage continues and this time under a different dictatorship. I really don't understand how big guys up there decide on things in the office. Sometimes it leaves me so baffled that my mind gets numb. Oftentimes, I am left reeling, palpitating and praying that I discover another portal to transport myself to a corporate utopia.

The office is very lucky to have me as a staff. And this I tell you without any sign of modesty because I know what kind of person I am. I am self-motivated despite the lack of support and boost of morale from the higher echelon. Unfortunately, my dedication is never noticed. I am not sure if they actually do not see what I do inspite of the numerous emails I forward them regarding the projects I have accomplished or they simply want to turn the cheek and look on the opposite direction. Hmmmmm... What kind of game are they really playing there?

I have been given numerous tasks with deadlines happening on the same time. Same time! Same time! Same time! Whew, I thought if I tell myself that over and over again, I might come into a realization that everything is just a nightmare and I would wake up from this mess. So far, reality bites so hard that no matter how much I deny myself about the deadlines, they are going to happen and I have to commit and deliver. How? Don't ask me because I have no idea.

Oh man, it is just the same old stuff and different kind-of-thing day for me in the office. I just wish 2013 rolls in as fast as the lightning. I just want to get out. So help me God...

The Corporate Ladder - Is it Worth the Climb?

I have been working for nearly 2 decades now. I am beginning to feel the wear and tear of working donkey years in the corporate scene. These past few days have been enlightening and thought-provoking for me as I begin to unravel the realities of my career advancement. Why did I say that? Well, no matter what I do now, I can never seem to please the authorities around me. And why did I say that again? Just hear me out...

I just had an unpleasant performance review recently. I honestly thought that I had improved well in the gray areas highlighted to me by my supervisor during the last performance review. I was confident that this review would merit me a better rating. Imagine my shock when I saw my review. It was completely the opposite of my expectation. Talk about having false hopes! I will no longer go through the nitty-gritty details of the review but to cut the chase, it was not what I wanted to see if I plan to apply for a promotion or career advancement. Simply put, my chances for growth has been stumped.

So, let me get back to my question at hand, is it really worthy to climb the corporate ladder? I know many of you will surely say yes if you are driven by ambition, money, power and motivated by your bosses or for any other personal reasons. However, this is my conclusion on my view as a career woman-mom-wife who has been tied in a bondage for the last 18 years of her life in the cut-throat world we call the Office. NO. Let me say that again, NO, it is not worth the climb for me.

I just realized how blessed I am for having a stress-free life after office hours, a family and a house I can come home to, a daughter who keeps me up on my toes and a husband who still has the time to hear my woes and glee. NO, it is not worth climbing when my drive for success compromises the quality time I spend with my family. NO, it is not worth the climb when my relationship with the people who TRULY matters is affected by the demands of the work force. NO, it is not worth every money I will get if I come home to a daughter who I don't have time to nurture and guide, a husband I will be too tired to take care of, a house I can never clean because of weariness, friends I cannot see and call, activities I have to cancel and life I have to turn my back to. NO, if it means I will spend lesser quality time with the people I love and more time in a place where every dealing is superficial. NO. It is not worth it at all. So, I rescind my dream of any promotion, career growth or a shot at a managerial post because what matters to me is the quality of life I will live when I leave the corporate world. Surely, no amount of money nor company accolades can top that.

I do know that I have far exceeded my Lord's expectation by giving the very best in what I do with the sincerity of my heart. I may not get the promotion I deserve here but in HIS eyes, I am a winner.

Working my Way Up

I owe my current company big time in terms of fulfilling my dreams of seeing the world, experiencing other culture, meeting a lot of people of various nationalities and recognizing my efforts. Back in the Philippines, much as I excel in the kind of work that I do, I was never noticed. I did notice that they focus more on people who barely know what they were doing. They gave away positions which were meant to people who really deserved to their favorites. Let's just say, I was never a favorite.

So, when I left that company, I told myself that I'd one day go back there and prove all of them (my bosses and colleagues who thought I was nothing...) that they made a huge mistake for letting me go. Soon, when I landed my first stint abroad, I was already given assignments and projects which I had no knowledge of but because my boss knew and believed in me. I had several promotions since then in less the time compared to the whole tenure I had back in my old company. I was given a company-wide recognition - Twice! What does that prove then? I was and still is a worthy employee. Sadly though, my former bosses in the Philippines never gave me a chance to prove my worth. Anyway, I don't feel bitter about it. I am happy that I had moved on and is working my way up again. I am learning new skills and taking on projects despite my current work load. I'm actually blowing my trumpet this time. I am done sitting back and being a martyr and other people get noticed. I had been passive while I was in the Philippines and being in a multi-cultural work environment, you learn to fend for yourself. It's a jungle out here ;)

I am ready to move another step higher. I hope I get promoted soon... Wish me luck!