Corporate Social Responsibility – The New Cool Where Everybody Wins

Starbucks. Google. American Apparel. Ever hear of these companies? I’m sure you have. In fact, I’m willing to bet you’re probably sitting in a Starbucks right now, possibly wearing your American Apparel iB-LIEVE t-shirt, and that you probably got to this very Blog from your own Google home page.

But behind the products and services we enjoy from these companies, there is a much larger thing going on behind the scenes. For example, did you know that one of Starbucks’ guiding principles is Corporate Social Responsibility? Are you aware that the founders of Google have given billions of dollars in seed money with the objective to tackle poverty, disease, and global warming? And did you know that American Apparel is known for its progressive policies in promoting immigrant rights and labor policies that pioneered the “sweatshop free” movement is apparel manufacturers?

These companies, like many others, are tapping into new markets and expanding corporate philosophies. They are looking to do more “good” and show you how much of it they are doing. Companies are not just thinking in terms of profit anymore, they are striving to become more socially conscious and providing a positive impact on society.

But what is it exactly? According to some experts, “corporate social responsibility” is a concept where organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities, as well as the environment.

Thanks to you, me, and millions of other consumers like us, corporate social responsibility has now become a standard business practice. Conscious consumers like us continue to dig deeper into the products we purchase, paying more attention to a company’s behavior than the product itself. We establish emotional connections with the brands we identify with and we like to identify companies that care not just about us and what we like, but also what the world can benefit from and the positive impact they are making. It’s become a true demand from the population, and more and more corporations are realizing it helps their bottom line.

Do you believe in a company that’s socially responsible? Let us know what companies you buy from that are making a positive impact in the world.

-JL

-You never know how far you can go until you try-

Believers, everyday we are faced with new challenges some small and some large. Our lives are overflowing with unforeseen highs and lows whether they are mental, physical, or emotional. We can judge ourselves by how well we adapt to the plethora of circumstances that we find ourselves in on a daily basis; how well we adapt to positive circumstances, and how well we adapt to negative circumstances. My experiences have helped me to realize several facts about adapting to life’s uncertainties. One that I would like to focus on is this:

-Do not avoid seemingly negative circumstances because you believe you are unable to navigate through them effectively.

The negative judgment implies that we already know what the ultimate outcome will be and beginning any difficult endeavor with such an attitude is not a good place to start. It is true that we simply don’t know enough to be pessimistic. Additionally, I believe that the greater the obstacle the greater the triumph….. “Both virtue and art are always concerned with what is harder, for success is better when it is hard to achieve.” Heraclitus-

Within the field of counseling psychology the phrase systematic desensitization is used to describe how fears can be overcome if you progressively expose yourself to whatever it is that you fear. I would like to challenge you (believers) to put yourself out there and refuse to be paralyzed by your fears. Demand more of yourself for the sake of becoming a better YOU! Challenges can come in many different forms. What is challenging for one may not be challenging to another; but stepping outside of your comfort zone is GREAT for anyone. Many times I say to the athletes that I train that you should get comfortable with the uncomfortable. In training as in life, each day is an opportunity to become better; MAXIMIZE the OPPORTUNITY!

With love and Passion-

Pete Athans-27

Keep believing…

A Man's Search for Motivation

Every day billions of people rise with the sun and move. They go about daily routines without very much thought of the motivational energy that moves us. What motivates people to move? What motivates people to change there current mental state or physical circumstance?

In my search to understand motivation, I found that motivation is “something that energizes and directs behavior..” Motivation deals with the drive that causes us to act in a particular way, or change our way of acting to another more desirable way. We may be moved by both internal drives such as needs and curiosity (see early iB-LIEVE team summer travels, 2003) as well as external drives including rewards and pressures. But, how we are moved and what moves each of us is individualistic. While all of this helps me to understand motivation, my question remains, “What motivates people to change?”

I believe motivation for change can come from a plethora of places: personality traits, events, experiences, disequilibrium, relationships, values, emotions , etc. But what it boils down to is that we all need incentive to change. We need a reason to change. Where does this reason come from? The reason comes from the beliefs about ourselves and what we want right now and in our future. Changing these beliefs is the gateway to making changes in our motive to act. This is what motivates change, the belief that change is necessary and will bring about desirable outcomes in the future. It turns out that to change our lives requires us to first change our beliefs. Dare I say it…”I believe, therefore I am.” What I mean is that what I believe is often times what I become because what I believe gives reason to what I want in life, and this motivates my choices.

Finally, we must understand that change in beliefs is not a linear process.
As we develop and understand it’s progression it is important to be compassionate of ourselves and others. We must also be mentally and emotionally flexible through this process. (see iB-LIEVE way)

-Mac Attack Express (DM,EM) & KB

The iB-LIEVE team presents at American International College

This past week the iB-LIEVE Team went to Springfield, MA to work with the American International College Student Government Association. The 30 or so students were increibly engaged and eased our ability to explore concepts in leadership, team work, and getting the most out of the experience. We laughed our way through the Candy Store Skit, engaged in experiential activities, and thought critically about this year's goal(s) for the Student Government Association. We even received great feedback from Erin Underwood, AIC's Director of Student Activities. "iB-LIEVE really got our Student Government excited about leadership on campus. They came full of energy and excitement that the students picked up on right away. I would definitely recommend them for any group looking for a leadership model to implement!" Thanks Erin, Chirs Mercurio, and the AIC SGA. We had a blast!

-JK