Corporate Social Responsibility, Yay Or Nay?

In the past several decades, corporations have been forming in almost every area of the world. The corporations drastically affect the area around them, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. From this, the idea of corporate social responsibility arises. Corporate social responsibility can be defined as the commitment of a corporation to better the area in which it is located. As two every story, this one has two sides. Some people are for it and some against. Two reasons that have come up supporting corporate social responsibility are that it is good press, and that it gives its' employees a sense of pride. Two arguments against corporate social responsibility are that a corporation's job is to make a profit, and that people should take care of themselves. Now I will elaborate on these.

The idea that corporate social responsibility is good press is entirely true. If a corporation (especially a large, well-known one) does something that people other than employees benefit from, it makes them look good. By looking good, the corporation has a chance to get free advertising. If the good deed is covered by the media, the corporation does not have to pay a dime. So, you could almost consider the cost of the good deed as an advertising expense. An example of this is the large array of Christmas lights the Herr's chip factory puts up every year. Although this isn't a direct way of giving back, it gives the people in the area something magnificent to look at during the holiday season. At the same time, its gets peoples' attention which is what advertising is designed to do. The good press created by a strong sense of corporate social responsibility also has the potential to get new investors. Many wealthy people love investing in companies that are environmentally friendly or that give back to the people in some way.

The second supporting piece of information for corporate social responsibility is that it gives the corporation's employees a sense of pride. It would make me feel good knowing that the company I worked for helped out in the area I lived. This might motivate employees to work harder, which would make them more productive. In a sense, all of the hard work the employees put in generates the money used to benefit the surrounding area. I know people would really like the chance to say "Hey, I work for that company" when he or she over hears people talking about something good the corporation did.

Like I stated, there are always two sides to every story which means there are also reasons that people are against corporate social responsibility. One is that the corporation's responsibility is to the shareholders. This means that corporation's focus should be on making as much money as possible. So for a company to spend money by giving back to the community just seems wrong in that respect. Now, the fact that the publicity the company gets from giving back generates the sale to offset the cost is another topic in itself. I feel that it potentially could, but there's no way of knowing for sure. Many stockholders only invest to make money, so they would probably feel that the company should earn money and that is it.

Some people feel that idea of corporate social responsibility is wrong because people should take care of themselves. I suppose this is kind of like a "let nature runs its course" approach. People should learn to fend for themselves, and not be dependent on the help of others. If corporations (or people) help them, they will never be able to break away and survive on their own. For instance, say you see a stray cat wondering around your neighborhood. Well one day it's outside your house and you put a bowl of food on your step. You go inside and the cat eats your food. The next day, the same thing happens. Before you know it you are opening the door and the cat is there waiting for food. The cat has stopped looking for food elsewhere and depends solely on you for food. The same thing can be applied to people.

Corporate social responsibility is something all corporations think about. Some decide to support is because it is good press and it will give their employees a sense of pride which might raise their productivity. On the other hand, some are against it because they realize they have an obligation to their stockholders, and they feel that people should learn to take care of themselves. Personally, I am split between the two. I see very logical reasoning on both sides. If I had to choose one, I would choose to support corporate social responsibility. I think the increased cost of supporting the local area would increase revenue enough to offset itself.

7 Simple and Essential Steps to Growing an Extremely Successful Solo-Business

Implementing these seven steps will make a huge difference in creating a full and fulfilling business. Here's what you need to do:

Step One: Get Clear on What Drives You

Most of us do not have a personal vision. We need to explore our vision at least to ensure, that it matches our idea of a desirable lifestyle. Creating a compelling vision means starts with being really honest with yourself and figuring out what lifestyle you desire. Adding the detail of your business comes next. Once you create your vision, test that to see if your vision is compelling enough by asking yourself "does it make me want to get out of bed in the morning?" If you settle for something safe that is not compelling you are less likely to take any action or have the persistence you need to succeed.

Step Two: Shift to a Growth Mindset

We often prioritize tasks that we find easy rather than those that may ask us to get out of our comfort zone; yet, produce better results. The first thing that entrepreneurs need to do is figure out which activities produce the most results. Do a scan of all the activities that bring you customers. In a growth phase you MUST be focused on two types of activities: client work and activities that bring-in more clients. Reorganize your schedule in a way that allows you to focus on one important thing at a time and keep working on priority items until they are done.

Step Three: Define your 'People' and How you Help them

Your potential clients need to see you as THE person who can solve their problems. To do so, you need to know who are your IDEAL clients and what are their commonalities. When you figure out your ideal client you need to then figure out HOW you help them. Do this by reflecting on which work you enjoyed the most with your best clients and what were the results that you provided them with from working with you. You need to your messaging to appeal to your ideal clients and their biggest challenges.

Step Four: Implement Simple Marketing Tactics

Developing alluring and compelling tactics that draw people to you and your product or services regularly and consistently will set you up for continuous growth. Choose at least 6 tactics in order to develop rapport with your target market. There are many inexpensive strategies that you can use very easily including ezines, blogs, social media, etc. Remember that marketing is a longer term relationship building strategy and will not have clients banging down your door right away. It does take some time for the seeds you have planted to start sprouting. Develop a presence in the marketplace so people will be aware of what you. When the time comes they will know where to find you.

Step Five: Systematize your most Valuable Worksteps

You must be prepared to create systems for the activities that are working for you and do them often! If you miss this, it will be hard to get ahead. The key to business success is to implement important activities consistently and regularly and systems will ensure you get this done. Monthly, weekly and daily planning will help you determine your commitments and priorities and how you can get them done. Operating your business smoothly and professionally will help you look and feel more confident in what you offer.

Step Six: Make Self-care a Top Priority

The biggest thing that holds us back from growing our business and playing big is the limiting beliefs that we carry around with us usually in the form of self-doubt. Support yourself to stay confident and ready to put yourself out there by finding a daily practice that quiets your negative voices and strengthens your belief in yourself. Really successful business owners know that they need to surround themselves with supportive people. High level mentors that have the experience to guide you through your challenges and your plans are essential. There are a number of ways to get this support: hire a coach, find mentors, or join a business group.

Step Seven: Create the Platform to Step-up even Bigger

If you want to see your business grow or you want to move into doing the premium work that other experts in your field are doing, you need to eliminate excuses that are holding you back from succeeding. You can do this by taking your actions seriously which includes implementing good ideas quickly before you have a chance to change your mind. You also need to be prepared to invest in your business and yourself. Shifting from a financial scarcity mindset to one of abundance - what you put into your business you will get out of it many times over.