Empowered people and companies are those that make decisions that are good for them in a context that causes no harm to others.  They don’t look to others for their lead yet are inspired by the leadership they see around them.

• This year’s list is topped by Canadian ‘pop’ singer Avril Lavigne (who sings the ‘Complicated’ song) who eschews the stylists, choreographers  and Brittany-isms of commercial music and, in her words, “rocks it” on stage in clothes she chooses, singing songs she writes.
• Sticking with the showbiz theme, Jerry Hall makes the list.  It’s true that the millions would help, but others facing the ‘ public shame’ of being married to the world’s least faithful husband would not emerge from the marriage as independent and secure as she has.
• Shell Australia’s ‘listening, responding’ advertising campaign evidences either an empowered company or an empowered communication agency.  The campaign focuses on how Shell has embraced the environmental concerns that it once opposed.  Intelligent and well executed.  We love it.
• Ian Thorpe.  He is 20 years old.  Speaks for itself.

I attended a seminar a few weeks ago that was extremely disappointing.  I felt that it had not delivered on its promotional promise and as such I thought attending had been a waste of my time.  So I called the organisers the following morning to say that I was disappointed and that the talk in the lift on the way out was very negative and thought they would like to know so they don’t repeat the same mistakes next time.  The head of the organisation called me back immediately and insisted on refunding my money, which I said was fine of course was not why I was calling.  What I really wanted – as the customer – was for them to CARE about me and my disappointment at their hands.  And TALK to me about why I was dissatisfied and ASK me how they could better meet my expectations next time.  They could have SHOWN their faith in their seminars by sending me a free ticket to another one of my choosing, therefore building a RELATIONSHIP with me, the customer.  In this case, not only was I the customer, but also a new member of what is a professional association.  And I still don’t have my money back! 

M Power can provide a speaker on ‘what customers really want’ for your next conference or can tailor seminars and training programs to empower your organisation to better give customers what they really want.

It is important to feel that you are ‘getting somewhere’ so that you have a sense of accomplishment and moving forward as each year comes to an end.

• Remember that it’s not a competition, so don’t worry about what other people are achieving. 
• The only way to measure your progress is by having written down goals to check against.  It’s really satisfying to tick those you have achieved and to sometimes laugh at what you thought was important a year ago and that is now clearly not.
• For the serious goal setters who have a five year plan, the end of a year it is a great time to reflect on how the big picture is looking and to reassess your priorities.
• Remember that goal setting can be limiting.  I used to aim at reading one book per month and never managed it in several years.  I then decided to read whatever and whenever I like and now comfortably read 60 or 70 books each year.
• The best part about the end of one year is that you get to plan the next one, with the advantage of all of the experience, skills and perspective that you have gained in the previous year. And it’s a great excuse to drink champagne.    

We were asked recently if we can “make boring stuff interesting”.  The answer was an emphatic yes.  A big part of the work we do is take ‘boring’ information, data and statistics, or outdated text and produce readable and interesting brochures, newsletters and magazines and other printed material.  Often we start literally from ‘scratch’ (which cuts out the ‘boring’ part but can take longer!).  Our print production unit has had a bumper year this year and we’re really proud of the ‘interesting’ work we’ve done for a range of clients.