Inherent in the concept of corporate citizenship is the belief that it’s the right thing to do. The role of the corporate citizen is not just to raise awareness for causes, but to set a new standard—in changing how businesses operate and shaping the world we want to live in.
And yet, for the dutiful corporate citizen, this can feel like pushing water uphill. It can be frustrating and downright wearying when the rest of the organization fails to take a real interest, let alone champion, worthy efforts like sustainability, philanthropy, and community.
Fact is, you can’t achieve sustainable real and worthy efforts in the corporate citizenship department alone. Plus, conflicting ideas about your company’s intention and leadership can make this even harder. So what is the solution? More passion? More purpose? Not quite.
In this entertaining and insightful keynote, award-winning writer and speaker Terri Trespicio takes a closer look at how cultural myths about passion and purpose are doing us harm as we try to do good—and how a fresh approach to sharing what you do and why is key creating company-wide engagement and lasting change.
Originally presented at the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, April 2018
51. "No one realizes how important this is.
"Everyone’s trying to treat me like their personal charity
fund
"The company wants credit without the investment it
takes.
"How am I supposed to do my job?
52. What we really want
is for our causes to
sell themselves.
53. …and for people to stop
accusing us of being “evil”
because we can’t devote
resources to their causes.
69. “This work is for
a good cause,
therefore it’s more
important.”
A good cause is its
own reward.
(And everyone should
see it that way.)
SubtextBelief
102. Patience is a little like wealth—the more you
have, the more resilient you are.
It’s not just a behavioral trait—it’s an art and a
discipline, like playing a sport or mastering
the violin.
The practice of achieving wealth demands
patience—and those who bail, fail. It’s as
simple as that.
Patience is more than a virtue; it’s a discipline.
114. A very short lesson in evolution.
Pitch Anything, Oren Klaff
115. A very short lesson in evolution.
Pitch Anything, Oren Klaff
Filters incoming messages
116. A very short lesson in evolution.
Pitch Anything, Oren Klaff
Interprets meaning,
social situations
117. A very short lesson in evolution.
Pitch Anything, Oren Klaff
Problem solving,
reason
118. A very short lesson in evolution.
Hey what’s up? Not much.
You?
119. A very short lesson in evolution.
You know
where we
should give?
Stop talking.
120. A very short lesson in evolution.
You don’t pitch a smart idea from your neocortex to theirs.
121. A very short lesson in evolution.
You have to go around back, like everyone else.
122.
123. Pitch Anything, Oren Klaff
• If it’s not dangerous, ignore it.
• If it’s not new/exciting, ignore it.
• If it’s new, summarize it.
**Do not send anything up for solving
unless the situation is extraordinary.**
145. " Be a resource, not a cost
" Lead with solutions, not agenda
" Be unattached to the outcome
" Have passion for work, without falling in
love with any single idea.
What if you could: