When you dance to your own rhythm …..

We all have our own path to follow in life. For some the path to be taken is obvious from an early age, for others it comes via their career path and through job opportunities. Some people ‘like me’ take a while longer to work out where they need to be. No matter how we come to realise our chosen path, it takes courage to be successful because successful people recognise their own strengths, gifts and abilities as well as weaknesses, opportunities challenges to overcome.

Attitude is a key factor in achieving our own goal in life. If you think you’ll fail, you probably will, those who believe in who they are and what they do, will succeed eventually. Maybe not the first time and it may take many more times of trying but they’ll believe in themselves and strive for success.

My work within social housing and adult education, together with my voluntary work has been a solid foundation for me finding my personal and professional path. In turn this has helped me lead and take HEALS (Help Empowerment And Local Support) over the last two and a half years to the next level. It’s meant facing all kinds of personal and professional challenges, all of which have tested my belief in the organisation, my personal resilience and has at times meant rethinking the goals. However, giving up has never been an option because what HEALS does and the effect and impact it has on people’s lives, is far too important

HEALS started as an idea and from a recognised missing need. Over time, through events, talking and listening to those who come to us for help, encouragement and support and through our developing and increasing partnerships, we’ve developed projects that are unique and innovative.

It’s not been all plain sailing, nothing ever is, there have been those who for their own reasons have not supported or seen the benefits of what HEALS does and at the start I used to find this difficult to cope with but not anymore.

As we approach a New Year, we each have the chance to write a new chapter; the future is what we choose to write. We can begin positively or in doubt, it’s our choice. I’ll be starting 2014 on a positive note and attitude. Who knows where it will lead? One thing’s for sure it can only lead to success for everyone but most importantly for those who are helped, encouraged and supported.

I now realise that when people become negative about something that delivers positive results, it says much more about their attitude and self belief because “When you dance to your own rhythm, people may not understand you; they may even hate you but mostly they’ll wish they had the courage to do the same!”

Christmas reflections ~ personal and professional

At Christmas we spend time with our family and friends. We share our time and speak to those we love. We look back on the year and reflect. We think about those who are no longer with us and reflect on the legacy they’ve left behind.

We welcome those who’ve joined our families through relationships, birth and/or adoption. We wonder what life holds for them in the future.

Those in business and charities might contemplate the achievements and the lessons learnt from the things that didn’t quite go to plan – there’ll always be one, two or even more!

This year has been one of those for me and HEALS (Help Encouragement And Local Support). There’s been huge ‘highs’ for me this has been my national award and Pride of Britain nomination. There have been times when I’ve had to pinch myself just to make sure that it was real. Who would ever have thought that it would happen to someone like me!

For HEALS it’s been the knowledge that the work we’ve done has literally helped lives. There have also been lessons to learn but these will make us stronger as an organisation for the future.

As I look back I’m left wondering why people and organisations fail. I’ve seen people start ventures be it businesses, community organisations, projects and along the way these have stopped, stalled, failed or just cease to exist, why? From what I’ve seen and observed there appears to be five key things. Either the individuals or organisations:

Have a negative attitude or ‘big fish small pond syndrome’ – they know what they want to achieve but they think they can do it all and it becomes all about them and any advice is perceived as negative
Are not being able to navigate through problems and issues – sometimes when things are going through a ‘rough’ patch they lack the courage or self-belief to deal with it and give up
Feel they are victims and refuse to take responsibility –holding your hands up to mistakes takes courage, being successful in business takes courage
Never make a plan or taking a strategic view – everything needs a plan but plans need to be flexible to take account of changes and possible risks
See collaboration as a threat – collaboration is the key to success, why ‘reinvent the wheel’

So how is it people and organisations succeed? Successful people and organisations set themselves apart from those who fail because they:

Are not afraid to ask for and listen to advice
Invest in something they know something about and seek expert help when needed
Think strategically, see the wider picture, focus on what needs to be done and write a plan
Have a positive attitude and never give up – they adapt
Think through challenges and issues and are able to find solutions
Are not afraid to admit when they are wrong and look for the lessons they can learn from every situation

As we all reflect on the year behind us and the journey, we have to ask ourselves are we successful? For me personally and for HEALS, if my observations of success is correct then I know we’re both on the right track for success.

I’m going to spend Christmas with those I love and care about in the knowledge that the future looks bright both personally and professionally.

The message and expectations for the future generation

What is the message and expectations for the future generation?

We’re hearing and seeing stories where people in the UK are having to rely on Foodbanks? Why? Is this right? Today one press headline is “BENEFIT CAP MEANS I CAN’T SPEND £2.5K ON KIDS THIS CHRISTMAS” Where has logic and common sense gone? How can we possibly have things going on in the same country that are ‘poles’ apart?

A friend said, “The me, me, me mentality astounds and saddens me. Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time but in reality it seems to bring sadness to someone, people get up to their eyeballs in debt trying to buy presents for people and then spend the next year trying to get out of the hole they’ve dug for themselves. More families fall out at Christmas than at any other time of year and the lonely are even more lonely than ever. The shops are full of greedy people buying more then they need – it’s only a couple of hours folks; you can’t possibly eat all that in such a short space of time and unless you mated with an octopus, your kids can’t play with all those toys/games at once. If anyone dares to say anything all they get is – what do you expect, it’s Christmas!”

Earlier this year a series of programmes took people today and assessed them for benefits/welfare by the rules of 1949. The programmes gave some answers to some of the welfare issues of today but not all. One man featured in the programme who had a disability and had never been in work, found his first job from the 1949 support. The programme said that welfare was introduced to help support those in need, it was never meant to be a lifestyle choice and it was never meant to ‘keep’ people. Has time changed the way society thinks?

A friend overheard a conversation in their local cafe, where a parent in receipt of benefits was upset because they felt that their ‘children were being deprived of their childhood’ (their words) because they might not have a holiday this year! Are these children really being deprived of their childhood? Children have no sense of cost or money at least they shouldn’t have. Is it the expectation of the parent wrong or have we have a society given the message that the lack of a holiday constitutes deprivation?

We all want better for our children and grandchildren but if things costing hundreds of pounds become the norm, what message are we giving? What happens when our children and grandchildren are older and these things are not available? What happened to the belief that you work hard for what you have and you can’t have what you can’t afford or have saved for?

We all make choices about how we live and we all live with the consequences of these choices. People living on benefits who abuse the system spoil things for those who are genuine. Could this be one the reasons for the Welfare changes? The newspaper headlines do not tell the whole story! There is genuine hardship and at HEALS we see it almost everyday. The aim of HEALS is to help, encourage and support people to help themselves and it’s tough when mixed messages lead to a lack of understanding of the real need when it occurs.

Society today is a mixed bag, those who have from birth, others who work hard to have, those who would love to work hard to just have something and need an opportunity, there are those who live beyond their means without a care for the consequences, those who suffer through no fault of their own and those who expect everyone to keep them, never wanting to work.

In these times of change we need to reflect on the ‘message and expectations’ we’re giving the next generation. Tough decisions regarding lifestyles have to be made. Someone said that we can’t undo what’s already happened and while we can’t undo the past, we can change the message and expectations for the future. What will be your message and expectations for the future generation?

Does Christmas have to be a challenge?

I’ve heard people talking about Christmas and the need to buy their loved ones expensive gifts. Christmas is not about giving expensive gifts, it is about giving but that can be your time or sharing what you have with others.

Morning television is talking about people selling their family heirlooms, to buy children presents. Have we all gone mad? What’s wrong with giving your children practical gifts for Christmas? When my girls were younger I’d let them draw up a list of no more than ten items. One could be over £30 and at least five had to be under £5. I’d circulate this around the family and ask family members to buy something from the list. Sometimes family members would ‘club together’ to buy a gift and sometimes, like when I got the girls a Wii they shared the gift. I’d add practical things like bedding, towels, mugs, coats, pj’s, etc. My children always enjoyed their Christmas and looking back they don’t consider that they missed out.

Giving children gifts costing a lot of money is sending the wrong message and sets a precident for the future because every year the expectation will be that they will expect to have more and more. It sets them on the path of unrealistic expectations in life.

Other discussions are centred about the stresses of Christmas. It seems that a lot of families fall out at this joyous time!

It is astonishing how people like to fall out with one another. Fall outs are not just with families, organisations of every kind be it national and local government, clubs and societies have arguments or take a side. It’s nearly always associated with personalities rather than real issues. Outside of families it involves threats of ‘going to the press’, resignations, bitterness and sometimes results in lifelong hatreds. How foolish is that? How much better it would be if we just moved forward and just agreed to disagree?

So as we approach Christmas, maybe we should all take stock of our lives, sort out our disagreements or just agree to disagree, put our petty spites and resentments away in every aspect of life. The wrong doings of others or the past should not dictate the future. The line needs to be drawn and we need to write the next chapter of our life.

We need to remember that Christmas doesn’t have to be a challenge and is about much more than how much we’ve spent on a gift. When we do maybe we’ll be happier and maybe giving time and kindness might become fashionable again.

Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success ~ David Joseph Schwartz

Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success ~ David Joseph Schwartz

Amazingly around me, I see people caught in their ‘bubble’, problem is bubbles go ‘pop’.

People seem to feel ‘safe’ setting little goals and satisfied with little achievements? Saying that everyone has to start somewhere but thinking small has never really fitted with me or my personality!

About twenty five years ago, I stumbled across Community Development work, although at the time I didn’t recognise it as that. I was just getting involved in community activities.

Later in 1996, I moved to Wiltshire as an army wife. I was introduced to another kind of involvement being an involved army wife. I enjoyed it and made some good friends but it was everything army ‘the bubble’.

Fourteen years ago, I became involved as a tenant. Through the years that followed, I would often go to conferences on behalf of the organisation, I learnt a lot and my confidence grew. My involvement resulted in my being Vice Chair of a national organisation and being appointed an audit Inspector. I was thankful for every opportunity that was given to me but it was limiting and in many respects a ‘bubble’.

Around this time I began to get involved my local community in many ways. Most of it I enjoyed it but I never felt ‘at home’ and I found the endless talking achieved little which was frustrating for me.

I’ve observed people who are involved in their communities get ‘blinkered’ or get entrenched into local ‘politics’ and their own ‘bubble’. Doing great work in the community is about just that, it’s not about who is better or who wants to be seen. Shouting on Facebook and other social media about how many hours you give to people isn’t what it’s all about either.

Recently, through social media, I’ve witnessed people tearing one another apart under the banner of wanting to make their community better? Does this mean that they’ll think little goals and make little achievements because their concern is not about the community while they are behaving like this!

HEALS is something unique and has so much potential. Ego’s and local ‘politics’ are left at the door! Through developing HEALS, I’ve learnt that ‘bubbles’ are not necessary and that thinking big goals and outside the box takes courage. I’ve increased my business knowledge and this combined with all my previous work has given me the courage to aim high. Two years ago at the start of the HEALS, I’d have never have believed that we’d be aprt of a national organisation.

Achieving and winning takes tenacity, planning, focus, partnership working, belief and passion and strategic thinking and all of these are in abundance at HEALS. Of course, this ‘model’ is unique because it brings every part of the community together through partnership and collaboration. HEALS is far from limiting and everything is possible. From now on the goals set will always be big and success will be won. As ‘Queen’ would say “don’t stop us now we’re having such a good time, we’re having a ball ….”

“A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of” ~ Nelson Mandela

“A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.” ~ Nelson Mandela

In the week of Nelson Mandela’s death it seems that everyone is reflecting on his life, what he said,what he did and how he lived. I’ve heard people talking about the legacy and example he’s left behind.

Yesterday, some of the HEALS team and I went to a celebration with a partner organisation (The Moe Foundation) and while there, some of the dicussion centred around making a difference and change in the lives of individual’s and communities. Again, I heard the question “what will people years from now say about the legacy we leave behind?”

I’ve reflected on this at three levels in my own life ~ personal ~ community ~ HEALS

Personal
Becoming a grandmother for the first time nine years ago made me really consider about the people in my life and me made me ask what will I leave behind. Losing my father, nan and other loved ones has focused on the issue of legacy. As a grannie I try and spend quality time with ‘my boys’, we spend days out, we do arts and crafts, we talk about life, we laugh and we cry. It’s my hope that years from now ‘my boys’ will remember these special times and in turn think of me. A few years ago I bought my grandsons their own Christmas Tree. I intend to buy them a tree decoration every so often so that when they’re grown up, they’ll think about me and they’ll be able to see my legacy as being love, care and sharing.

Community
My mum says that I was always a kind child, always willing to share with others whether that was my toys or my time. Little has changed over the years, I still give my time and toys have been replaced by sharing what I have. I have a belief that we’re all responsible in some way for each other and although we’ll never help everyone, we should help those we can and those who reach out for our help.
There are some people who don’t get it, they can’t understand why anyone could give their time or share what they have so freely with others, without payment or gain. These same people, profess to care and want to help others. For me their negative comments says more about them than it does me. Giving to others is not about you, it’s not about doing something to gain praise or recognition, it is about being true to yourself and being true in your help, encouragement and support of others. I don’t intend to change me because being the real me is making me the happiest I’ve ever been and that’s my legacy ~ I’m me no matter what!

HEALS ~ Help Encouragement And Local Support
HEALS basic aim through it’s four core projects (Helping Hands ~ WILLS FRIENDS ~ CLASS ~ Communitybiz) is to help people to help themselves, its about empowerment! Each project in itself aims to bring about a change to individuals and communities but the fact they’re linked makes this much more powerful. The next few years are going to be one of building a network of HEALS organisations. HEALS is something unique, powerful and has the ability to change lives and communities for years to come. So we’re building a legacy.

For me a fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world a better place. Being true to yourself and your values, leads the way and leaves a lasting legacy.

http://www.alisoncross-jones.com

http://www.heals.btck.co.uk

Brand ~ what does our brand say about us and what we do?

Brand is much more than a name, its a unique design or symbol and our brand is our public face. So ownership of our brand is important.

However, before we even get to the stage of ‘agreeing’ our brand we need to determine:

• the image we want ~ considering our ‘target market’ is important because our brand gives a promise of experience and an assurance to those we work with and those we want to support us.
• what makes us unique ~ why should people come to us, buy from us/access our services, work with us or support us? It’s a competitive market place out there!
• what are our values ~ we all have values in our personal lives, they are what drives us and businesses/charities are no different. If we were to list our life and business values and choose the top three of each, how many would be the same? If not, why not? Are our personal and business lives in conflict with each other?
• we need to be committed and believe in what we do ~ people buy from people, so if you believe in your product/service (and that ‘passion’ shines through) then it’s likely they’ll want what we have.

Brand is important and in helping everyone understand what we do, we need to build recognition. We can all think of businesses and charities that are instantly recognisable. At Christmas, many retail businesses invest huge amounts of money into campains and adverts to help us ‘persuade us’ to spend our money. It’s a fact that people or customers build habits, they like the safety of that.

At HEALS we’ve been considering all this. We started out with an idea but for a while (like many new businesses or charities) we drifted from one event/project to the next. Along the way there were great successes and lessons to be learnt. Everyone needs to go through this process, as all the successful people in business know.

Now we have something really unique ~ how do we know? Others are interested in what we are doing, we’ve had endorsements at Westminister, there’s interest in Wales, other towns and our partners (local and national) are telling us too. Our brand has changed from a ‘free’ symbol to something that still shows who we are but demonstrates that we are competant, committed and passionate. Our core values remain, to help people help themselves and everyone involved with HEALS from grassroots to the top shares these values. That in itself makes us unique!

2014 is going to be an interesting year, a time of hard work, making our organisation’s foundations and structure stronger and inviting others to join us, work with us and support us.

What does your brand say about you and your business/charity? Does it convey your message? Does everyone understand your values and can you honestly that everyone involved in your business shares these? 

http://www.alisoncross-jones.com

http://www.heals.btck.co.uk