Is Technology Your Friend or Foe?

Technology, whether you like it or not, infiltrates and impacts every aspect of our lives.
Smartphones allow us to have the world at our fingertips and to be accessible wherever we are, even at the most inappropriate and inconvenient times.  But that doesn't make it a bad thing.

It's said that if you're in business you need to have a Facebook page, Twitter feed, LinkedIn profile, YouTube channel, an active blog and a website that acts as a repository for all your knowledge and information.  And that if you don't have this multi-pronged internet presence you are in fact invisible.  But it isn't just enough to have these, they have to be actively updated regularly.

There was a time when I thought this was all effort that was unnecessary and took up time I couldn't afford.  But seriously, I couldn't have been more wrong if I tried.  These days people don't reach into their desk drawer for the yellow pages; they "Google it".  And if they can't find you in the Google search they'll click through to a result on the page that meets their criteria.  So your page needs to be search bot friendly.

At Cliftons we've embraced technology - our website has plenty of info and ranks well with the search engines, we keep our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages updated and blog regularly, and even produce YouTube clips (my apology's to those who've seen Kurt and I).  We can access our system from anywhere, use ipad's to facilitate what we do, and can check emails no matter where we are.
But despite this it wasn't until a conversation (on Skype) with our technology guru Graeme Campbell (www.rubratec.com.au) that I realised we didn't have but need a mobile version of our website.  So that has been actioned.

Reality is technology advances and cloud-based applications are going ahead in leaps and bounds.  If you're not prepared to change and move with it then playing catch up will prove difficult.

Where have you set aside time this week (I'm writing this on Monday morning) to review (or engage someone to review) your technology and world wide presence?

Budgeting?? Include Some Generosity

I don't think I'm the only one who as a kid thought it would be great to earn a million dollars a year, to be a millionaire, and dreamed of what I'd do with it.  Looking back now though the problem was that every dream was self-centered and me focused.  Cars, big boys toys, house, holidays and the like.  I never really gave any thought to what impact I could have on the lives of others.

Fast forward now to when I'm in a very fortunate position.  I have a beautiful family, great friends, outrageously good business and solid income.
And do you know what gives me joy?  No, not just being able to take my family on holidays, and not just having a nice house.
I love being able to give to others.
Be it family, friends, church, charity or strangers there is something exceptionally fulfilling about being able to give away what we've worked hard to get.  And we model this to our girls.

So what's the point of this post?

Well, I encourage people to budget to be generous.  Take money off the top to tithe, give away and donate.  When you're revising or creating a will, include a gift that will last beyond your mortality in the form of a gift or bequest from your estate to a church or charity.

I'm yet to meet the person who has too much money, yet we in Australia still live better than some 98% of people in the world.
Am I on my soapbox a bit?  Sure, but imagine the difference you can make, where your little can mean a lot.

There's no time like now to start putting into place the old saying of "charity begins at home".  Every little bit counts, so what are you going to do with your little bit??