To: Michele Miller
From: Stacie Krajchir
Re: Can Volunteering Be Part of My Business Story?
Hi Michele,
I know you get so much email from so many people, not sure if you even read all of it...but here is another to add to your collection!
I just want to say that while so many of your topics speak directly to me your recent "telling a good story "and "give thanks " made me think-- THANK YOU for so many amazing articles
I printed out some of your writing for my 18 hour journey back to Thailand, they are really quite perfect for a flight I think we need a Michele Miller in-flight video situation!
Your recent entries got me to thinking--I am in Thailand right now, it's my my second year doing tsunami volunteer work, last year I taught English and art to kids who lost their parents,
this time I am launching a project called See & Sprout.
I take my yearly vacation here to this place. I miss Thanksgiving with my family to come here, to give back, (yes also spend some relaxing time on the beach thinking I should have gone to a yoga camp to drop some pounds!).
I guess something clicked when I read your article on telling a good story. I never really thought so much about this-- here I am a publicist who tells stories all day about her clients but I never really think about my own story - my company's story. Until now. And I feel confused!
You mentioned being authentic-- doing this feels authentic and this feels that I am truly supporting part of who I am and what my business philosophy is at The Bungalow PR. I launched an eco divison this year, not because it's hip to be green but because I feel being green and eco is more than just recycling and lowering your carbon footprint. It's about awareness, intention and action -to others, and to each other. So that's what I do - I get up off my butt and do something instead of talking about it. Is this part of my telling a good story or so way off not part of my story and rather complicates my story!??
I also GET from giving. I replenish and return a better me, a better boss and person. I also feel that the wonderful response of editors and clients participating and joining in creates a deeper sense of community and truly connects all of us outside that endless quest for a "placement" !!
I guess maybe an article about volunteering or giving back in business, I'd like to hear about everyday women who do this versus Oprah --it seems like women all over the country volunteer in churches, school PTA, and give time.. and is truly a part of who they are and what they represent and how we walk through the business world, where men have a tendency to be focused on power and money --I just had this little twang of doubt ...and questioned my story!
Again thank you for wonderbranding, I learn so much from you.
Best
stacie
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To: Stacie Krajchir
From: Michele Miller
Re: Re: Can Volunteering Be Part of My Business Story?
Hi Stacie,
Congratulations on all you're doing to make the world a better place. You're one of the rarified few who "walks the talk" and I honor you for being so giving to others in the world. You're amazing. What you do is as about authentic as it gets, and part of "telling a good story" is told thru ACTION, not just words.
As a visitor to your website, I would love to learn more about your philosophy and your eco division - the real story about how you came to this point in your life, what you believe, what you do, and how it ties in with the work you do everyday. Tell your story, girl!! I'd really make that the foundation of everything you do and say.
I'm going to keep your email on file, if you don't mind - would love to write a blog post about this on my marketing-to-women blog. If you feel comfortable, send me a photo and I'll include it in the post.
Keep rockin' the world, Stacie - you're an inspiration!
Warm regards,
Michele
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To: Michele Miller
From: Stacie Krajchir
Re: Re: Can Volunteering Be Part of My Business Story?
Hi Michele
You responded, I am so delighted.
Regarding my ECO division/vision....
…in truth… I'm never going to be a bio diesel, only Whole Foods shopping, vegan , organic clothing girl... that is unrealistic, it isn't me and would be very inauthentic. I realized that isn't what it's about --at all. That's the problem, we all think we need to be extremists or we can't "play" --so I declared to (friend and client) Brad -- "Look, I'm never gonna be forest dark green , but I am going to have my own green scale.. I'll be "lite green" a sassier shade of green. The real girls green. I need to be authentic to who I am, what I believe and make a difference in my way, versus Al Gore's or Julia Butterfly (who iived in a tree for a few years) so I decided to start. I would choose three lite green actions to incorporte into my life-- which lead to creating the "lite green agreement" at The Bungalow PR. I thought, maybe I can't save our entire nation, however I have access to smart women who run small businesses and know each of them want to be part of the solution, but they are just busy!
My new green scale and exciting lite green color led to creating The [lite green] agreement. Any client who chooses to work with us, has to sign the agreement, which states they will take on 3 green actions and do them for one full year. They sign this (not faxed but print, sign and mail original copy, this inspires accountability!) Not one client has resisted the agreement commitment. I have to say they love reporting what green movements they have made and I love hearing about them.
Since our launch of the [lite green project ] word got out and a handful of pretty amazing successful eco companies approached us to do PR for them... conservfuel.com, nuiwater.com, verdepapier.com, soaptopia.com to name a few, and suddenly I realized 40% of our roster was ECO and that led me to launch The Bungalow PR ECO Division... it felt right, needed, there was clearly a void and I think that's business 101 right!? Fill the void!?
I believe when things happen organically (no pun intended) it's authentic and makes sense because it's simply following what you already believe and stand behind right!? So that's what I've done, what I do... and I think as I mentioned before-- which is my philosophy: we need to realize green is not only about recycling, changing bulbs, and conserving it's about awareness (of one another) intention (what are YOU going to do) and action.
Well, that's a lot of babbling above! It's very hot and sticky here in Thailand I need to jump in the water! Sending big sunshine to you from here.
Best
Stacie
Keep telling your story, Stacie. You’re an inspiration to all of us that being authentic and true to your passion not only changes the world, it’s smart business as well. I need to sit back over the holidays and figure out how I can be “walking my own talk” just a little better…
"I think we need a Michele Miller in-flight video situation!"
I second that. How cool would that be?
Holly
Posted by: Holly Buchanan | December 19, 2007 at 03:12 PM