The subject of “cloud” computing has come up several times in Canyon Communications’ meetings with our B2B clients. Occasionally we get quizzical looks when we mention “cloud” customer relationship management (CRM), human resources (HR) and accounting apps.
So where is this “cloud” and how does all of this work? I recently received a link from SalesForce.com, a cloud-based CRM application. I think this video does a good job of explaining cloud computing, showing how it works and detailing its advantages.
And, by the way, the tagline for SalesForce is, “Success. Not software®.” You’ll find out why it’s a good one when you watch the short video.
Canyon Communications and our sister company, Loop Demand Gen, both use cloud applications. Has your company used these types of programs? What is your experience with them?
Tomorrow, March 6, St. Joseph the Worker, one of the non-profit clients we work with, is having its 12th annual Hike for the Homeless. This ½-, two- or six-mile hike is a great way to get outside and enjoy the fabulous Arizona weather while directly supporting a wonderful local non-profit organization.
While I love supporting non-profits, I also believe that helping these organizations is a great way to increase awareness of your business and build relationships. Doing non-profit work or sponsoring events allows you to connect with other sponsors. And guess what? Each one of those sponsors might have a need for your products or services one day. By doing charity work alongside them and networking with them, they are likely to remember your name when searching for a company to work with or purchase from.
Beyond that, companies enjoy working with other companies that share similar values. Offering your services to non-profit organizations allows you to connect with other companies that value non-profit work as much as you do.
Do you think supporting organizations you’re passionate about can be rewarding in more than one way? And, if you love hiking, I’ll be hiking tomorrow with more than 1,000 other Valley residents to support St. Joseph the Worker. Come join me!
Recently, while flying my favorite airline and reading my favorite in-flight magazine I came across an article in which the chairman/president/CEO shared what he LUVed about his company. As I read, I found many similarities between his sentiments and my own for Canyon, so I was inspired to share the four things I LUV most (and you will too).
LUV is going the extra mile for customers. If you’re not already a client of Canyon, give us a chance to show you our exceptional client service. We pride ourselves on not only providing excellent service but also partnering and getting to know our clients on a personal level. I feel so strongly about this, I’ve previously blogged about it.
LUV is letting bags fly free. While we can’t control your bags, we have special differentiators that separate us from our competition. Find out more here.
LUV is having fun. Having fun is something we’re highly skilled at. Grilled cheese-athons, themed Halloween parties, baseball games and tailgates. How does this benefit our clients? Because when people have fun and truly LUV their jobs, it shows in their work.
These are just four reasons I LUV being a Canyonite. And, since I LUV giving things away, be the first to comment on this post and we’ll make you customized luggage tags for your next trip.
Of course we never read those forwards, but I recently opened one that I found profound, albeit somewhat simple. It said:
There comes a point in your life when you realize: Who matters,
Who never did,
Who won’t anymore…
And who always will.
So, don’t worry about people from your past,
There’s a reason why they didn’t make it to your future.
Good advice. We need to focus on what’s important, both personally and professionally, right now and in the future. If we keep trying to please people and serve customers who may never matter, we won’t have time or energy left to take care of those who matter most.
What are you doing to better focus on people that will make it to your future? Do you find that you spend more time pleasing your problem customers, or are you nurturing and supporting your best ones?
As Christmas is quickly approaching, you always tend to hear the phrase “It is better to give than to receive.” This cannot be more true for the Canyon family. This year, instead of doing the typical white elephant gift exchange, we decided to give back to the community. Each Canyonite bought a gift to donate to Toys For Tots. Did you know approximately 13 million American children live in poverty today?
Beyond giving back to the community, Canyon also likes to help Valley charities throughout the year. For a few years, we have been helping St. Joseph the Worker, an organization that assists homeless, low-income and other disadvantaged individuals with their efforts to become self-sufficient through permanent, full-time employment, with its marketing and communications efforts. Rather than just giving a homeless person money, St. Joseph the Worker helps them find a job and gets them off the streets by teaching them life skills.
If your office is looking to do something different this holiday season, just remember that it is truly better to give than receive.
So the question is…what are you doing this holiday season to give back?
