Posts Tagged ‘David Connor’
Being Good is Not Overrated
Yes, I can muster a pretty impressive Meeeester Gru impression. My son may not agree, but hey, it makes me laugh.
Apologies for this post, but this is all about not-so-Despicable me. No offence taken at all if you click away at this point, as I need to indulge myself a little.
After seven and a half years of all things Coethica the time is ready for me to evolve. I know not what that change is specifically at this particular moment – all suggestions are very welcome from anywhere, or any sector in the world – but a new direction will be forged. Some interesting offers are being considered but for the sanity of everybody around me my main hat will at least be worn much less from this day on.
The reason for this channel of personal thinking out loud is to help clear my head and also tap into and share with some of the many amazing people and organisations I have met and shared many ideas online. I am by nature an explorer, a passionate creative nuisance intent on leaving our world better than it would have been without me.
After falling in love with the purest form of this thing called CSR (i.e. holistic, balanced and embedded – you know the one, the lesser spotted variety) about 15 years ago I’ve met leaders from global CEO’s to local start-up entrepreneurs in deprived communities that have both dazzled and depressed. I’ve set up social enterprises, supported corporates and what feels like everything in between. I’m sure there’s a couple of books in there somewhere.
I know for a fact business can change the world, most of the time just needs giving the confidence to try harder.
This is not to say Coethica will be no more, version 2 is defined and ready to roll, it is that it needs at least somebody else at the helm. Let me know if you want to find out more and take the reins of a ready-made social business to change the world! My gift to the right person, with maybe a couple of thin strings.
It has been for the most part a lonely journey, both geographically and intellectually, setting off in 2005 to challenge and inspire the small and medium market (but not excluding the corporates) to see the benefits of all things CSR / social enterprise /’pick your ethical business buzzword’ all atop a rollercoaster of a personal life that until recently only began to give me genuine freedom to get out and begin to deliver what we had learned through years of grassroots SME and corporate ‘market research’.
Sometimes the hardest decision in the world is being honest with yourself and make that change to re-energise spiritually. My wonderful wife and wider family have supported me through some magical highs and crushing lows and I owe it to them to take a more simplified path. Spinning too many plates for too long, however impressive at the time, is a recipe for one hell of a mess of crockery, not that I’ve broken many but I’ve been close to a couple of wobblers.
In short, I’m taking a the next couple of months to explore my own future as a real person separate from Coethica – a hard task for any entrepreneur, and the options on the horizon so far just don’t feel like the right fit. So, if you or anybody you know has a challenge they need help with or a gap that needs filling, by somebody of certain unique cocktail of experiences and abilities, well, as long as it serves a greater good, my intrigue is open for discussion.
If anybody should want a more focused summary of me, give me a call (get in touch via the comments) as I like a good natter, or for the more passive / furtive out there, my LinkedIn profile is probably as good place to start as any.
And just for pure childish summer fun, here is the trailer for Despicable Me 2. Enjoy. Freeeeze Ray!
2011 – A Good Year for CSR Communications in Europe
Time for a quick update on my movements in the world of CSR.
After a couple of years talking with all those friendly sorts at 3BL Media, sharing blog posts, tweets, Skype conversations and even yours truly sat in front of a video camera for 3BL TV, we decided it was time to announce our formal engagement.
Whilst Coethica continues to grow with all involved taking more on, I will be spending the majority of my time in 2011 as European Director for 3BL Media, bringing their impressive communications platform to this side of the Atlantic.
For those who read this blog who don’t know 3BL Media, they’re the leading CSR and sustainability communications distributors. Yes, there are others out there, you know who they are but I’m not giving them any search engine kudos here, but I’ve been constantly impressed by the team at 3BL, and in particular with their ethos, focus and vision.
I’ve been fascinated for some time by the proliferation of American CSR content online and this is my way of helping Europe readdress the balance. Should I mention the Ryder Cup here? Maybe not a good idea.
So, if anybody out there in the blogosphere wants great CSR and sustainability content in all forms of media (video, audio, articles, press releases, blog posts for bloggers, news sites, networks etc) or you need to get your company’s message out the widest authoritative and engaged audience, from anywhere in Europe, I’m your man.
3BL only very recently announced a new partnership with the Global Reporting Initiative, you really should see the CSR Report special edition videos for Reuters (latest: CSR and Sustainable Retail video below), and there is much, much more coming along the pipeline soon via the USA office.
Just wait until I get started – it’s going to be fun!
Come and join the 3BL Media family yourself by checking out the links below:
I guess there will also be a few more communications related posts heading this way as I climb up the learning curve of media distribution.
It’s a good job 3BL’s corporate colours match the shirt in my avatar 
Go and say hello to Greg Schneider, Cindy Esposito, Doug Fulton and all of our growing Trans-Atlantic 3BL family.
My arrival on 3BL TV!
Ok my first video is now up and available at 3BL TV!
Take a look below t0 see my brief inaugural CSR Unscripted about CSR and smaller businesses and the head over to 3BL TV to see Fabian Pattberg’s latest CSR Report, interviewing Toby Young from Acre Resources investigating CSR’s role in recruitment.
3BL TV – new CSR & Sustainability video channel
The latest stage in the evolution of CSR and Sustainability communications is unleashed upon the world today…
3BL TV, the first online CSR TV channel has now been launched!
Head over to check out news, opinion, interviews and all the latest CSR and sustainability trends from great experts such as Chris Jarvis, Christine Arena, Elaine Cohen, Fabian Pattberg, oh, and yours truly (including new photo!).
The site is fresh out of the box today and already features Chris J’s CSR Unscripted report on corporate volunteering, Elaine’s ‘women washing’ and Christine’s interview with Gil Friend, and not forgetting Emily Polk’s daily CSR Minute round-up.
With new videos added daily 3BL TV is redefining the way responsible business communications is distributed and consumed
Send your friends to the new website and share the CSR dream team’s new adventure into video!
Vote for CSR!
“Hollywood has the Oscars. Broadway has the Tonys. Now Twitter has the…Shorty Awards” – The New York Times
The Shorty Awards honour the best people and organizations on Twitter. These unique awards are for the Twitter community, by the Twitter community. Online voting is public and democratic, culminating in an awards ceremony that recognizes the winners in 27 official categories as well as those in brand new crowd-sourced ones.
About the Process
The second annual Shorty Awards nomination process has begun! In January 2010, the community is invited to nominate Twitter users for excellence over the past year. The awards recognize each content creator’s entire body of work, not just an individual tweet. Nominations are made by sending a tweet, whether it’s through this site or on Twitter.
In February, the nominees will be narrowed down to five finalists in each category. Winners will be determined by a combination of popular vote and by the members of the new Real-Time Academy of Short Form Arts & Sciences.
Ok, lets cut straight to the chase. I want people to vote for CSR. I’m not going to complain if you want to vote for me, but this is a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of great work and great people across Twitterland that have added real energy to the CSR agenda.
My favourite CSR Twitter people during 2009 worth considering for your vote are as follows:
@davidcoethica – smaller businesses & sport expert and all round CSR believer
@elainecohen – insightful & humourous csr reporting expert and chunky monkey fanatic!
@fabianpattberg – great news, opinion and online forum
@realizedworth – Chris Jarvis – top CSR and corporate volunteering expert
@timberland_jeff – Jeff Swartz (Timberland CEO) - inspirational business leader who exemplifies what CSR can (& should) look like & accessible via Twitter!
Now click on the box below and vote for them all and any others you deem worthy of a Shorty and then get your friends to do the same!
