Niki's Notes for Compassion Leaders

April 6, 2023

We’re a little more than 25% through 2023, how are you doing? It’s been a wild ride, but I think we’re collectively realizing this is how it’s going to be. The question is, how are we going to stay above the fray to navigate these times successfully for ourselves, the people we love, and the people we lead? Keeping our vibe at a good frequency is part of the answer.

Here are the stories that tickled my grey matter this week, let me know if you want to chat about any of them:

• It all started when they called the natural healers witches. And now, here’s?Alexander Skarsgard?helping us understand why we need to add nature back into the capitalistic equation to survive. Oh, and Earth Day is coming up on April 22.
• Women secured 5% fewer board seats in 2022 than prior year, racial and ethnic minorities getting seats were down a whopping 7%, both reversing the trend when progress is needed most.?Details: “’Women secured just 40% of new seats, down from 45% in the previous year, and 34% of seats went to racial or ethnic minorities, down from 41% previously. “I wish I could say it surprised me,” says Ritu Bhasin, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of bhasin consulting inc. [sic], a global DEI consulting firm. “But my experience as a DEI expert who’s been doing this for almost two decades, the commitment to DEI in board diversity ebbs and flows. There’s so much talk and not enough walk.’”
• Fifty-two percent (52%) of workers surveyed by Kinsey said their top reason for quitting their jobs was lack of appreciation from their bosses. That’s more than half citing lack of appreciation as the key driver to their leaving their jobs.?Business Insider?has it broken down for you. Are you remembering to let your team know you appreciate and are there for them? What support do you need when?you?don’t feel appreciated?
• Why does the news that’s reported—including my first stories this week–tend to be so negative??Vox?has some answers, but there’s much work to be done.

So on that note, let’s focus on some positives!

• As sustainability initiatives become more powerful, what do?store shelves of the future?look like? Fast Company has some great answers.
• I’m one of those people who seems to?always know what time it is?and am rarely late. Maybe it’s not so much mind as heart. What about you?

Do Good Spotlight

???SightSavers???

Sightsavers’ vision is “a world where no one is blind from avoidable causes and where people with disabilities can participate equally in society.” This organization works in 30+ countries treating eye conditions like cataracts, improving local health and wellness services, and advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. Learn more about them and how you can help:?Sightsavers.

• Americans are becoming more purposeful about?creating positive social change. In a survey of 2,000 people in the US, conducted by Chinet, 71% of respondents said they are becoming more ethically responsible as they age. But wait, there’s more: “Over the past year, U.S. adults have also been taking small steps in their everyday lives to do the right thing—such as starting conversations with their loved ones about going green (39%), donating clothing (37%), and purchasing sustainable products (36%).” That’s just a few of the very encouraging stats. Check out the full article for more. See, we can find and interact with positive news!

Noteworthy ??

Penelope

How is your business managing the administration of its 401K program? For many of us, it’s a quagmire of compliance reports, random filings, seemingly arbitrary procedures, and just a basic low-grade headache that never really goes away. Now there’s a remedy.

It’s called The?Penelope?plan, and it was designed for micro and small businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs. Penelope has simplified all of the plan design and investment options to reduce the confusion and complexities that often accompany 401k plans. Now small business owners, organizations, and entrepreneurs can focus on their customers, clients and employers.

Key Features:

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Set up a demo today.?You deserve that satisfying sigh that comes from taking something unnecessarily complex off your plate. You can get that with Penelope. When you talk with them, let them know you learned about them here.

• More research about?circadian rhythms, including how morning people and night owls respond differently to the same presenter based on the time of day they see the presentation. Wow, this is some good stuff.
• Man starts business to rent hives to farmers: win/win. Except he didn’t—he couldn’t find enough beekeepers to run his business profitably. Did he give up? No, he did not. He took what he learned about that magnificent—and very expensive—spice, saffron. He is now sharing his technology for growing saffron cost-effectively with the world.?Shailesh Modak, what a guy. More like him please.
• I really appreciate this piece by?Hillel Fuld for Inc.?about what entrepreneurs need to embrace before going too far with their new venture. Reality check: show me the data. This goes for established businesses too. Data and quick survey tools are readily available and using them save business owners years of heartache.

I hope you enjoyed this issue and that you make some time to check out Penelope. And Sight Savers too, show them some love if you can.

If there’s anything you’d like to discuss, you know I enjoy hearing from you, reach out. And in the meantime, take care of yourself—we only have one you!

Niki