“International Dimensions of Strong Corporate Cultures” – Friday, April 1, 2016, Austin, TX

March 30, 2016

Minitrends 2013 -- Carrie Vanston, TFI, http://minitrends.com/minitrends-2013/I’d like to cordially invite you to my luncheon presentation on “International Dimensions of Strong Corporate Cultures” this Friday, April 1, at ACC Highland Mall in Austin, TX. The free event, the second of the Global Business Luncheon Series, is sponsored by the World Affairs Council in partnership with the International Business Institute at ACC. My focus will be on the commonalities of organizations with great business cultures no matter whether in the U.S. or elsewhere in the world.

Details:

  • Speaker: Carrie Vanston, Corporate Cultures That Rock
  • Subject: “International Dimensions of a Strong Corporate Cultures
  • Date: Thursday, April 1, 2016
  • Time: 11:30 am-1:00 pm
  • Location: ACC Highland Learning Center, Room 2216
  • 6101 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78752. (In the new ACC wing)

We often concentrate on differences, but similarities are as important, if not more, because they form the foundation for all of our relationships. We ALL want to connect with each other, be appreciated for what we do, and have a higher purpose that impacts the world.

This talk provides five keys that create, grow, and sustain great corporate cultures and suggest ways you can increase your own culture quota. These keys include connecting, developing, discovering. collaborating, and, finally, transforming.

For more details and to register, click here. Hope to see you on Friday!

Warm regards,
Carrie

P.S. Please feel free to contact me if you’d like a similar sample presentation or a 1/2 hour free consultation on improving your organization’s culture! I’d love to hear from you.
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Carrie Vanston helps organizations, large and small, maximize purpose and connection to create better performance and profit. She is a consummate connector, who enjoys bringing like-minded people together to share, learn, and grow through advice, workshops, presentations, coaching, and facilitation. She is the developer of “Five Keys to an Engaged & Innovative Culture”? and co-author with Dr. John H. Vanston of the award-winning book MINITRENDS: How Innovators & Entrepreneurs Discover & Profit From Business & Technology Trends.

Carrie speaking at IEEE Wed, Sept 23, 6pm

September 21, 2015

Carrie Vanston presents Five Keys to the Innovative and Engaged and 5 Keys opening lock 7-21-15 new keys & tall letters smallerInnovative Culture IEEE Central Texas Consultants Network Wednesday, September 23, 6-8:30 pm PoK-e-Jo’s Smokehouse 2121 West Parmer Lane at Lamplight Village Avenue Austin, Texas 78727

Carrie Vanston, VP Communications at TFI, provides individuals and organizations five keys to create and grow engaged and innovative cultures that are cutting-edge, with strong purpose and the inclusion of all stakeholders. Such cultures are essential to succeed and thrive in the rapidly changing world we live in. Attendees will learn practical ways for staying ahead of the latest industry trends and creating caring environments that encourage high quality recruits, retainment of employees, happy customers, and greater productivity and profit.

Everyone is invited to attend! There is a $5 restaurant charge. No reservations necessary. Guests are encouraged to have a bite to eat at this excellent barbeque spot!

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Carrie Vanston photoCarrie Vanston, is VP of Communications at Technology Futures, Inc. and the MiniTrends Project. She excels at helping clients create and grow cultures that encourage better retention, happier customers, and higher productivity and profit. She is co-author of the award-winning book MINITRENDS: How Innovators & Entrepreneurs Discover & Profit From Business & Technology Trends. Recent articles by Carrie have appeared in Texas CEO Magazine and the Austin Business Journal.

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Carrie Vanston presents “5 Keys to an Engaged & Innovative Culture” at CTXWFS, May 27, Austin, TX

May 26, 2015

5 Keys opening lock 5-21-15 500x600Come hear me speak on “Five Keys to an Engaged and Innovative Culture” at CTXWFS on Wed, May 27, 7pm at Café Express, 3418 N. Lamar Blvd in Austin, Texas! No charge or need to register. Food and beverage available for purchase, but please arrive early to order. Details below. Hope to see you there!

Warm regards,
Carrie

Five Keys to the Engaged and Innovative Culture of the Future

 By Carrie Vanston

This presentation provides individuals and organizations five key ways to create and grow an engaged and innovative culture that is cutting-edge, while increasing retention, productivity, employee and customer loyalty, and profitability. A strong purpose, vision, and the inclusion of all stakeholders is vital to accomplish these goals.

Attendees will gain an understanding of why companies that establish and maintain innovative cultures are the ones most likely to succeed and thrive. They will learn practical ways for staying ahead of the latest industry trends and for creating a caring environment that encourages the highest engagement of an organization’s most important resource – the creativity of its employees.

Speaker Bio for Carrie Vanston

Carrie Vanston is VP of Communications and Culture Coach at Technology Futures, Inc. She excels at helping clients create and grow innovative cultures that succeed and thrive by staying on the cutting edge of industry trends with maximum engagement by all stakeholders. She is a consummate connector, who enjoys bringing like-minded people together to share, learn, and grow. Carrie is Co-Author of the award-winning book MINITRENDS: How Innovators & Entrepreneurs Discover & Profit From Business & Technology Trends. Recent articles by Carrie have appeared in Texas CEO Magazine and the Austin Business Journal.

Note from Carrie: 

We at TFI have been enthusiastic supporters/members of CTXWFS and its parent World Future Society for many years. These are wonderful organizations for those who see foresight as an important way to improve our businesses and our world. We appreciate CTXWFS and WFS for sponsoring our 2012-2014 MiniTrends Conferences and providing excellent CTXWFS speakers including Steve Pearson, Wayne Caswell, Jeffrey Fry, and Joyce Gioia. Long-time Contributing Editor to WFS’s The Futurist Magazine, David Pearce Snyder, was so well-received as our 2012 Keynote, we had him back in 2014! Dr. John Vanston, David, and I did Master Courses in 2013 and 2014 at WFS’s annual WorldFuture Conference. This year I am honored not only to be speaking on the Five Keys here at CTXWFS, but also at July’sWorldFuture 2015 in San Francisco. Thanks, CTXWFS and WFS!

Central Texas World Future Society: Formed in 2003, CTXWFS is a nonprofit educational and networking organization.  Members come from all walks of life, professions, ages and experiences.  We are drawn together by a common desire to learn how emerging issues, disruptive technologies, ongoing trends and current events interact to shape our collective future.

The Ultimate Quesiton – Do You Validate? World Champion Speech by Lance Miller

March 13, 2015

The Ultimate Question by Lance Miller

“…every person goes through life wanting to be right, wanting to be valuable. Find that, bring it out in them.”

I recently had the pleasue of attending a wonderful talk by professional speaker and speaking coach Lance Miller. He believes that great presentations are not about the speaker, but about how the speech improves the way your audience thinks and lives. In addition to speaking about great ways for speakers to connect with audiences, and yes, connecting with us, Lance shared with us the video of the “The Ultimate Question,” the speech he used to win the Toastmasters International 2005 World Champion of Public Speaking.  Being that he was competing against thousands of Toastmasters from around the world, not surprisingly it is an AMAZING speech.

Lance’s winning speech focuses on the importance taking the time to validating yourself and others.  As related to JDonavon on how Lance found his message ““Early on in my Toastmasters experience, I asked what the International contest was.  Somebody told me that it is your five to seven minutes to say something important to the world. So, I asked myself, ‘If I could make one change in the world, what would it be?’  It struck me that if we just validated each other, by looking for what is right rather than for what is wrong, then the world would be a much better place.”

The speech reminds me of the classic “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. Thank you very much to District 55 Toastermasters and Event Organizer Jerry Barrett for bringing Lance to Austin.

I hope you will enjoy the video as much as I do.

Warmly,
Carrie

Always Super Bowl Ad “Like a Girl” – Great Example of Purpose Branding

February 6, 2015

P&G’s Always Super Bowl Ad “Like a Girl” is such a great example of Purpose Branding — creating brand with a visionary purpose that makes a difference in the world.  Always isn’t just feminine products but “Rewriting the Rules” and changing “like a girl” to represent the strength, talent, character and downright amazingness of every girl.

As Entrepreneur notes so nicely, “Of course it’s no secret that a great many commercials from Super Bowls past put the emphasis on objectifying women rather than empowering them, so it’s gratifying to see the support for Always’ ongoing efforts to turn “like a girl” into a positive rather than a put down.”

You may want to consider the purpose-oriented trend in company culture and in branding for your own organization.

Cheers,
Carrie

5 Keys to an Engaged and Innovative Culture by Carrie Vanston, Texas CEO Magazine – January Issue

January 30, 2015

MiniTrends: Five Keys to an Engaged and Innovative CultureMy Texas CEO Magazine article “MiniTrends: Five Keys to an Engaged and Innovative Culture” is up! The  article discusses 5 ways to combine the process of finding emerging trends with engaging employees in order to improve your culture and bottom line.To stay successful, organizations must constantly look for the latest emerging trends and incorporate the most relevant ones into their business strategy. Not surprisingly, the organizations most likely to thrive are the ones that have the highest engagement of their most important creative resource — their employees.
The Five Keys to combine FORESIGHT and ENGAGEMENT are:
  • Find and Engage
  • Inspire and Advocate
  • Connect and Interact
  • Analyze and Collaborate
  • Incorporate and Repeat

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the article and would appreciate your sharing the link with your contacts! 🙂

Warm regards,
Carrie

Carrie Vanston, VP Communications
Technology Futures, Inc. – MiniTrends

P.S. Thank you to the wonderful Publisher of Texas CEO MagazinePat Neikamp,  for including me in this excellent magazine. She is an absolute pleasure to work with.

Carrie Vanston is Vice President of Communications at Technology Futures, Inc. and Co-Author of MINITRENDS: How Innovators & Entrepreneurs Discover & Profit From Business & Technology Trends. She excels at helping clients create and grow innovative cultures by finding and profiting from emerging trends with maximum engagement by all stakeholders.

 

Favorite Takeaways From Roy Spence of The Purpose Institute & GSD&M Speaking at ABJ’s Face-2-Face AKA Straight From the Top

January 13, 2015

Roy Spence with Carrie Vanston after his Face-2-Face Interview

Roy Spence with Carrie Vanston after his Face-2-Face Interview

I had the pleaure of attending the Austin Business Journal’s Face-2-Face Breakfast last week at Whole Foods featuring the very funny and inspiring Roy Spence, Co-Founder and Chairman of GSD&M, a leading marketing communications and advertising company here in Austin. He is also Co-Founder and CEO of The Purpose Institute and author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book It’s Not What You Sell, It’s What You Stand For: Why Every Extraordinary Business is Driven by Purpose. He was interviewed by the always delightful Colin Pope, Editor of the Austin Business Journal, and host of F-2-F. Face-2-Face airs on Time Warner TV on Sunday mornings in Austin under the name “Straight From the Top.”

Here are my favorite takeaways from this great interview:

Roy’s mentor and customer Herb Kelleher, Founder of Southwest Airlines, taught him “Take the competition seriously, but not yourself.” He has also been greatly inspired by author Jim Collins’ book Built to Last.

Colin Pope, Austin Business Journal, interviews Roy Spence for Face-2-Face, also known as the TV show "Straight from the Top.

Colin Pope, Austin Business Journal, interviews Roy Spence for Face-2-Face, also known as TV show Straight from the Top

Roy calls the group that has taken on much of GSD&M’s day to day business responsibilities “The Eagles” because you should always be building a better nest. Eagles work first for customers, then company, then community, and then world. The Eagles carry out the vision and purpose that is set, but do so in the way THEY see fit.

Purpose is most important. Always have a purpose beyond making money. Your purpose is where your talents meet the needs of the underserved. Start with integrity and everything else can be taught. It’s all about engaging with integrity, honor, and respect.

GSD&M’s Purpose: Create visionary ideas that make a difference.

With their campaign “Don’t Mess with Texas,” GSD&M created a 76% drop in litter by appealing to pride not litter. It’s not the litter business, its the pride business.

With Southwest they found purpose was not about flying, it was about freedom.

You’re only as young as the new stuff you do. Roy’s mother always told him, “Be great at what you’re good at, don’t be average at what you’re bad at.” Play to your strengths and encourage your kids to do the same. “What do you love to do?”

Smallness can be a huge asset, embrace it. Transform yourself to be happy, not necessarily big. Aristotle stated “Where your talents and the needs of the world cross; there lies your vocation.” When starting out, your biggest asset is naivety because you are not already set in your way of perceiving things.

Roy wrote the book 10 Essential Hugs of Life to encourage fathers to hug their children and encourage people to embrace life. Some of the essential hugs are yourself, your family, your friends, your flag, your coach/teacher/mentor, your mind/heart/future, etc. Fully embrace your journey because the destination will get here faster than you think. Whenever you get lost, you’ll find yourself in the service of others.

You become what you look for. Roy hit the road and took a picture of something good every hour and found lots of good things! If you look for friends, you’ll find them, etc.

Politics is the business of freedom. If we can get the government to agree on a higher ground that we can do better at satisfying the purpose of our nation and not just coming up with tactics.

The purpose of business is to improve life. In visionary mode you do well and are liberated. In self mode, not so much. How does Roy make decisions? He tries to look around the corner. What postive impacts will a decison make? If negative impacts, he walks away.

Don’t reinvent or rebrand your company, it’s about transformational change. You keep or find your vision and purpose and keep that intact.

By creating value for all stakeholderrs, more value is created for shareholders. An alternate to the traditional business model of only maximizing profit for shareholders, Whole Foods has been very successful with what CEO John Mackey calls “conscious capitalism.” With Whole Foods great success, the new model is catching on as a movement.

GSD&M has “Correction of Errors” meetings. “Hug your mistakes.  The ‘failures’are the character flaws. Fess up when you mess up.”

Roy likes people who like him. His mother said there are honey people and vinagar people. He likes honey people.

Marry the dreamers and the doers. Look for people with shared values. It makes no sense to him when people say don’t be partners with friends. Who makes better partners? He loves people who enjoy winning – in a good way. Take the “Strengthfinder” test and look for your partners that complement you.

Thanks to ABJ, the sponsors, and Roy Spence for sharing this fun and insightful morning.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Best wishes for a Happy New Year!!

Warmly,
Carrie

P.S. If you missed our home-made holiday card, check it out! We’ve been designing our own holiday cards for many years now around an interesting current event or trend.  This year’s celebrates the Philae robot landing on a comet. The verse is always by Our Chairman Dr. John Vanston, design by our Creative Director Helen Mary V. Marek. (Past cards are linked at the bottom of that page.)

 

VOTE for MiniTrends Panel for SXSW Eco 2014 by May 16 – “Creating a Profitable & Purpose-Driven Business”

May 11, 2014

PLEASE take a moment to VOTE for MiniTrend’s panel submission for SXSW Eco Conference titled “Creating a Profitable and Purpose-Driven Business” at http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/29857 by May 16. 

The panel includes Carrie Vanston, VP, Communications, MiniTrends/TFI; Jeffrey Fry, Chief Executive, The Profit Prophet; Andre Angel, Founder/CEO, TangoTab; and Joy MillerMarketing and Outreach Coordinator, City of Austin Small Business Development Program..Short videos of each panelist can be found at http://vimeopro.com/tablerockers/sxsw-eco-conference.

A third of the decision is directly from votes! You do have to sign in, but it does not take long to vote. Please go to http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/29857 and VOTE NOW.

Thank you so much for supporting the creation and growth of purpose-based businesses and making a difference in the world!