September 2008

Babes influencing their community

Ok, let's call this part two of my August Babes in Business article, "Think global, act local".

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I have been researching and compiling this article for well over six months now. Why so long you ask? Well ... I have been struggling to find babes in Brisbane who are making an impact and influencing their community. I know you're out there babes, but you must be hiding under a rock because I am struggling to find you.

The original aim of my article was to source some babes in Brisbane that have been influencing their community. To praise and acknowledge their impact. To encourage other babes to follow their example (myself included) and to offer suggestions on how the rest of us could influence our own community. But now I have to change my angle.

So the redefined aim of this article is to illustrate that by starting small, we can all make a contribution to our community. To influence on a small or large scale.

Ok here we go babes.

How can we, as mere babes, influence our community?

Firstly, let's pull out the Oxford Dictionary and remind ourselves that 'influence is the ability to indirectly affect the actions and outcomes of other people or things'. Therefore, we can affect the outcome of someone's day ... week ... year ... or even life.

Alarm bells ... "hello, I have a household to run". "I work 12 hour days". "I barely have enough energy to motivate myself out of bed, let alone influence others".

I hear you Babes and by no means am I saying we should all become the next Angelina Jolie. A former model, an actress, one of the world's most beautiful women, and now, Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Nor can we all be Oprah Winfrey, ranked the richest African American of the 20th century, the most philanthropic African American of all time, and the world's only black billionaire for three straight years. She is also, according to several assessments, the most influential woman in the world.

In the same breathe we are not all counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, doctors etc who on a daily basis are presented endless opportunity to influence others.

As mere babes we don't necessarily have the time, energy, or money to impact the globe with our quest to save children out of prostitution and slavery, to donate millions of dollars to charity, to open schools in Africa but who says we need to save the world?

We should start small 'think global, act local' (refer to my August article for more information).

By local I mean your office, your children's school, your neighbour, your partner, your friend, your sister, the busker you pass on your lunch break.

A small gesture can make a large impact on the lives of those around us.

Lisa Newman, wife of Brisbane Lord Mayor, Campbell Newman is a prime example of a local Babe impacting her community.

If you thought you didn't have time, Lisa has managed to successfully juggle the demands of being a wife, mother of two girls, businesswoman and Lady Mayoress. Lisa's passion for her community is reflected through her daily work with charity associations including: the Lord Mayor's Community Trust, the Emotional Fitness Foundation, National Breast Cancer Foundation, McDonalds Brisbane Community Trust Fund, Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Service, Lifestream Foundation and Life Education Australia Queensland.

Babes, what can we learn from this example? That we must work tirelessly to impact our community? That we are insignificant in comparison? Lisa's example shows us that it doesn't matter how hectic our schedules are, we can still impact our community. Lisa impacts the lives of her children, her husband, and the charities of Brisbane. But ultimately, Lisa is simply impacting her community.

Let me leave you with Oprah Winfrey's wise note, "It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to impact begins with you - always."

Martha Maciejowski is a member of Babes in Business and a PR Consultant for KD Public Relations.

Martha Maciejowski PR Consultant KD Public Relations e martha@kdpr.com.au w www.kdpr.com.au