GoHuman Blog

Today GoHuman celebrates the sentencing of Rod Blagojevich to 14 years in prison; a fitting follow-up to Friday’s blog about Peter Schweizer’s expose on congressional corruption.  Amazingly, four of Illinois’ recent governors have been given jail time, proving the common sense notion that power corrupts. 

How important do you suppose it is to personally invest in ourselves through continued self development? Whether it be for business or personal reasons, many people just don’t take the time or rather, feel worthy enough to spend the time on themselves, to further develop their skills. I say this with certainty because I used to be one of those people who never took the time to further educate myself, for many reasons.

Before starting my business coaching practice, I spent most of my adult career (20 years) in the RV-MH distribution industry. During that period, I was fortunate enough to continuously advance in my positions from administration to head of operations, which I attribute to a lot of hard work, motivation and a strong passion for the work I did and the people I served.  As shameful as this may sound, it never occurred to me how much additional value I could add to my employees, co-workers, customers, and myself by reading leadership books to learn more about effectively leading others or listen to audios about goal setting & achieving, team building exercises or how to deal with work place conflict. With having said all that, nothing could have prepared me for the complete transformation I’ve made over the past year and half.

Once I made the decision that it was time for a change and realized in doing so, not only would I be stepping way out of my comfort zone, but rather setting myself up for the biggest challenge of my life. By the time I reached that awareness, I was far too invested (financially and emotionally) to ever think about turning back and returning to the “land of safety.”

One of the first lessons I learned about starting a business was any/all results that were to occur, would be completely dependent upon me and the commitment I was willing to make to myself, in order to achieve the results I wanted. Part of that commitment meant learning a lot more about a trade that was, although very unfamiliar to me, a great deal similar to much of the work I had done, over the past twenty years.

For starters, I sought out a good training/certification program that would help me lay the foundation for my practice. Next, I hired my own business coach, someone who I knew had a great reputation in the industry and more importantly, one that was effective at getting the results her clients wanted, which in turn, produced the results she wanted. I spent months reading motivational, coaching, sales and success books. I listened to problem solving, financially fearless, owner/victim distinction audios while in my car, every opportunity I had. Then, it was practice, practice, practice the art of coaching, to learn everything that didn’t work for me or others, in order to find what would work.

I’ve encountered more roadblocks than downtown Chicago and at times, often wondered if I made the right decision. However, as soon as I feel myself falling into the victim mode trap of “poor me,” it’s at that same time when I recall how I’ve overcome every one of those obstacles and turned them into opportunities for growth. As a result, I’m a much more independent, wiser and stronger individual & coach, today.

Sunshine’s parents report on GoHuman.com’s Valentine’s day Microcause:

Beloved Friends and Family around the world!  Thank you for your prayers for our precious, much loved and only child Robert Omid aka. Sunshine.

8 years ago we learned of a wonderful therapy program which was beyond our reach until GoHuman.com helped us launch a global fundraiser.  My beloved cousin and her family in Sydney, Australia organized a hugely successful fundraising evening.  Donations from $1 to $6000 surpassed the original goal of $14,900, to also cover needed car repairs and travel costs.  We’re now leaving on a 3 day trip from Wisconsin to Massachusetts.

Our first destination is Chicago as today is a Baha’i Holy Day, the death of the Beloved Bab in Iran in 1850.  In memory of my beloved father, martyred with 3 other Baha’is in Qazvin on July 9, 1982, I have been asked to chant at the Mother Temple of the West in Wilmette, tonight, Friday July 9; at 12:30 p.m. public Devotions in Commemoration of the Bab’s Martyrdom.

We’re honored to start our trip this way, and hope and pray with all our hearts and souls that our precious son’s life will change during this intensive treatment program.  We, his parents, will also be trained, so that, God willing, we can continue treatment after our return.

You will all be in our humble thoughts and prayers at the Temple in Chicago, and we ask for your prayers as well

With utmost love and gratitude; Shohreh and Robert
Sunshine’s grateful parents

The Moldenhauers visit the Franssons

GoHuman is all about empowering small businesses and independent professionals by connecting them with the right customers in their community to establish a more sustainable economy. We’re not the only ones with this idea, which is a great thing. We can’t do it alone, and we depend on people everywhere who believe there is a better way.

But how do we do it?

Word of mouth has proven time after time to be the single most powerful form of marketing. People trust people like themselves, who are typically people they know well like friends or family.

At this stage in GoHuman’s growth, we are connecting with as many small businesses as possible in Chicago; L.A.; Madison, WI; Knoxville, TN; and Vancouver, Canada. You might ask why we’ve chosen those particular areas and I would tell you that in a way they chose us.

We believe in involving people who share our vision for a better, more equitable world, no matter where they are. We’re looking for people to join our grassroots marketing teams, whether they are in one of our existing markets or if someone has the gumption to get a new market going. It’s happened before, and we welcome anyone who is up for the challenge and the rewards.

Businesses everywhere are hurting. People everywhere are being shut down by the powers that be. GoHuman.com represents a genuinely better way for business to work to support themselves and their community.

There is nothing more inspiring than meeting new people who want to join the cause. Some have established themselves in their community and others are just looking for a way to help make things better. Either way, it’s the fuel that moves us forward and gives us hope that our dream can work.

And guess what? People just like you are growing GoHuman.

If you’re interested in joining our team and becoming a Founding Member of GoHuman.com, just email refer@GoHuman.com for more info. We guarantee that an actual human will respond.

We’re thrilled to team up with Being Latino to offer one of our GoHuman Flip cams to the winner of their video contest. Just watch the video below for all the info you need to enter. Good luck!

Being Latino is a communication platform designed to educate, entertain, and connect all people across the global Latino spectrum. Their aim is to break down barriers and foster unity and empowerment through a formative thought-provoking dialogue and the exchanging of ideas.

Being Latino seeks to be the unified voice to the multitude of communities that identify with the multi-dimensional culture that is Latino. Check out their Facebook page and blog:

http://www.facebook.com/Being.Latino
http://beinglatino.wordpress.com

Cary Zartman of Chicago, IL, is GoHuman.com Flip HD video camera winner #9!

He says, “Z Factory has been in business since 1997, operating out of the same home office and as part of the same local business community since its inception. Over the years, we’ve all watched how “buying locally” has become a staple in the food industry — but the same can be said for business as well. And while Chambers of Commerce and other networking groups can help to build strong local relationships, they still require an interaction which can be largely dependent upon the right people being in the right place at the right time.

“What GoHuman.com accomplishes is simple, but invaluable. Connecting people in a way that fully understands that our businesses aren’t always conducted from 9 to 5, and not always face-to-face. GoHuman.com makes it ridiculously easy to seek out the quality resources that you need, at whatever time that might be, AND with the benefit of knowing they are well-regarded in their industry. 

“It’s great to know that my home-based business is functioning within a larger community… that it’s functioning at times when I might not be (like before my morning coffee)… and that it continues to excel within a community of like-minded and successful businesses. ”

Thanks Cary, and we wish you continued success with your business!

Hire Cary and Z Factory for art direction, graphic design and creative consulting in Chicago, IL.

WIN your own Flip HD camera by sharing a local service you provide or need!

Two weeks down, two HD cameras given away to productive GoHuman.com members! Congrats to Vallea Woodbury in Chicago, our 2nd winner. Hire Vallea to plan your next event.

Vallea believes in the vision of GoHuman.com, and had this to say:

“Gohuman.com is a spectacular resource. Instead of an anonymous yellow pages, it gives local merchants like me a place to advertise in a more personal way that shows potential clients a bit about who I am and gives them an opportunity to see feedback about the way I work. It’s especially an asset for those of us who can’t compete with the marketing campaign budgets of larger businesses.

“On the flip side, I also get to support the people offering services in my area when I need something. It’s a way of building a network of local, quality, business people. In today’s economic environment, this kind of opportunity is extremely important. I can’t wait to see GoHuman.com reach its potential.”

Thanks Vallea! We can’t wait either, and it’s support from people like you that will get us there.

You, too, can Flip for Your Community and win a camera by joining GoHuman.com and posting before Halloween.

When Amanda Bonnen tweeted a complaint about her apartment managed by Horizon Group Management to 20 followers, she found herself facing a $50,000 lawsuit claiming she “greatly injured its reputation as a landlord in Chicago.” This has erupted into a brilliant case study about customer service and the negative impact of stepping carelessly in a public space where people have the power to make the worst of a little bad attitude or knee-jerk response.