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Will your community support you when it counts?

It's been said that when you have a plot of land the best thing to cultivate is your neighbours.  So it is with your business.

The community in which you operate your business is a vital part of the environment in which you will succeed or fail. If you are a good neighbour, contributing in appropriate ways to your community, they can be amongst your strongest supporters. 

If you are a bad neighbour, withdrawn and uninvolved in community life, taking without giving back or making life unpleasant for the rest of the community, then lack of support should not surprise you. But if a crisis occurs, or if you find yourself in the midst of a controversy, your community's support may be critical.

Before you might ever need to, think about how being a good neighbour applies to your particular business.  Should you be more involved in community activities?  Should you ask whether any of your normal activities or operations annoy your neighbours?  Are there things you know you could improve, but just haven't gotten around to yet? 

How can your business be a better part of your community?

© Kerrie Mullins-Gunst
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