A little over a year ago, in January 2016, during our AMBC board meeting, I had mentioned to our directors about trying to move towards having video conferencing meetings via a new app called Zoom (www.Zoom.us). At the time, it was relatively new and unheard of by most people not in the social media world; I had heard it from a podcast on SocialMediaExaminer.com, one of my favorite “go to” places for social media tips & tricks.
Fast forward to last Saturday, when Sarah Rohde, our fearless, charismatic and inspiring leader sent us invites to join our monthly board meeting through video using the Zoom app! I was elated; so was Marty; so was my wife, Seema; Jeff Ballantyne, not so much. Yet, he persevered. In the end, with the exception of Jeff, we all got on the video chat and carried on with our monthly meeting. Jeff, tenacious and unyielding, was able to manage getting on the meeting through his audio connection; so, we managed to hear him, even though we could not see him. Nevertheless, change had occurred in our monthly meeting method that day. It took a year of coaxing, trying different methods, going back to our old ways, and then, finally taking charge and making it happen.
So it is with our stores and our industry. We are talking about positive change. We are discussing it. We are wanting it. We are seeing it happen with our fellow members’ stores. How many of us are taking that final step to make that change, whether it is in our store’s front end or back end?
Let me end with this: Our next project is (drum roll please)… an industry app for our members. The conversation began some months ago but we seriously discussed it last Saturday. It may be another 14-18 months (if not later) before we launch the app, but at least we’re talking about it, thinking about it, wanting it for the betterment of our stores and our industry as a whole.
I urge you to start these conversations; embrace positive change; don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back; don’t think you’re too old or out of touch. Go out there and exude excellence my friends.
Fahim Mojawalla, AMBC Director of Social Media
Island Ship Center / AMBC Certified Store
10 Minutes from Niagara Falls, USA
#SpaOfShipping #FahimFix #ExudeExcellence
1879 Whitehaven Road
Grand Island, NY 14072
Phone: 716-773-6300
Website: www.IslandShipCenter.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/FahimShips
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/IslandShipCenter
Source: AMBC Blog