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Articles

Perspective is Everything

1/29/2016

1 Comment

 
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$21.34 - no big deal, right? Wrong!  Changing "the system" is about doing a whole lot of little things AND knowing which little things matter and why.

Take big business price-fixing for example. It's an "old school" corporate practice that represents social injustices against 'the little guy'. It's the kind of issue that brings people out in droves to protest in social demonstrations like Occupy Wall Street.

I'm not going to talk about the inspiration and determined action of the people who got the Canadian LCD products price-fixing class action law suit started. (Thanks for doing that by the way). This post is about YOU and I completing seemingly insignificant and pointless administrative tasks that none of us wants to do, yet are absolutely necessary to claim your portion of the settlement.  Like deep sea cargo carriers, the world floats on a sea of paperwork.

When I first spotted the legal notice on Facebook I was mildly curious. I knew I'd owned a number of LCD TV's, computer monitors, and notebook computers over the years. I wondered if my purchases would be eligible under the class action suit. Turns out they were.

Then came the dreaded moment of truth - was I willing to gather evidence in the form of proof of purchase? Yuck!  This would be as exciting as gathering paperwork to file my income tax return.  That's when I asked myself "Is it really worth my time?"

The answer to that question depends on what YOU want the final outcome to be.
Personal
It's about me.
  • I don't have time.
  • I don't feel like it.
  • It's an inconvenience.
  • I hate paperwork!
  • Why bother?
Impersonal
It's about transforming something bigger than me.
  • Why is this action important?
  • How many other people are affected?
  • Am I willing to do my part to see justice done?
  • When can I set aside a few minutes to dig through receipts?
When a high profile, class action law suit has been won and those big corporations are held accountable for their actions, what do you think the odds are they will conspire to price-fix again? The transparency and speed in which news and consumer experiences travel through social media today gives me confidence those days are behind us.  Social justice may be slow to come about, but when each of us keeps our attention on the final outcome, instead of ourselves, the desired outcome will happen. It's simply a matter of time...and taking the small actions in moments that count.

This post has nothing to do with Canadian LCD products price-fixing and everything to do with what matters to YOU. It's the small things that make a big difference in your life, your career or your business. Perspective is everything.
  • Do you have 5 minutes to play Lego or Barbie with your child before dinner?
  • Are you going to squeeze a trip to the gym into your busy day?
  • Can you stop what you're doing for 3 minutes to give the person speaking your full attention?
  • Will you spend a few extra minutes talking to the new employee who appears to be struggling?
Each of these seemingly small things is a moment that counts. Look at the fine print...
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There's no telling where your actions will lead or the impact it will have on others. The cheque I received in the mail today was for $21.34. We can order pizza tonight, yippee! But when I read the fine print I'm curious what else might open up as a result of stepping up to the plate when it mattered.

"The litigation is ongoing. You will be notified of any future settlements or awards and the subsequent distribution of any related funds".

Cheers!
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1 Comment
Les Stevenson link
1/29/2016 01:02:10 pm

First - Cash the cheque! That is always a good place to start. Then you can think about how much time you put into it and whether or not it was worth it. Maybe at the end of the day it's a "moral victory" but it is still a victory. There is never anything wrong with doing the right thing and that is what I like about you. You always look like you are up for doing the right thing. Ciao

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