Welcome to the Asante Group

by jeff on November 26, 2010

Introducing the Asante Group, a socially minded business intent on changing the world by changing lives. That vision may sound a bit too grandiose and over the top but there has to be something to strive for! There are enough “profits first, all else be damned’ businesses out there. Heck, without one in particular, the Asante Group would still be just a dream. (I won’t say who they are, but their initials could stand for ‘I’ve Been Motivated).

‘Asante’ means ‘thank you’ in Kiswahili. As you see throughout the information about the company, we feel that business, like life, should be conducted with an attitude of gratitude. There is no greater privilege than serving others. It is with this knowledge and this perspective that the Asante Group finds its purpose. And with ‘thanks’ being our name, what better day to launch the company than Thanksgiving Day. Well, OK, there might be better days from a business perspective, but it does seem rather fitting. (Don’t worry, we will have plenty of time in the coming weeks, months and years to make big splashes on days other than national holidays.)

So what kind of business is this? Good question. I am not sure that a category exists to fit the scope or approach of what we do. Essentially, we provide a series of tools, resources and services designed to make a positive impact in the world. Still sounds a bit too lofty? Well, our business can really be summed up in three words: Grow. Help. Play.

  • Grow: provide the personal growth/self-improvement offerings to enable people to overcome their life challenges and helping them to envision, engage and enjoy the amazing lives they can imagine. Within the next few weeks we will be launching a brand new offering in this area so make sure to join our Facebook page!
  • Help: furnish NGO’s (non governmental organizations), non-profits and other social groups with vital marketing and business development support to help them make a greater impact for their cause. Our work with the Karaffa Business Academy for Women, the ALS Association of Orange County and Say Thanks are just the start. We will soon be expanding these efforts to help more organizations fight the good fight.
  • Play: highlight and promote the human spirit and human experience to help bridge the cultural divides, here and across the world. We are all one and what better way to get that across than by capturing life as it happens across the globe. You can follow our efforts so far at www.InPlayPhotos.com. We have great plans for expanding this area as well, so again, select ‘Like’ on our Facebook page and keep up with the latest!

While most of our focus is in the above areas, on a very selective basis, we are also offering:

  • Business Development – work with growth-minded companies to drive new streams of revenue through new products, new markets and stronger customer relationships.

So there you have it. A highly ambitious endeavor with one goal in mind: make a damn difference (hey, sounds like a new slogan!). If you have stayed with me this far, I am hoping you will take the next step and check out our website, www.AsanteGroup.com and then join our Facebook following. Like i have told people so far, I don’t know where this is all going to lead, but it should be interesting!

With that, the only thing left to say is, asante sana (thank you, very much!).

Jeff Ballard

Founder, CEO

The Asante Group

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Stop and Smell the Poinsettias

by jeff on November 24, 2010

Life is crazy busy. I remember when my kids we young we were running all over the place. School. Day care. Doctors. Soccer. Gymnastics. Dinners were on the go because life was on the go. We were a family on the go. Then the holidays would come around and really throw things into turmoil. Suddenly we had to add shopping, malls, parking lots, gift wrapping, travel, Christmas cards, holiday parties and more to an already jam packed schedule. Wow, what a crush!

Now all these years later the kids have grown up, but life does not seem to have slowed down any. The rat race, it seems, has only accelerated. Layoffs and cutbacks mean many are doing twice the work they used to. Facebook has added hundreds of friends that we want to keep up with. And there are concerns about the economy, financial security, healthcare and many other issues that keep our attention.

So it’s easy to now stand here, face to face with yet another holiday season, and only see the oncoming tsunami of responsibility, debt, travel and other holiday-related hassles. But that view misses the point. The saying about ‘taking the time to stop and smell the roses’ is the best piece of advice right now.

After a year of political screaming, natural disasters, economic turmoil, job uncertainty, it is time to embrace the joy of the holiday season. The holidays seem to last forever, but in reality from Thanksgiving to New Years, it’s only 38 days. Given the inherent stress and pressure it may be difficult, but don’t lose sight of the fact that this is an amazing stretch of the year. Take time to stop and smell the poinsettias!

There are several holidays happening at the close of the year and the 800 pound gorilla is Christmas.  It feels like much of the season is getting lost in the crass commercialism of Christmas.  Even Halloween seems is getting swallowed up by the beast known as Christmas. If you look past the shopping hype, though, you can find the true meaning and spirit of the season. For Christians Christmas is the day to celebrate the birth of Christ. But at the risk of alienating some, Christmas has evolved to mean so much more, to so many more. Christmas goes beyond jingle bells, roasting chestnuts and frosty snowmen. And the season as a whole goes beyond decorated homes, Pilgrims and Indians, office parties and rousing renditions of Auld Lang Syne.

Peace, joy and goodwill toward all is the true underlying meaning of the holiday season no matter your faith or belief. The season is about the good of humanity, shining through. First in giving thanks. Then in recognition of heritage, faith and each other.  And finally in conclusion on the hopes for a better, brighter year ahead.

The most magical time of the year indeed. Don’t let it pass you by. Don’t let life or inconvenience distract you from the true joy and wonder of this great holiday season. This year, make sure you stop and smell the poinsettias.

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