It’s the end of week one for the Enliven The World blog, and I think things are going well.  I will try to post on Monday and Wednesday, with a small post on Tuesday (call it a teaser if you want), with a wrap up on Friday containing links to interesting sites I have found.  I need a day off and no one reads blogs on Thursdays anyway…

Insights from the week:

1. We are at our most prosperous and productive when we invest increased wealth to directly impact and renew communities.

2. Businesses need to adopt a giving lifestyle, and giving directly to local charity rewards more than anything.

3. Some steps you can take to successfully start donating your product or services to charities…

Some Interesting Thoughts and Sites:

1. This is a great interview with Guy Kawasaki on how he does what he does…

2. Another brilliant but simple insight by John Jantsch about the intersection of technology and human ExchangePoints

3. Another reminder that excellence in service is the best PR

4. Is Twitter actually becoming more useful? Some new apps are making a case for YES!

5. Ever wanted to hear directly how Seth Godin had 10 best sellers? Here he goes through each one.  Very instructive!

Your local community is crying out for business to come to its aid, and it is not that difficult to answer the call.

Yesterday I highlighted TOMS Shoes as a worthwhile example of how a company can integrate donation into its business model.  Sure, it’s easy for them since they started that way, but how do we do that at a local level with an established company?  Here’s some steps you can take to successfully start donating your product or services to charities:

1. Find a charity or organization that supports your values.Many times when people hear of donating to charity or being “socially responsible” they automatically think of giving away money or volunteering somewhere.  I’m sure the Red Cross and Salvation Army want and need your donations, but is there a local charity that shares the same core values as your business and will make a more immediate local impact with your help?
2. Conduct an interview with the main representative for the nonprofit to see how passionate they are and find how well they run the business side.Not all local nonprofits are well run; some suffer from serious internal politics, a premature bureaucracy, or just poor management.  Sitting down with the principle representative of the organization and finding out directly what their goals and values are will give you a much better idea of how your company can partner effectively with the nonprofit.
3. Find a way your product can fit with the mission and goals of the nonprofit organization.This is probably most important.  How can your company directly assist the nonprofit organization?  In terms of your product or services, how can you help them from your values and strengths, not just with money?  You are in business to sell a product or your services, don’t bypass your business model and just give away money because it’s a charity.  Think of them as a customer and your payment is the renewal of the local community, which affects your bottom line and health of the business in the long term.
4. Dedicate a fixed percentage of profit each month to purchasing your product or services for the nonprofit.How much should you give?  I advise you set aside a fixed percentage every month to purchase product or your time to giving to the organization, but the actual number is based on what you need to continue operating your business.  This would be a fantastic opportunity to take a hard look at your numbers, see what you actually need to meet payroll and your other obligations, and then decide how much of the profit you are willing to invest in the community.
5. Monitor and solicit feedback.It is easy to sit back and just let things be; set a percentage, agree to that amount, feel good about yourself, and then move on to more important things.  But the point is to actively engage with the nonprofit and its mission.  How are your efforts received, is it enough, too much?  Would another product or service be a better fit for this month?  Establish some kind of feedback system, monthly reports or the like, so that you can have a continued dialogue with the nonprofit.

With a little planning and effort, you could make an forceful impact on your community and be the catalyst that brings about its renewal.

Business can serve others

I’ve got a radical idea.

That we are at our most prosperous when we invest increased wealth to directly impact and renew communities.

Imagine if we used our prosperity for the good of others.  Imagine if we live only with what we need and use the rest to give back to those who need our help the most.  Imagine what would happen if those who have more invest in those who don’t so that they can produce and achieve.

Imagine if every business adopted a healthy lifestyle of serving others, first their families and then their communities.

Serving the Community

For example, a family owned grocery or market will agree to not just donate money or volunteer time (although that would be appreciated I am sure) to the local food bank, but actually use the extra revenue brought in though increased marketing efforts to buy extra food for the food bank. A credit union or local bank would dedicate some or all of its excess to fund a full time position that coordinates with local nonprofits on financial education or the creation of a select number of high risk, second chance accounts.  See how it could work?

I have wanted to start a marketing company for some time, but I could never figure out the point of simply creating more wealth for its own sake. Where do we invest it?  Spend it on ourselves, on bigger houses or more cars,or on bigger TV’s or more computers or expensive vacations?

How about reinvesting in the business?  YES, reinvest in the business but don’t reinvest simply to expand the business so that the business can grow and become larger for the sole purpose of becoming bigger and more expansive.  Reinvest in serving those that can’t help themselves and your business will grow as a consequence.  But you will also be serving a better cause, not just the organization’s growth.

I know this sounds idealistic, but it is a lifestyle we can all live and the consequences of this behavior can have the most amazing impact the world has ever seen.  Instead of growing to consume, we will grow to give.

Who’s with me?

This is a new blog for a new world.

Now, more than anytime in history, we have the opportunity to change the world faster than ever.  Every small business owner, employee, corporate middle man, and lonely stay at home mom has access to the means to produce and produce abundantly.

Now it is time to use that wealth in the most productive way.  More on that later.