The concept of Sustainable Development within the business arena is not new. Many mid to large businesses and trans-nationals have plans and practices in place which follow the advice of sustainability audits. However there are still millions of business owners that have not even considered how they might incorporate sustainability principles into their work, namely small to mid size businesses - and home entrepreneurs just like you.
I hope to show you how we can ALL incorporate aspects of sustainability into our businesses and, more importantly, why doing so will aid our business profit and overall growth - and nurture our spirits!
"Sustainable Development" is development, or progress, that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Essentially, the practice of sustainability will mean that future generations will have the same (or better) opportunities as we have today to live successful, healthy and happy lives because they have abundant resources, a healthy atmosphere and environment and a thriving, strong community.
In business, we often refer to sustainability as striving to meet the "Triple Bottom Line" - that is, PEOPLE, PLANET and PROFIT. Reporting on the "Triple Bottom Line" is how businesses demonstrate that they are taking sustainability seriously. They must reduce the impact their business has on social and environmental values while still giving a financial return that can be sustained into the future. It's a BALANCE.
PEOPLE - Human Capital
There is great value in people - individuals and communities. Businesses can incorporate ideals of sustainability by looking after any staff and investing in them and their families, by providing products and services that promote health and well-being (directly or indirectly), through education and communication within the business and with partners, clients and customers, and by giving back to the local community via charities and sponsorships.
PLANET - Natural Capital
It is no secret that the planet gives us an abundance of resources so that we can lead long happy lives; working, resting and playing. It is everyone's responsibility to look after these resources and businesses can do this by minimizing resource usage as well as wastage, by reducing or eliminating pollution to air, water and land and by producing products that can be recycled and are non-polluting.
PROFIT - Financial Capital
There is a wealth (no pun intended!) of information available to businesses about how to increase your profits. Under the Triple Bottom Line model it is emphasized that profits should not be made at any cost but rather, in harmony with human and natural capital. Businesses must make an honest buck with integrity.
Rachael Slorach is successfully building a home business with a MLM Company in the Organics Industry. "I was not always the super confident home business entrepreneur that I am today. I struggled in my offline MLM business, finding it difficult to afford good quality leads, and being completely hopeless at recruiting prospects into my team! It all began to change when I jumped online and came across the theory of attraction marketing, found a system that I could easily plug into, and received incredible training from top earners in the industry. I learned to generate my own low-cost, high quality leads and recruit team members on autopilot." Learn more about Rachael and starting a green home business at her blog, http://www.buildingbusinessnaturally.com.
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