The Greater Good - Volume 3, Issue 8

“Community is about doing something together that makes belonging matter."
-Brian Solis

Last month, we talked about the importance of building business community underscored by our recent client survey. Plain and simple, purpose-driven business leaders seek more connection with other purpose-driven leaders. It gives these leaders a chance to explore ideas together, get critical feedback on policies and systems, and even do business together.

But what may be even more important is that a community with a shared mission helps meet a fundamental human need as discussed in the Harvard Business Review article below. And that need has to do with our craving for a sense of connectedness, belonging, meaning and mission, "particularly when performing our work." In Daniel Pink's Drive, the author states that "making progress towards a shared mission is the most motivating force a professional can feel. Communities deliver these benefits, creating a sense of shared accountability and a set of values while preserving individual autonomy."

It's our feeling that this "shared mission and accountability" is what the Benefit Corporations for Good family is all about. And it's why in the coming weeks and months, you'll see expanded ways for our certified businesses to connect with each other and create even stronger engagement toward improving our communities and our planet.
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Are you a BIPOC business? Helping create an inclusive and welcoming community is the highest priority for us. Because the benefit corporation is a model that embraces ALL people (as well as planet). To further this cause, we are now offering 15% off our certification fee to become a Benefit Corporation for Good to all BIPOC businesses. Just reach out to us.

Now about this issue of The Greater Good.

First of all, you can read an engaging Harvard Business Review article about how community can unlock extraordinary competitive advantages for your business.

Secondly, you can listen to a powerful podcast interview with purpose-driven leader Paul Polman about his new book Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More than They Take.

Finally, you can learn why 18 purpose-driven small business leaders chose to become certified benefit corporations.

When Community Becomes Your Competitive Advantage While communities generate tangible value for businesses — such as content, events, online advocacy and marketing, technology production, customer support, and education — it is the intangible value that members derive from the experience that makes these environments truly “sticky.” This Harvard Business Review article takes a deep dive into why "community" is so critical to today's small businesses and the 7 key elements to building one. Read Now

How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More than They Take Listen in as Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever and one of the pioneers of the stakeholder capitalism movement, discusses his new book Net Positive with Carol Cone, host of highly-regarded Purpose 360 podcast. Learn: (1) How a business philosophy that supports shared prosperity creates both social impact and financial returns, (2) Why exercising humility and recognizing you can't do everything on your own is vital to creating great impact, and (3) The 3 Lessons Paul would share with a CEO trying to be net positive. Listen Now

Why 18 Small Business Leaders Chose to Become Certified Benefit Corporations Are you curious about why a small business with less than 10 employees decides to certify their business values? Why it is so important for them to put their commitment to being a purpose-driven business out there for the world and everyone to see? To their customers, their employees and their communities? While their approach to doing good varies, their beliefs in being a force for good are consistent. It’s what makes them a Benefit Corporation. Learn the reasons they chose to become a triple bottom line business, why it matters to them and what it’s meant for their business. Read Now

HIGHLIGHTS

Congrats to our latest certified Benefit Corporation for Good. Here's Michelle Lagos, founder of Get Lagos Now, who also recently became a certified B Corp. Well done Michelle!

Kudos to Nicole Allen, creator and founder of Through the Trees Collective, who leads another recently certified Benefit Corporation for Good.

And cheers to the more than 19 recertified businesses (more in the queue). To view all recertified Benefit Corporations for Good, go here and click on the "recertified" button to see all the good this community is doing in the world.

EVENTS

October 29: Connecticut Climate Action Business Summit
Info here.

November 2: Business Design Series - Starting Your Business
Info here.

November 4: Intellectual Property - How To Protect Your Brand Name and Logo
Info here.

November 9: The Nuts & Bolts of Client Service Agreements
Info here.


KNOW OTHERS WHO BELIEVE IN A BETTER BUSINESS MODEL?

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