Stories from the Community
Why a Portland Technical Fabricator Built Its Company on the Triple Bottom Line
The motivation for Willamette Technical Fabricators (WTF) becoming an Oregon Benefit Company was simple. The business and its founder wanted to inspire other companies in the manufacturing sector. After all, it’s not too common when you talk about a metal fabricator creating environmental and social impact. But that is exactly the mission of WTF.
8 Ways To Boost Your Imagination and Build a Culture of Creativity
What does it mean to be creative? Are you known for your out of the box thinking? Can we learn to be more creative as leaders?
Today, creativity is needed more than ever as we take on workplace and societal challenges., but leaders that come up with innovations may not necessarily describe themselves as creative.
5 Time-Tested Lessons for the Workplace (“Pura Vida” Anyone?)
We visited during the dry season, but that didn’t stop a few rain showers. But this is Costa Rica and it is an emerald world with frogs, butterflies, sloths, volcanoes and monkeys that enchant. This, of course, isn’t a travelogue but a blog about a word heard often in Costa Rica: Pura Vida. It’s a word …
How a Portland Creative Services Firm Found Its Big Idea in Legalese
Never underestimate the power of an idea whose time has come. And that time was just three weeks for creative wizard Julie Eickhof of Eickhof Creative Shop. You see, while changing her business structure to an LLC…
17 Uplifting Examples of Putting Soul Into Business
A year ago this week, my business partner and I introduced our book Putting Soul Into Business: How the Benefit Corporation is Transforming American Business for Good. It tells the story of the benefit corporation movement and all the reasons it’s not only right for business but it’s right for the times we live in.
Think…
Why a Strategic Consulting Firm Used Certification To Leave the World a Better Place
If you listen to the founder of Mighty Epiphyte, you hear a common thread in all her communication. That commonality? Leaving the world and her community a better place. As a firm believer in the Triple Bottom Line of People, Planet and Profit, Kim Allchurch Flick is a connector and collaborator who catalyzes good business.
New Business Model Offers Compelling Proof of Innovation
Does Your Business Have a Soul? Here's How To Tell...
I’ve been around. And I have many chapters in my life to prove it.
An executive at several major healthcare organizations, an ED at a nonprofit agency, a lead strategist at a branding agency, a coach and a consultant for many local and national government agencies, and an entrepreneur launching two start-up companies.
AIong the way, I’ve worked in a multitude of capacities, partnering with…
Trust: An Imperative for Benefit Corporations
It’s a new world. Where social sharing has become a powerful force in our lives.
In this connected world, people depend more and more…
Benefit Corporations: The Path of the New Collaborative Economy
There is a buzz.
It’s about a new business model transforming American Business and evangelizing the spirit of collaboration for the common good as well as to create profit and success.
It is taking hold across country through…
How Your Benefit Corporation Takes a Stand
You know your business stands for something special in the world as a benefit corporation.
But do your key stakeholders? Your partners, customers and clients?
Do they understand your plan to make a difference...to help create an equitable world?
How the Curse of Cats Improves Your Communications
You have undoubtedly heard the expression before.
"Curiosity killed the cat."
Now curiosity might be a bad omen for felines.
However, it is anything but that if you're a business seeking to create high engagement in your communications...
9 Ways To Become More Resilient
Have you ever visited a desert and wondered about the cactus and its ability to survive?
I often visit the deserts of Baja. In my wanderings, the stark and quiet beauty of this ecosystem creates an awe that defines “mindfulness.” A potent experience of stillness and balance between the mountains and sea.
And the regal cactus reigns over all...
How To Measure What Matters (Lesson from a Habitat Build)
It strikes a resounding chord in me.
And I bet I'm not alone.
Your product can only be improved and optimized when you measure what matters.
It's a point that was brought home to me a few weekends ago...
4 Keys To Mastering Outreach
OK, the jury is in. Community outreach has now been deemed one of the most powerful ways to brand and promote your product and your services. Developing relationships with organizations in your community will not only help create customer affinity but gets people to start promoting your business for you!
But the secret is not that you do outreach, but HOW you do it.
The 1 Secret to Product Innovation
How many times have you heard: Yes, we listen to the customer. Yes, we are customer driven. Yes, we design our products based on the customer.
But what really happens to all that customer input?
Generally, a lengthy and robust report is generated from customer focus groups, survey and informant interviews and then...
How To Improve Your Content Thanks To a Few IPAs
"Piney...
...citrusy...
...floral...
...juniper-like...
...lemony."
If you've ever tried to describe the taste of an India Pale Ale (IPA), you know the descriptors vary.
Fact is, I've heard the majority of these adjectives as I'm lucky enough to live in a city where you see bumper-stickers on Priuses, Subarus and Volvos that read "Keep Portland Beered."
Which is to say locals get to choose from a ton of refreshing and ever-growing list of IPAs.
So what's this all have to do with upping your content?
Plain and simple, you want your words and ideas...
Lesson from the Aspen Tree: Power of Collaboration
At the heart of the benefit corporation is putting people front and center. This can mean customers, employees and key stakeholders. Collaborating with these groups is not only a good idea to boost morale, but it makes great business sense as you gain new perspectives.
Which brings us to the perfect metaphor for collaboration...