Natural Resource

Prosperous businesses are essential to sustain the economy and the workers and shareholders that invest their time and money are critical. The workforce has two positions in a business oriented economy: that of the worker whose task it is to contribute directly to the success of the business, but also as a community citizen who desires a safe and healthy environment which often may be affected by the business that employs them.

Today businesses are faced with a depreciating economy, dwindling natural resources, and a citizenry awakening to the toxics that some businesses contribute to local and regional environments. Tension between the two positions of a worker (employee and at the same time community member) rises when these is a clash. One case may be where a traditional energy plant is planned for a community. The plant will release toxics in the air and onto the ground of a community while at the same time seeks to employ those who will be directly affected by the toxics.

Another challenge for businesses and communities is development. When a city block of previously neighborhood stores is to be raised and a new development of chain stores is planned instead, the community may want to sustain its folksy quality yet understands the new development will provide more jobs. The community has to decide if its quality of life is first and foremost.

Businesses have historically missed the mark when dealing with these issues. Instead of approaching the citizens first, they work behind the scenes the scenes to advance the plans. The opportunity for business is to engage the community up front, listening, and then integrating the community’s input into the plans. There may be huge resistance whereby the business radically alters the plan or even drops it, or revises the plan to make it livable for the community.

Local governments also often have missed the mark in engaging the community early on when business comes knocking. The ruckus that occurs when local government works with business without engaging the community early on is unnecessary; it distances the community from government and the business resulting in building mistrust. Bringing together the affected stakeholders early on builds trust, and business success.

Change

It is a comin'

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
Charles Darwin

What great changes have not been ambitious?
Melinda Gates

A corporation is a living organism; it has to continue to shed its skin. Methods have to change. Focus has to change. Values have to change. The sum total of those changes is transformation.
Andrew Grove

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.
John F. Kennedy

Power properly understood is nothing but the ability to achieve purpose. It is the strength required to bring about social, political and economic change.
Martin Luther King Jr

 We all are learning, modifying, or destroying ideas all the time. Rapid destruction of your ideas when the time is right is one of the most valuable qualities you can acquire. You must force yourself to consider arguments on the other side.
Charlie Munger

The question is not whether we are able to change but whether we are changing fast enough.
Angela Merkel

People.. especially people in positions of power.. have invested a tremendous amount of effort and time to get to where they are. They really don't want to hear that we're on the wrong path, that we've got to shift gears and start thinking differently.
David Suzuki

You are what you are and where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You can change what you are and where you are by changing what goes into your mind.
Zig Ziglar