A Decision to "Change the World"

2 weeks ago I made a decision to change the world.  Actually it’s more of an obligation.

I’ve always had a passion for the environment, not the activist hemp wearing type of passion, but the gardening at home, repurposing everything I can, and recycling all that’s possible kind of passion.  I was raised in Northern Canada after spending a few years huddled out on Vancouver Island where I watched the pulp mill and overfishing destroy the environment and create it’s own environmental and economic collapse, taking our family with it.

Some years later, I arrived in Australia surprised to note that there wasn’t a public recycling system and that you only got paid for recycling bottles in Adelaide – it wasn’t worth throwing the parties anymore!

I now reside in North Curl Curl on the Northern Beaches in Sydney, with my husband, my dog, my cat and my very hardy goldfish.  We purchased our house with the sole intention of tearing it down within 2 years and rebuilding an environmental palace and we’re still on track.   In the meantime, I’ve repurposed every pallet, every timber, every pot and well, anything else I can find to create an eclectic beach house that in the future will be completely self sufficient.

Most recently, I attended a conference in Amsterdam – hosted by EO – the Entrepreneurs Organisation.  The theme – Change the World. 

Day 1 arrived with the outset of the bells ,whistles and egos of A type personalities from all over the world hoping for a laugh, letting off a bit of steam and hopefully as a bonus walk away with something a little substantial.

After kicking off with dancers, music, an incredible stage and a story, the conference began.  At the end of day 1, I felt a small twinge between Tony Robbins and Hillsong…and I wasn’t too fussed about the situation. I was there to learn, I wanted takeaways, I wanted structure on HOW to change the world and this wasn’t being delivered.

Day 2, brought curiosity and confusion…Big picture thinking, big problems, world poverty, hunger, homelessness, ..how on earth am I going to have influence?  I’m not a scientist, I’m not a chemist, I’m not a biotechnology expert, I may even struggle spelling biodiversity!  But the theme continued. I knew these were problems, I knew they were issues, but how was I going to have any influence on this turning into a positive result?

By day 4…I started thinking.  I mean really thinking.  The kind of thinking that doesn’t let you sleep, breathe or see anything else.  That entrepreneurial fire that creates movements, energy, contagious enthusiasm; it was building and building fast.

I started to figure it out.  I realized that we as a company have HUGE opportunities for influence. We are no longer 1 man, we are a company with a passion for change, empowerment, and responsibility and we are dead set excited.

We’ve broken it out into 3 categories and are implementing the actions as we go.

1)    How do WE operate as people and as a company and how will we measure this? 

Energy consumption, paper types, water usage, modes of transport, recycling, composting, repurposing etc

2)    How do we expect our SUPPLIERS to operate?

We will only work with suppliers that operate sustainably

3)    How do we help our clients achieve their goals whilst also creating a positive result for the environment, the community and the overall objective of changing the world?

We will endeavor to work with our clients to ensure their campaigns, and their results are focused on the future and sustainability is at the forefront of each business objective – using either environmentally friendly products and campaigns, or delivering results to a community as the end goal or providing an engaging platform between all 3.

What we realized as a business is that Step 1 and 2 are actually REALLY easy to implement and we personally now ask ourselves the following questions to assist:

How do you buy your clothes?

How do you purchase your food?

How do you use your energy?

How do you operate on a day to day?

And why don’t you tell others to do the same...

The key to all of this though is to share it.  Spread the word.

 Some simple objectives in past 3 days that our team implemented were:

o   Purchased from local grocers

o   Changed their containers to recyclable

o   Gave away instead of throwing out old furniture

o   Created a website for their art and giving their proceeds to charity

I encourage you to think about how you can change your world and what does that mean to you…it’s so simple, it’s so easy..

Some key takeaways from the conference that fuelled this passion on are:

Even when all others disagree if you believe it is important and true to your values - stick to it

Anything is possible

The environmental movement is NOT something to be fearful of, but something to be EMBRACED

We all need to be part of something bigger than ourselves

Set clear vision, be transparent and stick to your values

Tell MORE stories

Share the excitement with ANYONE who will LISTEN

It’s not about the money - it’s about the legacy - what are you leaving behind?

HAVE FUN

You can have a perfectly good dance party SOBER

Review all of the processes of our business, to understand the value or impact on our community and how we can change/enhance or develop

We as a business, have an obligation to change the world through the power of how we operate and what we do

If there is a hole in the boat, no matter the luxury..you are still not safe...so, you are no longer one man, you are an opportunity to effect change.  Get out there..see what you can do to change your world.