"Not For Profit Only"

Here are a few additional articles that describe the types of companies that are becoming increasingly important to our national economy. These companies are described using many labels, including "socially responsible." The one I like is "NFPO," which stands for "Not For Profit Only." That's a more accurate description of the types of companies that this blog focuses on. These companies live by the principle that being "for profit" and being "socially responsible" need not be, and indeed, ought not to be, incompatible. These are the types of companies that consumers are demanding and which therefore are going to become a larger and larger percentage of the U.S. GDP.

What is so powerful is the ability of these companies to incorporate socially responsible business practices, not just because these practices reprsent "the right thing to do," but because the nature of the practices themselves drive a more successful (and profitable) enterprise by developing a better product or service (for a solid example of this principle, check out the Fast Company article below that features a company called Equal Exchange).

None of this is to suggest that building and maintaining such a company is easy. In addition to the many challenges that all entrepreneurs face, a socially responsible company has the added difficulty of staying "true" to its mission, even as it grows (take a look at the Inc. magazine article on Seventh Generation.) That's where I can help. If you are a principal in such a company and are struggling with how to position your company for solid growth while maintaining your mission and vision, I'm the guy to contact. I'd love to speak with you.

Fast Company - Trade Secrets

Inc.com - Seventh Generation

Inc.com | Can Business Still Save The World?