Seven Principles of Social Business

I was recently reviewing some notes and materials discussed in a university Business Management course and came across some notes on Muhammad Yunus, Founder of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. He is said to be the "Father of Micro-Finance". Whether you agree with his social agenda or not, he has begun a sort of revolution in building entrepreneurship in some extremely poverty-ridden areas of the world. The concept of micro-loans is even available in the U.S. It may be worthy of looking into.

Professor Yunus developed his programs based on Seven Principles of Social Business:

• Business objective will be to overcome poverty, or one or more problems (such as education, health, technology access, and environment) which threaten people and society; not profit maximization

  Financial and economic sustainability

Investors get back their investment amount only. No dividend is given beyond investment money

When investment amount is paid back, company profit stays with the company for expansion and improvement

Environmentally conscious

Workforce gets market wage with better working conditions

...do it with joy

We each need to renegotiate our contract with Life!

My Wage

“I bargained with Life for a penny,
And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store.

For Life is a just employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.

I worked for a menial’s hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have willingly paid.”

-Jessie B. Rittenhouse

We each need to renegotiate our contracts!

We Are Expected to Prosper

I recently read a story that leads me to believe that it not only OK to succeed and prosper...it is expected by God that we do so.................

Matthew 25

14 ¶For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talaents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
   
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful     over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
 

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap  where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Persist Unitl You Succeed!

Service with a Smile

From Dave Ramsey’s website

Have you ever experienced incredible service? Not just a brief smile and a “let me know if I can help you,” but the type of service where someone goes out of their way to provide you with the best experience possible with their company.

Maybe it was the shoe salesman at the retail store, the pizza delivery guy, or the customer service representative on the phone. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to experience quality service, then you know the type of impression it makes.

That’s the type of impression a young guy named Jonathan made on Dave. Jonathan was the manager at a sub shop right down the road from Dave’s office in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Every now and then, Dave would head over to the sub shop with his son. And, every single time, Jonathan would address them by name and call out their order before they could even speak.

This guy treated his customers well! You’re probably thinking, Well, he knew that was Dave Ramsey and his son. Well, he did…but that’s not why he treated them so well.

Everyone was treated with the same five-star service when they met Jonathan—bankers, construction workers, maids, mothers, teachers, corporate executives. Jonathan treated them all well. He knew their names and their usual orders—he went out of his way to make them feel comfortable while at the sub shop. That’s great service.

He smiled. He had energy. He came out from behind the counter and talked with the customers and cleaned tables. He was a leader in the business, and he served more than anyone else there. And, remember, this was a sub shop—not a world-class restaurant!

But something happened. One day, Dave returned to the sub shop and Jonathan was gone. He left to go back to college and get an education. But Jonathan already knew a lot more about business than many employees and entrepreneurs could ever grasp.

It all comes down to service. When you treat people with outstanding service, they are more than happy to buy stuff from you. It’s amazing, isn’t it?

Think about this: What if every business had a Jonathan? How could that type of positive, go-getter attitude transform businesses—and even the economy?

That’s why it’s so vital for business owners to understand the importance of having team members who are energized and supporting the company’s mission—whether it’s selling sandwiches or shipping boxes.

When you have someone like Jonathan, do everything you can to take care of him. Show your appreciation. Treat your team with dignity and respect, and they will treat you, your customers, and your business with dignity and respect.

Our Greatest Fear

Our Greatest Fear —Marianne Williamson

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

—Marianne Williamson

Define "The American Dream"

I am curious how people in 2012 would define the term "The American Dream"! It would be awesome to have this defined by three groups....1> over 21 native-born; 2> under 21 native-born; 3> immigrant, or non-USA citizen.

Please share this in your social media connections. I welcome 500-1000 word essays on this topic from any of these categories to be emailed to skyline.assets@gmail.com. Entries will be published here, as we review them!