Ask this question and you Get a You Done Good Award

Just Ask the clerk at every store you buy something at,

this one question:

What is this organization doing to improve your relationship to People and the Planet?”

(Maybe they’ve heard of Obama’s “Green Economy”)

Ask this question one time, and you get a “You Done Good Award (UDA)  at the “Cool”  level. Ask a few times, you upgrade to the “Way Cool” level  Ask on a regular basis, and you zoom to the “You Rock’ level.

Except maybe for your boss, every place that you give money or your time to, has a reason to at least pretend to listento what you say. This includes telephone Help desks, all sales people, cab drivers, bus drivers etc. Just give them the pitch, this website, a smile and leave ‘em with “Have a Do-Better economy Day.”

It’s all so easy.

Once you ask,    They will most likely look at you funny.

Now give them the short answer.

The Do-Better  Economy is about every business & organization being honestly committed to reducing the damage they do, to People & the Planet. And of course while being money smart.”

If they say, “We’re doing A, B, C & D”, you say “Awesome. Whatcha gonna do next?”

Congratulate yourself.

This is success.

If they want to talk moreHurray! Hurray!See the list below for concrete suggestions..

If they turn away – That’s still a win.

You’ve done your bit for a Better World, put the idea in their head, tossed a pebble in the pond of Good stuff. Who knows where the ripples will lead…

Tip #1: Don’t get mired in the muck of them moaning about what they can’t do.

Tip #2: If they give you a smart-ass remark like “well, what are you doing?”

Say, “I’m encouraging you. And maybe taking my business elsewhere.”

You may be thinking  “…you moron. “  That’s understandable.  But keep it as a thought.

Recycling is such a basic I didn’t include it. For cry’ in out loud, the WWII generation recycled!

Things any Organization can do

Announce Do-Gooder to your customers and employees:

Put up a sign:

We care deeply about People and the Earth.

We are currently doing …

In the future we hope/plan to do….

Send your suggestions to ThisPlaceDoGooder@yahoo.com

To learn more about the Do-Gooder economy, go to www.NatCapClub.org

Be honest. Don’t lie or exaggerate. But don’t be afraid to toot your own horn. If you make mistakes, you are still ahead of the curve. Just admit it – “Opps, our Bad. Thanks for letting us know. We’re working on it.”

Inform your suppliers

As part of our deep concern for people and the earth, we are re-evaluating all our suppliers. Please let us know your current and future steps in the following areas….”

By sending out this letter today, you start the exponentially expanding downstream ripple effect going.

Even if you don’t have time to actually do the re-evaluation now, no problem. This may seem like a fib, but it’s not. Just be honest about your timelines. The more lead-time you give them, the better it is for them. They have suppliers they need to contact.

A few questions to ask:

  • Are all components environmentally safe

  • Do all the workers (inside & outside the USA) in supply chain get paid fairly?

  • Do they have safe working conditions?

Do-Gooder the products used internally:

Paper

Office supplies

Toilet paper, paper towels, soap

Cleaning supplies

Coffee

Party supplies

OfferSocially Responsible Mutual Fund as part of the 401k choices

Check with the Benefits department. This doesn’t cost the company anything.

They then will educate employees about what these mutual funds are.

Do-Gooder the Cafeteria

Coffee – Shade Grown, Fair Trade

Napkins

Food

Local purchased

Healthy

Packaging of it

Do-GooderFacilities & Operations:

Paint

Carpet

Furniture

Energy efficiency

Lights,

Heating

Air Conditioning

Green Roof

Permeable parking lot

Bicycle friendly

Do they have adequate safe place

Place to change and/or wash up

People turning off computers at the end of the day

Water conservation – toilets, sinks, etc

Water Conservation

(Especially for places that use a lot of water, like health clubs

Treatment of the communities they do business in:

Within the US

Outside the US

For college students

1) Learn as much as you can about the different aspects of the Do-Gooder Economy/

2) Make the connection from one or more aspects of Do-Gooder economy and the type of place you’ll be working. And the connection to all of your courses – in or out of your major.

3) Start networking with professionals in your career who are working to make the workplace more Sustainable.

Find out what the issues and solutions are from them.

They will be valuable to you in your career – maybe even help you get an internship or job

Example:

Your major is Nursing. Hook up with Health Care professionals who are working to make it happen – nurses, doctors, planners, and facility managers.

4) Ask potential organizations what they are doing to be Green:

Example:

“I am researching future businesses to work for, and I take Sustainability into consideration. What is your organization doing?”

Future plans

We’ve got plans to create a bunch of feedback loops –

Database of organizations you’ve contacted,

what you’ve done and how did it turn on.

what their response has been,

Maybe target a particular company. Give props to those deserving.

All sorts of cool stuff.

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