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Staying Ahead of your CompetitionThe Green way

Written by: Stefan Doering

Article Overview: Things here in NYC are crazy with corporations and entrepreneurs trying to figure out how to catch the green wave. And if you’re in doubt whether there is some serious potential in business in this area, just spend 3 minutes at any magazine store and look at the front covers of some of the major publications. That should placate your doubts! Why is the “green” industry so darn hot and very unlikely to be just a fad

Staying Ahead of your CompetitionThe Green way

Things here in NYC are crazy with corporations and entrepreneurs trying to figure out how to catch the green wave.

And if you’re in doubt whether there is some serious potential in business in this area, just spend 3 minutes at any magazine store and look at the front covers of some of the major publications. That should placate your doubts!

Why is the “green” industry so darn hot and very unlikely to be just a fad:

* Last week our addiction to oil caused another record: $116 / barrel
* European countries are returning to coal know as “the dirtiest fuel on earth”
* The planet’s population is expected to increase 50%... to 9 billion… within 40 years
* The number of cars and trucks is expected to double by 2040 to two billion
* The number of commercial jetliners is expected to double to 36,000 by 2030

And those issues are related to just the “energy” part of environmental issues. Add to the mix: climate change, water, biodiversity / land use, chemicals / toxics / heavy metals, air pollution, waste management, ozone layer depletion, forest / fisheries, and deforestation and you will get my point.

So, if you’re still straddling the fence on this one, it is time to get into action. The market will not allow you to do so otherwise.

Top 10 ways to AUTHENTICALLY stay ahead of the competition:

1. Create a powerful Sustainability Blueprint—define what sustainability means to your business and your map towards achieving it. Make sure to incorporate the triple bottom line: people, planet and profits.

2. Audit your practices—for the resources you save (energy, paper, water, materials, chemicals, etc.) as well as any community-based projects you impact

3. Redesign your model—your products/services around your Sustainability Blueprint

4. Use the wheel, don’t reinvent it—look to see what other companies are doing well and emulate or copy parts for your business

5. Join green communities—networking groups (i.e. Green Drinks the largest environmental business networking group in the world), conferences, and various lectures.

6. Become an “expert”—build your credentials through certifications and writing or teaching for well-regarded institutions

7. Create your team—JV’s (joint ventures), partners, vendors, marketing people… all like-minded and synergistic with your vision

8. Hang around really smart people—to help you “sharpen the saw” for continually improving your Sustainability Blueprint

9. Be UnReasonable—always think outside the box and step up powerfully towards solutions towards our environmental / social challenges

10. Market your Sustainability Blueprint—use your newly defined model to position your company at the cutting edge and ahead of the competition.


Action Steps for the Week:

* Determine what “Sustainability” means to you and your business
* Assess where your competition is in regards to sustainability
* Commit to overhauling your business practices, incorporating people, planet, and profits
* Review how you can position your company competitively in the marketplace using your Sustainability Blueprint
* Define your team must you bring in to complete the “picture” for your Blueprint
* Use your definition of Sustainability to attract your team

Related Articles
  Beware greenwashing your business
  Green Jobs: It's about growing your existing employees too
  Trains going green
  Eco-Investing
  Consumers Abandon Green to Save Money

Article Tags: air pollution, blueprint, change water, climate change, commercial jetliners, deforestation, doubts, earth the planet, environmental issues, european countries, fad, fisheries, heavy metals, major publications, ozone layer depletion, straddling the fence, toxics, triple bottom line, waste management, water materials



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