What's YOUR Bottom Line?
What's YOUR Bottom Line?
Business owners are trained to gauge the success of their business according to the health of their "bottom line" - that is - the last line on a profit and loss statement that tells you what remains (if anything) after all your costs of doing business. This makes perfect sense - if you don't show a profit, you don't stay in business.
But, I'm interested in what - beyond the traditional bottom line - keeps you motivated and creates that deeper and more sustaining measure of success I believe we are all seeking?
I came across a brilliant and inspiring concept this week from Tami Simon, founder of Sounds True, one of the largest publishers of spoken word spiritual teaching products that answers this very question. Tami offers a more inclusive and elegant way to relate to the idea of bottom line driven success. It has to do with creating "multiple bottom lines". In other words, a purpose-driven AND profit-driven, business that honors the values you hold dear and wish to incorporate into your way of doing business.
"Multiple bottom lines" arose as Tami pondered a few simple but powerful questions: "How can our processes as a business reflect our products? How can spirituality be translated into organizational life? How can we form a workplace where employees can have balanced lifestyles, and can continue to evolve as human beings? How can we create an atmosphere of genuine love, a real community in which people want to participate? And how can all of this translate into profit, the "oxygen" so vitally needed to put these ideals into action?"
Here are Tami's four multiple bottom lines:
1. Your business does something that matters in the world. This is primary. Having a sense of purpose underlying the reason you're in business makes all the difference - not only as inspiration to keep you going, but more importantly, it's fulfills a basic human need to know you're making a contribution.
2. You (and your employees) are evolving by being involved in your business. It's critical that personal growth and development be nurtured and not stunted by business. What you need for growth can be defined individually and has to do with valuing life balance in the workplace. Do you take time to meditate or go for a run as part of your work day? Do your employees feel relaxed and respected on the job while remaining productive and responsible?
3. Your work environment is a positive community where everyone wants to participate. Do people enjoy each other and add to the quality of life? You spend a significant amount of your total life hours at work. How do you feel about the people around you and how do your employees feel about each other? This makes all the difference in the world when you're deciding to get out of bed in the morning. Also, quality community fosters participation, teamwork and engagement.
4. You must have profit - the oxygen that makes the engine go. If you're not profitable, you're out of business. Profit as a concept is a nice thing, but when you connect to reality - what you DO with the profit - holds tremendous power for motivation. Will you use your profits to buy new equipment, give raises, or institute additional benefits? Ultimately it's profit that makes all the other bottom lines possible.
Begin to translate and implement what's important to you into your business life. I find the concept of multiple bottom lines very inspiring - it's adaptable, flexible, and can be based on YOUR individual values. Can you see how adopting the idea of multiple bottom lines can raise satisfaction and fulfillment in the workplace, reduce stress and build a company to be truly proud of?
It's YOUR life...imagine the possibilities!
Whats YOUR Bottom Line - To learn more about this author, visit Helaine Iris's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
"It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing." Mother Teresa
Business owners are trained to gauge the success of their business according to the health of their "bottom line" - that is - the last line on a profit and loss statement that tells you what remains (if anything) after all your costs of doing business. This makes perfect sense - if you don't show a profit, you don't stay in business.
But, I'm interested in what - beyond the traditional bottom line - keeps you motivated and creates that deeper and more sustaining measure of success I believe we are all seeking?
I came across a brilliant and inspiring concept this week from Tami Simon, founder of Sounds True, one of the largest publishers of spoken word spiritual teaching products that answers this very question. Tami offers a more inclusive and elegant way to relate to the idea of bottom line driven success. It has to do with creating "multiple bottom lines". In other words, a purpose-driven AND profit-driven, business that honors the values you hold dear and wish to incorporate into your way of doing business.
"Multiple bottom lines" arose as Tami pondered a few simple but powerful questions: "How can our processes as a business reflect our products? How can spirituality be translated into organizational life? How can we form a workplace where employees can have balanced lifestyles, and can continue to evolve as human beings? How can we create an atmosphere of genuine love, a real community in which people want to participate? And how can all of this translate into profit, the "oxygen" so vitally needed to put these ideals into action?"
Here are Tami's four multiple bottom lines:
1. Your business does something that matters in the world. This is primary. Having a sense of purpose underlying the reason you're in business makes all the difference - not only as inspiration to keep you going, but more importantly, it's fulfills a basic human need to know you're making a contribution.
2. You (and your employees) are evolving by being involved in your business. It's critical that personal growth and development be nurtured and not stunted by business. What you need for growth can be defined individually and has to do with valuing life balance in the workplace. Do you take time to meditate or go for a run as part of your work day? Do your employees feel relaxed and respected on the job while remaining productive and responsible?
3. Your work environment is a positive community where everyone wants to participate. Do people enjoy each other and add to the quality of life? You spend a significant amount of your total life hours at work. How do you feel about the people around you and how do your employees feel about each other? This makes all the difference in the world when you're deciding to get out of bed in the morning. Also, quality community fosters participation, teamwork and engagement.
4. You must have profit - the oxygen that makes the engine go. If you're not profitable, you're out of business. Profit as a concept is a nice thing, but when you connect to reality - what you DO with the profit - holds tremendous power for motivation. Will you use your profits to buy new equipment, give raises, or institute additional benefits? Ultimately it's profit that makes all the other bottom lines possible.
Begin to translate and implement what's important to you into your business life. I find the concept of multiple bottom lines very inspiring - it's adaptable, flexible, and can be based on YOUR individual values. Can you see how adopting the idea of multiple bottom lines can raise satisfaction and fulfillment in the workplace, reduce stress and build a company to be truly proud of?
It's YOUR life...imagine the possibilities!
Whats YOUR Bottom Line - To learn more about this author, visit Helaine Iris's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
| |||
 |
No article feedback found. | ||
|
Leave Your Feedback | ||
|
|||
 For Good SEO You Must Go Back To Basics
| |||
| As a search marketer I listen to many SEO podcasts and read many articles about SEO and organic rankings and whats "HOT" and whats "NOT" and many people claiming to know whats popular with Google and the search engi... |
|||
|
Powerful Relationship Selling
| |||
| INFUSE ME!
A simple encouragement to uncover the power of relationship building and selling. It starts with the one in the mirror! |
|||
|
Apple should NOT cut Mac prices
| |||
| There’s a constant cry from some quarters for Apple to slice prices on the Macs to: a) compete with the bargain bin PeeCees, b) accommodate consumers in these tough economic times, and/or c) prove those Microsoft ad... |
|||
|
10 WAYS TO HAVE FUN AT WORK WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK
| |||
| 10 easy ways to have fun at work that wont break the bank. |
|||
|
GREEN Business Practices
| |||
| RecycleReduce -- Reuse -- Recycle. We have heard those words for quite some time now. Some of us take those words more seriously than others, however, did you know that by going "green" with your business you can:... |
|||
| |||
Dr. John OdaJohn Oda Ph.D NLP is a business peak performance expert, an author, and speaker frequently called upon to provide corporate training, workshops and seminars for many companies in the United States. He is an expert in coaching sales and business professionals in overcoming the behaviors and obstacles that may impede their sales results and affect their bottom line. Since 1995, John has created a speaking bureau such topics, which include: time management, sales training, human diversity, leadership programs and etc. He provides companies with a strategic plan to increase their bottom line by over 25 percent yearly. - Visit Dr. John Oda's Website |
|||
Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
 Helaine Iris (Visit Helaine's Website) Helaine Iris is a Life and Business Coach, who has been featured in numerous publications, including "O" The Oprah Magazine. She helps entrepreneurs accelerate their professional success, while achieving a more complete and fulfilling personal life. She combines a broad range of professional experience in her work, including management positions in the education, training, retail and international non-profit sectors. She loves her life and awakens each day excited to make the world a better place, one person at a time. For a solution-focused, initial consultation visit www.p athofpurpose.com or call Helaine at 603-363-4252
|  |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
 |
 | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
| ||
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 |
 Referral Networking Solution Quadruple Your Business Speed Business Networking Capture More Clients Recession Proof |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Productivity Blogs
Top Blogs To Watch In 2008 | |
 |
Email The Reporters
Press Release Builder | |
| ||
 |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
||||||||||||
