I love this Wall Street Journal op-ed, A Manifesto for Sustainable Capitalism. Sustainability in its simplest format can be seen as the rejection of short-term thinking and an embrace of long-term thinking. With respect to capitalism, sustainability can help create greater and perpetual profits. Who doesn't want that? Yet, our system is designed today to reward short-term profits at the expense of future and sustained growth. As the op-ed states, current events have fully demonstrated the fundamental flaws with short-term thinking. It's now time to put business on a sustainable path.
Among the tips that are shared in the op-ed to help put companies on a profitable and sustainable path is the elimination of quarterly financial reporting for public companies. I've seen firsthand the radical and destructive behavior (such as mass layoffs) that occurs each quarter in order to maximize profits and keep a company's stock price artificially inflated. Then when the next quarter rolls around the same radical short-term fix begins anew. This insane pursuit of short-term profits at the expense of people's lives (and even the longevity of the company itself) is unsustainable, selfish, and prevents long-term incremental growth of a company. It is unsustainable behavior.
Sustainable business practices are nothing new. I look forward to the day when companies of all shapes and sizes begin to implement practices that will ensure their longevity. Our economy, our environment, and our communities sure could use stable, long-term planning and growth right about now. Can you make it happen at your business?
Moving toward a more sustainable, renewable, and efficient world.
How do we get there?
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Wishful Thinking
*Before adding PV, wind, or solar thermal to your residential or commercial structure, the first step is to analyze this structure's energy consumption through a professional energy audit. I'd like to see some public education on the importance of an energy audit for any structure. Remember Smokey the Bear's forest fire shtick drilled into our heads over the last few decades? How about something like, "Henry the House" desperately wanting to know how much energy he consumes and wastes throughout the day?
*With over 300 sunny days a year on the Front Range is it too much to ask for solar PV and thermal modules on every residential and commercial unit (after an energy audit of course)?
*How about affordable plug-in electric cars that go more than 100 miles on a charge with PV and wind powered recharging stations?
*Dreaming of companies large and small adopting business sustainability practices to maximize profits, reduce their carbon footprint, and enhance the lives of their employees and the communities that surround them.
*With over 300 sunny days a year on the Front Range is it too much to ask for solar PV and thermal modules on every residential and commercial unit (after an energy audit of course)?
*How about affordable plug-in electric cars that go more than 100 miles on a charge with PV and wind powered recharging stations?
*Dreaming of companies large and small adopting business sustainability practices to maximize profits, reduce their carbon footprint, and enhance the lives of their employees and the communities that surround them.
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1 comment:
Concerning sustainable capitalism. Why not a non profit banking company to make small business loans. Because its illegal ever heard of such a thing. Why because goldman' bank of america and all the other mega financial institutions want nothing of the sort. Wallmart wanted to have a bank of their own for other reasons of course but they can not get a charter from the federal goverment to run their own bank. The financial interests are just to powerful.
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