How to Get Lucky

Ask successful entrepreneurs about their story and the conversation almost always comes to a point when the business owner says "I was at the Widgets International conference and got lucky, I met Big Influencer." While the event may have felt like luck, lots of things had to happen before that moment to leverage the happenstance meeting into something bigger.

The chance meeting turned into something bigger because the entrepreneur had already put in the work. She built her website, had blog posts up and things being sold or given away. It wasn't perfect, but it let Big Influencer know that she had been getting stuff done and not just thinking and dreaming.

Then she spent the money and time to go to the conference where Big Influencer was hanging out.

That "lucky" encounter at the conference was not coincidental. By putting in the work first, then spending time going to the show, connecting with Big Influencer was just a matter of time.

The "chance encounter" will grow into something bigger when we have our work to show as fertilizer for the relationship.

What's Good For The Group...

The economic theories of Adam Smith and the invisible hand help form the context of western civilization. "These ideas reflect the concept that each person, by looking out for him or herself, inadvertently helps create the best outcome for all."*

At an individual level, this translates to "what is good for me is good for the group."

In a world that now understands limited resources and the tragedy of the commons, it's quite clear that this paradigm is unsustainable.

What if our entire society could shift our most deeply held belief system to "What is good for the group is good for me?"

* Source: Investopedia

Kusikuy Clothing

GGE Ep 6: - Kusikuy Clothing with Tamara Stenn

Dr. Tamara Stenn is quite an entrepreneur. By age 25 she already had her a successful advertising firm. She gave that up to go into the Peace Corps. Then came back home and started a business while getting her masters degree.

While owning the business, she got her Ph.D. and taught economics and entrepreneurship.

Now, she is restarting another socially conscious business, Kusikuy. 

ASRA Foods

GGE: Ep 5 - ASRA Foods with Jill Ouazzani

When they followed their dreams and moved to Vermont life was great. Beautiful surroundings, great quality of life, educational opportunities. It was perfect... well, except for the olive oil.

Vermont is a leader in great local foods, but without great olive oil these foods weren't fully meeting their potential. At least not to the Ouazzani crew.

So they decided to combine their passion of helping small farmers with the need for great olive oil into a business.

ASRA foods was born from that passion. Listen to how Jill and Simo Ouazzani are navigating a brand new family, jobs and a new businesses. And kicking ass at all of it.

These are truly great people. Enjoy!

Global Social Entrepreneurs Lab

GGE: Ep 4 - Global Social Entrepreneurs Lab

Today we get to know Danielle Carruthers.

She is the founder of Global Social Entrepreneurs Lab and TheSedge.org. The great thing about what Danielle does is bring people together. She knows how to tap the wisdom of crowds to find great solutions to world changing problems.

Independent TV & Film Festival Rocks

GGE: Ep 3 - Independent Television and Film Festival

Indiewire Magazine has called it "The Sundance of Independent Television."

Although it has only been in Vermont for a few years, the ITVFest is changing the face of Dover and growing the credibility of southern Vermont as a national leader of indpendent art.

The social good mission of the festival is to help those without connections and big budgets get on the radar of big studios like HBO, CBS and STARZ network.

The story behind ITVFest moving to Vermont is a real life example of "The Little Engine That Could."

Grab a beverage and hear how Philip Gilpin transformed this from a "cute idea that nobody thought could work" into an industry powerhouse.

Good Body Products Does It Good

GGE: Ep 2 - Good Body Products does it Good

We put so much attention on what goes into our body and yet so little to what goes on it.

Good Body Products in Guilford Vermont has built an amazing business that uses only locally grown ingredients to create wonderful items that go on your body.

Just as importantly the business provides a great life for the founders, a wonderful couple, and thier family. Listen to Trish Thomas tell how she and her husband Chris balance work, life and family.

How your pee can save the planet

GGE: Ep 1- Who knew your pee could save the planet?

Did you know your urine is full of nutrients that can be turned into rich fertilizer.

Kim Nace is the Founding Director of Rich Earth Institute. Her organization turns human urine into fertilizer. This pioneering work supports sustainable agriculture and protects vital water resources.

Her story is about more than just reshaping your loo. Its a jouney of surrounding herself with the right people to not just have a vision, but to create a research organization that is making strides in seeing that vision to reality.

The early phases of new systems is one of the most difficult social entrepreneur struggles there can be. There is little funding and the systems (building code, sanitation, environmental, financial...) are all working against her. And yet she find a way to get this work done and run a financially stable organization.

This is an interesting story of grit and innovation.

Want to increase your impact

Here is my latest project, helping social entrepreneurs increase their impact. I am working on with some really cool people.

Volvo Meets Ten Year Goal In One Year

Saves $10 Million on 850K Energy Investment

Energy reduction is not as difficult as we initially believe it will be. Our mental models are a bigger problem than getting it done.

As part of the part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Save Energy Now LEADER Initiative, Volvo Truck's New River Valley plant set a 10 year goal to reduce energy intensity by 25% over ten years.

Not only did they exceed the target in a just one year, but they did it in a way that pays huge financial dividends.

The investment in energy efficiency cost about $850,000 and will save approximately $2 million per year according to the Department of Energy. Assuming a very conservative 5 year lifespan of the improvements they will see a total of $10 million in savings over that period. That is an annualized ROI of 215% and a total project ROI of 1,077%. Those are numbers any CFO can be happy with.

According an energy.gov blog post "The NRV plant also initiated a contest to promote employee engagement in identifying and suggesting ways for the facility to improve its energy efficiency. From late 2009 to early 2010, the implementation of employee-suggested projects saved the NRV plant more than 546,543 kilowatt hours per month, which translates to approximately $33,000 in monthly cost savings."

Significant energy risk and cost reduction are closer than you think. The sooner we take off the blinders of our embedded mental models the sooner we can start enjoying the benefits.