people have long been making purchase decisions based on their ethics or morals

Over the next few weeks, we will be exploring the topics of conscious consumption: what it means for individuals and society.

Consumer activism is not a new concept: people have long been making purchase decisions based on their ethics or morals. But as more consumers become aware of the power they can demonstrate with their actions, the more organizations stand to benefit from adopting – and promoting – good practices.

There is more than one “conscious consumer”, however. Individuals may prioritize one cause over another. Individuals demonstrate their bias every time they use a public restroom: Do you leave the water running as you grab a paper towel to turn off the water (using extra water AND paper towel), or turn off the faucet with your wet hand and use a hand dryer (using energy, and some would argue being slightly less sanitary)?

GoodGuide (which we’ll discuss further in a future post) lists a variety of issues the conscious consumer may care about. Which are of primary interest to you?

• Nutrition
• Organic (Food)
• Scientifically proven hazards
• Fragrance-free
• Animal Welfare Certifications
• Energy Efficiency
• Recycled Materials
• Climate Change
• Pollution
• Resource Conservation
• Fair Trade
• Labor & Human Rights

It is believed that surfacing this information on member profiles on the site will not only raise awareness of the cause but also encourage registrations. Individuals will see the donor status of their peers and may be influenced to register as well.

I will admit that I question if a radio button checked on a website will in fact lead to offline behavior and registration. In the case where being seen as an organ donor may be positive, there is always the chance someone will declare themselves a donor on Facebook while not actually registering. Admittedly, I’m not sure of how much prestige goes with this admission, but it’s plausible. That being said, however, those in the field of organ donation believe that this information may still be used to help family members make a decision as to donate an individual’s organs even if he is not in the registry.

Organ donation is a relatively safe social issue, but one can only wonder if Facebook is prying open what could be a contentious door for causes. One such issue that comes to mind is immunization. I can only imagine there could be both positive and negative responses were Facebook to ask people to share their immunization status on their profiles, and Facebook as an organization may well be vilified for its support for a controversial behavior.

What do you think about Facebook adding organ donor status to its site? Is this an appropriate outlet for such information?

Do members of your organization struggle with emailing large files back and forth, keeping track of document versions, or receiving files in a format they can’t open? Google Drive is here to help.

Free accounts offer up to 5MB of free online storage, and additional space can be purchased quite inexpensively.

“Drive is at the heart of what cloud computing is,” says Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Chrome and apps. “It was created to be the center of the Google application experience.” (Google Docs is integrated into Drive, he says.) (source)

Those who use Google Docs are already familiar with the idea of cloud-based storage and the ability of multiple users to access and edit the same document. Google Drive takes things to a whole new level with support for a variety of file types. Not only can you share files, but the product announcement claims that you can even view items without having the source program installed. (No more trusting the Photoshop source file is what the designer tells you it is!)

Google Drive is entering a space already occupied by DropBox , Box and Microsoft’s SkyDrive. With its integration with other Google apps, Drive is well-positioned to reach those not already using cloud-based file sharing, or winning over those looking for an integrated solution.

Going to http://drive.google.com, I see that my Drive is not yet ready, so I can’t offer my personal experience with the new offering. However, I know that as soon as I can, I will be logging on to see how best to leverage this new service for both personal and professional needs. I recommend you do yourself a favor and explore how this tool can streamline your organizational processes as well.

What are you waiting for? Take Google Drive for a…erm… test drive!

As part of an analogy, I mentioned to the audience “when we change our clocks for daylight saving time, we’re all supposed to change the batteries in.. ”

My mind went blank. I made a circular motion with my arm- “those ..um..things..”

But as a sign they were paying attention, many in the audience responded: “Smoke detectors!”

My honest slip proved my point. We collectively have learned that association and desired behavior: when the clocks change, check those batteries!

What do smoke detectors have to do with daylight saving time? Nothing!

There’s some dissonance there, but it doesn’t matter. It’s a simple memory trick to help us perform an action that should take place on a regular basis. We know it as individuals, and we have collectively embraced that convention. By making it a shared schedule, we remove some of the responsibility from the individual having to remember their specific date.

Don’t get too caught up in things “making sense”. Once things become culturally or socially ingrained, it really won’t matter and we’ll be well on our way to seeing the behavior change we desire.

With the high unemployment level we are experiencing today the new generation of entrepreneurs are acknowledging the many issues and flaws in today’s institutions. Their goal is to change the world by creating new ventures that embrace transparency, agility, and innovation. SOUND FAMILIAR?

The key to the success of solving the problems facing humanity today is team work. This will require leadership from non-profits, companies, and individuals to unite on the social impact sector. This has lead to the development of new charities and social minded companies. These people are driven to solve the social problems that exist today and invest more into the communities around them. This is exactly the type of work we do and support. Social entrepreneurs and social impact organizations are the GAME CHANGERS we need in this world!!

Are you looking to accelerate the growth of your social impact start up? Henderson names some programs that may be of some interest to you!

Unreasonable Institute in Boulder Colorado: Once a year they bring together 25 entrepenuers from all over the globe to meet for six weeks. They receive training from world-class mentors and build lasting relationships to help build their businesses. They are given investment funds, legal and design advice, as well as an opportunity to pitch to hundreds of potential investors or partners. This is a great program for those just getting started and looking to learn from experienced professionals who already excel at what they do.  The opportunity to collaborate and learn from other social entrepreneurs is so valuable because the problems facing humanity cannot be solved by one person or organization. It requires people working together towards one common goal.

Civic Accelerator in Atlanta, Georgia: They announced this year that the Points of Light Institute’s Civic Incubator program is expanding to launch one of the first accelerators focused on social entrepreneurs. They act as a catalyst for entrepreneurs who are launching new ventures aimed at inspiring, equipping, and mobilizing people to affect positive change. More information about the program will be coming in a few weeks. This is a valuable program for entrepreneurs who are dedicated to making a positive change in the world because they offer peer support, mentoring, education, networking, and funding.

MassChallenge in Boston, Massachusetts: The largest start-up accelerator and competition that identifies the world’s most promising high-impact start-up companies. The challenge offers a chance to win $1 Million in cash prizes while connecting entrepreneurs to expert mentors. Participants are provided free office space on the Boston Harbor as well as funding, legal advice, customers, media opportunities and potential investors. The MassChallenge is an affiliate of the Startup America Partnership.  This serves as a great opportunity for social-impact start-ups to be part of a community of like-minded people who strive for a change in the world.

Henderson’s the question “What do you think about the social entrepreneur trend, and how are you planning on taking advantage of it?”

I think this trend is exactly what we need to turn our economy around and make our world a better place.  Companies need to be socially responsible and think twice about the impact they have on the communities, and environment around them.  Companies should be continuously searching for new ways to improve the lives of those around them. Through collaborating with others who share the same vision success can be achieved. The internet serves as a great medium for social impact because its reach is unlimited. Here at Worldways we have taken advantage of this by stressing the importance of social impact and working with clients who strive to make a difference. Our mission is to help those whose goal is to help others.

Microsoft, Intel, Comcast and the FCC, Time Warner Cable, and Hewlett Packard to name are among many of the tech and media companies driven to improve our children’s education. They have a common goal of creating a better future outlook for our youth all over the world by bringing means of technology to them.

Microsoft’s Shape the Future Initiative is a program dedicated to providing our youth with PCs, education software, and discounted broadband services, as well as job skills training to those in need. Intel has trained 10 million teachers in more than 70 different countriesto fulfill its mission of bringing computers to young people in developing regions and training them how to use the computers in hopes of broadening their education opportunities. Comcast and the FCC have made it possible to receive low cost Internet service, discounted computers, and become eligible for free lunches through their Internet Essentials Program and National School Lunch Program. Time Warner Cable developed its Connect a Million Minds Campaign to show the importance of STEM education because young people’s interests in science, technology, engineering, and math have been declining over the years. Hewlett Packard also focuses on STEM teaching through its HP Catalyst Initiative by bringing together educational institutions and experts to lead this transformation.

Young, educated minds are the social entrepreneurs and social impact advocates of the future. Education is so important to the behavior change and social good industry, and support of education is certainly becoming more and more necessary. Bringing technology into education is arguably successful. The ease of implementing technology into current curriculum standards as we know them in the U.S. is undeniable. Especially because of the wide range of somewhat consistent availability of technological hardware and Internet access across the U.S. These tech and media giants are also exploring the use of technology across other countries, making sustainable efforts to provide education to children who would otherwise not be exposed to it. This is an amazing innovative way to spread education access using the capabilities of modern technology. Personally, I have been reading about the inclusion of iPads into the younger classrooms, for games related to reading, writing and creative thinking.

It is really great to see tech companies like these driving to share technology in hopes of helping the educational opportunities of others. Take the time to learn more in depth about the campaigns of all five of these companies.

Now is the time to take a stand on bettering the lives of today’s children because they are the future. Do you agree or disagree with the integration of technology in education? Personally, I feel that the integration of technology in education is a crucial learning tool that will enhance future development and growth. However, if we teach children to rely on technology so heavily at an early age, how will that affect their social interaction skills among their peers? Will they develop the key communication skills necessary to be confident leaders? These are important issues that need to be kept in mind as technology continues to advance.

While attending the Opportunity Collaboration, I met Nina Smith, the Executive Director of GoodWeave USA and was enlightened by her deep insights, practical experience and commitment to this most serious and urgent cause. I began by gaining benefit of her thoughts about fair trade and supply chain transparency. I ended up with much greater consciousness about child labor and what can be done.

The handmade rug industry has one of the highest child labor rates in the world. Per its Website, when GoodWeave was founded in 1994, there were one million children – many kidnapped or trafficked – working in this industry in South Asia. GoodWeave’s efforts have helped bring child labor in the rug industry down by an astounding 75 percent.

One part of what GoodWeave does is based on a simple but powerful insight- most consumers don’t realize that they are sponsoring child labor with their purchases. GoodWeave is raising consumer awareness, as well as that of designers, retailers and the media about child labor. GoodWeave is certifying products, and promoting them. These actions are helping to shape the way that rugs are made.

I encourage you to learn more about GoodWeave’s One in a Million campaign. It is designed to raise awareness of the child labor epidemic in the handmade rug industry and inspire consumers to take action. The campaign invites us all to become one of the millions of concerned citizens doing their part.

Visit GoodWeave at www.goodweave.org and take the One in a Million campaign survey to earn a chance to win a GoodWeave certified rug.  And of course, donate to the One in a Million campaign – every dollar makes a difference.

I think it is time we all know who is making the things we purchase and the impact our purchase is having on the world. What do you think?

AH: So what is “Beyond the Arena”?

DC: Beyond the Arena is my heart and soul! I partner with horses to assist people in personal growth and emotional healing utilizing the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method_TM. We hold one-on-one sessions as well as workshops at a beautiful 35 acre ranch with an indoor arena in Larkspur Colorado, roughly 45 minutes from Denver. I also offer Skype consultation for those who can’t make it to the arena. Our clients have the opportunity to bond with a horse and explore the process of how they relate to others and themselves in an experiential setting. The horse’s interaction and feedback combined with positive coaching, body awareness guidance and Gestalt methodology assists the client in examining her life and choices made with a focus on designing a positive future. It’s an amazing process and people don’t forget what they learn from a 1,200 pound animal!

I work primarily with women. The majority of my clients are adults but I also work with teens as young as 14. The learning and healing process takes place in the present moment and there is no formal agenda (horses don’t wear a watch when they are working!) We process issues that arise such as self-esteem, body image, confidence and communication.

So speaking as a city girl who may be a bit apprehensive about your “partners” in this process – why horses?

Oh – it’s important to note that there is no horse experience necessary!

Horses are prey animals (as opposed to predators) – They are particularly sensitive to people’s energy and body language. They can pick up subtle signs that we as humans are not as in tune with. It’s an attribute that helps them survive in the wild. They can sense an incongruity in how a person is presenting themselves and the type of energy they give off. Horses give me “equi-feedback” as the coach and they will react in a myriad of ways. We can use the horse’s response as a way to increase the individual’s self-awareness. The horse is a non-judgmental being that can’t lie. They give honest feedback and encourage us to be authentic at all times. They are great lie-detectors and will bust someone who is trying to be anything otherwise…you can’t fool a horse. Example) If someone has a smile plastered on their face but is miserable inside, a horse can sense that in a second! Often it is only once the client is open, authentic and grounded (and their energy field softens) that the horse chooses to join up with them.

How did you get involved in equine Gestalt coaching, and particularly the youth programming?

I had an eating disorder myself as a teenager, and I dealt with depression and low self-esteem. I didn’t have a support system or a female mentor to offer wisdom without judgment. There simply aren’t many programs out there where people are reaching out to offer these young women a hand up. At “Beyond the Arena”, we offer this supportive and inspiring environment for teenagers and women, and they are able to practice positive behaviors through interactions with the horses.

How do your participants find out about your programs? Are they actively looking for equine therapy?

I’m often referred to by therapists, and I also serve as a facilitator with the Eating Disorder Foundation of Denver. I am starting to get direct inquiries from my website as well.

Equine therapy/coaching is considered a supplemental mode of support but traditional treatment centers are increasingly seeing animal-assisted therapy/coaching as a powerful complement to other treatment options.

What is the desired outcome from the work you do?

My mission is to inspire women so they can connect with each other in a supportive, healing environment, starting at a young age. Often women tend to wait until they are older before looking into self-care. I aim to start with the younger generation to empower women and encourage them to carry their passions into the world.

I want to have these women come back years later and say “the horses helped me to speak my truth and have my voice heard, to push past fears and blockages that kept me from living my authentic life.”

Beyond the Arena is still a relatively new company. How do you see it progressing?

I would love for equine Gestalt coaching to be recognized as more mainstream and more readily accepted as a healing/empowering modality. I hope to be able to partner with schools and offer a life-skill building curriculum with horses.

Beyond youth programming, I hope that Beyond the Arena will also eventually become a major referral hub for people when they get out of treatment centers.

You’re a successful woman – what helped you find your path and what advice would you give for other young women?

There is a lot of trial and error! Young women need to listen to their intuition and inner voice, which is not a skill that’s cultivated among most young people. I found my path in a supportive, healing environment with like-minded people that catered to allowing self-discovery.

We each need to trust ourselves and our own innate wisdom, follow our intuition, speak our truth and not care about what others think. By looking within and through the self-discovery process, we can identify what is holding us back, and then move beyond.

To learn more about Devon and her company Beyond the Arena, visit www.beyondthearena.com. Devon can also be contacted via Facebook and Twitter.

Robin's mother worked to ensure a healthy environment for her asthmatic child

Fast forward several years, and Robin lives every day introducing beauty and wellness to others through her firm Robin Wilson Home. She serves as an ambassador for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America working to “to increase awareness of indoor air quality issues that affect wellness in residential and commercial spaces.” We caught up with Robin on the eve of the launch of her hypoallergenic bedding line to discuss how those early challenges served to help guide her in her life’s work.

AH: You are about to launch a line of hypoallergenic eco-friendly bedding. What lead you to this evolution of your brand?

RW: As a child, I remember Mom doing the weekly wash and always focusing on bed linens, as she would say that ‘pollen from outside is gathered in your pillow”…and she is right. People spend one-third of their lives sleeping and rarely think about the toxins that they bring into their homes on their shoes, clothing and hair. Our product line is an option for those who want to be aware of making an impact on their family’s health – with a simple solution of pillows, mattress pads, comforters and fiber beds. All at reasonable prices and woven to prevent penetration by allergens. The first product in the line is now available at Bed Bath and Beyond – our hypoallergenic mattress pads

AH: Beyond your exposure to a healthy environment, how else did your childhood contribute to your success today?

RW: I come from a family that believed in a strong work ethic. My mom’s family is more entrepreneurial with real estate, businesses and farming/ranching. My dad’s family were more working-class and worked with their hands. From both sides, I have been able to have an appreciation for those who have different skills, yet a focus on achievement of goals. Since I was a sickly child, a lot of adults were patient with me and allowed me ask a lot of questions about what they did, why, and how. And those bits of knowledge continue to resonate today when I am confronted with a business problem.

AH: You spent some time as an executive recruiter and dabbled in real estate – a bit of a change from what you are doing now. What were some challenges in reinventing yourself?

RW: O magazine did a profile on me in 2007 which chronicles my “career change” from an executive recruiter to entrepreneur.

Transitioning from a regular paycheck to an entrepreneurial mindset means that you have to understand cash flow, and you might make a lot of money, but your liabilities affect your bottom line. There have been many times when I paid everyone else, and did not pay myself. It is a sacrifice you must sometimes make when you chase your dream.

AH: What sort of advice could you have used as a young woman to help you along your path?

Robin has learned to take time for stress-relieving hobbies

Rather than find herself limited by health problems, Robin applied her experiences to space design and product development. She was inspired by those who demonstrated a strong work ethic but took the time to answer a young girl’s questions. Robin herself is an inspiration, the second African-American woman to launched a branded line of textile products to the mass market, and we appreciate her taking the time to share her learnings with us.

To celebrate the launch of her bedding collection, Robin is giving away several pieces as well as a virtual bedroom makeover over on her Facebook page. You may also follow her on Twitter and Pinterest.

Their new brand look featuring fashion, artisans and icons that authenticate their fair trade and organic commitment is a reminder to customers to “shop mindfully”. It is a simple, yet powerful idea for marketing social impact: give every customers something beautiful, AND invite them to think about the impact their purchase will make. INDIGENOUS will be making that extra-easy this Fall, when all garments will ship with a QR code that lets customers see who made their garment and where it came from. Isn’t it time we ALL thought about what we were buying and how it impacts the rest of the world? See the new INDIGENOUS videos on our YouTube channel.