“Alright. Back to work.”
Isn’t that how conversation about social failure usually ends during the workday?
Why do so many of us separate ‘work’ from ‘social responsibility’?
Every salesperson knows, “Solving problems creates value.” And, the bigger the problem, the greater the value. Solving social problems can be profitable.
There is movement. Thomas McMullan writes, “The lines between profit and charity have become increasingly blurred.” That’s a good thing. The distinction between business and charity is frequently artificial: just a few thousand years ago, humans created ‘business’ to efficiently deliver food, clothing, and housing. Many charities today have related goals. Unfortunately, another trend is not new: most societies fail to adapt their social tools to the environment we humans create as we use new technology. Thousands of years ago, citizens of most Agricultural Revolution societies suffered as those societies failed to successfully adapt institutions to farming life. More than 80% of all 20th century humans lived on less than $10 per day, as their societies failed to fashion the cultural, governmental, and economic strategies so effective in an era dominated by industrial technology. Today, western society struggles with our world featuring digital technology: more than 60% of the US economy is dedicated to industries failing to deliver the basics (such as healthcare, education, and food.)
How must our social structure adapt today? Business leaders must accept the mantle of royalty, and recognize that social responsibility can maximize profit, as well as purpose. And, they must recognize that no organization controls all elements needed for meaningful change: they must share vision across organizations.
What insight can you share? How is your own work failing to truly serve society and thus create the most value?
If you know someone who should hear this message, connect them to me for a speaking engagement. Or, give them my book, Drowning in Potential: How American Society Can Survive Digital Technology.
Our society cannot just survive. For the sake of our children, it must thrive.
Rod
Dr. Rod Wallace is an economist, consultant, and speaker who helps businesses make more money by solving society’s problems. A Fulbright Fellow, he has led multi-organization billion-dollar initiatives worldwide and partnered with a Silicon Valley pioneer to explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence on society.
Rod speaks about how to integrate social responsibility into business to maximize profit and purpose. He highlights digital technology’s impact on society and the strategies and tools with which business can solve our big, systemic problems.
Contact Rod at info@RodWallacePhD.com.