Socially Conscious Companies: Good or Bad?

Posted by Gabe on July 6, 2009 under Kids are Heroes, Non-Profits, Social Media | 33 Comments to Read

Good or Evil??On February 12, 2008 I happened to be watching an interview with Sir Richard Branson conducted by Charlie Rose.  I was fascinated by it as this was the first time I had heard the term “social entrepreneurship”.  This concept basically means that individuals and/or companies use their technology, skills and hard work to solve issues instead of just throwing money at a problem.  I became totally enthralled by this idea.  As a matter of fact, it was (and still is) one of the main influences behind the creation of Kids Are Heroes.  But what happens when the word “profit” is brought up?

For over a year now, Kids Are Heroes has been an effort that my 10-year-old daughter and I hold exclusively.  There is no company, no income, just a web site that inspires children all over the world to include philanthropy as part of their everyday life.  If you know me personally then you know how passionate I am about this site and the kids that are featured on it.  In the first year we have grown substantially, keeping expenses to a minimum but still paying the bills.  We know we can do much more once we are funded, so that is why we submitted our two minute video “pitch” to Richard Branson for his new PitchTV show.  Thanks to all the support we have on Twitter, we won the contest and are featured on his web site.  One of the comments on our pitch suggested we take out ads on our site to help fund our efforts.  Another person countered this idea saying “please do not [do this] …this will make people suspicious that your intentions are commercial at heart.”   She goes on to say, “…I don’t think you need to.  This idea is a winner!”

Hmmmm..  I am wondering what the second part of that comment meant: “I don’t think you need to.”  How do we get funded?  Where will this funding come from?  Is someone with deep pockets going to give us money?  What happens when that runs out?  Wouldn’t it be better if we worked for the money instead of asking for a handout?  Interestingly enough, the second PitchTV show featured an effort called Project Rhythm Seed (which I voted for by the way).  They align themselves with Paul Newman in that they plan to create a “Newmanesque” type company that once funded it will no longer need donations.  They will sell products and with the proceeds they will fund other non-profits.  This is a wonderful idea.  Will they have expenses? Will people get paid?  I would imagine so unless they are independently wealthy.  Richard Branson was asked in the interview in 2008, “Would you be in favor of a huge taxation on those who have benefitted the most from the system and redistribute it through the state?” His reply was interesting: “I’m not sure it would work…It sounds right and it sounds fair, but the state is not that good at redistributing money.  So I think it does mean that those of us who have got money must make sure that we really use it properly and put it to good use.” As I watched this program I was a bit jealous that I didn’t have the resources he did to make such a positive effect on the planet.  But I do have a small talent that can be leveraged which is that I can build a web site.  Interestingly enough, at that very time my daughter asked me to build her a web site that helped animals.  That is indeed how Kids Are Heroes was born.  If I had Mr. Branson’s money there would be no question.  I would fund it and make it my life’s work.  But would it be better to do that or to build a company that creates jobs and still funds the non-profit end of it?

So why are some companies questioned by others as to their true motives when they give away part of their proceeds to non-profits?  A friend on Twitter, Zephora Haddon, owns a company called “Amber Alert Registry” which offers the service of a secure database with key data and photos to assist law enforcement if a child were to go missing. AAR had decided from the get-go that, not only did they want to help protect children in a vital way, but equally work to aid nonprofits and the education system in their own deepest issue: raising funds for their own purposes.   At the same time, they donate significant sign ups so that their secure database reflects all economic fronts and that their service is available in a balanced way to everyone.  Says Zephora: “I think it’s interesting that people may think to judge us for making money from the potentially life-saving service we provide.  As a parent myself I would think a few dollars a month (less than $2) for this important peace of mind is priceless. Additionally, we raise funds in a tough economy where 501c3′s are struggling – and we do it by providing a great service. And we give it away to those who can’t afford it. Shouldn’t this integration of business and giving just be the way business is now performed?”

Another great effort you might have seen is Tom’s Shoes.  They have a simple tag line that I quote from their web site: “For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need.”  Is this person making money?  To be honest I certainly hope so because I feel he deserves it.  I just wish more companies lived by these rules.  Wouldn’t it be great if more jobs were created that in some way worked for the greater good?  This, I hope is the dawning of more “philanthropreneurial” companies, those that are socially aware and conscious, and actually have a culture where everyone is working to help benefit the planet in some way.

So I am really curious as to what you think about this subject.  Your candor is both welcomed and appreciated.

Update (7/9/09): Was sent this article by @tmdesigninc that is directly related to this subject. A very good read.

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  • Sam X Renick said,

    One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was: no money, no mission. All organizations need to generate revenue.

    Use your best judgment. You’re the main force behind Kids are Heroes. Whether an organization is for or non profit is a tax issue not a good or bad issue.

    Keep up the fantastic work – your efforts will speak for themselves as it relates to social good.

    Most don’t consider Microsoft a social conscious company, but they have done more good for global society than almost anyone.

    Stop struggling & focus on expanding the outstanding work you are doing. I’m confident you’ll make mostly good choices! And when you don’t, adjust and move on.

    Sam X Renick
    Author, Founder, CEO, Social Entrepreneur
    The It’s a Habit! Company, Inc.
    Award Winning Financial Education Products & Programs Since 2001
    http://www.itsahabit.com
    http://www.sammyrabbitblog.com

  • John Haydon said,

    Gabe,

    Excellent post! In the Tom’s Shoe’s video a woman say’s that people initially thought his idea was crazy (to give away one pair of shoes for every pair purchased). She goes on to say that “it’s about putting other people before you… people want to be a part of something that is good.”

    I think if you offer something of value and are transparent about how you are raising money (ads to pay for overhead), I think it’s fine. People will get it.

    I also think that people (especially parents) want to be a part of KidsAreHeroes. Can we create a way for parents and their kids to interact with the site more and take more “ownership” in KidsAreHeroes? KidsAreHeroes is not just a website. It’s an idea shared by millions.

    John

  • Gabe said,

    Hey John,
    Thanks for taking time out to comment. We have all kinds of ideas on how we plan to develop the concept of Kids Are Heroes. You are correct – it’s not just a web site.

    However, if you have some specific suggestions we’d love to hear them. :)

  • HeatherO said,

    This is SUCH an important topic! I have recently come across this a lot! It astounds me that people think “if you do good you must be a non-profit!” Says who? The last time I checked, the Red Cross brings in a TON of money and somewhere around 40%? goes to “the cause”. The majority of money that funds non-profit groups comes from companies!
    Why is it that people have this idea that making money is a bad thing? I think it was John Maxwell that said “those who think money is evil never tried to build a church without it!” Another favorite: when Zig Ziglar was asked “how to you justify making a lot of money when you are a Christian?” he replied “simple, I’m pretty sure God made the diamonds for HIS people!”.
    Napoleon Hill talked about this very thing in the 1930′s book (that I believe is still the #2 bestseller of all time, second only to the Bible!). He states that the reason the depression lasted so long is because opportunistic politicians & others called “open season” on industry and blamed them for everything. Of course, those industries were responsible for all of the jobs at that time and therefore THE engine for the economy! People can’t do much good without money, no matter how much they’d like to! Money has to change hands somewhere! I watch people drop food off at the food bank 2 doors down EVERY day. SOMEBODY paid for that food!
    Whew, sorry, I guess I’m going on a bit here!
    Needless to say, I believe that you should be rewarded MORE abundantly because you are doing something that serves a greater good! NOT less! That’s just absurd!
    Kudos to you for your big heart and may it be richly rewarded:)

  • Scott Sheperd said,

    I loved the post. It seems to me the problem that is being posed to you comes out of this constant marketing environment. It really does seem sometimes that everybody is hustling. Tie that in with the frauds out there and you can become tainted just by existing. I think transparency is important. Even more important, I believe, is that you know that what you are doing is good. Making some money doing this good doesn’t take away from that. As long as people know up front what is going on they have no bitch. Being broke isn’t noble.
    I do believe Branson’s answer is somewhat self serving. It is true that the government might not be that good at “redistributing” (even the term is somewhat biased) but then to say that it’s up to us (the rich) to be good at it doesn’t mean they will be. Some are.
    People like you who aren’t starting off rich need to be able to support yourself while trying to make a difference. Keep it up.
    I’m putting together a musical presentation for kids called “Choices” that is designed to help them think about the choices they make. The music is on my website http://www.rekindleyourheart.com and some of the videos are on you tube – put sctshep in the search box. I’m not independently wealthy. I’ve already put up some of my money in recording my music and I will put up some more for the filming and choreography etc. but I’m going to try and raise some money so that I can be paid while I’m doing this. I don’t think that makes me a bad person.

  • Gabe said,

    WOW Heather!! I need to to take you wherever I go to be my spokesperson! Actually we are in the midst of forming a company because we feel we must take the next step in the development of KAH. The structure of it is still being bandied about – all I know is that I want it to be my life’s work and I’m not a wealthy person. I also know that it will do good things and plenty of them. But we are also cognizant of the fact that people will make judgments without even knowing the driving force behind the effort. The people who are commenting here know me from Twitter and they understand my motives for being involved with Kids Are Heroes. The challenge for me will be to convince those that have never heard of me.

  • Bob McInnis said,

    Gabe,
    Profit is neither good or bad – what is done with it can be either.I have worked in private,public and nonprofit sectors over the past 35 years and seen good work being done and good works being achieved. I have also seen charities doing self serving activities that provide no real community benefit, government agencies acting in the best interest of poll results and the latest economic downturn demonstrates the unconscionable greed of leaders in the largest corporations. I have also seen solutions to large issues arise from all these delivery models.
    We feed about 15000 kids who would otherwise go without. Almost by default, we chose the nonprofit (registered Canadian charity) model so all our funding comes from individuals, corporations and family foundations. We do both good work and good works but the best child nutrition program that I have seen is a for profit company (with serious social values),
    ‘Real Food for Real Kids in Toronto. They have numerous advantages over our organization because they do not have ‘charitable’ metrics like lowest cost to deal with. I think Dan Pallotta’s book ‘Uncharitable” should be required reading for anyone thinking that there may be a better way to solve the persistent and pressing issues of our societies.

  • Joe Waters said,

    Gabe, how come you aren’t raising any money with cause marketing? We should talk because it won’t lead to more talk as social media does. You’ll actually have a chance of making some money.

  • Gabe said,

    Bob,
    Thanks so much for that thoughtful and intelligent post. I also am founder/president of a small non-profit here in Maryland called Wags for Hope. (We take our dogs to nursing homes.) I know how we must always be asking for money and no one wants to do it. I know it’s not on the top of my list as a favorite thing to do. Thanks for the book suggestion – I will check it out.

  • Gabe said,

    Joe,
    I think the term “cause marketing” is a term I first heard from you in one of your tweets just a week or two ago. I know a bit about what it is but could definitely use a lesson from you.

  • Amy Shropshire said,

    I’ve worked for many organizations that have had both nonprofit and for-profit arms. Meals-on-Wheels of Central Ohio also has LA Catering, National 4-H Council has the National 4-H Youth Conference Center. I try to remind nonprofits that the ‘non’ part doesn’t mean that they CAN’T make a profit and reinvest it in their services. Doing so allows them to serve more people and be more sustainable if their grant funding is cut.

  • Gabe said,

    Thanks Amy,
    Having two different companies, one for profit and one non-profit, one being a subsidiary of the other is one of the paradigms we are considering. We just want to ensure we can achieve all of our future plans smartly and efficiently.

    Funny you mention the 4-H Youth Conference Center – that is where MaryMargaret stayed when she went to he leadership camp just a couple of weeks ago. :)

  • Susan Bender Phelps said,

    Gabe,

    I work for a non-profit and have for the past 20 years. The big question funders always ask is how will you sustain this program, project, or campaign after our funding is spent?

    We often struggle to answer that question. A non-profit, like any business, must have multiple income streams. I work for the Tualatin Hills Park Foundtion. The park district we support gets funding from property taxes and user fees. The foundation is the arm that brings in charitable donations for the purpose of doing projects the district would never be able to do, but that benefit our community. We have a very specific geographic community that serves a finite population. We must be very creative if we are going to be financially sustainable.

    Many foundations get grants from government agencies that are really contracts to provide services. Others get grants from corporations and family foundations to do particular projects or initiatives. Many combine that with events that bring in corporate sponsors and attendance fees. Ultimately, you are always raising money, which is what politicians do (we see how well that works).

    After all these years, I believe that combining for-profit business centers that fund charitable and other good works makes the most sense. That is the direction I would like to take our foundation. My board of trustees will have to be willing to go that route. I hope they are. It is the only way I can see becoming sustainable and not having to nickel and dime our staff and the projects we do for as long as we exist.

  • Lenae said,

    Gabe,
    I think what we are learning about social entrepreneurship is that businesses have a better chance of survival than some not for profits when they are sustainable with a service or product that people need and want while being socially conscious. If we can teach the next generation that when they go into business, to “think” about how to help society for the greater good at the same time, and for this to be a natural outcome, then we all win. There should be no reason why people should not make a profit on their excellent ideas and hard work. Anyone that has worked for a not for profit knows the difficulty of sustaining grant funding and constant asking for money. Social entrepreneurship is the way of the future. It is a win/win for all concerned as long as the mission of the company to the greater good stays true.

  • Lynda said,

    This is a topic that constantly comes up with my organization, Girls With Wings, a volunteer organization using women in aviation as role models to inspire girls to achieve their full potential. I formed an LLC to handle all of the legal/tax aspects, so am therefore technically a for-profit company. I know I could reap some benefits from being a non-profit (not so much grants in this economy as much as tax deductible donations and lower cost professional services), but the costs and work involved in being a 501(c)3 are a big deterrent. It seems the biggest advantage to it is being able to SAY we’re a non-profit.

    What to do to raise funds? It’s hard enough for me to run a NO profit company (merchandise sales are not there yet), and do not want to commercialize my website with ads. Besides, as I watch non-profits fold daily from the strain of asking for donations, I see advantages in running a Newman-esque company as well, so that “profits” (currently any spare money from my paycheck mostly) go to scholarships and educational programs, and once more substantial will go to our charitable arm, Generate LIFT, Inc. (an inactive non profit but not 501(c)3). I’m still working out the details, so I really appreciate this discussion!
    Lynda

  • Gabe said,

    Hi Susan and Lenae,

    Both very insightful comments! I am so glad I put this out there as it is teaching me a lot. Regardless of the business model we choose I know that we can and will not subsist solely on donations.

    Thanks so much for your input!

  • Gabe said,

    Hi Lynda,

    Let’s keep connected so we can compare notes. You also make a good point. Just because we say we are going to make a for-profit company that funds a non-profit one, doesn’t mean our for-profit company will be profitable!! This will be a fun challenge.

  • Libby Schleichert said,

    July 8

    Hi Gabe,
    I enjoyed reading all of these comments. Here are my random thoughts.

    Sounds as though finding someone w marketing experience (a friend with whom you could barter your web-creation services?) might be the best way to go. (That and finding a famous celebrity, a la Paul Newman, preferably one still alive :=0, to market whatever you might decide to sell!)

    Alas, I’m neither. But I totally support your mission and know what you’re struggling with. These are tough times for nonprofits and for-profits.

    There are a gazillion blogsites out there with tips on how to make money while blogging–as you most likely know. Some are helpful, actually. A few mommy bloggers have quite a set-up while offering to sell books for Amazon.com and getting a percentage, for instance. One of your other comments mentioned Napoleon Hill’s classic book, “Think and Grow Rich”–there is an updated version and this volume is still touted among prosperity- consciousness folks. I would urge you to read it, however goofy the title might sound.

    Could you arrange some informational interviewing w Richard Branson’s folks, just spend some time contacting others who are doing similar stuff? Making money on the Web is what newspapers are trying to figure out, but surely it is possible.

    Of course, there are also Twitter people, hucksters and good folks, eager to pitch product, mostly their own! But if you do a Twitter search for marketer or Web marketer, you can weed through them and perhaps get some followers who might have solid ideas.

    If you don’t mind swallowing your pride, perhaps a hearfelt plea on Twitter to keep the site going by sending a dollar and setting up a way to do that on your Web page wouldn’t be a bad thing. Paypal option would make folks comfortable.

    I hope some of these ideas are helpful. Let me know if you need a writer as I have many years of freelance writing experience before taking this job. I live in upper Montgomery County.

    Warmest regards,
    Libby Schleichert, Sr. Editor
    Ranger Rick Magazine
    National Wildlife Federation
    Reston, VA

  • Gabe said,

    Thanks Libby,

    It is clear from your post that you are one of the “good folks” on Twitter. :) I am so glad I wrote this piece because the comments have really shone a light on so many new ideas. I am really pleased with the encouragement. Thanks so much. My biggest challenge is that if we have a for-profit side of this entity, we do have to make a profit. I honestly think that having something to sell that people want is the way to go. We do indeed have some ideas on that and I believe we can be profitable once we have reached a higher level of recognition around the country and the world.

    The consensus seems to be that in order to grow KAH to the magnitude I envision, a non-profit entity would take too long. We just have to be very careful so that we do this right, with dignity, and still keep the focus on the kids.

  • Cindy Cotte Griffiths said,

    Nonprofits accept sponsorship money and ads on your website can be viewed in the same way. The advertiser can use their marketing dollars to both advertise and do good in the community. If you took ads, you could describe them as sponsors. You would have to dedicate substantial time to rounding up advertisers.

    I believe organizations should start thinking about making a profit. Here’s a piece I wrote: http://tr.im/rkqV after reading a New York Times article. In this example, we have a local organization offering home health care to the needy, however many people able to afford to pay for the care also need the service. So why not charge on a sliding scale, instead of seeking a grant to fund the work?

  • Gabe said,

    Hi Cindy,

    Thanks for providing us with your insight on this. This kind of input is not only valuable to me but I’m discovering a lot of people are examining these very issues for themselves.

    I recommend to everyone to click Cindy’s link and read her piece as well as the article in the NY Times that she also links to.

  • Myles Crawley said,

    Hi Gabe.

    Thank you for the mention in this very thoughtful blog of yours. To answer the question that you raised above, no we are not independently wealthy. I’m having a good laugh about it though. I have actually spent a fortune over the last nine months to push Project Rhythm Seed along the road this far. We have got to start making money soon, or its back to work for me. Hopefully that day won’t come.

    It is our mission and intention to produce socially responsible television content. It is also our mission and intention to make as much money as possible from the distribution of said product, and in turn pay our staff (including me) a very good wage (with bennies) for their involvement. We have been working hard to draw some top notch talent to our cause, but to keep them you have to pay them. In my estimation, a crack team is worth its weight in gold and if the team is making millions of dollars, why not spread a little of that around at home.

    As Heather said above, the Red Cross pulls in millions every year in contributions and yet only about 40% of that income will make it down to the cause. Those percentages are dismal. Don’t get me wrong, the Red Cross is a worthy organization, but they survive completely off donations and are so top heavy in their organizational expense as to eat up 60% of incoming cash. It’s a right shame. Our financial forecasts look much different. By the time we are up and running, we will be handing back nearly 70% of all income, and paying handsome salaries to our team. The beauty of it is we don’t have to ask anyone for money to do this. I’m not very good at asking for dough anyway, so it’s a good thing that we have other intentions.

    Don’t be afraid to sell banners on your website. Sell, sell, sell! There is no Daddy Warbucks. There is no Mr. Deep Pockets. You know where your heart is. Everyone else will figure it out in time. I think the root of social entrepreneurship is that it is OK to make money, as long as you use your wealth and resources to change the world in a positive way. This is the way of the future. My wife recently told me about a friend of hers that is just finishing up her Masters and will go to work in the non-profit sector for about $30K a year. You know what they say – you get what you pay for.

    Best wishes for a bright new future.

  • Gabe said,

    Hi Myles,

    Well might I say that it is an honor to meet you and I hope we can stay connected and follow each other’s progress. I really liked your pitch and the more I read comments like yours I am anxious to get started down a similar path. I have been involved in another small non-profit since 2006 and many of our volunteers (including me) refuse to solicit donations. I never wanted to be that guy that people avoided like the plague but graced with a fake smile when I caught up to them. So like you, begging for money is not in my blood.

    I recommend to our readers to check out Project Rhythm Seed’s pitch ( http://tr.im/rxs8 ) that also won Richard Branson’s PitchTV contest, which happens to be showing on Virgin Atlantic planes for the month of July.

    I wish you guys all the success in the world – if you make it it means we have half a chance… :)

  • Myles Crawley said,

    Thank you very much Gabe. And let me just add that KidsAreHeroes is a wonderful site and a very worthy platform. You and your daughter should both be very proud of your efforts to date. Children are our future, and as such should be celebrated. I am the father of three wonderful children and can’t imagine life without them. Keep up the great work!

    p.s. You now have my email address. Please don’t be afraid to use it.

  • John Haydon said,

    Gabe – One Idea I’ve had is to have a community in your site so that:

    1. Kids can create their own profiles, connect with others and promote heroes they know.
    2. Have parents (like me) create their own KAH sub-page. Think of it as the “Boston Chapter of KAH”.

    Both of these ideas can be implemented with WordPress and BuddyPress.

    So when I said “ownership”, I mean a way for them to literally become a clone of you and/or MaryMargaret. That way, the idea of KAH as an opportunity to spread even more.

    John

  • Gabe said,

    Thanks John,

    Those ideas are indeed interesting. I have something similar in my mind cooking – I’ll wait till the timer goes off before I talk about it. ;)

  • Profits + Altruism: The Good, the Bad, or the Ugly? « Savvymomsafekids’s Blog said,

    [...] recently blogged about a wonderful website, Kids are Heroes.  In his own blog (Socially Conscious Companies: Good or Bad?), Gabe O’Neill, who co-founded KaH with his daughter, mulls over the distaste some [...]

  • sheila thornton said,

    Its a difficult one!! Its really depends on how and if you want to expand. Our charity is all voluntary led right down from the volunteers to the organisers, co-ordinators, etc we have currently 16,000 volunteers who we value very highly, it works wonderfully well. As to funding we have the same problem, I find personally its through word of mouth and maybe the odd free ad in the local newpaper. Other things which im considering at the moment is maybe working together on an idea where perhaps you could get volunteers or the kids to knit or make soft animals in your case and liase with 1 of the big cereal companys and give away a free soft animal in return for a small fee or a mention and they in return recieve revenue, have you tried lottery funding? I find Hilton hotel very accomodating, maybe they would let you have room space to showcase and highlight your cause, just some suggestions!!!

  • Talibah said,

    Great post! I struggled with the same thing in setting up my company. But, a friend said to start with an LLC and then form a non-profit sister. He’s smart…I went with that. I have lots of work to do to figure out exactly how that works, but my vision is that the funds I generate from the for-profit will help facilitate my making my services accessible more broadly to people I wouldn’t be able to help, because I have a kid to feed. I believe in the possiblity of marrying them together. I may not have the full picture, but I think it will reveal itself.

    I say, do whatever you have to do to institutionalize the great work you’re doing. Congrats on winning the competition!

  • Gabe said,

    Hi Sheila,
    Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment. I personally have never heard of “lottery funding” but am intrigued by it. 16,000 volunteers – wow!!

    Talibah,
    I started the opposite way. We just formed a corporation which I plan to have it be the non-profit side of the house. We did that because I couldn’t imagine our vision being a totally for profit entity. I am like you – haven’t flushed everything out yet but I am leaning towards having a for-profit side that helps to fund the non-profit side of things. Thanks to all the encouraging comments here I believe it is doable. Wish us luck!!

  • Amy Jussel said,

    Been grappling with these ethical issues for three years in ‘beta’ now…(yes, my advisory board laughs at my multiple iterations)

    Shaping Youth started with a social entrepreneur model, decided to go fully open source, and I’m now circling back to the original biz plan, as I just can’t keep clamoring for indie/ideal funding while turning down any/all partners with ties that aren’t ‘squeaky clean’ (e.g. the ‘Dove/Axe=Unilever conundrum)

    Now that we’ve got the traction, I’m back to shoring up the funding flanks in strategic mode…so feel like the proverbial ‘cart before the horse’ entity that started growing projects and outcomes prior to proper resources! (nonprofit is new to me; so going back to a CSR and SR hybrid model makes more sense w/my marcom roots)

    ‘Ancora imparo’—Always.

    Amy Jussel
    Founder/Exec. Dir.
    http://www.ShapingYouth.org

  • Gabe said,

    Hi Amy,
    I am laughing because I didn’t understand half of what you said. Not your fault – I guess I have a lot to learn yet.

    I read a quote on a friend’s FB page yesterday: “You do not evaluate a risk by the probability of success but by the worthiness of the goal” – Dr. Ralph D. Winter (Thanks @DaveWebb) – This quote spoke to me and as long as I can keep that in mind I’ll be OK as I traverse through the mire that other people have before me.

  • Amy Jussel said,

    Mea culpa, Gabe….heehe. I like your candor, and actually it IS my fault, as the number one goal in communications should be clarity and universal understanding!

    Silicon Valley has become a bit of a ‘bubble’ and I need a bracer now and then to remind myself that terminology and jargon in whatever sphere we’re in (digital, nonprofit, youth, etc.) needs deciphered for the clarity of all.

    I’ll chalk it up to ‘leftover brain percolations’ from the event last night with octagenarian Douglas Engelbart, who has shaped the conversation of social consciousness and technology to raise the collective IQ overall: http://www.shapingyouth.org/?p=5575

    Kinda boils down to that quote, “I must do something” always solves more problems than “Something must be done.” Funding is part and parcel of same. (thrilled to find you, btw!)

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