I agree with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. His Davos speech has already been widely quoted in the press. Here's the nub of it, "We have to find a way to make the aspects of capitalism that serve wealthier people serve poorer people as well." Who's gonna disagree with that? He goes on to say something that I think is brilliant -- that businesses need to dedicate their top people to these issues, an approach he feels is more powerful than traditional corporate donations and volunteer work.
Bill, the New Radicals agree with you. Who are the New Radicals? They're the thousands of men and women who have realized that philanthropy and volunteering aren't the only way to do good. That how we earn our living can become the way we give back. Already, there are thousands of men and women of all ages, in each field, every sector, and around the world who are reinventing their work so that they can find more meaning and make a difference in the world.
While New Radical work varies widely, it falls into three categories: Activist, Entrepreneur, and Innovator. Activists might say something like, "I quit my job and went to work for Doctors without Borders." Entrepreneurs might say, "I quit my job and started to manufacture solar panels." Innovators, on the other hand, stay inside their organizations or field, and drive change from within. A great example is Dr. Ed Sutt, of toolmaker giant Stanley Bostitch, who has reinvented the nail so that structures can better withstand the force of hurricanes and earthquakes (it's called the HurriQuake nail).
In my view, while each New Radical is vitally important to saving the world, Innovators are the ones to watch. Because we can't all become eco-warriors or organic farmers. The world needs bus drivers and ballerinas, firefighters and plumbers, IT specialists and bankers. How would the delegates get to Davos if it weren't for thousands of people doing their jobs? And yet each of these people -- including you and me -- wants to do good.
Like Bill, I believe that businesses need to dedicate their people to the issues that plague our troubled world. But here's where we diverge. I think we can ALL become New Radicals, not just senior people. And I think every institution -- whether public or private -- should do all it can to encourage New Radicals in their midst. So that we can start working together and take our organizations to world-changing heights.
So, I'm with you, Bill and WEF delegates. Just don't shut the rest of us out. The world needs New Radicals. And this really can be a movement for all.
Follow Julia Moulden on Twitter: www.twitter.com/juliamoulden
I think the churchs should do likewise and they too would recognize benefits beyond the bottom line on which we focus due to the urgent hand wringing of accountants for whom security lies in the bottom line. A pity really.
The idea I get is finding ways to REALLY get our business seeing how to give back of the over flow. But not just by shelling out bucks to volunteer hippies and house wives, but by using our amazing skills and success strategies for good!
Great I love it! Thanks Julia for sharing.
Like the rest of the Rockefeller cronies at the CFR, Bill Gates is a dangerous man.
Bill Gates could have credited Prof Yunus, and announced he wants to jump on that bandwagon, but it disturbs him to "give away" profits.
Dannon yogurt jumped on the bandwagon, and has jumpstarted healthy yogurt for the poor. The idea is, when the poor get out of poverty, they'll move to Dannon yogurt as loyal customers.
Wonder what other companies will follow Prof Yunus' Grameen Bank social business model, and help make our world a better place? Prof Yunus has a book out about the details.
If this man really wanted to be charitable, he could just give away his money to groups that actually do good. Like Unicef, Doctors without borders, Habitat. So why does Gates control the money? Because he has commercial and business interests he is promoting.
NPR this morning had a bit about Gates' sudden interest in African agriculture. He wants to "help" the Africans. His website discusses providing the Africans with the "Green Revolution" (note the clever mis-labeling) special seeds which have been genetically modified by chemical companies which have patents on the seeds.
Get a farmer to use the genetically modified seeds with the patent, the seeds either have a built-in "terminator" characteristic so the farmer cannot save seeds from the crop to plant next year. Or, if even one seed is found in the future in that farmer's field, he will be sued, shut down, lose his farm. It is an effort by the chemical companies to destroy the original seeds that god gave us and replace them with only seeds subject to their patents. Think of the seed as having a barcode which carries through future generations.
In short, an effort by a few to control the basic food stuff of the entire world: wheat, corn, rice.
Bill Gates is not a philanthropist. And why is it do you think he's always got the photo ops of himself? Not for philanthropic purposes. He's using his charity to try to extend his control of the world. Don't fall for it.
And I will diss this guy any chance I get!
New World Order, indeed.
I don't like Bill Gate's version.
He's a very shallow man.
With a lotta money to throw around.