Closer to a Decision

I've been putzing around seemingly forever on what variant of organization I want to set up to do the work I'm interested in seeing happen.  Work that fundamentally supports the development of a sustainable society.  Over the last couple of days, I've finally converged on an approach that makes sense for me and hopefully will make sense for others as the project grows.

Presently it looks like I'm going to attempt to set up one of those trendy socially responsible businesses only with as much edge to it as possible.  This means to keep the business open and transparent in its operations.  This is, in part, inspired by a classic book from the 70s by Michael Phillips and Salli Rasberry called The Seven Laws of Money.  (I see there's a new printing.  Coincidence?)

I also want to adopt and adapt the concepts behind democratic worker-owned and managed businesses like the Mondragón cooperatives of Spain, Arizmendi Bakery, and Casa Nueva as the general model.  I'm looking to start off as a sole proprietor, because it's easy, and then transition into the democratic cooperative model as the need hopefully arises.

Some of my thinking on this is that non-profit organizations tend not to be sustainable financially.  They are, by definition, charity cases.  Also if an organization is in a policy making mode, being an active for-profit business gives the organization a lot more credibility in terms of lobbying.  This would be especially the case if the organization becomes fairly large and has a significant impact on the economy of the local community.  Unfortunately, these tend to be more Cabela's than Patagonias at the present time. That must change.

Closer to a Decision

I've been putzing around seemingly forever on what variant of organization I want to set up to do the work I'm interested in seeing happen.  Work that fundamentally supports the development of a sustainable society.  Over the last couple of days, I've finally converged on an approach that makes sense for me and hopefully will make sense for others as the project grows.

Presently it looks like I'm going to attempt to set up one of those trendy socially responsible businesses only with as much edge to it as possible.  This means to keep the business open and transparent in its operations.  This is, in part, inspired by a classic book from the 70s by Michael Phillips and Salli Rasberry called The Seven Laws of Money.  (I see there's a new printing.  Coincidence?)

I also want to adopt and adapt the concepts behind democratic worker-owned and managed businesses like the Mondragón cooperatives of Spain, Arizmendi Bakery, and Casa Nueva as the general model.  I'm looking to start off as a sole proprietor, because it's easy, and then transition into the democratic cooperative model as the need hopefully arises.

Some of my thinking on this is that non-profit organizations tend not to be sustainable financially.  They are, by definition, charity cases.  Also if an organization is in a policy making mode, being an active for-profit business gives the organization a lot more credibility in terms of lobbying.  This would be especially the case if the organization becomes fairly large and has a significant impact on the economy of the local community.  Unfortunately, these tend to be more Cabela's than Patagonias at the present time. That must change.