Beth Kanter

Beth Kanter is a consultant, author, influencer. virtual trainer & nonprofit innovator in digital transformation & workplace wellbeing.

  • About Beth
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • Press
    • Books & Projects
  • How Can I Help You?
    • Keynotes & Workshops
    • Training & Facilitation
    • Resources
  • Books & Projects
  • Beth’s Blog
  • TwitterTwitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • CONTACT ME

Book: We First: How Brands & Consumers Use Social Media To Build A Better World

June 6, 2011 by Beth Kanter 6 Comments


Simon Mainwaring’s new book,  We First, launches this week.    It is a book about how connectedness through social networks can help satisfy the needs of business bottom line and a healthy, sustainable planet.     The book offers a new marketplace model that is not drive by “me first” corporate greed, but how corporations can leverage social media to build a better world and earn consumer goodwill and loyalty.
Simon isn’t the first to suggest that capitalism has lost its way and needs a serious makeover.    His goal is inspire discussion and ultimately change.    The book has many case studies that illustrate how corporations are integrating social media for social good.  These include:  Proctor & Gamble, Walmart, Starbucks, Toyota, Nike, and more. The book offers lots of food for thought and discussion.
It’s already in the top 100 books over at Amazon.
I liked the chapter about instilling “We First” values into capitalism.  It resonated.  Here’s the list:
Sustainability: This is about reducing degradation of the planet’s condition and to seek renewable sources of energy that do not contribute to greenhouse gases, and to seek out methods that reduce waste and reuse resources.    He also applies the concept of sustainability to protect human capital.
Fairness of Reward: This value encompasses the wide range of incentives companies give to their suppliers, employees, and investors.     This value encompasses the spirit of fair trade and transparency.
Fiscal Responsibility: In the book, this term is not used an accounting term.  It refers to a corporation’s responsibility to shoulder the impact they have on the economy.      He describes the use of a “flash mob” going to a shareholder’s meeting and demanding a claw-back for ill-gotten bonuses.
Accountability: This is about trust and the importance it has assumed as the new social currency for businesses.    It also includes transparency – that corporations must operate with honesty, credibility, and congruency between their words and deeds.
Purposefulness: This is a demand that businesses do more than build wealth – that the bottom line adds purpose and meaning to life.   Mainwaring suggests a “purposefulness” index.
Engagement: This is about having brands be in dialogue with consumers.
Global Citizenry: As technology is increasingly connecting us, it makes everyone aware of our interconnectedness.    We can no longer ignore what is happening in our world – and that we must act as global citizens.
This section ends with an inspiring quote from Winston Churchill:
“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”

Filed Under: Digital Strategy

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Website Protected by Spam Master


Categories

Never miss a post!
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide
Powered by FeedBlitz

Related Posts

The Promise & Peril of Creator Tools Like ChatGPT for Nonprofits

New Years Rituals for Nonprofit Professionals: 2023

The Smart Nonprofit: Free Book Event

The Smart Nonprofit Book Launches Today! 

The Smart Nonprofit Book Launches 3/9

Using smart tech to reimagine nonprofit work

Five New Year’s Rituals for Nonprofit Professionals

Trainer, Speaker, Author

About Me
Books & Projects
Beth’s Blog
Keynotes & Workshops
Training & Facilitation
Resources

TwitterLinkedInInstagram

Beth Kanter

Copyright by Beth Kanter. | Site design by Eve Simon Creative. | Site development by Cindy Leonard Consulting.