This year, I am finding people are communicating on an entirely different level. People are interacting with more consideration, yet with more candor and curiosity. Perhaps it’s my own projection and/or my own desire to only surround myself with such people? I don’t know. All I do know is that I am enjoying it. I’m finding that it provides a new sense of hope and a space for positive energy to flourish. People are motivated and have the courage to make an impact.
I recognize that our contributions for change are unique and diverse. One of my partners, Sonja Nuttall, uses her designs to promote change by including an element of sensuality that allows for additional receptivity to occur. Sonja brings our consciousness together with her photos and art by capturing the beauty of underexposed cultures. Another partner, my brother Alasdair Munn, improves our receptiveness and our abilities to hear one another. When Alasdair approaches new clients or individuals, he never uses labels such as “business2business” or “business2consumers”, but rather he says that “people” are his area of focus. He calls this Social Enterprise. If a new social consciousness is really occurring, I imagine a world where we are all able to connect in new ways and create conversations of interest. If the only thing that I do is help create platforms for voices to be shared, I will die a happier woman.
I am excited as I feel the time is now. As individuals are become courageous and taking initiating to create change, we are witnessing the same breathe of consciousness in business too. Companies like Tom’s Shoes and Michael Stars are executing cause marketing, giving individuals an opportunity to give back to a cause as an incentive to purchase. Consumers are engaged and shopping differently. We may still want to purchase the ‘cheaper’ product, however, if we can find a product that is the same price but is sold from a more ethical brand, we will purchase the more ethical one. We are growing up. We are truly growing to understand and it is making a difference. We can make a difference. And thankfully social media is helping – it is empowering us to be mindful and showing others how they can too.
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Take the next step: Intelligent Social Branding: from Purchase to Post
