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danbrown119

When this short life is over how will you feel about your choices today?

Updated: Mar 15


Delivering the vision today for humanities positive transformation to a brighter better future tomorrow.


In a black and white world if you are prepared for some discomfort in pursuit of something greater you will always find beauty and colour in the journey through the difficult times to a brighter better future.





There is no defined purpose in life only a personal experiment in the pursuit of meaning, creating value for others as we widen the scope of our own horizons.


This is my statement on delivering a vision today for humanities positive transformation to a brighter better future tomorrow. An opportunity to Be Relentless Be You while striving for the Positive Transformation of a billion lives with a trusted community joined together by shared values of Doing Well Doing Good.


I will start by asking what you think is our ultimate collective goal in life?


a) making money, b) screwing the competition, c) avoiding regulators, d) delighting customers, e) supporting employees, f) making the world a better place for our families, ourselves, and others?


Or maybe we should be asking different questions.


How would it be if together we can demonstrate that the drive for more business value in all forms could equally create brighter better futures for our children, families, teams, communities, society, and humanity.


How would this impact people, planet, and profits while giving measurable increases in our competitive edge, customer sentiment, business growth, share price, and the wellbeing of a global society with huge challenges that will not be resolved by any one initiative alone.


How do we find the courage to lead ourselves first, stepping forward on a journey of positive transformation for everyone, and being the example for Doing Well Doing Good in life and in business.


Here's my view based on a decade of working to think differently about life and business.


Business value in all forms will for decades remain the number one priority for CEO's, we are as unlikely to change that in the near future as we are to reinvent the global economy during the next decade. That said, we can take a unique perspective, asking different sets of questions that lay the foundations for humanity to share in a brighter better future of growth, prosperity, and equal opportunities for all future generations.


This I believe will be enabled by meaningful connections that support a collaborative culture of Doing Well Doing Good, increasing the drive for societal value that can be measured and reported in terms of key performance indicators for business growth, holding ourselves accountable to the market, shareholders, employees, communities, and our families, while investing in our children’s futures and expecting the same from those we work with, live with, and journey through life with.

 

Doing Well Doing Good is all about putting business value to work differently, driving greater returns for you and for a global society so desperately in need of positive transformational change. This can however only be achieved by global businesses with shared values aligning around a vision, and leaders of those businesses insisting on a financial measurement that demonstrates how the great businesses of today, will become the incredible businesses of tomorrow by Doing Well and Doing Good.


To do this effectively we must focus on supporting growth while demonstrating how measurement and reporting of exiting environmental and societal impact for our people, supply chain, and clients will enable far more growth of the FTSE100, global markets, and more widely across the global business community. Through leading sustainable measurable impact of positive transformation in society and demonstrating the value to businesses, people, communities, UK PLC, and our wider global economy today, we will create the impact that is needed for generations to come to live with a brighter better understanding of the importance of Doing Well and Doing Good for ourselves and others.


Our focus together is leading a future where business performance is exponentially increased by intentionally focusing on the positive transformation of society. This is about building trusted customer sentiment, genuine brand reputation, and company value driving growth while mitigating against the risks of not doing this. Everything has a price and a cost, and while today the price may seem high, the cost however of not changing our perspective of growth and how we impact the lives of others is your business not being here in 10 years.


Simultaneously there is an urgent need to be refocusing green washed ESG investments to drive measurable impact in the world. We must create real customer value through measured societal change, supply chain responsibility for their part in the process, while removing the wasted investment of time effort and money by not supporting projects that currently cannot be measured with recognised metrics, that do not indicate any value to humanity, and likely will not progress towards building a better society within the next decade. If it isn't demonstrating impact in 5 years, it isn't likely to do so in 10. End it.


As we stand here today, we stand on the horizon of a new age, a new world and with an incredible opportunity to lead positive transformation globally by connecting corporate strategy with community engagement, locally first, then nationally, and globally, collaborating with clients and the supply chain to secure a position as the organisational global leaders Doing Well and Doing Good for business, humanity, and the planet.


Delivering this effectively with a clearly defined roadmap will demonstrate an enlighten approach to self-interest that grows an organisations business value, increasing standing in global markets, driving up shareholder returns, and significantly enhancing brand sentiment.


To achieve this, we must insist of taking actions in trust that clearly align to messaging for the creation of a better world, actions that are measured, real, accountable, and demonstrate trust in what we say is warranted, it is what we do, and moreover we are prepared to be held accountable on the global stage for the statements we make. No exceptions. No excuses.


Together we already have the teams, partners, knowhow, data, technology, expertise, networks, people, and the tools to deliver on everything being discussed here, at scale and within the next decade. What we now need is the support of innovative thinking business leaders in positions of influence to mobilise collaborative teams headed by passionate creative thinkers, that make societal change the competitive advantage.


Together as a global collective we can be the incubators of fresh minds, the thought leaders, category creators and agents for change pushing hard to do more and be more in a world of negative distraction and diminishing returns. No matter how small and unable to effect change we may feel, together we can be the juggernauts that drive global positive transformational change through a shared vision of positive transformation that is Doing Well Doing Good for a brighter better future. And it all starts by Being Relentless Being you!

 

In taking this lead we are not standing alone, we stand side by side with inspirational leaders who have laid the foundations for us to build on their work, leaders such as Paul Polman, Unilever and Ajay Banga at Mastercard, while aligning today with incredible leaders like Sir Ken Olisa OBE, the Kings Lord Lieutenant and Chair of Business London. Sir Ken has committed his incredible journey through life to Doing Well Doing Good and is now convening powerful groups of CEO’s with shared values to join a global movement that positively impacts the lives of a billion people by 2035. And I am grateful to be with him.

 

Although your organisation may not yet be a household name, we are all in some way on a journey of change, transformation, and growth, all that is now really needed is a small step in a different direction that will enable you to seek a path of Doing Well and Doing Good, being more and doing more for the world around you, and contributing to the future of business value by driving societal change in a way that can be delivered with a small but important change in perspective with collective effort.



Every step you now take and every decision you make will light up a path toward positive transformation that will be recognised by every person, everywhere for the positive impact we make on the lives of real people, their friends, families, communities, and children. These people are you. They are your people. They are your friends. Your families. Together we are the future. We are the example for all future generations.

 


On a personal note I believe deeply there is no defined purpose in life only a personal experiment in the pursuit of meaning, creating value for others as we widen the scope of our own horizons. You are all doing what matters to you and by definition you are all a collection of truly talented people, performing, always in all ways to make your own journey happen.

 

As we move forward today, we must acknowledge that yes, life is hard, doing well and doing good is harder still and yet, the results of doing nothing will be catastrophic for people, profits, and the planet. To avoid an unimaginable fate for humanity we now must decide to join together in a collective moon shot to create brighter better futures for our children and the generations that follow. And in the immortal words of John F Kennedy.

 

"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.”

 

So, as we come together in collective thought here today, let’s imagine the exponential growth of everything we are all already doing together when business value meets real societal impact at a time when positive transformation is so desperately needed globally. We are all already Doing Well Doing Good in some form and now comes our opportunity to work together, we can be the global community synonymous with being the generation that made the world better and stopped the decent into crisis.


I propose no longer simply to polish our trophies of yesterday as together we can become to Doing Well Doing Good what the New Zealand All Blacks are to Rugby, with our cheering fans being our children, and every generation that follows. We must lead, and we must create the future of business value by driving societal change. In doing so we are the leading light for positive transformational change recognised by every person, everywhere for the positive impact we make on the lives of real people, their friends, families, communities, and children. These people are you. They are your people. They are your friends. Your families. Together we are the future. A positive brighter better future of opportunity and prosperity.

 

We are already working with cutting-edge companies whose products and services are standing at the forefront of innovation. Over the years, these organisations have built a solid reputation for quality and reliability, achieving significant commercial success, and supporting a future of measurable positive transformational change. However, despite the incredible resources available to us today, like all business our clients face huge challenges with business growth, consumer sentiment, brand reputation, environmental impact, social conscience and ever the ever-expanding complexity of governance. This only increases as we factor their responsibilities to the supply chain, and to wider society.


However, with a change in perspective and an Opportunity Mindset, this complexity becomes our advantage as we use data to provide clarity, technology to aid communication at scale, and a shared vision as a powerful lever to drive advantage from adversity, propelling us all to sit at the forefront of business growth and societal impact for a new future for humanity. This can and will only be achieved through meaningful trusted global collaborations at scale, as we think differently, act differently, and move to think outside the building. Why not join us on the journey before being left to watch the future unfold from the side lines as your clients, competitors, supply chain, and employees make a different choice?


Let me be clear, this is not a tactical quick step, this is a strategic leap that will be taken with tactical steps making positive transformation of business growth and societal change happen on a global scale. Together we will be the creators for unparalleled growth by adopting a new approach to Doing Well in business and Doing Good for humanity.


The ultimate horizon goal of positively impacting the lives of a billion people by 2035 will be the leading light for change and achieved in small steps over the next decade increasing the positive role we play on this planet and leaving the world a better place than we found it.


This is not just for business growth, this is for all growth, supporting growth for our children, their children, and every team, family and community that follows. We are responsible for embedding a culture of creating brighter better futures for everyone, employees, partners, clients, supply chain, board members, shareholders and importantly, for ourselves with an enlightened self-interest.


This is not a pipe dream, together we are making this a reality by combining vision with execution, bringing the right teams, partners, knowhow, expertise, data, technology, people, and tools together under a shared vision to positively impact the lives of a billion people by 2035.

 

Through meaningful connection, collaboration, measurement, benchmarking and understanding of our combined capabilities we will usher in a new era of growth and impact, positively transforming our approach to customers, partners, and the world in the process by Doing Well Doing Good and creating brighter better futures for humanity.


So, I ask you all again.


How would it be if together we can demonstrate that the drive for more business value in all forms could equally create brighter better futures for our children, families, teams, communities, society, and humanity.


How do you feel about the impact to people, planet, and profits while giving measurable increases in our competitive edge, customer sentiment, business growth, share price, and the wellbeing of a global society with huge challenges that will not be resolved by any one initiative alone.


How do you feel about having the courage to lead yourself first, stepping forward on a journey of positive transformation for all and being the example for Doing Well and Doing Good in life and in business.


I remind you all that this is business growth on a whole new level, winning with an attitude of Doing Well for our people by demonstrating reciprocity through our entire corporate ecosystem making us more connected, more effective, more appealing, more profitable, and ultimately far more valuable businesses to all clients, shareholders, supply chain, and humanity.


So please ask yourself.


How do you feel about the opportunity to impact the planet, creating brighter better futures for our people, dramatically increasing societal value globally, while giving measurable increases in our competitive edge, customer sentiment, business growth, share price and how we are as seen as human beings by future generations starting with our own children.


It’s a choice you make today for a brighter better future tomorrow.


My ask of you today is to join together in Doing Well Doing Good to leave a legacy of Positive Transformation by impacting the lives of a billion people in the next decade, and humanity as a whole in 100 years with the right leadership through shared values today.


Very simply, there is nothing more powerful than a changed mind, change one mind and we can positively transform one life. One becomes two, two becomes four, and exponentially compounded growth becomes a billion lives faster than you may think. And it all starts with our ourselves having the courage to Be Relentless in pursuit of a brighter better future.


This is all about Being Relentless Being You while supporting others to do the same, and finally today I urge you to think carefully on this simple yet powerful statement.


“It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society,"

 

So please ask yourself again what you think is our ultimate collective goal in life.


a) making money, b) screwing the competition, c) avoiding regulators, d) delighting customers, e) supporting employees, f) making the world a better place for our families, ourselves, and others?


And to end with the beginning of this statement in mind I ask you this.


When this short life is over, and you know you had the opportunity to positively transform the world by Doing Well Doing Good through meaningful trusted connection and collaboration. Will you be able to say that you have no regrets about the choices you make today?


How will you answer and who will you be today for the future of humanity tomorrow?

 


Thank you. - Be Relentless Be you.



In a black and white world if you are prepared for some discomfort in pursuit of something greater you will always find beauty and colour in the journey through the difficult times to a brighter better future.



We only get what we want when we endure what we don't.

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Fantastic article Dan. I'm in! I believe that we are powerful as individuals, we can make a difference and collectively we can become unstoppable!

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