Austin AMA Blog

PROMOTE A GREEN LIFESTYLE AND CHANGE THE WORLD - Austin American Marketing Association

Written by Shawna Lee Coronado | Jul 8, 2009 2:34:16 PM

There are many reasons to begin corporate marketing programs for both your employees and clients that focus on greening, well being, and community. By starting from the ground up and building community within a corporation, it improves employee’s mental and physical health. Businesses then ensure a more productive work output. More importantly, employees soon determine that it is much easier to come to work when they feel as if they are a part of a caring community within the work environment. As part of a corporate vision of responsibility to community, you also bring this incredible message of green lifestyle and better health to the public – your customers.

One of the frustrations of living in our modern culture is that it seems people are never satisfied and always want more. This applies both within our business lives and within our home lives. It seems that many are not happy with a simple life, because they feel that if they have more—more stuff, more technology, more stress—this will make them happy. Yet, it occurred to me several years ago that I knew very few people who could call themselves happy within the corporate or private sect.  This discovery of the “myth of happiness” was the beginning of my search to understand why I was able to find happiness and what it is that made me feel more satisfied. Determining this, then inspiring others to feel the same way triggered a larger understanding of the world.

Society by and large seems dissatisfied because media and popular culture have enticed us away from the basic pleasures of life. It is my opinion that it is within your power as influencers of the corporate market to take control and change negativity. As a result of living a greener lifestyle and changing my attitude to be more positive, I have discovered something ground breaking, jaw dropping, and earth shattering: I have discovered happy people. Everyday citizens who are satisfied with life—they do exist! There is hope that you and your family can have this feel-good experience too.

Have you ever noticed that members of your business and social world who are involved in helping their communities are more satisfied with their lives? Their goals are not focused on wanting more, and more, and more; instead, they put forth efforts to be a part of something larger. They participate in experiences where their hearts are warmed and their souls feel complete. Every person who comes to a volunteer event to help a community organization arrives with a smile. I have seen this happen every time without fail.

Yes, these people have their own families, their own hard-luck stories, and their own belief systems. But they arrive, ready to work, with a positive mindset and a unified goal. Everyone laughs and jokes and makes the experience a good one. Beyond building a garden or clearing weeds or selling fund-raising items, they are there because the experience enriches their lives and minds emotionally.

Contributing to employees’ health by encouraging a green lifestyle can become a catalyst for positive change within employees’ personal lives. It can set an example to all that the company holds high expectations for beneficial health practices. This concept can expand exponentially if the employees utilize the healthier greening and living ideas promoted by the company and then proceed to teach their clients, families and neighborhood communities these same ways of living.

Soon it becomes far more than a way to improve production for the business; it demonstrates and encourages “doing the right thing” mentality and begins to change lives in a positive way. Having a business which promotes goodwill and green living is the right thing to do for the world; not just our wallets.

Imagine if every business within the United States picked up this idea of supporting their employees—their corporate community—by marketing, and therefore, educating on better health practices, greening practices, and community building techniques? The concept seems revolutionary, yet the implications of building a better, greener world by utilizing corporate entities could change the world forever – for the better!

Let’s make it happen together!     

*Hear Shawna speak at our Lunch Event on July 16thRegister Now!  

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog – www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog – http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com