Values-Driven Business: How to Change the World, Make Money, and Have Fun

by Mal Warwick and Ben Cohen

Book Overview

In Values-Driven Business , Ben & Jerry's co-founder Ben Cohen and Social Venture Network chair Mal Warwick team up to provide you with a way to run your business for profit and personal satisfaction.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1576753581
• ISBN13: 9781576753583
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A practical guide for turning ideals into reality

I eventually want to start my own apparel business, but I know the industry is rife with ethical abuse. Because of this, I want to run a business that does as little harm and as much good as possible. Until a few weeks ago, I was not sure how to bring that ideal to practical fruition. After receiving "Values-Driven Business" from someone who works for a socially responsible company, many of my questions were answered. Why am I glad I read the book? Here are some attributes: 1) It is quick to read, enjoyable, and optimistic. No gloom and doom. 2) It is a fantastic overview of socially responsible business. This is NOT a deep, complicated analysis of the topic. It is simple enough for people who aren't sure where to start and need an introduction, yet has interesting, enlightening examples for someone already familiar with socially responsible business. 3) It is well organized. The authors go over five dimensions of values-driven businesses (some of which I had not considered): employees, suppliers, customers, community (local and global), and the environment. At the end of each section is a list of specific actions that one might consider incorporating into a business to create positive change. 4) The text goes beyond black and white binary opposition, and challenges assumptions about socially responsible businesses (e.g., they can't make a profit, they make inferior products, etc.). 5) Practical examples of values-driven companies comprise the backbone of the text. This shows the principles at work, and shows that two businesses can have different ways of incorporating values; there is not one "right" way to be socially responsible. Reading about all the different solutions people have devised to make a difference was my favorite part of the book! I highly recommend this book as a concise introduction that is chock-full of inspiring examples of values-driven businesses in action. It will empower you to make abstract ideals a reality and it provides an excellent foundation for further inquiry!

Doing good and doing well

I found the book a delightful and easy read. Down to earth practical approach to following your dream, making money and honoring people, the earth and the surrounding community. The more people try this, the better our quality of life will be.

Practical advice for people who care about the planet

This is a great book for young people starting a new business or for anyone who wants to give back and make a good living at the same time. It is an empowering read, with lots of good ideas and practical advice. Buy this book then pass it on.

Praise for Warwick and Cohen

This is a book aimed at the hundreds of thousands of small businesses that employ tens of millions of people. It promises to help you change the world (for the better), make money (important), and have fun (essential). And for the most part it delivers on all of its promises. It's the best book I've seen that focuses what you can do in your own business to improve its value, and promote your values. It's extremely easy to read, which means it is very well written. This is a particularly noteworthy accomplishment because business texts can often become tedious to read. Warwick (chair of the Social Venture Network Advisory Board) and Cohen (co-founder of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream) offer a great combination of stories, analyses, and inspiration. This book offers a self-assessment tool to help you start a values-based business or improve your current operation. I plan to share this book with my staff so we can improve our "triple bottom line": profit, people, and planet. I highly recommend this book, and the only drawback is that it doesn't come bundled with a gift certificate for a Ben & Jerry's ice cream cone. Perhaps next edition.

I loved this book from the very first page

Buy it now! You'll be a happier person after you read this book, whether you're in business or not. It provides great and much-needed hope and inspiration for entrepreneurs and employees of all stripes and ages, and is both a fun and easy read, with the writers' wit and heart shining throughout. (And I'm a tough-to-please newspaper editor and author!)