I just finished one of the best un-business business books by Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia: Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman
Devin decided you need to read this book. Whether you’re looking for a case study on: a successful business with happy employees, how to create a business from your passion, or what businesses need to do to help the environment.
From management tips, to HR lessons learned, Yvon brings in all his Patagonia experience (good and bad):
“…If you just ask people for help–if you just admit that you don’t know something–they will fall all over themselves trying to help. So, from there I began building the company.” -Kristine McDivitt, general manager and CEO of Patagonia for 13 years
Many people like to reference the Pareto principle and Yvon is not an exception. When talking about Patagonia’s diverse product lines:
“I like to throw myself passionately into a sport or activity until I reach about an 80 percent proficiency level. To go beyond that requires an obsession and degree of specialization that doesn’t appeal to me. Once I reach that 80 percent level I like to go off and do something totally different…” -Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia
As one of the first environmentally-conscious companies in the world, Yvon has a lot to say about the world and what needs to happen:
“The Zen master would say if you want to change government, you have to aim at changing corporations, and if you want to change corporations, you first have to change the consumers.” -Yvon Chouinard
This is a book you can’t ignore. Especially since Yvon pioneered the ‘green business’ movement…. back in the 80’s.
What other environmental business books do you recommend?
“The Zen master would say if you want to change government, you have to aim at changing corporations, and if you want to change corporations, you first have to change the consumers.” -Yvon Chouinard
In the U.S., especially under the current administration, corporations have far too much power in government. The Bush/Cheney junta allows them to write policy, and a corrupt, compliant Congress lets them write laws.
I think the combination of government by corporations (which is one definition of fascism) and a lawless, power-grabbing Executive has brought this country perilously close to fascist dictatorship.
Chouinard’s observation is very wise. I would add this to it:
“And if you want to change the consumer, you first have to change yourself.”
Your piece was short and sweet, and made me want to read the book.
Well done.
Just Amazoned this myself, looking forward to it.
Nice observations, Vince.
His paragraph continued: “Whoa, wait a minute! The consumer? That’s me. You mean I’m the one who has to change?”
Aah, I’ll have to read the book.;-)