Daniel Lubetzky

Cone Communications is behind another study that claims consumers buy products because of their social mission – this time emphasizing mothers and young people are at the forefront of this trend.  As much as I am a committed social entrepreneur whose life is dedicated to find creative ways to advance social goals using market mechanisms, I have from my experience always been skeptical of this claim.  There are enormous benefits to being socially conscious, not the least of which is that it gives you meaning.  And it attracts the best team to join you on your journey, and generates loyalty, goodwill, word of mouth, media attention, and more.  But purchases ultimately are made by consumers primarily based on whether a product fits their personal lifestyle, and price, quality and taste are foremost facts when these choices are made.  That said, I do sense over the last 15 years that consumers are becoming more educated and supportive of socially conscious ventures, particularly when they can be seen to be sincere.  So whatever the actual behavior has been, it certainly is shifting more and more towards enlightened capitalism.

[Read more →]

by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

Check out this great PBS piece featuring PeaceWorks and Daniel’s efforts to end the Mideast conflict with OneVoice! Thank you Fred De Sam Lazaro for showing how entrepreneurship can enhance relations between Israelis and Palestinians (as well as in other conflict regions) while being lucrative as well.  With the persistence of others who share Daniel’s unyielding passion and belief that economic cooperation can lead to peace, we hope to see a decrease in Mideast tensions soon.

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.

If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies; Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.

-Mother Teresa

by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

Nick Kristof writes about Psychologist Jonathan Haidt of University of Virginia illustrates in his book, “The Happiness Hypothesis” that happiness is correlated with acts of kindness and that “altruism carries its own rewards”.  One study showed that when researched encouraged their subjects to imagine giving charity, the part of the brain associated with eating or sexual pleasure lit up.

[Read more →]

At KIND, PeaceWorks, and OneVoice, almost by definition, I think our team members are motivated by the desire to make the world a better place, and the empowerment and joy comes with the journey.

And yet I found myself really intrigued to follow this video that breaks down these implicit assumptions and helps us all understand – what drives us, and how can we "manage" in the most motivating and empowering way?

by Kim Walker on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

British newspaper The Independent recently highlighted Natalie Portman for her new vegan shoe line and her involvement in good causes, including OneVoice!

[Read more →]

KIND just launched Do the KIND Thing—a campaign that lets people turn KIND acts into support for causes. It is a super easy way to give back by just being KIND! The cause with the greatest number of KIND acts linked to it by June 30^th will win $25,000!*

You can support a cause you care about with just three easy steps:  

1. Get a card/code at www.kindmovement.com

2. Choose the cause you want to support or add a cause if it’s not already on the list (any charitable cause is welcome!)

3. Pass it on by doing a "not so random" act of kindness for someone, give them your card  and encourage them to choose your cause  If you can’t pass it on in person, tell friends to go to www.kindmovement.com to get a card/code and choose your cause from the list. 

So what are you waiting for? Do The KIND Thing!

*In addition to the first place prize of $25,000, second place and third place will win $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.  

Under Indra Nooyi’s leadership, Pepsi keeps showing a commitment to move towards social responsibility.

They just recently launched this campaign to reward new ideas and charities.

And they now unveiled a 100% compostable packaging for SunChips.

[Read more →]

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is investing in community-based solutions to childhood obesity.

[Read more →]

Very much in OneVoice, and very much with a sentiment like that of the KIND Movement, Starbucks bested all videos I got this season with this awesome compilation (which I received from Jason Alexander): musicians and ordinary citizens across the world joined on the same day at the same time to sing the same song:

Among all of KIND’s retail partners, Starbucks certainly ranks among the classiest, most professional and most sincerely committed to truly make this a better world.  In this case the above is part of a partnership with Project RED to fight AIDS.