Lifestyle
Making a Real Difference: How Your Business Can Create a Greater Impact on Society
– Choosing compostable paper bags over plastic packaging in your store.
– Offering fresh leftovers to the less-privileged living close to your eatery.
– Free haircuts every weekend for neighborhood kids whose parents can’t afford salon fees.
– Scaling your brand by cutting down on some less critical divisions in favor of affordability.
– Hiring well-vetted ex-convicts in your establishment.
The list goes on and on.
Beyond a pure profit-driven era and in an ideal world, the social impact of a business is just as critical to its overall success as the economic impact. Your business should be held to the moral responsibility of contributing to positive efforts, on any scale, against social injustice and other challenges faced by its host community. Contrary to the general misconception, social impact isn’t just about philanthropy.
“Social impact is tangibly improving the health and wellbeing of other people in society,” says Durell Coleman, an American entrepreneur, social impact consultant, multi-niched engineer, and Stanford lecturer. “The challenge in the definition is that a lot of things can appear to mimic this impact. However, the parameters for measurements are questions such as – who are the people who have some of the biggest health and wellbeing challenges? Are we making things easier for them? Are we creating things that are improving outcomes for them? As a social impact strategist, I think of who’s not being designed for and who’s not being served. Who’s left out of the systems that we currently have? This is how improvements are effected.”
Coleman is the founder and CEO of DC Design, a leading Black-owned social impact consulting firm and strategy development brand headquartered in San Francisco. With many years of experience working with nonprofits, foundations, and governments, Coleman has developed countless long-lasting community-centered strategies for directly impacting lives where it actually matters. He shares some thoughts on how social impact can be incorporated into everyday businesses on any feasible scale.
Social impact as part of your core business plan
One year. Five years. Twenty years.
It doesn’t exactly matter how long your business has existed. At any point in your growth trajectory, quality change can be envisioned. Cost-effective or non-cost strategies can be developed to scale your business up to an establishment making positive and genuinely helpful impacts on society. You’d have to identify what area of community or society you’d like to touch directly. For example, do you want to include more affordable options in your product list to tend to lower-income families, or would you like to include a free delivery option to nearby neighborhoods?
“Start with the people you want to serve,” Coleman says. “Not simply thinking about what’s needed to create change, but talking to them directly about what their experiences have been like in confronting the problem you hope to solve. If you want to affect homelessness, talk to the homeless. If you want to affect Black wealth inequality, talk to low-income Black people. If your work is about reducing mass incarceration, talk to those who are or have been incarcerated. They understand where the system failed them, where they could have chosen differently, and what your priorities should be.”
A combination of these insights is then applied to come up with solid approaches and viable strategies for creating directly visible impact. The result is the elevation of these social challenges as these ideas are solidified into long-term sustainable solutions.
Inclusivity against all forms of inequality
Escapism and denial about the social injustices thriving in the world, especially in the United States, would only hurt society in the long run.
“Inequality affects people across every demographic, spanning through parameters such as race where Black and brown people are undeniably affected by ongoing social injustice,” says Coleman, who runs Design the Future, a flagship program teaching high school kids to design products and apps for people with disabilities. “Other factors are gender, where women still battle career biases and representation; income levels, where lower income earners are often confined to lower quality schools, healthcare, and services; rap sheets as ex-convicts re-enter society with little hope for survival; and post-employment care, where war veterans are left to fend for themselves with inadequate assistance from the government.”
A business or brand seeking to make a real social impact must embrace the obligations of equality of inclusion in its range of services.
Tech firms can hire just as many males as females, cosmetics brands can include more dark skin tones in their product array to serve people of every color, fashion brands can supply plus-sized clothing at the same prices as other sizes, clinics can offer free therapy to war veterans, real estate agents can offer lower service percentages to the less-privileged, and more businesses can give formerly incarcerated people a chance.
Be kind to your labor force
A business can make all the social impact in the world but it would all be for nothing if the employees or hired labor, the actual driving force of the enterprise, are unhappy and uncared for. Social impact starts from the immediate environment and broadens out toward larger society.
In conclusion, Coleman describes his personal approach to employee wellness.
“Henry Ford had it right. He paid his people enough so that they could hopefully buy the cars that they were producing, and it all worked out,” he says. “I run a for-profit social impact business. I have to be efficient and I have to make enough money to support my people, my employees. I try to bring in the best employees possible. I try to give them health care. I want to make sure that they have everything that they need to thrive in their own lives.”
Lifestyle
The Power of Integration: Fred A. Kressaty’s Inner Harmony Redefines Emotional and Spiritual Growth
In today’s world, personal growth often feels fragmented. Self-help trends lean heavily toward emotional intelligence (EQ) or spirituality but rarely explore how these powerful forces can work together.
Fred A. Kressaty’s book, Inner Harmony: Mastering Emotional & Spiritual Intelligence, bridges this gap, presenting a revolutionary approach to achieving balance and purpose.
By merging emotional and spiritual development, Fred provides readers with a comprehensive framework for managing life’s challenges with resilience and authenticity.
This innovative perspective has made Inner Harmony a standout in the crowded self-help genre, earning it a place on the shelves of readers seeking practical and profound guidance for living a fulfilled life.
The Missing Link Between Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence
While emotional intelligence emphasizes understanding and managing one’s emotions, spiritual intelligence leads to finding more profound meaning and purpose. These two intelligences are often treated as separate paths, but Fred argues they are deeply intertwined.
In Inner Harmony, he reveals how integrating EQ and SQ leads to holistic well-being, clarity, inner peace, and stronger relationships.
Fred explains that EQ helps us journey through the external world—our relationships, professional lives, and personal goals—while SQ connects us to the internal world of values, beliefs, and purpose.
By blending these intelligences, we can achieve a state of “inner harmony” that aligns our actions with our more profound truths.
The Practical Framework of Inner Harmony
One of the book’s key strengths is its practicality. Fred doesn’t just discuss theories; he offers readers a step-by-step guide to applying EQ and SQ principles in everyday life.
The book introduces readers to tools like mindfulness practices, emotional regulation techniques, and values-based decision-making. These methods help individuals build resilience, strengthen relationships, and lead more intentional lives.
The chapter on resilience is particularly impactful. It shows how emotional intelligence can help individuals bounce back from setbacks, while spiritual intelligence offers the perspective needed to find meaning in challenges.
Fred’s approach empowers readers to see adversity not as a roadblock but as an opportunity for growth.
Empathy and Connection: The Heart of Inner Harmony
Empathy is one of the book’s central themes, and Fred explores it through the lens of both EQ and SQ. Emotional intelligence enables us to understand others’ feelings, while spiritual intelligence helps us approach those feelings with compassion and a sense of interconnectedness. A dual perspective that transforms how we interact with others, fostering more profound, more meaningful connections.
Fred’s insights into authentic communication are especially relevant in today’s polarized world. By combining emotional awareness with spiritual values like patience and forgiveness, readers can approach difficult conversations with empathy and understanding, creating bridges instead of barriers.
Leadership Through EQ and SQ
Fred devotes much of the book to exploring how EQ and SQ can transform leadership. He argues that great leaders are not just emotionally intelligent—they are also spiritually grounded.
The book includes practical advice for integrating EQ and SQ into leadership practices, from using self-awareness to navigate tough decisions to employing empathy to connect with team members. Fred’s insights are backed by real-world examples, making the concepts easy to understand and apply.
The Role of Mindfulness in Integrating EQ and SQ
Mindfulness emerges as a key tool in Inner Harmony, as the bridge connecting emotional and spiritual intelligence. Fred introduces readers to mindfulness practices that enhance self-awareness, emotional regulation, and spiritual clarity.
By staying present and grounded, individuals can navigate their emotions more effectively and make decisions aligned with their values.
The book offers simple yet impactful exercises, such as mindful breathing and reflective journaling, that readers can incorporate into their daily routines. These practices help cultivate a sense of balance and perspective, even in the face of life’s challenges.
Why Inner Harmony Matters Today
Inner Harmony is a timely guide to achieving balance in an era marked by burnout, anxiety, and disconnection. Fred’s integrated approach addresses the root causes of these issues, offering readers the tools to lead more intentional and meaningful lives.
His focus on both emotional and spiritual growth ensures that the book resonates with a broad audience, from professionals seeking workplace balance to individuals looking to deepen their relationships.
The book’s emphasis on aligning actions with values is particularly impactful. In a culture that often prioritizes productivity over purpose, Inner Harmony encourages readers to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters.
The Vision Behind the Book
Fred A. Kressaty’s motivation for writing Inner Harmony stems from his journey of transformation. After a near-death experience in 2000, he underwent a profound spiritual awakening that reshaped his understanding of life’s challenges.
This moment inspired him to study the Bible, explore emotional intelligence, and ultimately develop a framework that integrates these insights.
For Fred, the book is more than a guide—it’s a mission. He hopes to empower readers to discover the tools within themselves to live with purpose, authenticity, and connection.
His approachable tone and relatable anecdotes make the book both inspiring and accessible, ensuring its message reaches those who need it most.
A Legacy of Balance and Purpose
As Fred A. Kressaty continues his work as a coach and counselor, Inner Harmony is the culmination of his life’s dedication to helping others. The book is not only a reflection of his professional expertise but also a testament to his belief in the transformative power of resilience, self-awareness, and faith.
Whether going through a personal crisis, seeking greater clarity in your relationships, or looking to lead purposefully, Inner Harmony: Mastering Emotional & Spiritual Intelligence offers a roadmap to a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Fred’s story and book remind us that balance is not about perfection but about alignment. Connecting our emotional and spiritual selves creates a foundation for resilience, connection, and lasting fulfilment.
To Purchase The Book, Visit:
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