Increasingly, during this economic downturn, we see stories of folks across the board tightening their belts, cutting their budgets, terminating employees and programs, and commenting on what they’re having to go without to get by. But what if all that was needed to weather this changing economic climate was a new mindset? What if all you needed to do was focus on the assets you have so that you can use them in a way that matters- to your community, to your employees, to enhance your bottom line?
That’s what Brent Green, owner of GreenArt Landscape Design in Southern California, has done and it’s making a HUGE difference in his communities (and we’re willing to bet on his bottom line too!).
According to the folks at Sunset Magazine, Brent "did a great job in turning his own garden in Mid-City L.A. from dead grass and a few scrufty shrubs to a mini-Paradise...[which] would have been a nice story all by itself. But...after he transformed his own yard, Brent took on the neighborhood. He planted hundreds of parkway trees, starting on his own block and moving to adjoining ones, giving neighbors lots of free advice on landscaping in the process. That's wasn't all, though. He also lobbied to get speed bumps installed on his street to slow down traffic, helped get Neighborhood Watch and city block clubs re-established, and became the go-to guy when the community wanted their viewpoints heard at City Council meetings."
You’ll have to purchase the April issue of Sunset Magazine to read Brent Green’s whole story, but click here for a link to the teaser. It will give you a taste of what one person who focused on what he has- in his case a green thumb and lots of plants- and how it’s transformed an entire community.
In these changing economic times, what do you have that you can see with new eyes? What do you have that you can leverage in a way that’s good for your people, your community and your bottom line?
P.S. See this inspiring article about how some dry cleaners are using what they have to make a difference.
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Articles for this blog are written by various members of the A.R.E. team and usually posted without naming the specific author. This is the first post, however, from one of our newest teammates, Jennifer Robinson. Welcome to the conversation, Jennifer!
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