“Screw Business As Usual.” I feel like I’ve been saying this for a while now, however Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, just put it in print in this Live Mint, Wall Street Journal article, “Volunteer Work: The Bigger Picture.”

He makes the point that philanthropy and business are not exclusive of one another. Branson says, “Many people assume that the only way a business can contribute to its local community is by donating to charity, but they’re mistaken. A company that has a strong set of principles woven into its DNA will find many opportunities for making a difference.” 

He goes on to say, “Philanthropic work undertaken not just by the chief executive officer, but by any employee, is an asset to the group as a whole, bringing in new perspectives and relationships that the group wouldn’t otherwise have.”

So true. My personal perspective and ability to provide clients with creative solutions has dramatically expanded because of my volunteer efforts with Engineers Without Borders. Think about the complexities of completing infrastructure projects with limited materials, diminishing natural resources, dysfunctional community structure and cultural differences. All of these elements force one to think differently. I can say definitively that I’ve learned more from the communities that I serve than I feel that I’ve provided.  More in my next post about what I, and my colleagues at GeoEngineers have done this summer with EWB. These experiences have enhanced our business culture; and yes, we are starting to say, “screw business as usual.”