One of the saddest by-products of our post-modern society is the isolation felt by many of its inhabitants. With many people living in single person households and single parent or small nuclear families we have lost the confidence building benefits and emotional support of living and working in community. We have also lost the practical advantages of sharing resources. The good news is we can re-create community and reap the benefits even if we do this on a small scale.

Simply put, a business’s “triple bottom line can be expressed in terms of the three Ps – People, Planet, Profit, and, most importantly, in equal priority. So now, rather than taking the conventional view and running our business primarily for profit, we are running our business for the welfare of society and of the environment with the same emphasis on these aims as on earning a profit.

In 1987 I sold my business, South Mountain Company, to my employees (and myself). My sole proprietorship became an employee-owned cooperative corporation. It was a hinge point in the history of the company. Ownership has become available to all employees, enabling people to own and guide their workplace. The responsibility, the power, and the profits all belong to the group of owners. (See John's video presentation, from ChelseaGreenTV)

If you haven't got time for your child's pain, make the time; You can pay (attention) now, or you can pay (the consequences) later.

Heath Ledger dead at 28.  What a tragedy.  What a waste. Perhaps we should be surprised that even more young adults and adults do not fall prey to drugs. In all likelihood, many more are under their spell, but they don't quite go over the edge or are not famous enough to be "newsworthy." What is the real appeal of heroin and cocaine, or their lesser evil counterparts, alcohol/marijuana and amphetamines/speed? Are they a way for teens and young adults to escape or merely cope their lives or is there something else going on?

In a world filled with constant movement, nomadic careers and life changes, annual rituals and traditions serve to re-energize and re-connect tribal members. So my question for you in this month that we associate with family and gatherings is what are your tribal rituals? What symbolic activity or gathering, can those in your business and/or family tribe depend on? What traditions will they pass on to new employees and new family members and in so doing honor and remember you and remember your tribe's mission?