inspire enterprise booklet

7/28/2019 Inspire Enterprise Booklet

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Cataloging in Publication Data:A catalog record for this publication is available from the National Library of Canada.

Copyright 2009 by Inspire Enterprise. All rights reserved.

First printing January 2009.

Written by: Paul EdneyDesigned by: Sara HuberCreative team: Paul Edney, Sara Huber, Phil Solman, Debbra Mikaelsen, Martin Russocki, Bambi EdlundImages: Paul Edney and Dreamstime Stock Photography (www.dreamstime.com)Illustrations: Martin Russocki, Sara Huber and Steve Heynen

Special thanks to: Rachel and James Edney, Jeremy Edney, Alice Kalia, Joel Kalia, Terran Orletsky, Bernice Raabis,Tom Atkins, Anika, Catherine, Scott, Elsa, Jessica, Ruby, Seth, Maia, Natasha and everyone else who made this bookpossible. Thank you.

Printed in Canada by Hemlock Printers Ltd.

Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9811596-0-7

Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of Inspire Enterprise should be addressed to:

Inspire Enterprise3140 The Middle RoadNelson, BC V1L 6M3Canada

To order books or for any other inquiries, please visit our website at www.lnspireEnterprise.com


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACTIn fact, if 200 people were to do this daily, in a year theyd save enough water to ll a bucket the size of the average house.

Thats one BIG bucket.

Turn!off

!the

!tap

!while

!brushing !or !shaving !

Youd be surprised at how much water it saves.


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Eat !a !

proper !breakfast

Studies show that eating a healthy breakfast increases energy, lowerscholesterol, improves concentration, aids weight loss, keeps blood sugarlevels stable and will undoubtedly improve your ofce olympics performance.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Be honest.

We wont even ask if you were walking or driving while youate it.


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Take !public !transit Advantages:

It saves money, no one cuts you off, you can read the paper, its good forthe environment...

Disadvantage: You cant sing as loudly as you wouldin your car. Unless you form acommuter choir.

Bus Gospel anyone?

Switching your commute to existing public transportation for a single day can reduce your CO2 emissions by 20 pounds. Thats more than 4,800pounds in a year (which, simply put, is the weight of one elephant).


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Car !pool

Carpooling for a year, with 2 colleagues on an averageshort commute = 6,160 pounds of CO2 saved (which, simply put, isthe weight of one really fat elephant).

Not to mention those huge savings on gas, car wear and tear, parking, etc.

What would you do with all the money youre not spending on gas?

Heres an idea: for around 30 bucks youcan give a goat to a family in a develop-ing country.

FYI, chickens are $15.


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BIG IMPACT A week away from the deadline the project was $175,000 short. Things lookedhopeless. That is until Alexs Grandma, spurred by his generosity, called up anddonated ALL the needed funds. So pick an action youre passionate about andtake the initiative.

Sometimes the ripple you start turns into a wave.

Simple !Action:

Take !the !initiative At school in 2001, Alex (then age 5) heard about a

local project to save a large area of timberland nearhis home from logging.

For four weekends in a row he set up a lemonadestand and sold lemonade from sun up to sun down.

He made $134.50 and donated every penny.


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

The average worker spends 12 days a year commuting to work andresearch indicates that staff who work from home actually achievemore, even if they do it in pink uffy slippers.

Not to be confused with Dont work.

What we mean is, discuss the possibility of telecommuting with your boss. Obviously

this is not going to work if youre a busdriver, a reghter or an astronaut.

You get to save on commuting time, stressand cost. Your boss gets to rent out your

parking space and cubicle.Everyones a winner.

Dont !go !to !work


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

For every 600 airmiles you dont collect youll keep the equivalent of

940 pounds of CO2 out of our atmosphere (the weight of your averagemale polar bear).

No, youre right, its just not the same.

Theres no jet-lag, no table for one, andno aimless channel surng until 2am.

Video !conference !instead !of !travelling


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Studies show that workers who take regular, structured breaks actually get moredone and are happier than those who keep plugging away non-stop all day.

You may be surprised to know that even doctors

say doing nothing is really good for you. It reducesanxiety, stress and depression, while increasing

self esteem and happiness.

So, Dont just do something, sit there.Doctors orders.

Take !a !5 !minute !break !and !do !nothing


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

North America uses 50 million trees a year to satisfy its paper cup habit.

Next time youre out walking, take a look around.

We bet youll see a few used cups crushed on thesidewalk, under a park bench, or sitting half-full ona ledge. Our culture seems to have this disposableattitude.

Maybe its time we disposed of it.

Use !a !mug


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

One study showed that it takes an average of 30 minutes for people to get back to whatever it was that they were distracted from when responding toemail.

Resist !the !urge !to !email Why not pick up the phone instead?Or if at all possible, walk over and have a face to face conversation.

Its so much more civilized.

Send


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

We could point to lots of research about the positive effects of praisingpeople at work. But we felt that would take something away from the realmotivation for doing it.

Feel good?

Psychologists say that in order to have a satisfyingrelationship we need 3 positive interactions forevery 1 negative.

Now stop dilly-dallying. Get out there and changethe world.

Please.

Praise !people

Rarely have I seensuch an organized

work-space...

Did I mention that agendayou sent through was

sheer poetry?

Im amazed at howquickly youre getting

through this book. Welldone, you!


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

The shorter the distance travelled, the more vitamins and antioxidants thefruits and vegetables have. Antioxidant-rich food help prevent various nasty diseases, boost the immune system and slow the aging process.

We suppose having lunch would be the rst step. The second step would be to

take your full lunch break to eat it (AWAY from your desk).

So, for advanced users who have completed one and two, step three is to avoidfood thats travelled a long way. Not only does it help the planet, its better for you.

Have !a !local !lunch


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

For every take-out polystyrene container NOT produced, approximately 6 pounds of CO2 is kept out of the atmosphere.

Arent you worth it?

Ditch !polystyrene !

and!

plastic


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

A company of 500 employees could save approximately 1,300,000 sheetsof paper a year.

Thats 162 trees. A year. Every year.

The rst time I tried to print on both sides of the paper I got through11 sheets before I mastered the machine.

It seemed like a waste at the timenotto mention being mighty frustrating.

But within a week Id saved 53 sheets of paper.

This year Ill save 2,756.

And thats just me. By myself.One person, in my little cubicle.

Use !both !sides


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Fresh air cleans your lungs. Deep breaths bring more oxygen into your cells. More oxygen brings greater clarity to the brain, whichneeds twenty percent of your bodys oxygen to function.

Go !outsideTake a deep breath.

Cough, hack, splutter move away from the smokers.

Take another deep breath.

Feel the peace.


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Supported by proceeds from the sale of fair trade coffee, the NationalCoffee Fund in Colombia has built over 6,000 schools, enabling over360,000 children to attend local primary school.

Drink !

fair !tradeLook deeeeeeply into this fair tradecup of coffee. What do you see?

If you see afamily able tomake ends meet,send their childrento school and feelproud of themselves, great.

If you see athree-headed goatin a tutu, you needto get out more.


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

By turning off youre saving money. Youre saving energy. And youre giving a damn.

Turn !the !lights !off When you leave a room, turn off the lights.Even if you think youre coming back any minute.Chances are youll get distracted and itll take longer.

Like the guy who stepped out quickly to buy milk and came back 3 months later...

Sorry it took solong, they only had

skim.


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

For everything reduced or re-used you are:

Keeping CO2 out of the atmosphere Reducing the amount of stuff going into landll Saving money

Things that should be re-used:

packaging (boxes, bubblewrap, etc.) paper (scraps for notes) envelopes

Things that should be reduced:

energy (turn it off) paper (think before you print) travel (video conference)

Exceptions:

fruit & vegetable servings kindness consciousness

P.S. Chocolate is NOT a vegetable

Exceptions:

coffee grounds chewing gum toilet paper

Reduce Re-use...


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

!Recycle

Printer cartridges take over 450 years to decompose in landll, OR they can be used to

make plastic decking lumber that will pretty much NEVER rot.

Five large plastic soda bottles can be recycled to produce enough polyester fabric for an XLT-shirt or one square foot of carpet.

If the average westerner recycled all the newspapers they read each year, they would save around ve 35 foot high trees.

Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 13 wattcompact uorescent lightbulb for over 30 hours.


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

If every one of North Americas 100 million plus mobile phonechargers were left plugged in they would consume enough electricity to power 264,000 homes.

Unplug !your !cell !chargerIt sucks power, even when it isnt powering your phone.

And that sucks.


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Studies show that the risk of cardiovascular disease and death is loweramong those who are regular stair climbers.

Take !the !stairsEverest = 29,028 feet high1 ight of stairs = 12 feet

Did you hear that? Thats the sound of the gauntlet being thrown.


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

By shutting down computers at night, a business with 100 computerscould save up to $1,650 a year in electricity costs and keep approximately 6.5 elephants worth of CO2 out of the atmosphere.

Shut !down !your !computer !

before !you !leave

Here are a few fun things you can plan to do when its booting up again in themorning:

1. Make a paper airplane and sail it across the ofce.

2. Make two cups of coffee, one for you and one forsomeone who looks like they need it (NOTE: Dontsay you look like you need this when making thedelivery).

3. Sing happy birthday at the top of your lungs. Its bound to be somebodys.


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Walking reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, lowers bloodpressure, reduces high cholesterol, reduces body fat, enhances mental

well-being, increases bone density, helps to prevent osteoporosis, helpsexibility and co-ordination, AND you get where you wanted to go.

Walk !more

All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking. Nietzsche

Either there or on the toilet.


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

The average ofce worker could increase their family time by 6 hours a week if they stopped taking work home withthem thats 300 hours in a year.

Dont !take !work !homeDoes anybody have anything toadd to the agenda this evening?

Joey, youre on minutes.

Katie, could you action icecream for dessert?


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Youve got to admit that it feels pretty special when someone starts aconversation with Im just going to switch my cell off so you can have my full attention.

Turn !your !cell !offBeing available 24/7 is nothingto be proud of.

Being present in the moment is.


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Studies show that volunteering improves health, increases

happiness and lengthens life expectancy.

Its amazing how much you get when you give

Volunteer Why not start by volunteering to get a coffee forsomeone whos busier than you?

Thats how Mother Theresa got started. (Allegedly.)

And then when you get back to your desk, typevolunteering in into yourfavourite search engine.


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Asking gives a person the feeling that they are important to you.This leads to improved self-esteem, which, studies show, leads to ahappier, healthier person.

Ask !someone !

how !they !areMeaningful conversation is a casualty of ourspeed-dial, fast food, 24/7 culture.

So the next time a telemarketer calls offering you yet another credit card: How are you today, Mr.Mispronouncedname?

Lay it on them, baby. Tell them about thatpersistent spasm in your left eyeball, thequestionable sushi you had forlunch, and your auntship replacement.

And if theyre still on the line when youve had your say,give them a chance ...

but enough about me now,how are you?


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Research indicates that giving quality attention (not to mentionreceiving) leads to better mental health and reduced stress.

Spend !some !quality !timeStart with yourself.

Then focus on someone you love.

Make a list of everyone who isimportant to you and then gothrough the list one by one.

KidsMomDadBroSisAuntie Minnie George ClooneyAngelina Cameron Diaz


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, life satisfaction, vitality, optimism and lower levels of depression and stress.

Say !thank-youId like to thank the academy, momand dad, my babysitter from grade6, and everyone who made this book possible


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Simple !Action:

BIG IMPACT

Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean. Ryunosuke Satoro

Rip !up !this !bookTear out these posters (carefully please).

If theyve inspired you they are bound to inspire others.So go crazy nd a location and then pin it, stick it, tape it etc


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Now !what?

Take Action

MeasureSmall actions have a BIG impact. Well prove it to you.

Set up your own company Action Tracker at www.InspireEnterprise.com.

InvolveInvolving colleagues is key to making change. It also makes it a lot more fun.Ideas and initiatives available at www.InspireEnterpise.com.

Need support? Inspire Enterprise will help:

Workshops to explore and measure organizational vitality (Are you ready for change?)

Consulting(How to make it stick.)

Inspiring speakers(Ra, Ra, Ra.)

Contact us: [email protected]

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