"World Citizen? What's that?"
I strive to deal with you professionally and honestly, and to provide you with a good service at a fair price. Doing so will, hopefully, show me to be a good corporate citizen with whom you will feel comfortable doing business. But operating a business goes beyond the immediate relationship between client and provider, because each of these has clients and providers of their own.
The decisions we make as we operate a business have a ripple effect that can extend literally world-wide. Because the effects of our decisions, tiny though they may be, can be felt worldwide, I strive to make sure the effects of my decisions―my "ripples"―are positive ones. In doing so, I want to show myself to be not only a good corporate citizen, but a good world citizen as well.
A few ways I do that:Free Time
Many nonprofit organizations are working hard to affect positive change in their communities, but struggle with very limited resources. One way I try to help is with my "Free Time" program. I set aside 10% of my work hours each week to provide nonprofit organizations and schools with my services pro bono. Just contact me to discuss your project and schedule a time. I will schedule your organization ahead if the current week's hours are booked up and your project can wait. If your project needs to be completed before pro bono hours are availible, contact me anyway and let's see what we can work out.Reduce - Reuse - Recycle
I run my business with this "mantra" of the modern conservation movement in mind. By doing so, I not only save resources, I save money. Who doesn't like that?Reduce
There are a number of ways to reduce materials use in the modern
office. For example, when I need to print a draft for proofing, I
always print two pages to a sheet, cutting in half the amount of
paper I use. Also, unless a client specifically requests printed
drafts, I deliver products electronically in an effort to save
paper and other resources. I even designed my business cards to not
require bleeding color off any edges, reducing the amount of paper
needing to be trimmed away (and wasted).
Here's a great example: Since drafts are rough copies that no one will see but me, I can make them do double duty. No paper goes in my recycle bin (or shredder, if your projects are confidential in nature) until it's been printed on both sides. Recycle:
A recycle bin is a common site in most workplaces these days, my office included. I try to go beyond that. I also buy recycled materials for use in my office when I can. I also try to make sure what I produce will be more easily recyclable. This is why I use an inkjet printer instead of a laser. True, a laser printer offers a lot of advantages over an inkjet. But in the laser printing process the print toner fuses to the paper, making its removal during recycling very difficult. Some recycling plants will not even accept laser print for processing.
