Conscious Capitalism provides a sustainable roadmap for the capitalist system and a clear, consistent path to customer service excellence with all stakeholders—from customers and employees to partners and investors. Its importance and influence are summed up on the website ccsandiego.org: “Conscious Capitalism is a global movement co-founded by John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market and Raj Sisodia, Ph.D., renowned author and business leader. With membership around the world made up of companies like Trader Joes, Costco, Panera and Southwest Airlines, Conscious Capitalism is a way of thinking about capitalism and business that better reflects where we are in the human journey, the state of our world today, and the innate potential of business to make a positive impact on the world.”

For those dedicated to maintaining capitalism or moving toward socialism, Conscious Capitalism offers a way to achieve the best of all worlds. Along the way, “customer service” in all its forms is honored, served, and enhanced among all stakeholders.

It won’t destroy “laissez-faire capitalism,” defined in Investopedia as, “The driving principle behind laissez–faire, a French term that translates as…the less the government is involved in the economy, the better off business will be—and by extension, society as a whole.”

Conscious Capitalism by its nature protects people, minimizing or eliminating the need for governmental involvement to do just that. Conscious Capitalism helps ensure that customers receive stellar treatment, transparency and top-quality products and services. Conscious Capitalism treats employees right, offering wages, benefits and opportunities above what government regulation and involvement mandate.

A description in ccsandiego.org elaborates on how Conscious Capitalism is a win-win for capitalism and everyone in it: “Conscious Capitalism builds on the foundations of Capitalism – voluntary exchange, entrepreneurship, competition, and free trade. While most recognize that these are essential to a healthy economy, Conscious Capitalism also includes the critical elements of trust, compassion, and collaboration. The Conscious Capitalism movement challenges business leaders to re-think why their organizations exist and to acknowledge their companies’ roles in the interdependent global marketplace.”

“Capitalism works. Period. Its power to positively change lives is unparalleled. But misuse of capitalism’s power by some has led to negative stereotypes such as greed, misconduct and exclusion. This inaccurate way of thinking about business seemed destined to be an unshakable narrative — until now. There is a better way to be a capitalist.”

Consciouscapitalism.org

Consciouscapitalism.org further shines the spotlight on stakeholders in this environment: “‘When you tug at a single thing in nature, you find it attached to the rest of the world.’ – John Muir, Pioneering naturalist. Such is the case with business, which operates from an ecosystem of your employees, customers, suppliers, investors, society, and environment…sometimes this even includes your competition. Conscious businesses value and care for EVERYONE in their ecosystem, motivating their stakeholders by creating ‘win-win-win’ outcomes for all who are impacted by their business.”

The organization goes on to say: “Conscious businesses are galvanized by higher purposes that serve, align, and integrate the interests of all their major stakeholders. Their higher state of consciousness makes visible to them the interdependencies that exist across all stakeholders, allowing them to discover and harvest synergies from situations that otherwise seem replete with trade-offs. They have conscious leaders who are driven by service to the company’s purpose, all the people the business touches, and the planet we all share together…They endeavor to create financial, intellectual, social, cultural, emotional, spiritual, physical and ecological wealth for all their stakeholders.”

It’s not rocket science. Conscious Capitalism honors capitalism, addresses the well-intended efforts of socialism, and can heal many of the wounds that currently divide us.

Next Up: Pope Francis jumps on the Conscious Capitalism bandwagon.

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