ECOpreneuring

Putting Purpose and the Planet before Profits

A nation of 9-5-ers is giving way to a spirited movement of "ecopreneurs," searching for ways to make a life filled with purpose and meaning, instead of simply earning a living. They're often thriving in the place-based "honey bee economy" that restores, preserves and conserves the planet while operating in ways that foster fair trade relationships, sustainable community development, and social and economic justice. In a workforce where job security, a pension and affordable healthcare are a thing of the past, social trends are moving toward greater self-reliance, relocalization and sustainability.

ECOpreneuring is a fresh and dynamic approach to entrepreneurial thinking, blending passion for the planet with small business pragmatics. It smashes the stereotype that "doing good" and "running a business" can't go hand in hand.

ECOpreneuring guides ecopreneurs launching or transforming their green business from the ground up. Part small business manifesto, part personal finance primer, ECOpreneuring is essential reading for small business owners, prospective entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs starting non-profit organizations and anyone who dreams of a livelihood based on independence, creativity, passion and a commitment to green practices, fair trade and sustainability. Ecopreneurs turn their passions and purpose into an enterprise that doesn't destroy the planet or exploit people. Their enterprises generate (some) profits to run their business rather than the purpose of their business to make more profits for themselves or their shareholders. ECOpreneuring covers the triple bottom line for running a business -- concerning themselves with people, planet and profits -- while offering numerous resources and contacts like Co-op America, Global Exchange, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), 350.org, Midwest Renewable Energy Association, LOHAS online, Transfair USA, and the Institute for Local Self Reliance, among many others.

Additionally, ECOpreneuring features eight ecopreneur profiles from large and small, non-profit and for-profit organizations, including:

• Eric Henry, President, and Tom Sineath of T.S. Designs, who adopted a triple bottom line approach to their t-shirt business and transformed printing -- to printing in the fabric, not on it -- on U.S.-made, organic t-shirts.

• Priya Haji, co-founder with Siddharth Sanghvi of World of Good, dedicating their hyrbid for-profit and non-profit organizations to harness commerce to alleviate poverty and improve the environment.

• David Anderson, founder and CEO of GreenOptions Media, helping people green the good life through their dynamic community and network of environmentally-focused blogs that address current news, lifestyle, business and technology topics.

• Jan Joannides, co-founder with husband Brett Olson of Renewing the Countryside, a non-profit and for-profit hybrid organization providing educational resources, success stories and an innovative green travel program, Green Routes.

• David Van Seters, president and CEO of Small Potatoes Urban Delivery (SPUD), a grocery delivery business that addresses the growing interest in local, organic and fairly traded foods while mitigating issues related to climate change.

Besides the ecopreneur profiles, ECOpreneuring includes other examples of ecopreneurial companies, especially in the hot "green tech" or "clean tech" sector, companies like enLux Lighting, manufacturers of LED (light emitting diode) lights, and Bioverse, manufacturer of ecologically responsible solutions for bioremediation in ponds, lakes, and other water features.

Reflecting the sense of collaboration and cooperation among many ecopreneurs, the ECOpreneuring book website, www.ecopreneuring.biz, features additional resources and an innovative ecopreneur website portal in partnership with EcoSector.com.

About the Authors
Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko are innkeepers of the award-winning Inn Serendipity Bed & Breakfast, completely powered by renewable energy. This husband-and-wife duo are national speakers, marketing consultants and co-authors of Rural Renaissance and Edible Earth. They regularly contribute to projects for the non-profit organization, Renewing the Countryside, providing success stories and practical resources for rural entrepreneurs and farmers. Kivirist is also a distinguished W.K Kellogg Foundation Food and Society Policy Fellow and Ivanko is the co-author and photographer for numerous multicultural children's books for the Global Fund for Children, including the award-winning Be My Neighbor and To Be a Kid. They share their organic farm in Browntown, Wisconsin with their son, a 10kW Bergey wind turbine, and millions of ladybugs.

Contact Authors, Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko E-mail: info@innserendipity.com

ECOpreneuring W7843 County P Browntown WI 53522 E-mail: info@innserendipity.com www.ecopreneuring.biz