Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take

Imagine a world where every business truly owned the full scope of its impact—not just what happens within its walls, but across the entire web of its supply chain, customers, and even the afterlife of its products. This is the foundation of what it means to be net positive. We are all connected, and the consequences of our actions ripple far beyond what we can immediately see. Take, for example, a company that designs colorful detergent pods. They aimed to innovate convenience, but inadvertently created a hazard when children mistook these pods for candy. The harm was unintentional, yet the responsibility undeniable. This story reminds us that true ownership means looking beyond profits and immediate outputs to the broader effects on people and the planet.

Owning all impacts requires courage and humility. It's about acknowledging that your business may be part of complex systems where your actions have unintended consequences. It’s not enough to outsource production or logistics and claim no responsibility. The health of communities downstream from factories, the environmental toll of raw materials, and the social conditions of workers in far-flung regions all fall within your sphere of ownership.

Companies that embrace this mindset build deeper trust with stakeholders. When a business steps up to address these challenges proactively, it not only mitigates risks but also uncovers opportunities for innovation and efficiency. For instance, a global consumer goods company discovered that tea plantation workers in its supply chain lacked access to basic plumbing and electricity. Addressing these issues improved worker well-being and productivity, demonstrating that ownership of impact is both a moral imperative and a smart business strategy.

Yet, this path is not without its challenges. It requires leaders to move beyond comfort zones, to look honestly at where their businesses may cause harm, and to engage transparently with critics and partners. True responsibility is a journey, not a destination. It demands continuous learning and adaptation.

As we begin to explore the net positive journey, remember: you break the world, you own it. This principle sets the stage for all the transformative work that follows, inviting us to rethink what it means to lead and succeed in business. With this understanding, let us now turn to the kind of leadership that can embrace such responsibility and inspire change.