GameChangers 500

Yesterday, I watched a very interesting TEDx talk by Andrew Hewitt. I highly recommend it. I'm going to try my best to summarize it here and tell you about my very favorite new website and resource for researching about different companies, called: "GameChangers 500".

Andrew Hewitt, a success at the business world and author of "Power of Focus for College Students" traveled to Costa Rica to explore his role in "changing the dream of the modern world." There, he met an old man who helped him realize that there were many moments in (3000 years of) history where people felt like the world was going to collapse, but in reality, there were only 4 major "shifts". These big cycles represented a shift in paradigm where the objectives and the world view of the civilization changed. Interestingly, there was a common pattern in these 4 things that happened.

1. The dominant institution shows signs of corruption and collapse.

2. There is a breakthrough in communication technology.

3. The masses rise up or revolt.

4. Game Changers & visionaries emerge to bring forth a new worldview. 

These were the 4 major shifts:

1. Institutionalized Religions: 550-1550

2. Nation States: 1550-1945

3. Multinational Corporations: 1945-2012

4. The New Game: 2012-Beyond

In his research, he realized that yes, there were signs of corruption and collapse--multi-million dollar frauds in corporations, breakthrough in communication---the Internet, the masses rising were the many "Occupied Wall Street" movements happening all over the world, and as for GameChangers & Visionaries--movement of new companies that were purpose-driven rather than profit-driven and redefining success. Thus, this is not the end of an era. It's actually a beginning to a new and exciting era, one where youth can really take a part in. Andrew then realized if we want to showcase success, we need to shift what we showcase as success. The fortune 500 list profiles companies only based on how much money they make...[rather] we need to showcase a different definition of success. Thus, he created this "Game Changers 500" list that showcases a new group of companies that showed the new definition of success. They created these standards and broke them up into 9 badges, fitting into 3 categories:

Objectives 

>Reinvent (stepping outside of the status quo) 

>Impact (using affiliations & cooperations to grow their impact rather than just their profit) 

>Meet the Mission (focused on meeting the mission and not just on revenues)

How We Treat People

>Exceptional Work Environment (creating places where it's fun to work)

>Empowering Employees (realizing that happiness is the new productivity)

>Win-Win-Win (realized success is where everybody wins--themselves, charities, even "competitive" local businesses, in the example of Whole Foods)

How We Treat the Planet

>Earth-friendly offices (how well they keep their office green)

>Replenish the Planet (giving back to the environment and helping it thrive)

>Ecodesign (build their products and services with future generations in mind, meeting incredible standards in sustainabilities) 

All GameChangers companies were united in creating initiatives for all of these 9 badges. In the website, gamechangers500.com, these companies showcased what they did and how they met these 9 success principles. 

I have visited the website already and as I mentioned, I definitely recommend it. It's interesting because I actually have been looking for this "list" without knowing that it actually existed. I have been looking for a place to research companies in my industry where they have a special mission in mind--not just the regular profit-seeking companies. And I am so thankful to Andrew Hewitt and his journey that led to this incredible new list that truly redefines success.