Skin Care / Skin Trade ... changing the face of the world

The next disruption needed for preventing violence against women will come through a powerful combination of 2 worlds: the experience of business architecture and the heart and will of its social counterpart. This fusion of goods/services AND the advent of the social revolution creates a structure and platform for a powerfully synergetic causation…
Equal part Goods/Services + Equal part Social Issue = Sustainable, Synergetic Social Impact.

Or 1 + 1 = millions impacted

It’s a hand-in-hand approach. This innovation is geared toward the violence of human trafficking, but is replicable in all areas of gender violence.
To understand the future, we must see where we’ve been. First, see existing equations between social and business sectors:

1. Business that donates to a worthy social cause. Consider dish soap that works well on cleaning sea animals who’ve been drenched in oil after a spill. They offer a product and will give a dollar of each bottle sold to this cause.

2. Big companies giving cash to social entrepreneurs, like Pepsi’s campaign “Refresh Everything”. They are giving millions through competitions to send individuals out with working capital for their social innovations.

3. Social organizations that sell products, usually geared at education and a call to action. Go to EmbraceDignity.org, and purchase buttons or t-shirts that read “Sex is Not a Sport”, specifically aimed at the Olympic environment. Wear the shirt and button that educate attendees to beware and the traffickers to be GONE.

4. Front Line social organizations like Women At Risk International that sell products made by freed former slaves.

5. Organizations helping consumers to make socially responsible purchasing decisions. ChainStoreReaction.com and Free2Work.org are invaluable in efforts to call producers to be responsible. They are simplifying the complexities of the global slave trade and our limited vision into product supply chains so we can grasp how we are connected to forced child labor occurring in the global production cycle.

While this is not all inclusive, it's beautiful, necessary and has great impact getting the world on board.

Now let's look to the future. WHERE WILL GREATER IMPACT COME FROM? How can we reach, educate and involve more people? Equal part Goods/Services + Equal part Social Issue = Sustainable, Synergetic Social Impact.

This new Social Business will produce and sell to consumers. They will help those who ‘join’ their brand or service by creating a platform for awareness, education and simple action in this battle of violence against women through websites and social networking. As the social business gives a percentage, purchasers will be donating to front line organizations while receiving something they were going to buy anyway.

Why, if so many people are working to end the violence of slavery, do the majority of people still not know about it? If it’s the fastest growing crime in the world, why don’t we know? What we’re doing to date, while good, has not been effective enough. It’s because we’re leaving all the educating and fund raising up to organizations working on the release and aftercare of victims, and to the prosecutors of perpetrators. But they can’t do it all. By calling out a new sector of social business, we create a better avenue into the homes of millions and a virtual clearing house for gathering and harnessing donors and workers. The sustainable social business will now be the primary avenue for education. From their profits they will give a percentage to front line organizations. For their brand joiners whose hearts are captured, they will join them with organization partners who need helping hands. Through this innovation, all people can learn how to prevent violence against women. Can you imagine if all entries in this competition were paired with one of these new social businesses? What a relief it would be. We will propel all further because we are working “smarter.” It also gives the “every girl” a VOICE-a VOTE-a VICTORY when it comes to helping end slavery/trafficking in our time. Simply through their every day needs and purchases. 1 + 1 = millions impacted.

Skin Care/Skin Trade … changing the face of the world (singular idea for replication): Aimed temporarily at West, we will take the entrepreneurial and competitive architecture of the business sector, and fuse it EQUALLY (that’s the innovation) to eliminating slavery as the primary reason for our business (other than to pay bills).

My company, Day Away Botanicals®, is working to educate women about Human Trafficking, and give simple, clear actions they can take in their daily life. Thus the equation, Skin Care/Skin Trade...changing the face of the world. Organic Skin Care is not going away, in spite of a recession in the U.S. economy, the green revolution is just gearing up in the skin care industry. Our obsession with ‘anti-aging’ along with our growing responsible green spirit (including an understanding that putting things like petro-chemicals on our face is wrong for skin and environment) is gaining momentum. By fusing skin care with slavery, we create a forum for education and a platform for action. Every morning, as women cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize their face with pure ingredients, they will be encouraged and empowered to act.

The key to this disruptive and systemic innovation is to understand the heart of women, whether victims or not. Women instinctively understand relational complexities, and are motivated to act. We look for things that need beautifying, and work tirelessly for improvement; from skin to relationships to world causes.

Timing is everything. The social implications of recession in the United States are large. We are paring down. It’s a time of re-focusing on the values that give happiness and purpose. We are looking for the place we are called to; the place where our deep gladness and the world’s hunger meet. This is the rise of ‘Rethinking the American Dream’. If nature abhors a vacuum, let’s fill it with a cause: Equal part Goods/Services + Equal part Social Issue = Sustainable, Synergetic Social Impact. We will look back on this time in awe. One day we only cared about our car, and the next we started a war against slavery. The time is now.

Faith Popcorn and her collaborator Lys Marigold have presented the future in their ‘Eight Truths of Marketing to Women’. They say ‘understanding the way women think’ is causing a shift in marketing away from a hierarchical model toward a relational one. The purpose of their book EVEolution is how to understand, reach, motivate and sustain the loyalty of the female consumer. The summary of their brilliant work is this: “A customer of the moment is the one who buys your brand; a customer for life is the one who joins it.” My favorite truth is #1: Brands must be differentiated not in the way you bring components together, but in the way you bring women together. Teaming women’s purchasing needs and power with a world cause is the future of a world without violence.

Consider some future flesh on the bones on this idea (examples of replication on any scale). First, let’s create an umbrella company for the new social business sector. For now, let’s call it PSI2 (Positively Sweet Inclinations for Powerful Social Impact). And now, add..

...new phone company + civilian’s first responder theme = millions impacted ...
I’d like to see a phone company be the first to join PSI2. Pair a phone company with a minutes plan that allows me to be me (I must communicate to be me), with a Civilian’s First Responder theme, and what do you get? First of all, happy women. Minutes will no longer slip to overage. Second, use the company to educate women on how to recognize violence against women in their own surroundings and insert in their phone a ‘hotline’ to report it. Third, educate them about violence against our gender around the world. Donate phones in regions where violence is an every moment reality. Work with hospitals and policing organizations to respond to desperate calls. The possibilities are endless. Happy women. Safer women. Women helping women through communication. I don’t know any woman who would not join this brand.

...new clothing chain + seamstress vocational education = millions impacted...
Next, let’s include a chain clothing store divided into ‘countries’. Women LOVE clothes. Women of the world will market their country’s fashion. Beautiful photography of women in their native dress will adorn the store walls. Implement vocational seamstress schools which educate and employ victims around the world. If a woman elevates the income of their family, respect grows, as well as her personal protection. People won’t need to sell their daughter to the highest bidder. Donate sewing machines. Build seamstress schools (get an education and learn how to sew – partner with front-liners). Have contests store wide to send women to other countries and bring back first hand news of impact and garments for the store.

...new women’s coffee house chain + positive impact innovations = millions impacted..
What is it that women love – and need – to do? Talk over coffee. We are problem solving; our own problems as well as world problems. Let’s take over the coffee house industry. Can you imagine? There is a woman right now who has worked her entire life in a factory. She is wise. Let’s empower her to start her own coffee shop through a chain; that is run by women, for women (retire things, not people). She can now, rather than retiring due to diminished physical capacity, take on the challenge of mentoring the social entrepreneurial spirit. These coffee shops could sponsor book clubs. Let’s have workshops and speakers. Sponsor a local competition to end violence against women. Use coffee shop proceeds to sponsor the winner's innovations. There will be lovely ambiance. And phenomenal coffee!

We will need an actionable focus group to be formed on Capitol Hill to work toward this new social business category to receive taxation relief due to the fact that we are the NEW FOREIGN AID.

The ideas are endless, scalable and replicable … the impact, profound. In the US, as well as around the globe.

The EQUATION, STEP BY STEP (not inclusive, just building block highlights)

1. Start with Day Away Botanicals®.

a. Product. I already have a beautiful green manufacturing company who has helped me with product creation. My brand is cutting edge in luxurious, anti-aging, organic skin care. I also created and sell the most innovative shaving lotion in the world (not a gimmick), with a follow-up replenishing body lotion. Our intent is not to sell the promises of miracles as put forth by the over-the-counter industry, but to use the best organic ingredients and combination of current technology in the skin care arena. The miracles will come by WHAT we do with our success. The organic skin care industry awaits the ‘Starbucks’ at the top of the heap. We intend to be it.

b. Initiate partnership with people and organizations working on the front lines of human trafficking and all women at risk issues. I have already done this, and continue to forge more daily through intensive social networking and research.

c. Implement financial strategies:
-setting the price point to allow as many every-day women to join your brand as possible (more affordable)
-determine what is the MOST you can responsibly donate, and set up a monthly structure to do so
-the all-important bookkeeping set-up with financial strategies, etc.

d. Produce website inviting women to join our brand and get involved (this is underway). Education about the issue is key.

e. Initiate standard procedures for the flow of donations; always reporting on impact.

f. Create alliances, involving all social networking strategies and celebrity, to get the word out. Find your tipping point.

g. Implement all futuristic marketing innovations.

h. Create replicable platform for “Day Away Botanicals® Street Team”.
-Receive updates on our collective social impact, news and education
-steadfastly encourage political WILL. By our sheer numbers and active political involvement, our elected officials will be forced to act.
-Format for groups to form and enter competitions or projects
-Program for sending women to the front lines, local or abroad
-Creation of “ideas” pool: input from women to reach women; strategies for having impact on our cause; products they want next from Day Away Botanicals®; furthering our financial reach and power for impact.
-No need for duplicating effort. We will connect the ideas of women with groups on the front lines whose passions have similar focus. We will work “smarter.”
-Market strategies for in home “Liberation Celebrations”, our version of the girl party, to try and buy our skin care, as well as educate on Human Trafficking and violence against women. This is not a pyramid structure; rather, simple grassroots power against misogyny. Replicable without a company representative through literature and video.

i. Community support will be secured through grassroots efforts and the media spotlight on our ever increasing success.

j. Currently, I am personally financing the start-up of Day Away Botanicals® from my savings. In the future, the sales of our skin care will drive us forward. And many NGO’s will be supported through our mission to reach more people. Sustainability.

k. Implement Measurement Practices:
- Website Measurements: site visitors, sales, sign-ups for newsletters, numbers of joiners to Street Team (this is where the action is).
- Grassroots Involvement: number of 'Liberation Celebrations' (girl party), global movement of Liberation Celebrations, number of active street team members involved in measureable action (what are we doing, how many are doing it).
- Partnership Growth: number of front-line partner joiners for us to connect Day Away Botanicals women with.

2. Form umbrella company PSI2. As of yet, no one can point me to a social business coalition working collectively against gender-based violence in this fashion. Individual companies can submit their business to join the “Positively Sweet Inclinations for Powerful Social Impact” or PSI2.
a. This will be the location through which new business starts will join us and through which existing business can reformat and become one with the new equation. We’ll be looking not for those who want to give fish, or those who want to teach fishing. We are looking for revolutionaries with a vision.
b. We will begin in the U.S., but logic says membership can be spread across the globe.

c. Implement CRITERIA of membership …
i. Must have a responsible green product or service that is viable and cutting edge in today’s market.
ii. They must be paired with a specific form of violence against women.
iii. Must educate themselves on and implement marketing strategies such as The Tipping Point and EVEolution.
iv. Products must have an all-important price point. Enough to move the business forward in its social enterprise and sustainable viability … and no more. This must always be re-evaluated.
v. Need an equitable pay scale between employees and management. I believe that’s crucial to the future of small business – team mentality – rewarding the workers, the geese that lay the golden egg. Get rich quick need not apply.
vi. Must have an actionable plan to donate to reputable and financially efficient people and organizations on the front lines of their connected issue, with public reporting on where profit dollars are going. It should be in the form of a percentage, or dollar amount per item or purchase.
vii. Need to have an education and social networking game plan. They will do the legwork to update their purchasing network on the issues.
viii. Need a game plan to emotionally and/or physically connect their purchasers with real women that need help.
ix. There will be contests through each company for innovative ideas and action on them where the goal and winning prize is to be sent – cost free – to the front lines. To quote Harper McDonnell, an American working for HEAL Africa (an aid hospital in east Congo), “I’d rather have someone come here and see what’s going on than write a check for one or two thousand dollars, because that visit is going to change their life.” (From Half The Sky, by Kristof and WuDunn.) She knows that more than two grand will be coming as a result of a changed life.
x. Must have an implementation strategy to encourage and forge political will. This is foundational to all movements that require new global strategies!
xi. Take StrengthsFinder 2.0 test, so we know where your strengths are, and where you’ll need help.

d. Implement BENEFITS of membership …
i. Collective advertising. Send more money to the front lines.
ii. Links to fellow business on websites. This creates advantages in Search Engine Optimization for our sites, as well as providing a path for our purchasers to buy what they are going to buy anyway within the arena of PSI2 and make their hard earned dollars speak volumes.
iii. Shared Ideas within PSI2 on sparking their individual constituencies to action, and serving them in it.
iv. Collective access to front line people and resource material.
v. Simple fellowship and encouragement from others who share our strategy and ideation for impact.
vi. Changing perceptions of the world on how business is done. Away from greed, toward the golden rule. What would I want others to do if I was kidnapped and now a sex slave in Cambodia?

e. Implement MEASUREMENTS of membership: we will use both the increase of sales per social business AND individualized measurements per social business, as well as active participation of our members on our websites and competitions, social networking and Street teams.

f. We will call attention to the need to implement State policies and legislation against gender-based violence, by including links on our sites that hook into the existing resources that tell us when to send information to our elected officials. Identify those with a passion for making and influencing State policies and legislation as well as encouraging ALL with simple actions of communication.

g. We will apply monitoring and efficiency resources, once we have at least one viable company. Or maybe we’ll start our own watchdog council as a new PSI2 business.

Time and money. New business start-ups cost money (once it's up and running, it will be sustainable if it's a good product). Running a dual-purpose company takes time and dedicated teamwork.

Connections. We will need the right people to help strengthen our social business model.

Potential ‘company added’ problems, those who are looking only for our ‘benefits added’ rather than sharing our ideation and strategy.

1. NGO’s, in particular that work both locally and internationally. I have developed a personal working relationship with WAR International (Women At Risk). The president of WAR, Becky McDonald, grew up as a missionary kid in Asia. From Childhood, she has been accustomed to living and interacting with those of different faiths such as Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim. Her motto is always ‘culturally relevant’. For Becky, it began with a playmate who was wounded, raped and had acid poured down her throat. She was 14 years old. The acid of her playmate's suffering burned a hole in Becky's heart and has since set her on a course of action. WAR’s passion is to give voice to the silenced cries of women of the world who flow through their world wide projects, creating circles of protection. There is no greater joy for them than to see a woman or child rescued, restored and empowered to support herself with dignity. Across the neighborhood or ocean, they educate women to provide protection and hope through culturally sensitive, value-added interventions. Their proven partnering capacity is mind staggering: from U.S. Homeland Security, to safe-houses worldwide, to fair trade micro-business around the globe. I love sending money to war as they are a 90/10 NGO; 90% of donations make it to women at risk, 10% of their budget is overhead.

2. Private Companies are crucial for the manufacturing of PSI2 products and services. I have an excellent working relationship with my skin care scientist and her laboratory. In the future, I'd like to employ women in safe houses in the US and abroad to package and ship products.

3. Social Organization and University alliances are yet to be fully developed, and the possibilities are endless. Every day I work on strategic social networking.

The results are varied and many. More results will become apparent as we move down this path.

1. Actively engaging people to spend income in targeted arena of goods/services provided by PSI2 companies SPECIFICALLY to prevent violence against women. Why just use skin care? Use skin care and CARE. It's working.

2. Connecting people to education, real action and world impact.

3. We will draw them in through simple extrinsic motivation. We have a better good/service at a better price. So much of the world, and America I believe in particular, wants to know “what am I going to get out of this?”. If I don’t get anything, I don’t have time or money. While this is not always a bad thing, if one is not directly connected to something like slavery that people can feel, they will not involve themselves. I want to stop fighting this problem and use it. Get them in. By taking the very first step with us, they have already given (as we give). Now educate them. Draw in their heart. Help them to understand that speaking up for those without a voice DOES make their life better. Just today I was speaking to a young man in college. I had no reason to speak to this stranger, but I noticed he had a rash on his neck from daily shaving. I mentioned to him that I could clear up that rash; that I had invented a shaving lotion that would reduce nicks, give him a closer shave AND clear up that rash - and it's not a gimmick. As the conversation progressed, I told him about the problems of modern day slavery and asked him if he thought it possible that this problem would ever touch his life. He didn't know. I gave him a scenario. What if your buddy is going to get married and you go to his bachelor party. There's alcohol. You perhaps drink too much. And then they bring some girls out. How will you know for certain they are not slaves? Will you even be thinking of it as a possibility that these girls are not here of their free will. And I saw that 'aha' dawning look on his face. I had a platform for education, simply because he had a rash on his neck.

3. Shifting societal perceptions about the greed of first world business, to a reality that business is walking hand in hand with a social focus. We could use a better image about now.

4. To revolutionize the pattern of education about gender violence through social businesses, and how to affect change.

5. Greater political involvement on specific gender violence issues. The west in particular is necessary to overcoming horrific evils like the slave trade.

6. And finally, a main result will be great relief for front line organizations. Much of their time should and will be freed up by pairing with a social business. We will educate, and send them much money and helping hands. Their time will be freed up, and they will have more money to help even more victims of violence.

That is how Day Away Botanicals will generate results. The lives of millions will be impacted. Simple and smart.

I have been testing this theory, this equation of 1+1=millions impacted, at a grassroots level for the last six months through Day Away Botanicals. Not only have I found the initial experiment to be successful in educating men & women while selling organic skin care, I have women coming alongside me and working tirelessly … for FREE. They like the equation. They love the impact. Their husbands are getting an education alongside them. And getting involved. The secret of our success? Think big. Act bigger. Tell everyone!

The impact will be measured by standards laid out in our implementation strategy. But as a living movement (due to the individuals who join us), the measurements will only increase, as joiners have the 'next' idea.

Why America and why start with organic skin care for impact? I’m compelled to go back to the heart of a woman... 1. To be wanted and fought for; 2. To play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure, not merely for adventure's sake, but for what it requires of us FOR others; 3. To unveil beauty; our desire to delight and be delighted in, not just the desire for an outward beauty, but more - a desire to be captivating in the depths of who we are! Given these three truths, it makes sense to start with skin care. If our skin is a trans-dermal supply system for our bodies, we will use the outer to affect the inner, our heart. That’s personal impact right there.

While we will sell to more women then men in the case of skin care, we will provide specific education for women to share with the men they love or know. Women can't help but talk! And it will be crucial for the attitudes and cultural practices of men to change to truly prevent violence against women. It's going to take us all. It will be a GREAT day, when we add our first social business to PSI2 that will partner with front line organizations working with men, who I believe are much harder to work with. I've already had a man contact me with ideas and passion for his social business and this cause. I can't wait to get him partnered with an organization that entered this very competition; one which I've come to respect and admire greatly.

And then there are the captives, slaves...who long to be captivating for the right reasons (not for a buck, like a cow bought and sold). I’m committed to Skin Care/Skin Trade…changing the face of the world for them.

The west, including America, is needed for impact on gender violence. While people combat the issues in more violent areas than ours even, and we MUST support their impact, it is time for Westerners to have more significant input and impact. And I know we’re ready for this!

To quote for Kristof and WuDunn one final time: “We’re not arguing that Westerners should take up this cause because it’s the fault of the West; Western men do not play a central role in prostitution in most poor countries. True, American and European sex tourists are a part of the problem in Thailand , the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Belize, but they are still only a small percentage of the johns. The vast majority are local men. Moreover, Western men usually go with girls who are more or less voluntary prostitutes, because they want to take the girls back to their hotel rooms, while forced prostitutes are not normally allowed out of the brothels. So this is not a case where we in the West have a responsibility to lead because we’re the source of the problem. Rather, we single out the West because, even though we’re peripheral to the slavery, our action is necessary to overcome a horrific evil.” We are still largely untapped in our potential for impact!

The main impact is very far reaching and regenerative: How we do business and why, impacting what we do in the world and why. And vice-versa. The impact will be solid business solutions and monies invested in preventing violence against women at a whole new level through a whole new equation. While the business environment has been called by the people for better integration of responsible environmental practices and social impact giving, we are taking it to the next level. We will create a platform for action: political resolve impacting government policy, business acumen offering the best of goods and services to draw people in for impact, and personal social involvement in the world. I believe in five years, the Oshoka measurements could be applied to Skin Care/Skin Trade … changing the face of the world, as well as PSI2 companies, and determine the exact value of this new equation. It will be huge.

We just sent our first donation to WAR International from skin care monies. There is a girl in Cambodia who is waking to yet another day of beatings, continual rape and torture. We WILL help her to freedom. I'm excited to send funds for their new Chunati sewing center in Asia through WAR; working towards a life of self-sustainability and dignity. Impact.

For just beginning on this initiative, I'm amazed how quickly the word has spread. We have impacted many to simply vote and comment on this entry. Our sheer numbers say that people want to have impact through the simplicity of their every day activities. Things as simple as washing their face and shaving. This impacts ME greatly. We are on the right path. It will be successful.

While I understand that this innitiative might better be positioned in the upcoming competition for new ideas on social business, my heart and passion are to prevent violence against women. The place I am called to is the place where my deep gladness and the world’s hunger meet. It is there, that I, and everyone, can have our greatest impact!

Ultimately, PSI2 members, along with Day Away Botanicals, will help mentor a new age of “true citizens”, which will be our greatest privilege, our greatest impact!