"Are you busy, enough?" Rethinking success in a climate crisis

How do we redefine 'enough' in business, replacing relentless busyness with purpose, culture, and positive impact on our journey to a sustainable future?

This time last year, my chosen 'word of the year' was enough. It captured my feelings on what a sustainable livelihood meant for me – earning enough money to live well, yet countering societal drivers of excessive busyness, consumption, and wealth accumulation.

So when a client asked “Are you busy, enough?” it stopped me in my tracks.

The unusual question stayed with me and prompted deep reflection on the unhealthy cultural badges of honour pervading modern business – busyness, constant growth, and profit at any cost. What does 'enough' truly mean amid a worsening climate crisis?

With over 20 years in the marketing sector, I once wholeheartedly believed the function equalled glossy branding campaigns aimed to increase sales. Yet time and again I discovered jarring disconnects between outward messaging and inward purpose. I felt deeply disillusioned.

An industry wake-up call

My lightning bolt awakening was in 2018 when I discovered the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. What if marketing could drive positive social and environmental change rather than consumption? I realised my true purpose: to help purpose-driven companies align their outward communications with their inner truths to create shared value.

As an advocate for a Wellbeing Economy , I work with brave business leaders committed to positive change. I help them rediscover purpose, reimagine culture and rebuild trust so their organisation becomes an increasing force for good, delivering both financial and social returns.

My methodology anchors the organisation’s foundational reason for being, then supports leadership in shaping a thriving culture that allows team members to fully activate that purpose. With branding and messaging as conduits rather than ends, I reinforce collective alignment so that organisations become known for the measurable good they create versus single-minded pursuit of profits.?

Conscious leadership for the climate era

Today’s conjoined climate emergency and inequality exposes deep cracks in the longstanding economic paradigm of endless expansion above all else. Short-term gains have too often come at the steep cost of long-term sustainability for both diverse people and our shared planet.

And yet genuine progress follows purpose. The path forward shines with heartening possibility as a new breed of conscious business embraces enlightened leadership grounded in driving positive social impact.

These purpose-propelled innovators understand everyone profits from a sustainable future – and back up messaging with accountable action. Rather than chasing endless growth, conscious leaders focus on fulfilment for people and planet. Guided by moral compass over profit, these paragons lead a steady shift from reckless unsustainability to responsible sustainability benefiting all.

Clarifying purpose, accelerating progress

My approach gives such leaders tools to first anchor their organisation’s underlying reason for being through an immersive discovery process. We honor past legacy while re-imagining future potential.?

With core purpose and values re-clarified, I help teams consciously shape their culture into one that empowers teams to activate that North Star. Branding and messaging become conduits showcasing the reinvigorated purpose both internally and externally through words, images and deeds. This breeds the alignment, buy-in, belonging and impact that conscious businesses strive for.

An invitation to progress

At the start of 2024, we stand at a pivotal juncture.

As a purpose-driven leader, my question to you: could realigning your organisation around purpose help you determine what ‘enough’ means right now? Might conscious measurement of human fulfilment and environmental sustainability guide your decisions in the year ahead?

Let’s have an energising conversation on conscious business models for an equitable, sustainable future. With fearless possibility as my mantra for 2024, I welcome co-creating positive change. The path holds promise.

Onward with purpose!

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I’m here to help businesses and organisations do more good, amplify their impact and become the brand of choice.

Progressive leaders come to me to articulate, reconnect with and embed meaningful purpose into their organisation and brand.

As an expert in purposeful branding and marketing, and the UK’s first CultureTalk practitioner, I help progressive leaders wanting to do more good to articulate, reconnect with and embed meaningful purpose into their culture, so that they build a thread of trust that runs through their organisation to become a brand of choice.

You already know you’re one of the good guys but together we can step it up and show the world. If you or an inspirational leader you know is ready to grow with purpose, on purpose, book a call through https://kirstyinnes.com/contact/

DISCLAIMER: This article has been produced for guidance only and does not constitute advice. Copyright ? 2024 Kirsty Innes Marketing. All rights reserved.