The Local Food & Agriculture Business Blog

Be a Deviant!

  

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Ever heard of "positive deviance"?

Positive deviance is the act of observation of simple, common sense where, instead of throwing money at a problem or devising grand solutions, we are encouraged the study of the positive and good things that are happening around us, and then acting on them.

To be a "Positive Deviant" means taking what we've learned and inspiring others through positive example.

According to the Boston Globe, organizations around the world are now turning to positive deviance to address a dizzying array of challenges such as human trafficking in Asia to diabetes in the United States. The business world is also using positive deviance as part of their strategy to improve performance, yield, and sales. Additionally, positive deviance can be used to solidify business reputation and brand position  -- encouraging their customers and community to change their behaviors towards more positive action.

To be a positive deviant, you must lead by example. It forces you to study your environment, identify its flaws, and then seek to follow the positive models that others around you are setting.

Looking for a few positive deviants to get you started?

• Idealist.org believes that it's time for the world's idealists to work together where we all had a better community and a better life, where we were able to connect with others and share our skills, ideas, and resources, and where we can act on our good intentions, and help others ot act on theirs. Imagine, Connect, Act.
  
• Slow Money believes that we must use our money wisely; investing and spending as if food, farms, and fertility mattered. Connecting investors to the places where they live, creating vital relationships, and new sources of capital for small food entrepreneurs will enhance food security, food safety and access to healthy, sustainable foods. What would the world be like if we invested 50% of our assets within 50 miles of where we live?

Are you a Positive Deviant?   Be one.

Be the change that you want to see in this world, and use your business as a tool - not just to make money - but to affect long-term positive change around you.

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