Businesses are creating a new kind of meaningful value in the 21st century by meaningfully benefiting individuals, communities, and the environment. Some examples of better practices that create meaningful value include developing learning in a fun way, repurposing materials to connect to personal histories, engaging communities through mobile networking, and focusing on employee strengths and interests to enable potential. Shiftalliance helps businesses innovate meaningful business models and designs using 231 better practices that create greater value.

1. Meaningful Business Wins
How companies are creating meaningful value in the 21st century

2. Really cool things are happening.
Businesses are creating a new kind of value.

3. At shiftalliance we call this meaningful value.

4. meaningful: having a significant quality or purpose.

5. There are infinite ways that 21st century
enterprises are building meaningful value.
shiftalliance has identified 231.

6. Here’s a taste of “better practices” that create
meaningful value in business. They are:
meaningful to individuals (m2i)
meaningful to communities (m2c)
or meaningful to the environment (m2e)

8. Developing and learning should always be fun
Bamboo Bike involves you in the whole process of building your bamboo bike
"Everyone who leaves the studio says, 'Wow, my bike is my
favorite object now.' "
~Marty Odlin

10. Repurposing can connect you to your personal history
ReMade takes your old leather jacket after its worn out and makes a bag out of it that retains your
memories from the jacket
“Everything in the re:made shop has had a previous life and was re-
claimed by the folks at re:made.”
~Clair

12. Working at home office allows for flexibility and time
Continental reservation agents are allowed to work from home
“The hours are flexible, you can work whatever hours and days you
want...trading capabilities are great!”

14. Engage the community with mobile networking
Cool Haus uses Twitter to let people know where their ice cream truck will be and find out where it
should go next
“COOL HAUS! the perfect ending to a burgergasm..”
~burgergasm

16. Personalization lets you shine
Its My Scar makes jewelry to match your scar and reflect the story behind it
“This scar represents pain and hope for my family and me.
I wear it with pride.”
~Sonya

18. The story within is personal and powerful
TOMS shoes gives a free pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair that is sold
“Thank god there are people to do this type of thing so others will
follow the model.”
~2 Angel McKenna

20. Focusing on personal strengths and interests
enables each employee's potential
yelp! has a VP of People focused on understanding then satiating the needs and desires
of its employees
“Wonderful people from the ground up. If you get the opportunity,
go for it!”

22. Crowd sourcing encourages creativity and involvement
Threadless asks for new designs from the community then asks them to vote on their favorites
“Thanks to threadless i have the coolest shirt at the laundromat that
isn't being washed.”
~mtasticical

24. Diversity and new thinking inspires innovation
A notable percentage of employee's time is spent freely exploring their new ideas
“What has made Google really great are the brilliant minds that work there.”

26. Moving people for a positive change
Expedia books travel plans for both business needs and vacation dreams
“"Neatly executed, honest and clear.”
~Zemanta

28. Diversity builds a stronger workforce
Indigenous organic apparel is all made by the crafts people of indigenous nations
“Indigenous Designs are role models in the industry– they have been
trailblazing pioneers in organic and fair trade clothing for the
last fifteen years.”
~Jute & Jackfruit

30. Serve the under-­served community
Kiva enables individual loans to low income individuals in need to get funding for new business ideas
“I've been with Kiva for a few years now and have helped several indi-
viduals with their goals. Micro-financing is a real effective effort to
help local communities and small business.”
~darkgreenjoe

32. Relationships are just as important as performance
Joie de Vivre managers are measured on the health of their relationships as well as their work performance
“The Hotel Montgomery is a gem amongst jewels.”
~A Yahoo! Contributor

34. Energize individuals to mobilize a community
Nine Inch Nails now distributes their music for free
“Thanks to NIN everyday is NOT exactly the same.“
~tigerpath

36. Viral messages stimulate 21C value based communities
Pepsi has dropped their Super Bowl advertising in favor of cause marketing, to gather ideas from
the community to improve the community
“What a great example of forward thinking in the marketing world.”
~Matt Courtland

38. Enabling education animates imaginations
Vittana enables funding for education for under served communities
“It is refreshing to see entrepreneurs tackle the issue of extreme
global poverty and we need to support them.”
~Andy Liu

40. Causes less total CO2 emissions
Zipcar enables car sharing, there by reducing the number of cars on the road
“Forget everything you know about car rentals.”
~mithril

42. Profit sharing enriches a community
An Alverado worker can earn $65K a year making bread because of their equitable
compensation policy
“Rather, this is a vibrant community where members legitimately are
interested in and care for the wellbeing of its members.”
~Dean Walker

44. Give it a second chance with re-­useable materials
Simple shoes is an impressive pioneer in the area of re-­used and sustainable materials fro shoes
“madebyjewls: is in love with my Simple shoes. They're made from
hemp and car tires and are so comfy!”

46. Local partners create a sustainable community
Burgerville partners are all organic, local and follow sustainable practices
“fresh, local and sustainable! thats where i grind my burgers!”
~timbuk758

48. Bio-­degradable materials keep the Earth pure
gDiapers has pioneered bio degradable diapers
“gDiapers are the best kept secret among diapers.”
~Kathleen M. Mcdermott

50. Recycling keeps things moving
Vert catering is all organic and as thorough as you can get in terms of re-­cycling
“As if they weren’t cool enough already, they have taken it one step
further by launching their office bike deli service.”
~simón

52. We help businesses with Meaningful Business Model Innovation
& Design. We use 231 better practices as inspirations to
discover unique opportunities to create greater value for
your company.
Our unique methodology helps businesses energize and
differentiate themselves in the 21st century marketplace.
Shift into a meaningful mindset. www.shiftalliance.com
email: info@shiftalliance.com
phone: Seattle, WA office 206.201.2641
Los Angeles, CA office 310.773.7679