People. You rely on them to support your goals and you help them achieve theirs. They are your clients, your boss, your family. Without them, you can’t subsist.
Planet. Yes, it’s the solid mass beneath your feet. Metaphorically, it’s also your grounding, your foundation, your character. It’s what makes you, you.
Profit. It’s nothing more than value. What you do must create a profit, it must create value. Otherwise you’re creating a deficit. This holds true not only in business, but also in your relationships, the quality of your work, and how you operate in life in general. You’re either giving to others, creating value. Or you’re taking value out.
The triple bottom line (TBL) was coined in 1994 by John Elkington, founder of the British firm SustainAbility. It was aimed at changing the paradigm by which businesses assessed the full cost of doing business. Applying the TBL to the work you do in your position and how you act in life in general is illuminating. Knowing the full cost of doing business the way you do will become the first step in making the necessary adjustments that augment your triple bottom line.
"It is an immutable law in business that words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises but only performance is reality." ~ Harold S. Geneen
Christian Knutson, P.E., PMP is a leader, civil engineer, and author. He’s an accomplished professional specializing in A/E/C work internationally and author of The Engineer Leader, a recognized blog on leadership and life design for engineers and professionals.Image courtesy of Photokanok at FreeDigitalPhotos.net