The $20 Prophecy and the Triple Bottom Line

culture, behind the scenes

The $20 Prophecy and the Triple Bottom Line

Purpose-Driven Business Communities Provide a Blueprint for Success

written by:hhadmindate published: Apr 05, 2021 content type: quick tip

I keep the spirit of my film company, Hemmings House, neatly folded, tucked up inside my sock drawer.

The spirit is represented by a $20 bill, Canadian of course, that came to me in such an unusual way I’d think it was a dream if I didn’t have the proof.

It happened 15 years ago while in Toronto. A woman approached me and said the most incredible thing. A vision had appeared to her when she saw me in the distance. OK, I thought, this is kind of odd. Then she handed me the $20 bill and said: “This represents a future wealth that will be exponentially larger than what it is today if you give generously. You will use this wealth to serve and touch the hearts of millions of people— people who will hear and see your stories.” Then, just like in a movie, she turned and walked away.

I was left standing there, holding a $20 with my mouth agape. What the heck just happened? I couldn’t believe it. This stranger spoke to me like she knew my deepest dream.

I took what the woman said seriously. Every time I open that drawer, I see that twenty-spot and it causes me to pause and ask myself: Have I lived up to the prophecy she shared?

I hope so, and being in the Certified B Corporation movement is a big part of that.

Now so is 1% for the Planet. Just in time for Earth Month, Hemmings House has joined the 1% for the Planet movement, and we are thrilled to invest in the movement toward a regenerative world.

When you have a once-in-a-lifetime experience like that, you can’t just brush it off as nothing. Or at least I couldn’t.

Finding Communities with a Giving Nature

Triple-P (people, planet, and profit) movements such as B Corp and 1% for the Planet aren’t simply window dressing for us; they give us the blueprint for building a successful purposeful business, in our case a film production company that makes documentaries, television series, and brand films for clients and broadcasters around the world.

Before we certified, we struggled with being profitable. We also struggled to stay true to our mission statement of creating a happier and kinder planet through passionate storytelling. When I was welcomed into the B Corp community, everything changed. I met so many other leaders who were living out the same prophecy. They were doing great in business by nature of their generosity. As I gave to this community, our company grew.

It did not take long for me to be welcomed into the Social Venture Network (now ASBC/SVC), where I met so many incredible impact investors and entrepreneurs who built their businesses on foundations of justice and social/environmental impact. As I gave to this community, our company grew.

The ASBC/SVC community led me to be a co-founder of the Love Economy Movement with other beloved ASBC/SVC members. We have hosted events that gather entrepreneurs who have a vision of a love-based economy with gatherings in Philadelphia, New York, Vermont, Toronto, Detroit, Boston, and Atlantic Canada. As I gave to this community, our company grew.

I am the co-host of an impact business podcast called the Boiling Point. Most of the interviews are with impact entrepreneurs, so there are a lot of B Corp and ASBC/SVC voices talking about how to make positive change with business. As I gave to this community, our company grew.

My podcast co-host Dave Veale was inspired by these epic entrepreneurs and founded the Million Dollar Pledge, where at least 10 other businesses, including Hemmings House, committed a donation of $10,000 per year for 10 years to support initiatives that we care about through the United Way. As I gave to this community, our company grew.

The influence of these communities really helped me see a way of doing business that served humanity in a holistic way.

But I wanted to find a way to give back to our Mother Earth with the same generous spirit. The first step was to start our journey in carbon neutrality. We have been able to offset our Scope 1 emissions with the help of Community Forests International. In our first year we offset 292.28 tonnes of CO2 by purchasing 12.6 acres of endangered Acadian forest in our own backyard, New Brunswick, Canada.

But offsetting carbon is not giving. That is operating responsibly. To truly give back to the environment, we were called to become 1% for the Planet members. We are dedicating at least 1% of our top-line sales to environmental nonprofits, and we couldn’t be more excited to give to this community and continue to watch our company grow.

Finding Communities with a Giving Nature

You Receive When You Give

King Solomon wrote, “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly but comes to poverty.”

My interpretation of King Solomon’s words inspires me to use my business as a giving machine to fight poverty, to compensate my employees and contractors abundantly, to be profitable and pay taxes, and to support organizations that are fighting on the front lines of the climate crises.

As a side note, the prophecy continues to come true. We have had millions of people watch and be inspired by our stories on CBC, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, CBC, RAI, Globosat, IFC, Bravo, OWN, The W Network, and more.

The $20 prophecy is very real to me. I am delighted and surprised every day with the small miracles and blessings of our business growth.