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By valuing and making use of all the resources that are available to us, nothing goes to waste.   This Principle continues the practices of using renewable resources and further closes the loop. As our consumption patterns change and we adopt more efficient business practices, we evaluate what remains and go deeper. The more that we practice thinking this way, the more we can find usefulness in what we once considered waste. Current research shows that among the 251 million tons that Americans throw into the landfill,  besides the 20% food scraps that we could compost instead, our landfills are filled with nearly 50% of paper waste products. Also, much of what is in a modern landfill is plastic bags.  It is estimated the US uses 380  single-use plastic bags per year,  and there are as many as 1 trillion used annually across the globe. By reducing our waste, reusing, or sharing what we can, composting, recycling, and stuffing what’s left into bottle bricks, we can eliminate a...

Make the best use of nature’s abundance to reduce our consumptive behavior and dependence on non-renewable resources. The natural world creates ongoing regenerative processes essential for the survival of the earth and its inhabitants. Worms aerate the soil, clovers & legumes provide nitrogen through their roots, and the leaves, seeds & fruits falling from trees (when left to decompose) provide nutrients for new life (including those worms and clovers). Early humans existed for hundreds of thousands of years, mimicking these naturally cyclical tendencies and living in-kind. We Are Part of the Problem Today, the logic of this Principle is disregarded. At some point, humans started using less-evolved methods for short-term gain. The information age is finally showing us, en masse, the devastation wrought by the shortsighted ambitions of the industrial age. In a short time, humans have managed to exhaust a stunning percentage of the planet’s resources and diversity of...

We need to discourage inappropriate activity to ensure that systems can continue to function well. Self-regulation, or self-control, empowers us to be more accountable and effective human beings. It can also lead to greater efficiency in business. Feedback is essential for personal and professional growth. By understanding the effects of our actions, we can make better decisions. This Principle encourages systems to be self-regulating and continually accept feedback so the system can be maximized for efficiency and abundance. The Benefits of Self-Regulation and Feedback Acceptance Individuals or businesses that cannot take feedback and self-regulate leave themselves open to struggle and stagnation. In contrast, promoting these elements can reduce stress, increase efficiency, create healthier home/work conditions, and improve relationships. Tips for Implementing Self-Regulation & Encouraging Feedback Ways in which we might encourage feedback and apply  self-regulation include: ...

"Ensure that you are getting truly useful rewards as part of the work that you are doing." There are many different types of yield that can be collected from the fruits of our efforts. Whether it’s turning last year’s composted kitchen scraps into this year’s garden beds, enjoying your youth and the health of your family while you have it, or choosing to plant fruit trees instead of ornamentals at the office, it’s important to design systems around you to best leverage your efforts. Businesses naturally think about this principle when planning their investments and assessing cash flow.   Don't Get it Wrong However, when practices are used that are exploitative, distorting, and see profit as the sole focus, obtaining a yield in this context is out of balance. Beyond money, other types of value can be created as well. Let’s take a look at what those might be.   Cultivate increasingly beneficial relationships and a more enriching home or workplace, by paying compliments or...

“By developing systems that collect resources at peak abundance, we can use them in times of need.” Let’s start with a note about self-care. My friends, human potential is more powerful than we can comprehend. The computing power of our brains and our ability to increase their abilities with practice is incredible. Our bodies’ innate ability to heal, detoxify, and regenerate is our single greatest asset in this life. Our bodies and minds are organic processes of perpetual energy in motion, and yet we must remember not to take that for granted (at least not for too long.)     Don't Lose Your Greatest Assets By maintaining a balanced diet, attitude, and lifestyle, we can maximize the energy that our bodies are generating every day. Failure to maintain the body and mind with healthy daily habits and mindsets is the surest way to squander and lose our greatest assets. So, how do we optimize our lifestyles with this Principle? Do whatever it takes to get excited about eating a more...