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Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social Change

Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social Change Program Transcript

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ERIC BARTON: I incorporated a positive social change strategy into BOBA and its mission by taking the time to research what challenges small businesses. Also, by understanding, as a business owner myself, what it takes to run a business successfully. As I left the Marine Corps and attended seminary, eventually went to the Middle East to spend years developing my own business, and moved our businesses into the United States, I understood from the beginning-- as a Marine, later as a seminarian, and as a business owner-- that if we're not providing a positive social change in our own communities, then what's it worth?

We can't make a change for everyone. But if we can make a change for that one business owner that then can turn around and hire a new employee to make a positive impact in our community and their community-- ultimately, our world-- that's what BOBA's about. And that's what being part of a community and part of a loving neighborhood really is.

As my executive team at BOBA researched the impact small businesses have to our nation and to their communities, we found that 28 million small businesses in the United States employ more than 99.7% of all employees. That's a huge financial impact in every community in the United States. And in fact, I believe it's the same throughout the world.

Because of this, BOBA is making a positive social change by bringing financial balance back to the economy. Small business owners are the people in each and every community that are working, that are contributing, and that are making a difference in local organizations. That are putting food on the table, that are working with churches and local nonprofits to bring back, again, that financial balance.

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As a small business owner, creating positive social change does have costs, and there are risks associated with it. For example, if we allow our employees, as a small business owner, to volunteer in the community, that pays dividends. We don't see the financial rewards possibly on the next payroll, or the next payroll that goes through, but what we do see is that our brand starts to be recognized as one that adds value, and that is ingrained in the community.

Unlike large businesses that have vast resources, that have marking departments and branding departments, the typical small business doesn't have

© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc. 1

Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social Change

that. But what we do have is our employees. We do have a team, we do have a brand that's so important.

And we don't have the time, nor can we have afford the risk of not being a part of our community. Therefore, things like volunteering, being active at your chamber of commerce, wanting to make a difference in your local nonprofits, become so critical. We don't see dividends right away, possibly, but long-term, you're going to, as a small business owner, see the rewards.

Locally, we own Lex Lin Gypsy Ranch. We have a program called the Gypsy Gift Program. And through that, we donate horses each and every year to therapy centers throughout the country. These centers are impacting tens of thousands of children and people with disabilities.

Other programs are Angels over America. That foundation has created endowments to support families and children of Marines to support other community members and employees to put their kids through college. We believe that education is an economic driver.

Another organization that's a sister company to BOBA is Peak Technical Institute. We are giving financial scholarships. We're working with manufacturers and other businesses in our local community and beyond to bring education, particularly as it relates to blue-collar workforces and technical trades, that are so needed, as we bring manufacturing back into the United States.

Other organizations that we work with include the United Way. I am on the Alexis de Tocqueville Society. We also work with Smoky Mountain Service Dogs. Smokey Mountain Service Dogs is a great organization that provides service and mobility canines to veterans and other wounded warriors throughout the east Tennessee Community.

Part of the risk that we face everyday at Business Owners Benefits Association, which includes the strategic planning over years, which includes our current operations today, is that it's very challenging to go to small businesses to help them understand why it's important that we come together in our association. And so financially, being able to put money into the business association, as well as being able to market to discuss with community leaders, with other business owners, the importance of what we're doing, takes a lot of time.

We have been blessed to have resources to put into the business, but at the same time, we understand that you can only do that for so long. And there are only so many available resources. So part of our risk is convincing our neighbors and our other business owners in the community and in the nation that this is worthwhile, this is important, and indeed, this will make a positive social change.

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Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social Change

BOBA believes that social change is so critical. It's not just about profit in terms of dollars, but it's profit in terms of good, sound, healthy communities. Giving back is something that makes a difference in my life and makes a difference in my team's life. And we talk about passion, and advising, and walking alongside business owners. It's not just about the dollar, but it's about making a difference, making an impact that goes well beyond the years we're living.

For me and for the businesses that I'm a part of, for Business Owners Benefits Association, we always incorporate social change into our mission. If it's worth doing, if it's worth putting your time and effort into, and if you're passionate about it, then it's going to make a difference in your community. So I believe that making a positive social change is always important and always worthwhile in each and every business that I am a part of.

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Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social Change Additional Content Attribution

FOOTAGE: BenEricPromotion Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton.

Eric_in_Dubai Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericbarton/4029137825/sizes/l/

EricPinningOnPromotion Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton.

100_0538 Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton.

IMG_1603 Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from www.govanquish.com

BOBA Logo_193 PMI_RGB_300.dpi Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from www.whyboba.com

100_0887 Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericbarton/4029891860/

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Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social Change

Eric at Vanquish office (2) Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from www.govanquish.com

Eric at Vanquish office Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from www.govanquish.com

DSC_0244 Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from www.whyboba.com

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