| Most people try to improve what they do by | | | | scientific research with dolphins described above |
| working on one element at a time. When it | | | | could be combined and transported into rural parts |
| comes to creating more benefits for | | | | of underdeveloped and developing countries. |
| stakeholders, a better approach is to combine | | | | This business model would probably require a |
| many complementary improvements by building | | | | partnership among community leaders, scientists, |
| on what other highly successful organizations have | | | | Earthwatch, lenders willing to help start |
| done in other fields. Let's consider three cases: | | | | Grameen-style banks to establish infrastructure, |
| 1. Some Hawaiian resorts keep fish pools that | | | | and the local tourism providers. |
| attract tourists, provide a place to entertain | | | | While in the rural communities, tourists could work |
| diners, allow children to learn to fish, and are kept | | | | on interesting scientific experiments, share their |
| stocked by feeding fish with stale bread sent | | | | practical knowledge with local people through |
| back from diners' tables. | | | | translators and educators in the community, |
| 2. Earthwatch helps scientists perform | | | | consider investing in local versions of Grameen |
| experiments by asking volunteers to give of their | | | | banks and projects, and develop knowledge useful |
| time and money. When a scientist makes the | | | | for the tourists to use in creating new markets |
| tasks interesting and puts them in an attractive | | | | for local products and services after they leave. |
| location, volunteers stand in line to help. | | | | Although this kind of experience would not be |
| 3. The Grameen Bank in Bangladesh has helped | | | | appealing to every tourist, many would find that it |
| eliminate poverty by providing low-cost, | | | | combined all of the appeal of a safe Peace Corps |
| small-value loans and teaching its savers and | | | | assignment, an Earthwatch experiment, and a |
| borrowers how to live more fruitful lives and to | | | | vacation without the need for excessive time and |
| start businesses. | | | | economic commitments. Each involved person |
| With all of these ways to cast bread upon the | | | | could become richer in both human and economic |
| waters and build a better tomorrow for all, you | | | | terms, as a result of the process. For those who |
| can see that there exist many opportunities to | | | | wanted to, there could still be an opportunity for |
| create hybrid business models from these | | | | plenty of recreation time by extending the |
| successes. Consequently, these new business | | | | vacation's length after the intense involvement |
| models will ensure even richer and higher quality | | | | was over. |
| harvests by expanding the community of those | | | | What can you draw from other successful |
| who can imagine better ways to create them. | | | | business models that are complementary to your |
| As an example of what's possible, the | | | | own? |
| Hawaiian-style combination of tourism and | | | | Copyright 2009 Donald W. |