Why is a business magazine devoting its lead section to sustainability and its closing section to family dynamics? Because everyone already knows about the importance of the Internet, about marketing strategies, about sound management. Not everyone knows about these two areas.

Sustainable businesses treat all systems--including energy consumption and other inputs, waste streams, and of course the well-being of their employees--as important factors that need to be examined and optimized. as resources become scarce and expensive, as the penalties for despoiling the environment increase both economically and socially, these are the businesses that will thrive in the decades to come.

As for family business dynamics...for the millions of privately owned companies out there, addressing how the family systems impact the business is also crucial to long-term profitability. Otherwise, the mental energy and economic capital that the business generates will be lost in squabbles over who gets how much.

I've been writing about frugality long enough to be called an "expert." Sustainable business practices and healthy family dynamics are related to frugality--all are approaches to help business owners do more with what they already have and replace the idea of conquest with the concept of mutual improvement.

And now, enough from me--on to the articles!
Shel Horowitz, Editor, Down to Business

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