I was saddened this week to learn that Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, passed away just a couple of days ago at the age of 64.
I hadn’t thought of her in quite some time, other than buying some goodies at The Body Shop just last week. But when I heard of her death, I was surprisingly affected.
Anita Roddick is one of the reasons i’m in business for myself… her book Body and Soul was a HUGE inspiration to me after graduating from college back in the 90s. Her story of how she got started, along with her business sense and ideals, really expanded my concept of what business can be in the world. For example, her policy of ‘Trade not Aid’… rather than giving aid/money to people in less fortunate countries, she instead *employs* these people to create the products that she sells in her stores.
That example in itself speaks volumes to me, of how even a business that sells ‘cosmetics and such’ can be so much more than just a retailer… they can also provide an environment for others to create prosperity and happiness in their own lives. Very cool.
Which of course makes me pause here today… what am I doing in my business to affect the ‘world at large’? How can I take what I do already and create prosperity and opportunity for others? Not too sound too cheesy, but how can I make the world a better place? (k, thats a bit cheesy 😉
Something for me to ponder, as I look at some new directions here in my business and life.
Who inspires you in your business? And what can you do to celebrate what they have taught you? Feel free to share.