Category Archives: Uncategorized

A great, concise definition from Impact Investment New Zealand ” Investing with the intention of generating a measurable and beneficial societal and/or environmental impact alongside a financial return. “

The big bang of creation has happened but we will never stop evolving…. https://sway.com/fHr0C8sW56qBXBrF?ref=Link&loc=play If you haven’t officially signed up – now is a great time. Just let me know david@theoptimisticcynic.co.nz Our next meeting will have a speaker – details to come

I met another awesome Social Entrepreneur yesterday. The more you talk to people like this, the more optimistic you become about the future of our communities. Businesses with heart and passion seems to be increasingly mainstream. It’s truly inspiring seeing how many fantastic people are out there looking to use a business idea to doContinue reading “A Positive Future”

These days, we’re all using the term “authentic” – it’s a simple message but one that is so important and it does say so much. As it is such an important term, I thought I’d just share the definition that I use.

This is a great example of what can be done when we remember that businesses aren’t inherently bad. Generally they actually want to do good, and that includes supporting projects that are of public good as Lillian Grace so ably demonstrates in the Stuff article.  http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/92891606/lillian-grace-when-big-business-backs-social-enterprise-and-the-country-wins  

I had an great chat with Ben Scott from the Hamilton City Council yesterday. One of the points he made was that we need a Social Enterprise champions in our local area. Someone who is out there raising the profile of what it really means to be a social enterprise. I couldn’t agree more. IContinue reading “Champions”

A good friend shared this Ted Talk by Dan Pollata with me. It is from the perspective of a fund raiser but the message is true of our NFP thinking in general. Charity, doing it on a shoe string etc shouldn’t be seen as badges of honour because they hold us back from making significantContinue reading “Our thinking is what holds us back”

Good businesses that are doing well, can be an important tool for our communities to also do well. We need to help businesses to achieve – and just as importantly, we need to help them to develop their passion for doing good. This is one of the reasons why I set up The Optimistic Cynic. I want toContinue reading “Win : Win”

On the 8th of April I will be joining 50 other brave souls abseiling down the Deloitte Building in Hamilton. Abseiling is something I’ve never done before but it’s for a great cause – our Waikato youth! The Graeme Dingle Foundation does some awesome work and it’s an honour to help out. Read more