Just a quick message from return2earth wishing you all a green and prosperous New Year.
2007 has been a crazy one and in the next 12 months we are hoping to consolidate and build on what we truly believe to be an amazing concept.
There will be some changes coming to return2earth.co.uk in the near future to make the site easier to use and understand - changes we're making as a direct result of your feedback, so thank you all.
We wish you all the best and look forward to developing a truly proactive and productive green community with your support and participation.
Jason
return2earth
eco networking and investment
Monday, 31 December 2007
Sunday, 18 November 2007
Progress
So finally return2earth is live and the business is up and running. Apologies to those of you who have been waiting patiently but we wanted to get it right. Having said that, there have been a few teething problems which are now all sorted and the marketing drive is starting in earnest.
Our main focus is signing up founder members who will be the back bone of the business. We want commited, creative business people who care about our planet and we need you all to spread the word.
Today more than ever it seems we are moving closer to the tipping point and action is needed on a massive global scale. I truly believe this business has come along at exactly the right time and by bringing together likeminded business individuals we can have a real, positive, physical impact. We are ready, we just need a critical mass. We have to get in front of people and shout about this business because that's the only way the change will happen.
I walked my dog today along a wet, cold and windy beach. It's November and that's how it should be. It was amazing being out in what for the South Coast is fairly severe weather, but the coastline is eroding and the weather patterns are changing and we need to do all we can to keep the balance. The fight back starts here....
Our main focus is signing up founder members who will be the back bone of the business. We want commited, creative business people who care about our planet and we need you all to spread the word.
Today more than ever it seems we are moving closer to the tipping point and action is needed on a massive global scale. I truly believe this business has come along at exactly the right time and by bringing together likeminded business individuals we can have a real, positive, physical impact. We are ready, we just need a critical mass. We have to get in front of people and shout about this business because that's the only way the change will happen.
I walked my dog today along a wet, cold and windy beach. It's November and that's how it should be. It was amazing being out in what for the South Coast is fairly severe weather, but the coastline is eroding and the weather patterns are changing and we need to do all we can to keep the balance. The fight back starts here....
Saturday, 27 October 2007
Stage 1 complete
So the day has at last arrived when the return2earth website has gone live. It's taken a bit longer than expected but we wanted to get it right and give us all a good grounding for moving forward.
At return2earth we are very excited about where the company may go in the future and have lots of plans and dreams for the development of our business but also for the future of the businesses that use us and believe in us. We truly believe that together we can make a difference and that it is up to all of us to spread the word and get some return2earth momentum going.
Our hope is that this becomes a truly global phenomenon with products and services being found internationally from our Green Pages Directory and the sharing of knowledge in our forum giving ethical and environmentally friendly enterprises listed here a competitive edge as well as ideas for the future.
We're particularly excited about making that first investment in a fledgling green business. We know how tough it is to get started but we believe our Green Dragons' Den will provide a real springboard for those great ideas that can't attract financing in a conventional way or who just want to get it from a committed green source. We'll have alot of fun and learn so much and maybe, just maybe we'll find the next Anita Roddick, Trevor Bayliss or a green focussed Richard Branson. And imagine if we stumbled across some mad scientist type (we love mad scientists) who actually did discover an alternative green energy source - how would we all feel then?
I intend to keep dreaming and pushing return2earth in front of as many people as I can. Get involved if you'd like to help make a difference and please feel free to give us feedback on the site, the business or anything else you may feel is relevant. Now, back to helping save the planet.....
At return2earth we are very excited about where the company may go in the future and have lots of plans and dreams for the development of our business but also for the future of the businesses that use us and believe in us. We truly believe that together we can make a difference and that it is up to all of us to spread the word and get some return2earth momentum going.
Our hope is that this becomes a truly global phenomenon with products and services being found internationally from our Green Pages Directory and the sharing of knowledge in our forum giving ethical and environmentally friendly enterprises listed here a competitive edge as well as ideas for the future.
We're particularly excited about making that first investment in a fledgling green business. We know how tough it is to get started but we believe our Green Dragons' Den will provide a real springboard for those great ideas that can't attract financing in a conventional way or who just want to get it from a committed green source. We'll have alot of fun and learn so much and maybe, just maybe we'll find the next Anita Roddick, Trevor Bayliss or a green focussed Richard Branson. And imagine if we stumbled across some mad scientist type (we love mad scientists) who actually did discover an alternative green energy source - how would we all feel then?
I intend to keep dreaming and pushing return2earth in front of as many people as I can. Get involved if you'd like to help make a difference and please feel free to give us feedback on the site, the business or anything else you may feel is relevant. Now, back to helping save the planet.....
Saturday, 8 September 2007
Photo Shoot
Earlier this week I was happily sitting at my desk working on return2earth strategy, watching Ruby my chocolate labrador cavort around the garden then pa
ss out under the shade of the nearest tree when I got Skyped by Ben, my web designer. "The sun's shining and I've got my camera" he said, "we need some more images for the site so I'll meet you at the beach in 40 minutes".Being the shy, retiring type my initial thoughts were "Great, my once in a lifetime chance to be a model!". I soon realised that this was one of the hottest days of the year so far, the beach would be packed and I'd be there in a suit, with my trousers rolled up having my photo taken in all sorts of strange situations.
Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. We met at the beach and grabbed a few props from my hut then ventured towards the waters edge. The next hour was one of many laughs and minimal embarrassment. Most of my time was spent trying not to squint and trying not to notice the strange looks we got from everyone who was there just to enjoy a day at the beach.
Needless to say I managed to look terrible in most of the photos with the best ones being with me slightly out of focus and not looking straight at the camera! That being said, Ben did a great job and we're really happy with the couple of images we settled on - the ones in this blog didn't make it!
The great thing is this hour spent at the beach in the heat of the day really was about work so I could feel completely justified being out of the office for a while - more confirmation the this lifestyle choice was the right one.
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
Writing copy and being interesting!
With most of the website structure now in place the majority of my time is spent writing copy. On the face of it this is an easy task as I know my business back to front and also know what I'm trying to say. What I'm realising though is that it's actually quite tough finding the right "voice" for the site. We are a serious business but we don't want a corporate feel. We are addressing serious issues but we want to operate with a smile on our face.
return2earth is already attracting alot of interest and it's becoming more and more important to get the site just right. I've taken the decision just to write though and if things need changing later then we'll change them. It's more important that the site gets up and running and we can start making a difference. I'm trying to communicate to our subscribers that this business is always going to be a work in progress and that their input is always going to be needed to make sure we are everything we can be. With that in mind if the copy is not right first time or it could be more witty or interesting then let us know and we'll make it better.
We are looking at the end of August as our go live date so I guess it's back to the copy and away from the blog!
return2earth is already attracting alot of interest and it's becoming more and more important to get the site just right. I've taken the decision just to write though and if things need changing later then we'll change them. It's more important that the site gets up and running and we can start making a difference. I'm trying to communicate to our subscribers that this business is always going to be a work in progress and that their input is always going to be needed to make sure we are everything we can be. With that in mind if the copy is not right first time or it could be more witty or interesting then let us know and we'll make it better.
We are looking at the end of August as our go live date so I guess it's back to the copy and away from the blog!
Tuesday, 10 July 2007
In the beginning....
This blog is the continuing story of the development of my new company, return2earth. I'd like to convey how this business fits with my lifestyle and how my lifestyle fits with this business, and along the way relate stories of the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, and the lessons I learn from both.
First of all to give you an insight into the company I'll go all the way back to the beginning.
In November 2006 I was working in a responsible job, conforming to expectations but was aware of a constant nagging in the back of my mind that there was also something else out there. I tried to ignore it but the feeling became stronger and stronger until one night I woke suddenly from a deep sleep with the concept that has consistently occupied my mind ever since.I realise now that what was to become return2earth was born out of an overwhelming desire to really make a difference; to help change the world for the better and to ensure that our planet becomes sustainable and safe forever.The trick was to set up a viable business that could promote such ideals as well as benefitting all those involved.
return2earth does this on a number of levels.It is primarily a networking site for green and ethical businesses. This works because, by definition, all those contributing have a common interest and as such all our members have a pre-qualified audience.The site is also set up and marketed as a business directory for ethical and eco friendly businesses - our very own "Green Pages" where all our networking members can be viewed and searched by members of the public interested in a green service solution.
Where return2earth really differs from otherwise similar businesses is in our "Green Dragon's Den". We are using our membership fee income to invest in businesses who apply to us for funding and then present their idea in an online conference forum. In our case the Green Dragons are our founder members and they get to vote on who receives what money. As a founder member you also get to benefit from the future success of the company as our promise is to redistribute our profits to those who supported us at the beginning.We also have plans to set up a Green Property Development company which will build state of the art green homes and invest in the development of technology to aid cheaper sustainable living.
So far I have been setting up the company by getting the website designed and ironing out the basics. It is still a really fluid concept with new ideas coming together all the time, but the founding principle of the promotion of green, ethical business will always remain.
Keep reading to learn more about the company, the founders and our plans...
First of all to give you an insight into the company I'll go all the way back to the beginning.
In November 2006 I was working in a responsible job, conforming to expectations but was aware of a constant nagging in the back of my mind that there was also something else out there. I tried to ignore it but the feeling became stronger and stronger until one night I woke suddenly from a deep sleep with the concept that has consistently occupied my mind ever since.I realise now that what was to become return2earth was born out of an overwhelming desire to really make a difference; to help change the world for the better and to ensure that our planet becomes sustainable and safe forever.The trick was to set up a viable business that could promote such ideals as well as benefitting all those involved.
return2earth does this on a number of levels.It is primarily a networking site for green and ethical businesses. This works because, by definition, all those contributing have a common interest and as such all our members have a pre-qualified audience.The site is also set up and marketed as a business directory for ethical and eco friendly businesses - our very own "Green Pages" where all our networking members can be viewed and searched by members of the public interested in a green service solution.
Where return2earth really differs from otherwise similar businesses is in our "Green Dragon's Den". We are using our membership fee income to invest in businesses who apply to us for funding and then present their idea in an online conference forum. In our case the Green Dragons are our founder members and they get to vote on who receives what money. As a founder member you also get to benefit from the future success of the company as our promise is to redistribute our profits to those who supported us at the beginning.We also have plans to set up a Green Property Development company which will build state of the art green homes and invest in the development of technology to aid cheaper sustainable living.
So far I have been setting up the company by getting the website designed and ironing out the basics. It is still a really fluid concept with new ideas coming together all the time, but the founding principle of the promotion of green, ethical business will always remain.
Keep reading to learn more about the company, the founders and our plans...
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