This post was originally produced for Forbes.
We are now in the golden age of purpose (see my last piece.) This unique moment in history may provide an unprecedented opportunity to profit from implementing solutions to the world’s biggest problems.
Estée Lauder’s Nancy Mahon suggested that now is the time. She lead’s the company’s efforts to raise money to fight AIDS, an effort that has yielded $480 million, making the company a leading source of funding.
Accepting Mahon’s challenge to identify ways that we can capitalize on this purpose-centered time, here are nine specific ideas for employing purpose to solve real-world social problems while benefiting from the efforts as a business or entrepreneur.
Be like MAC Cosmetics. Sell a product unrelated to the problem you hope to sell and donate the proceeds to the cause. Get your distribution partners to donate their piece of the pie on that product as well so you can maximize your impact.
Sell a product and donate only the profits to your cau…