Wrapping up the Flourishing Journey of the Sandbox Sessions with an Invitation to Try a Sample
Wrapping up the Flourishing Journey of the Sandbox Sessions with an Invitation to Try a Sample
Welcome back to the final installment of our three-part series on using the Flourishing Business Canvas (FBC) to navigate and enrich Lesley and Rob’s weekly Sandbox conversations. In the previous articles, we explored the FBC’s foundational elements and how they align with identifying stakeholders, understanding goals, and exploring the value co-creation and co-destruction processes. In this concluding piece, we will explore how the FBC helps deepen the understanding of these dynamic conversations, focusing on activities, resources, and the iterative nature of value creation.
Recapping the Journey
Let’s briefly recap our journey. Lesley and Rob have been exploring the integration of various holistic business models and frameworks, such as the B Corp and the conscious brands movement, to foster new ways of doing business. The Flourishing Business Canvas has been their guiding tool, helping them map out critical aspects of their engagements, particularly focusing on stakeholder value and the activities necessary to achieve their goals
Activities as Value Enablers
A pivotal part of the Flourishing Business Canvas is identifying and categorizing activities that enable value co-creation and co-destruction. These activities are essential to understanding how Lesley and Rob can enhance their Sandbox conversations and the resulting outputs.
Weekly Calls and Content Creation
One of the primary activities is the weekly calls, which serve as a platform for discussion, idea generation, and planning. These calls are not only about sharing insights but also about co-creating value by collaboratively exploring topics like the pink spoon concept (a sample or taste of their holistic business approach) and the georhythmic calendar (a tool for aligning business activities with natural cycles).
The content generated from these discussions, including blog posts and newsletters, acts as a tangible output that provides value to their audience. It’s a way of working out loud, sharing their journey, and inviting others to partake in the exploration of new business models.
Seasonal Check-ins and Community Engagement
Another crucial activity is the seasonal check-ins. These check-ins serve multiple purposes: they help Lesley and Rob monitor engagement, gather feedback, and test assumptions about what resonates with their audience. By analyzing the engagement metrics, such as the number of subscribers and the level of interaction with their posts, they can refine their approach and ensure they are meeting the needs of their community.
Additionally, engaging with online communities and leveraging platforms like LinkedIn and Medium allows them to foster a sense of belonging and participation among their audience. This engagement is vital for creating a feedback loop that informs their content and activities.
The Role of Resources
In the FBC, activities are closely tied to resources, both tangible and intangible, that are transformed to create value. For Lesley and Rob, these resources include:
- Intellectual Resources: Their combined knowledge and expertise in holistic business models and frameworks.
- Technological Resources: Tools and platforms used for content creation, engagement, and analysis.
- Human Resources: Their time, energy, and commitment to the Sandbox conversations and the broader community engagement.
Understanding how these resources are utilized and transformed through their activities helps in optimizing processes and ensuring that they are effectively contributing to value creation.
Testing Assumptions and Iterative Processes
One of the strengths of the Flourishing Business Canvas is its emphasis on iteration and testing assumptions. Lesley and Rob use seasonal check-ins not only to monitor engagement but also to validate or challenge their assumptions about what their audience finds valuable. This iterative process is essential for staying relevant and ensuring that their efforts are aligned with the needs and interests of their stakeholders.
For instance, they have assumed that their audience values new ways of doing business, interruptions to business as usual, and spaces for play. By testing these assumptions through feedback and engagement metrics, they can adjust their content and activities to better serve their community.
Balancing Play and Professionalism
A recurring theme in Lesley and Rob’s discussions is the balance between play and professionalism. They believe in the value of play as a governance principle and a means of co-creating value. This approach is reflected in their sandbox metaphor, where they experiment with ideas in a playful yet structured manner.
However, they also recognize the need for clarity and structure, especially when introducing new concepts or engaging with stakeholders who might be unfamiliar with their approach. This balance is crucial for maintaining credibility while fostering an environment where innovation and creativity can flourish.
The Pink Spoon Concept
Lesley and Rob believe in giving businesses a “pink spoon” experience — a chance to sample their unique approach to impact business models. This introductory offer provides a tangible taste of the benefits a holistic business model can offer, without requiring a major commitment.
Beyond just frameworks like the FBC and BIA, Lesley and Rob help businesses explore a range of options tailored to their industry. This allows them to craft a long-term, actionable vision for regenerative business that’s specific to their needs.
In their conversations, they have explored the idea of offering tailored one-on-one sessions as part of this pink spoon approach. These sessions would provide personalized insights and guidance, helping individuals or organizations understand how to apply these models to their unique contexts. This approach not only enhances the perceived value of their offering but also builds deeper connections with their audience.
Embracing Openness and Vulnerability
An integral part of their methodology is living and playing out loud. By openly sharing their process, challenges, and learnings, Lesley and Rob aim to give others permission to do the same. This openness fosters a culture of transparency and trust, essential for building a community of change agents.
This approach also aligns with their commitment to business as a force for good. By demonstrating their willingness to explore, learn, and adapt in real-time, they set an example for others to follow. This participatory and inclusive mindset is key to their vision of activating change agents and advancing new ways of doing business.
Moving Forward
As Lesley and Rob continue to use the Flourishing Business Canvas to guide their Sandbox conversations, they remain committed to refining their approach and deepening their understanding of stakeholder needs and value co-creation. The FBC’s iterative nature ensures that they can continuously adapt and improve, making their journey not just a pursuit of business success but a holistic and enriching experience for themselves and their community.
The Flourishing Business Canvas provides a robust framework for Lesley and Rob to navigate the complexities of their Sandbox conversations. They can enhance their value proposition and create meaningful impact by focusing on activities, resources, and iterative processes. As they move forward, their commitment to openness, play, and professional growth will undoubtedly inspire and engage their audience, driving the change they envision in the business world.
Thank you for joining us on this journey through the Sandbox conversations. We hope you found insights and inspiration in this series, and we look forward to sharing more about our continued exploration of holistic business models and frameworks.
Time Stamp:
Full Moon/ Celebrate — Celebrating successes, gaining clarity, and assessing progress.
Spring (S1) — Renewal, growth, and new beginnings.
May — Embrace creativity, explore new markets, and foster a culture of growth.
Rob Sinclair is the founder of Conscious Brands, Your strategic thought and action partner, guiding organizations in transitioning to Impact-Driven Business Models. Lesley Robb is the founder of Swell Impact, a firm specializing in branding and sustainability strategies for the tourism sector. Together, they openly explore holistic business models by prioritizing play over perfection and co-creating community.
