GoHuman Blog

It’s been a very tough year for many, including GoHuman.  We pre-launched in Beta two years ago, on Labor Day, with grand ideals around helping the “little guy” compete.  Over the past 12 months we’ve failed miserably in achieving our goal.  This was largely due to internal misalignment at the partner/owner level.  These issues were finally resolved last Friday, and GoHuman can now move forward, proudly, true to our vision and ideals.

We represent a new and different model than the failed systems and methods of the past.  Aggregation of wealth and power in the hands of big business place an unsustainable burden on humanity and the planet.  In the US our economic challenges have evolved into a type of class warfare.  A materialistic mindset had us all believing in a kind of Casino salvation – that if our system celebrates greed and excessive wealth, that’s OK, because maybe I’ll get a piece of that pie some day.  GoHuman’s internal struggles mirrored this tendency, but we have survived, and we have learned.

Bottom line, raw capitalism harnesses greed as an engine, which ultimately accomplishes more harm than good.  Here’s an article from way back in 2006 that serves as food for thought as we lean into our Thanksgiving meal this year.  It quotes Warren Buffet saying  “There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.”

As we pause to celebrate Thanksgiving in the U.S., I’m thankful that we’ve made it through the past year, and that the coming year is poised to be better.  We look forward to a better year ahead, resolute that what we stand for will ultimately win out despite the challenges of getting a start-up off the ground, not to mention one that is radically different and perhaps still ahead of its time.

Please join us in our mission to Change the Way Your World Works.  Get involved in the GoHuman.com Marketplace – as a small business using our platform to market your services, or as a customer of small local businesses.  Let’s build a better marketplace together.

I married a Milwaukee girl and, expecting our first child, moved to Madison, WI in 2008.  The move had nothing to do with Cheeseheads, except for two of them – Grandma and Grandpa.  While I can enjoy football if it’s on, I never sought it out and know nothing about it.

Which explains why I didn’t know that the Packers are the only NFL team not owned by big money.  But last week an article titled “Support Green Bay, annoy the rich” caught my attention.  It explains that the Packers are “still, effectively, owned by the town of Green Bay, population 102,000.”  And more importantly, “The Pack has 112,000 stockholders. No kidding. None is allowed to own more than 200,000 shares — a tiny stake. That’s how they got to keep a major franchise in a town of just 102,000 people.”

It floored me that, according to the article “the NFL won’t even allow it anymore. No team is allowed to have ownership rules like this. These days, each team is required to have to have a small number of rich owners.”

Then and there my heart warmed to the Green Bay Packers, and the fans keeping their dreams alive.  Football may not be the place I would have chosen to stake out the issue of ownership vs. disenfranchisement.  But one of the reasons I co-founded GoHuman is exactly this point.  That ownership and control needs to be managed in a democratic, sustainable manner.

There’s something just wrong in millions of Americans supporting ideals they disagree with, because the rich and powerful keep their agendas hidden, and are adept at managing information, communication, perceptions, moods, attitudes, and ultimately, votes.

So the Green Bay Packers have one more loyal fan this year.  Go Pack!

I love this time of year! We find ourselves in such a magical place. The “Season of Giving.”  At this special time of year people come together in the most unimaginable ways.  We actually take the time to stop and acknowledge the many things we have in our lives to be thankful for.  And, most importantly, we realize the importance of “giving.”

Bring joy to someone this holiday season and put a smile on their face, by performing an act of kindness. Any act. Many acts of kindness don’t cost a penny, but the benefits gained can be priceless.

Any one can accomplish an act of kindness during the Christmas season:

1. Call a friend or relative who you haven’t spoken to in a long time
2. Shovel the snow from your neighbor’s driveway and sidewalk
3. Offer to do some Christmas gift wrapping for someone
4. Volunteer some time to help serve meals at a local homeless shelter or food pantry
5. Offer to watch a neighbors pet while they’re away for the holiday
6. Donate new/used toys / clothing to charity, so others less fortunate can receiving something that will surely mean the world to them.
7. Gather some family, friends or neighbors together and go Christmas caroling in  the neighborhood or an assisted living center
8. Sit and “listen” to someone who needs a shoulder to lean on
9. Extend a smile to a clerk who looks like they could use one
10. Let others know how thankful you are to have them in your life

The original Christmas story is about the ultimate gift given for the purpose of changing the world. Regardless of your religious beliefs, consider spending time this holiday season finding ways to help others. Pay it forward and perform an act of kindness today.

1776 in the U.S. is symbolic of the struggle for freedom from those who would tax without representation.  Economic freedom.  Since last July 4 the markets had a wild recovery ride, but in the last month they’re trending dramatically down again.  The power of global government stimulus has run its course, and the fundamental problems have not yet been fixed.  New regulations have been authored and are in various stages of approval, but there is disagreement on what they will or won’t achieve, both positively and negatively.

There are many ways to look at this problem.  I like the chart at bottom with democracy and economic freedom on a grid.  We could discuss the placement of various countries, but to do so we’d have to first discuss the criteria by which we evaluate the terms.  That would lead to other discussions – and it gets pretty complex pretty fast.  Here’s an interesting video that shows there is hope we’ll get it right!

GoHuman.com’s answer to these challenges is to unite and strengthen local entrepreneurs, supported by a marketplace with transparent information.  This allows prices and services to find their own levels, as in so-called free markets.  But by building it from the bottom up, and putting ownership in the hands of the individual, we strip power from “market makers” who manipulate and control the so-called free markets to their advantage.  We welcome your input to this discussion.

Thank you to our members and supporters.  We look forward to working with you to make GoHuman.com even better in the year ahead.

In past blogs I’ve compared Corporations to Dinosaurs.

One reason is the “Reptilian Brain Stem” – where we get our fundamental survival instinct – the so-called “Fight Flight” response.

The DNA of even the best intentioned corporations, such as Apple and Google, determines it’s nature.  The purpose of corporate structure is to remove the personal risk to the creators and investors by creating a new entity, under the control of the creators, which acts to secure profits.   Even with the most noble of intentions, once this new entity reaches maturity, and the intentions of noble founders recede into the background, it uses its gargantuan power to dominate and control any market it can, for the profit purpose for which it was created.  Frankenstein style.

Most people don’t see Apple and Google that way.  Apple is cool, hip, stylish, trendy.  It’s customers identify with it, and are willing to pay premium prices.  At the opposite end we have Google.  So nerdy it’s cool, lavishing free stuff on all as it slowly worms it’s way into a position of absolute dominance relative to all information on the planet.  And information is power.

They’ve also had a cozy inbred relationship, even sharing Board seats – until recently.  Here’s an article that shows the Reptilian Nature inherent in their previously symbiotic relationship beginning to emerge.

GoHuman.com’s DNA is different.  I hope you’ll dig deeper to learn why!  We hope you’ll join us in deploying a better evolutionary model.  We hope you’ll use us to change the way your world works.

Why GoHuman.com?  Reason #12 is that we’re more Human!

Reason #1; Reason #2; Reason #3; Reason #4; Reason #5; Reason #6; Reason #7; Reason #8; Reason #9; Reason #10; Reason #11;

Today is Memorial Day in the United States, a day of reflection on those who died in Military Service. In America it’s politically correct to speak out “in support of our troops” but war is controversial.

GoHuman.com is not afraid to challenge the status quo, question common wisdom and “make people think”. Historically it can be said that most of the men and women who have died in US wars gave their all for their ideals, but probably not all of them did, nor was every war a “just” war. With a history of drafts and volunteers, some “gave all” for the ideals of others or because the Military was a path to a better personal future.

I was born outside the US and have had two non-US passports. I’m now a US citizen, but still see multiple sides. There are many view-points on war, armed struggle and change. I was living in Germany when Dances With Wolves came out, a big hit there for reasons I won’t seek to explain here. Check out Soderbergh’s dual-movie 5+ hours on Che Guevara or other documentaries on civil wars to gain additional perspective.

GoHuman.com seeks to Change the Way Our World Works from the bottom up, one professional reputation and one connection at a time. There are numerous revolutionary principles embedded in the concept, business model and execution. For us Memorial Day is an inspiration to struggle, peacefully, for change. There are numerous ways to get involved, including a number of positions open. Let me know if you are interested.

GoHuman.com is serious about freedom and positive change, about dedicating our lives to a better future for all. Please let us know what you are doing to “Change the Way Your World Works”.

In memory of those who gave all for their ideals

Reason #1; Reason #2; Reason #3; Reason #4; Reason #5; Reason #6; Reason #7; Reason #8; Reason #9

Why GoHuman.com?  Reason #10 is that we provide a different perspective

Reason #11; Reason #12

The Triple Bottom Line (TBL) concept of “People, Planet, Profit“ demands that a company’s responsibility be to the people who are influenced in any way by the actions of the firm rather than the people who own it.

TBL is typically discussed in a big business context for two reasons: One, big businesses are by nature the farthest out of human touch with sustainability. Two, if you have to choose one business to make sustainable, a bigger business will have a bigger impact.

But what if we could create an integrated network of small local businesses and independent professionals with an eye on the ecological, economic, and social concepts expressed by the Triple Bottom Line related to their communities?

What if people all over the planet quietly frustrated with the status quo could find the voices of power they’ve lost in the wake of unprecedented corporate growth over the past century?

GoHuman’s vision is a world where these ideals are not afterthoughts, but rather integral and essential elements connecting every community and every business within those communities. We cannot afford for these to be abstract thoughts or luxuries. They are a necessary part of the emerging global consciousness and we need to integrate them into our personal and professional lives by igniting our tribal instincts.

In the United States and other parts of the world, the motivation to adopt this sustainable lifestyle is neither handed down by the government nor encouraged by our existing capitalist economic model. An intricate web of subsidies and loopholes has all but extinguished the basic humanity enjoyed in simpler times in favor of the almighty profit margin.

It’s not all doom and gloom. There is hope. We believe in a better way. It’s the passion that fuels GoHuman and the real people behind it — people just like you with the vision and gumption to do something about it.

It starts simply. It starts with an equitable marketplace that promotes balance amongst the people who use it by rewarding those who provide value with something equitable in return.

It starts with you.

GoHuman supports local businesses and communities through a unique integrated approach to distributed ownership and responsibility. One of the ways we help is by bringing together like-minded companies who are working to achieve the same goals in their communities.

The Seattle Umbrella is Seattle’s only “Local Certification” service. Committed to promoting a sustainable and environmentally friendly local community in Seattle. Once your business is certified local, The Seattle Umbrella is your source for promotion to a highly targeted audience of people who genuinely want to support local business in Seattle.

Use their logo to gain recognition as a local business, as a marketing point, and as a statement that you support your community. Local businesses are the backbone of our community, and they are working to support practices that keep Seattle green, diverse, and sustainable.

Respond by Friday, June 4, and receive a 20% discount on your Seattle Umbrella membership and 6 months free basic subscription to GoHuman.com.

Whom do you trust most when making a decision to hire someone or buy something?

Most likely, you trust people you know: friends who have given you good recommendations, colleagues who have particular expertise, family, etc.

This type of trust has taken on a new form through the Internet and social media. Reviews for products and services are prevalent on GoHuman and elsewhere. These are useful, to be sure, but are subjective in nature.

GoHuman is allying with trusted organizations that promote local businesses. To represent this trust in a reliable and intuitive fashion, we have added a Trust Badge feature to GoHuman, which allows you to showcase your earned certifications, affiliations, and partnerships right along with your business postings, endorsements, and feedback.

Our first Trust Ally was the Green Business League, that provides Green Business Certification. We are working with several organizations to allow their members to proudly display their Trust Badges with GoHuman.

You can help by telling us about the organizations you trust and want to show off with GoHuman. We’ll work together to provide more exposure for you and all your fellow members.

Ultimately this will help your online reputation, which will lead to more trust, which helps get you more leads.

We’ve been honoring two important themes in April – Earth Month and Autism Awareness Month. Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and we want to help you find ways to create a more sustainable business. We’re also continuing support of our MicroCause for Sunshine supporting autism.

Green is a long-standing buzzword, but what does it mean for your business and community? It’s different for every business and can be difficult to know where to begin. While there is no silver bullet for going green, many great resources are available to help you achieve sustainability.

GoHuman has partnered with Green Globe, providing the premier global certification for sustainability since 1993. Green Globe pioneers what it means to be sustainable and has developed several programs to help businesses achieve sustainability across the planet. They provide independent verification that your business is operating sustainably and in line with Green Globe certified businesses around the world.

Respond today to receive a 10% discount off your Green Globe membership and enjoy these benefits:

• GoHuman Local Marketing Consultant support – we’ll register your business and provide 6 months free at our $5 monthly subscription level.
• Immediate access to the Green Globe Certification System
• The Green Globe benchmarking tool: Green Globe Index
• The Green Globe Environmental Trainings Program
• Listings as “Green Globe Member” on all Green Globe websites
• Access to accredited Green Globe Consultants and Auditors to pursue certification
• Marketing Services provided by Green Globe Marketing
• 10% membership discount applies each year you renew

GoHuman is a marketplace devoted to helping local communities achieve sustainability. Local energy and ideas serve as the foundation for the site’s growth and allow for mutual prosperity. Read more from CEO Wade Fransson about why green energy matters.