By the nature of what I do for a living, I’ve seen some pretty cool and ambitious businesses and business plans.  But the one I saw last Friday blew me away.

I had just finished listening to a presentation for the first 100% solar powered city in the world, about to be built in southwest Florida.

Syd Kyston is the founder of this UnReasonable vision, Babcock Ranch.  On Friday he was presenting to the Roundtable for Sustainable Mobility at Columbia University as our newest member.  The Roundtable is seriously considering working with him to help build this amazing city of tomorrow.

In a geographical area larger than Manhattan, Babcock Ranch will take into account many local environmental factors, be completely off-the-grid by using solar energy, use a sustainable transportation system, build strong communities in the city, utilize intense recycling and integrate many sustainable business practices among many other features.

Syd told us it wasn’t so long ago he almost lost a seven-figure amount of money they had put as a down payment before saving the day (and the money) at the a last-minute.  He also told us about how he was able to use his vision to get local, state, and federal permits together at almost record speeds.

And towards the end of his presentation he mentioned Babcock Ranch would be only the first of the completely sustainable cities he plans on creating around the world.

Syd knows how to think really big.

The Importance of Thinking Big

Most of us get stuck in our way of thinking.  We forget that what we think is not necessarily the only way to think and many times not the best way to do something.  Yet it is familiar to us and we just go along with it.

Very predictable and safe.  In business, especially these days, this trap in thinking is a serious liability.  With globalization in full-swing and competition increasing all around us, big thinking:

• Creates powerful solutions—By shifting your way of thinking, most likely you’ll cause others around you to shift their way of thinking. The combination of which usually creates powerful solutions.
• Creates excitement—big thinking creates energy.  Energy creates momentum towards your vision.  And the combination of momentum and excitement generates more excitement and energy.
• Attracts a big team—People love being around people with great visions of tomorrow.  With your team thinking big with you, exponential results ensue.
• Causes you to step up—since it was your big thoughts, you are much more likely to step up and do it.  The energy and excitement will feed you to make it happen.
• Transcends the pettiness—when thinking big, the little that had been tripping you up falls by the wayside.

UnReasonable VS Unrealistic

When most people think big, they think beyond their capabilities.  Nothing wrong with that unless the unrealistic thinker shuts down if/when their expectations are not met.

To think big and then make sure it happens requires two things:

• Passion—obsession of your vision.  You think about it as much as you can.
• Conviction—you absolutely know you will be successful.  May not know how, but you know you will.

Now I don’t believe for a minute that Sid Kyston would ever have been able to get the first solar powered city in the world to the point where it is ready to be built if he did not know the power of his thoughts, passionate about his vision and convince he will ultimately succeed.

The same applies to your thinking.

Action Steps for the Week

Tired of thinking the same old way?  Breaking out of your mindset requires being clear on what you are committed to.

First get clear on what you are committed to in the area you are mentally stuck.  For example, if you are not sure how to ramp up your business, get clear on what your vision is for the company.  Make sure you are passionate about it and convinced you will succeed.

Those two components are absolutely necessary to be successful.

Next determine what you need to make your vision happen.  Resources like your team, coach, experience, time and capital.

From here you build your strategy and plan.  Make sure to break it into manageable segments.

Then get started immediately.  Have your team and coach support you as you go forward.  They will be crucial in helping you deal with your obstacles and unknowns.

“In 1787 a dozen people began meeting in a small print shop in London to abolish the lucrative slave trade [which, in one form or another, engulfed about 75% of the world at that time.]  They were reviled and dismissed by businessmen and politicians.  It was argued that their crackpot ideas would bring down the English economy, eliminate growth and jobs, cost too much money, and lower the standard of living.  Critics also pointed out that abolition was being promoted by a small group of self-appointed troublemakers and extremists who had no expertise in trade or commerce.“                                      Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken

Yet it was these ‘self-appointed troublemakers and extremists’ that created a global social movement, the likes of which the world had never seen up to that moment.

And six decades later, slavery was legally abolished virtually everywhere.

The modern green movement started almost five decades ago, according to most experts.  In 1962, The New Yorker published excerpts from the upcoming blockbuster environmental book, Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson.  Carson’s published excerpts and the ensuing book turned the business world upside down in how it was treating the planet we live on.

And ever since then, businesses, particularly some of the largest in the world, have been recycling the same arguments from 213 years before, in an attempt to discredit the movement for being run by a crackpots and extremists.

Well, perhaps we are!

Have passion for the green movement?  Already on board?  Thinking of getting involved?  Here are some pros and cons from the perspective and experience of someone who started his green business in 1991 and who has been creating and helping others create and grow them since.

Pros of Ramping Up a Green Business NOW:

• Be a Leader—nothing wrong with being a follower, but if you want to be known for making this movement happen, now is the time to get involved.
• Explore the Wild West—right now the movement is trying to get grounded and determine its core principles, markets and trends.  Technology and tons of money have been flowing and crucial in accelerating the process for stabilizing green business sectors.
• Create Trends and Directions—have a serious opportunity to be the trend-setter and founder/early adopter of the green business movement.
• Experience Guts and Glory—huge risks and rewards with so much at stake can be extremely exhilarating.  Taking on the big boys’ manipulation of Congress can be a LOT of fun.
• Use High Levels of Creativity­­—to move big habit-busting ideas and trends forward takes huge levels of creativity and passion.
• Get Established—by getting started now, be known as an expert in your industry before the masses get on board.

Cons of Ramping Up Now:

• Lots of Risk—want others to make the mistakes and learn from them before you try.  Instead, start with basic things the masses are already doing.
• Deal With the Unknown—while science and business at odds and business manipulating Congress, there are lots of knuckle-biting moments ahead.
• Complex Set of Issues—science and society are constantly evolving around the complexities of our environmental ills.  This can cause stress and lack of surness.
• Take it On the Chin—from all the naysayers and people / businesses whom feel threatened by the changes the movement is creating.
• Change of Habits—both yours and others.  For most, not easy to adapt to.

Bottom Line:  if you’ve got the passion for being a serious player in the green movement, willing to take the heat and flack from all the naysayers, and have a passion for helping solve some of the biggest challenges known to man, then GO FOR IT!

And if not, you may want to sit on the bench a bit longer and do much simpler tasks that can also make a difference for the planet and society.

Action Steps for the Week:

So how do you decide if it is time go get going with your green biz?  Or, if you already have one, whether to take it to the next level?

First, get clear on where you are:

• Don’t Care At All—just running my biz to make money.
• Care But Not Interested—got a company to run, for God’s sake!
• Care and Interested—not sure how to get started to make money being green.
• Successful and Care—making money being green and looking to make more.
• Care and Successful—green and want to make more money to be greener.

Next, determine your passion level.  Do you have enough to carry you through the bumps and grinds along the way that a new model of doing business requires?

Lastly, ask yourself if you have the resources of training, time, energy, and money to make set up/grow your shop?

Come up with your answers.  If you are not 110% clear and super-charged about them, ask respected colleagues and friends for advice and their take.

If your decision is to hold off, get clear on when you will get started.  If you decide to go for it (or already are going for it), determine your next three steps you need to make this week.