Last week, I suffered one of the worst things that can happen to someone who is trying to do a lot of writing online: a complete computer meltdown. Literally, since the fan and entire cooling system broke... which completely fried the processor. Fixable, but expensive.
There were benefits of taking my computer into rehab, however, since it forced me to look more around London for my shot of daily news. And I think the Universe was feeling sympathetic to my plight, because the very first free newspaper I picked up had an excellent article about how a young person is taking advantage of the changing workplace!
The article, "Passion, ambition, and no soft soap" in the February 22 edition of the London Paper, talks about how Ruth Andrade, works for Lush (a handmade cosmetics company that specializes in using fresh ingredients). Her job is to "find ways for the company to operate in a more environmentally responsible way at every level of the organization, from design to manufacture."
What I found most interesting about the job, however, was that it was created specifically for her! Ruth came up with ideas on her own about how to reduce the company's waste, and was so passionate about her ideas that one of Lush's senior directors offered her a job... and then let Ruth design it!
Now she works on everything from getting suppliers to ship products in reusable containers, to designing more eco-friendly window displays for stores, and reducing energy consumption throughout the company.
You might be shaking your head thinking "how does that help me?" Well, even if environmental conservation might not be your cup of tea, Ruth's story should give you hope. Ruth spent a lot of time learning about a cause/initiative she cared about, and then was able to turn it into a full-time position at a company that is giving her the freedom to work on projects she enjoys.
Now the story sounds more interesting, doesn't it? Who wouldn't want to earn a decent salary while being able to say "I don't think of my job as just a way to earn a living. I do the work because I love it."
And that's one of the greatest things about the business world of the future. The opportunities will be there to create our own jobs and design our future. We just have to have the passion to impress people who are willing to pay us!
Click through to read the full article: (It wasn't available online, so I typed it up. Too inspiring for it to be forgotten! Notice how excited she is about her work.)
The London Paper: February 22, 2007
by Widane Moussa
Passion, ambition and no soft soap.
Ruth Andrade works at Lush, the "fresh, handmade cosmetics" company, which specializes in exotic, fragrant soaps. Her job is to find ways for the company to operate in a more environmentally responsible way at every level of the organization, from design to manufacture. She has held the position, which was created for her, for seven months.
What's your day?
There isn't a set routine and it really varies. The aim is always the same: to find ways of making the company more environmentally friendly. At the moment, I'm looking at recycling. Today, I have been to our factory to help sort through the different materials, from the products signs and window displays.
The sales staff at our shops pop them all in the delivery vans on their way back to our main factory where we can recycle them. The job involves speaking to our recycling firm to work out exactly what they can and can't process, and negotiating how much more we can give them.
We have one supplier whose delivery containers are hard to wash and recycle, so we are talking about what else they can package our supplies in. Everyone in the business needs to get involved.
Internally, I speak to our design team about how we can use more sustainable materials in our window displays. Last year, we even managed to recycle the polystyrene display items, which was a good step.
What kind of person do you need to be?
First, you must be passionate about your beliefs. You have to see what you are doing as more than just a job. Being eager to bring changes and realizing the potential in making things better are crucial. I've never seen the job as just work, but as a way of doing more to help the environment than simply recycling at home on a personal level.
My interest in that environment came from my upbringing in Brazil. Recycling has been a big thing there for a long time and conservation is massive for us. We have the Amazon. The impact of degradation is there for us to see clearly. I can recall how the beaches and forests looked when I was young, and compare them to what I see now. My family has always taken care to be green and those values were instilled in me.
What can't you do the job without?
You could not do the [environment officer] job if you had not made a personal commitment to do the things that you are asking other people to do. You need to lead by example and to inspire people to change their behavior.
How did you get the job?
I worked in the Lush shop in Covent Garden as a sales assistant. Even then, I thought we could be doing things differently and recycling more. I spoke to the owner and said: "Let's change how we behave." Soon after, I was introduced to a senior director who had been looking for changes we could make as a business to help the environment. The position didn't exist before, but I've used my initiative to develop it. The first focus was on recycling, but now we have moved on and our new challenge is to reduce our energy consumption.
What is the salary?
I don't think of my job as just a way to earn a living. I do the work because I love it. Salaries for the role vary across industries, but the range is between [approx. $39,000 - $59,000]* depending on experience.
Could I do it?
I would recommend studying environmental science to anyone who is interested in the same career. But having said that, I have a teaching qualification!
*Converted from 20,000 to 30,000 British pounds for readability and because I don't have a pound sign on my keyboard. Also, don't forget that London is a very expensive city and so such high starting salaries will unfortunately not be available in all places.
I LOVE Lush, I am completely obsessed with their products. They make fantastic stuff, and the atmosphere is always great in their stores!
Posted by: Joanna | March 08, 2007 at 07:13 PM
Hope your PC is better:)
Posted by: wally | March 08, 2007 at 04:09 PM