Zig Ziglar has a saying that I think is the essence of this ideal, and the core of the 3Win philosophy, “You can get anything in life you want if you just help enough other people get what they want”.

In my way of describing 3Win, the priority is also important, the first order is the other person, this is because it is always from the other person that we are able to determine if value is earned and what that value is.  The second point to evaluate is the universal ideal, in other words, as Google suggests by their code of conduct “don’t be evil”.  This ideal can be described as ‘the environment’, ‘the Universe’, ‘Source, ‘God’, ‘others’, this is always the 3^rd party in any transaction.  The final point is that all interactions must be profitable for myself and in my best self-interest.  We may be able to create an exchange with another person that could be profitable for both parties, but damage the environment- this is not a 3Win transaction.

Many times we think things are in our self-interest, when upon deeper reflection, they are clearly not in out best self-interest, an example I use regularly is smoking cigarettes.  However, in discussing these ideas, the argument sometimes arises about a specific substance, even something quite healthful can be used for a purpose not intended by the original creators or marketers of the product.  My answer is… 3Win philosophy is grounded in intent.  For what intent was a particular product or service created, if it is good, then 3Win is possible, if it was originally good, then it is discovered that it is being used for bad, again, intent is where we must focus, as that is what ultimately creates the power in the 3Win life.  I choose (act on my intention) to live in 3Win, because it is the path to happiness, and happiness is in my best self-interest.

The essence of 3Win is to ask the question is this act or transaction sustainable, meaning can this same transaction take place forever without loss of destruction… a high standard, yes, a perfect guide, no, but it is a place to start asking the bigger questions, so that we start to see the impact we have on the world around us, both positively, negatively and in many other ways.

Am I saying it is immoral to consume, absolutely not, we are all consumers, but we must strive to produce more than we consume, especially if we have the capacity to produce.  A child will not be able to produce more than they consume at first, but is they are taught correct principles, and given the correct motivations (to serve others, toward mutual profit) then he or she will grow up to produce more than they consume, thus leaving the world a better place than they found it.

My choice to become an organic farmer is grounded in this philosophy.  I have been looking at and thinking about how best to serve others in my capacity as a producer of value, and it occurred to me that the foundation of all production comes from the earth… from dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return… from farming, mining, harvesting.  If I could add more value to the soil, and improve the land upon which I am a steward over, then the process of raising food, both animal and vegetable, can be sustainable, and thus 3Win.