he has lived his life, both in and out of much more.
business.
Richard’s ability to push the
boundaries of conventional thinking
to find new and better ways of doing
business is inspiring to me.
SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE
His willingness and ability to swim
against the tide of both his internal
and external worlds reveals the
courageousness of his choices and
actions.
Close to 18 years ago my husband and
I made what was then considered a
courageous choice for him to stay home
with the kids while I went to work.
Kevin, who we refer to as our Director
of Domestic Affairs has been extremely
successful and happy to play that role
but not everyone agreed with our
choice.
The courage with which he has lived
up until this point clearly continues
to burn, fuelling his desire to make a
bigger difference for the good of the
planet and everyone living on it. In the
book, he comments on the growing
connection between business success
and doing good, encouraging the reader
to look for higher purpose in work and
to strive to make a bigger difference for
the good of our planet and humanity.
When we first made the decision it was
during a time when many still believed
a woman’s place was in the home and
that ‘manliness’ was defined in part
by the ability to provide financial
security for the family. Thankfully we
were on the cusp of social change, so
we weren’t altogether alone; but there
were still those who felt we were doing
something wrong, and who chose to
voice their opinions.
Richard, and other people like him,
who believe that we can change the
world, we can heal the pain and
suffering, and we can all prosper
without killing our planet inspire me to
think and behave courageously.
‘Don’t you feel guilty leaving your
children?’
A better world isn’t possible unless we
all find and act with courage. It takes
courage to challenge ourselves, to strive
to become a better version of the people
we already are. To change the world,
we need to face and give up a lot—but
in doing so I believe we will gain so
34
GLOSS JUNE 2015
‘Doesn’t it bother you that your wife is
looking after you?’
Comments like these became an almost
daily event for the first few years.
In the face of such criticism, Kevin
and I felt even more determined to
make the decisions that we knew were
right for our own family. It’s true to say
however that it took a lot to find and