Cynthia Magnus, H & M, and the Simplicity and Power of Social Leadership
“It is only in the backward countries of the world that increased production is still an important object; in those most advanced, what is economically needed is better distribution.” -John Stuart Mill
The New York Times published this story yesterday about how one woman, Cynthia Magnus, made a big difference with very little effort.
After finding bags of “unworn but mutilated clothing that had been thrown away by [clothing retailer] H & M on West 35th Street,” Ms. Magnus contacted H & M’s headquarters in Sweden. When she didn’t receive a response, she contacted the New York Times, which reported finding more slashed clothing in the same location.
This prompted the following response from H & M spokeswoman Nicole Christie:
“It will not happen again. We are committed 100 percent to make sure this practice is not happening anywhere else, as it is not our standard practice.”
According to Ms. Christie, H & M’s policy is to donate unworn clothing to charitable groups. The story reports that “She said that she did not know why the store on 34th Street was slashing the clothes, and that the company was checking to make sure that none of its other stores were doing so.”
I applaud Cynthia for her great example. Here’s what I learn from her:
Lesson #1: Look for opportunities
First, she had the frame of mind to even recognize the problem, whereas most people, including myself, probably wouldn’t even take notice. We’re too busy to be attuned to the simple ways we can make a difference on a daily basis.
We need to train ourselves to always be on the lookout for ways to improve our communities.
Lesson #2: Act
Secondly, she acted. I don’t know how savvy she is and how clear she was on what would be the most effective strategy, but I know she acted.
I often don’t act because I’m not clear on what the strategy should be. But Cynthia’s actions show that we should just DO something — anything — and learn effectiveness as we go. We’ll have more impact by acting and learning from mistakes than not acting and never making mistakes.
Lesson #3: Leverage Media
Cynthia was smart to leverage the power of media.
As Carl Woolston and I discuss in our e-book on Hub Mentality, in the social economy power has shifted from institutions/companies to individuals/consumers. We trust peers now more than we trust companies and celebrity endorsements. We have more tools than ever before to make companies transparent and hold them accountable.
Cynthia’s actions demonstrate just how much power the average consumer has. Our feelings of powerlessness defeat us before we ever get into the game. We need to recognize our power and leverage it through media channels, including traditional media outlets, social networks, blogs, and all forms of peer-to-peer interaction.
A Final Word on Philosophy
I’m sure many of you are wondering why I used the John Stuart Mill quote to begin this post, and some may take issue with me, on capitalistic grounds, for highlighting this story as an example of social leadership.
No, I’m not a socialist. No, I don’t advocate forced wealth redistribution. No, I don’t believe in perpetuating dependence through unwise, unprincipled and bureaucratic largesse.
But I do believe in the power of and responsibility for voluntary charity. I do believe that we have the ability to create a just and equitable society without using force and without creating and perpetuating dependence. I do believe in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, administering to the sick and afflicted, et al.
I’m not the moral authority on how every person and company should manifest charity, but I think this story is pretty cut and dry. It’s a ridiculous and gross lack of stewardship for any company to just throw resources away.
So what do you think? What do you take, if anything, from Cynthia’s example?
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Stephen Palmer is a marketing consultant and persuasive writer with KGaps Consulting, a co-founder of The Center for Social Leadership, and the New York Times best-selling co-author of Killing Sacred Cows: Overcoming the Financial Myths that are Destroying Your Prosperity.
He is a liberal-arts graduate of George Wythe University and a graduate of the “non-traditional business school” Wizard Academy.
Stephen resides in Round Rock, Texas with his gorgeous wife Karina, awesome son Alex, and princess daughters Libby, Avery, and Laela. Stephen and Karina blog about their magical life on Palmer Journeys.
Connect With Stephen:
Email: spalmer [at] kgaps [dot] com
5 Responses to “Cynthia Magnus, H & M, and the Simplicity and Power of Social Leadership”
Very good article.
But you have 3 lessons, and two labeled Lesson #2. Just thought I’d let you know. Don’t mean to knit-pick
Comment made on January 7th, 2010 at 2:42 pmWoops! Reminds me of Buzz in Home Alone listing his three reasons why he wasn’t worried about Kevin being left behind: “1…3…and D…”
But I digress. Thanks for pointing that out.
Comment made on January 7th, 2010 at 3:22 pmI think this is a great example for those who ask “If there is no redistribution of wealth then how do we take care of the poor?” I believe that if more of us practiced being aware of ways we can stop waste and make a difference in the community (myself included) and bring it to the attention of the masses. I also believe that the more of us that become this kind of an example it will start to spread. I commend you Stephen for seeing this lesson in the story I think that is the first step is to notice things like this and then act accordingly.
Comment made on January 7th, 2010 at 3:33 pmThe word “socialism” can create such a bad stigmatism for a liberty lover, that the feelings this connotates can be exaggareted to being synonnumous to much more dreadful words, like satanic or evil.
However, it is a response to the apathy and neglect that we have given to the less fortunate in the past, and when one studies the evils that men have done in the name of capitalism, it starts to look like a pretty nice alternative.
It is not, however, for in the end, when all are dependent on the elite few, it creates a society far worse than the any dark and gloomy capitalistic image a Dicken’s or Upton Sinclair novel would show us.
However, what is to be done? The answer, I believe, lies in virtuous entrepreneurship. A culture where entrepreneurs’s primary drive is improving society, and making money is placed second or third on the list. This is a culture where the philosophy: “Nothing personal, its just business” is considered as vile and wretched of a way to live as the digging up and scattering of bones from the cemetary.
I know this sounds idealistic, and to the harshest critic of human nature, this pathway sounds like some sort of hippie fantasy.
But I believe it is possible, and it begins with each and every one of us. Just like the idea of a self governed nation may have seen incapable to a world full of kings to the 18th century european, so too may this way of thinking seem to the pessimist.
Each one of us needs to be the founding father, in study, ponder and experimentation of deriving this type of virtue-capitalism system. These are the type of values we need to build in ourselves and our families, ones that with our hard work and efforts will become second nature to our children and grandchildren, just as the wrongness slavery and civil rights have become common place in our ideals today.
The old ways are no longer working: We are living in a constantly shrinking world, a place where resources are beginning to become limited and if we do not begin be watchful stewards over them, there will none left for future generations. Virtue must be in our consciousness as producers, for without it, we are doomed.
Comment made on January 7th, 2010 at 11:57 pmI loved the story, especially its simplicity. With that type of example, I feel like I can make a small difference as Cynthia did.
I also want to echo Aharon’s excellent comment above. Unfortunately, socialism (or forced charity) becomes a more attractive system when people do not voluntarily meet the needs of the poor, sick, and afflicted in society. I really appreciate your insightful comment, Aharon.
Comment made on January 8th, 2010 at 9:41 amLeave a Comment