Directions:
Step 1:
Pick an existing company that you are interested in. This could be a company you really like, or a company that you would like to see improve in terms of becoming more sustainable [i.e., socially and/or environmentally responsible].
Step 2:
Research their current practices in regards to product/service design, production, distribution, marketing, finance, human resources, organizational culture, management, leadership, etc.
Step 3:
Find the contact information of their CEO [email or mailing address]
Step 4:
Write a professional letter to their CEO. In the letter, you will suggest three specific areas you would like to see them improve in terms of becoming more sustainable [i.e., socially and/or environmentally responsible]. These three suggestions should be based on three central principles/ideas you have learned from Let My People Go Surfing [whether you decided to cite the book my name in the letter is up to you]. For each suggestion, you must
-List the central idea/principle clearly
-Support with detailed description of what adopting it would entail for the company, using supporting evidence from your research in Step 2
-Describe why it is important and how it would benefit the company from a triple-bottom line perspective
Step 5:
Send the letter to the address in Step 3
What’s the point of doing this?
- Practice professional writing skills
- Develop skill at applying the central ideas/principles from LMPGS to other businesses
- Practice developing the courage to reach out to people in high places
- Do something you probably want to do already, but don’t yet have an extra reason to do so, which is contact a CEO of a company and give them detailed ideas on what they can/should do differently and/or better.
Formatting Instructions:
Must be Times New Roman, 12-point font, normal margins, single-spaced. Must be 1.5-2 pages, single-spaced. Must use professional business letter format using the template provided:
- Sender’s address [Include your address at the top of the letter. Do not write your name/title, as it is included in the letter’s closing. Include only the street address, city, and zip code.
- Date[Ex. October 2, 2021]
- Inside address [This is the recipient’s address. It is always best to write to a specific individual at the company to which you are writing. Do some research to find out who the CEO is. Include a personal title such as Ms., Mrs., Mr., Dr., etc. To write the address, use the U.S. Post Office Format. For international addresses, type the name of the country in all-capital letters on the last line. The inside address begins one line below the date].
- Salutation [Use the same name as the inside address, including the personal title, followed by a colon or coma.]
- Body [In the first paragraph, consider a friendly opening and then a statement of the main points. In the following paragraphs, list and describe each of your main points complete with justification, background information, and supporting details. Use two spaces to separate paragraphs. The final paragraph should restate the purpose of the letter and perhaps request some type of action.]
- Closing salutation, name, and contact information [Close the letter with a 1-2-word salutation such as Thank You, Sincerely, Best Regards, etc., and then type your full name/title followed by any additional contact information such as phone and/or email.]
