In business, it is often referred to as the “Triple Bottom Line” or “Triple-P” model for sustainable enterprise. In the Triple P Model, the three P's stand for Profit, People, Planet. Going far beyond the 'everything for the shareholder' Profit mentality of traditional capitalism, this model recognizes that sustainable enterprise must also meet the needs of People (employees, customers, and other stakeholders) as well as being good stewards of the environment (Planet).

I took our long list of “household rules” that had begun to accumulate and realized that everything we wanted our kids to follow fell neatly into an analog of the Triple P model:

• Take care of yourself
• Take care of others
• Take care of your environment

With small children, taking care of yourself meant things like washing your hands before dinner, brushing your teeth, and cutting back on TV. As they grew older, we began to show them how striving for a good education, doing well in school, and saving allowance money also fell under “taking care of yourself.”

“Taking care of others” quickly replaced “stop hitting your sister” as we both minimized sibling conflict and demonstrated the benefit of helping those around us. We still have to say “stop hitting your sister” every once and a while, but now we have a stronger context to base it in. They have since developed a greater respect for other people, animals, and all of God's creatures.

“Take care of your environment” started at home, with washing dishes, picking up toys, and making beds. Since then, we have expanded this concept to teach principles of conservation, recycling, and picking up trash around us.

Three simple principles for business.

Three simple rules for children.

If elected, I promise to apply a similar Triple Bottom Line concept to legislation:

• cut waste and strengthen the state budget
• promote legislation that benefits the people
• do no harm to the environment

Nathan Wilkes