To Be of Use: The Seven Seeds of Meaningful Work Book

A son of the conservative South and president of his college’s Young Christian Club, Dave Smith was radicalized by Vietnam. The young Porsche-driving computer programmer went to work with César Chávez during the formative years of the United Farm Workers. From there, Smith became instrumental in founding a series of businesses — including the seminal gardening and lifestyle company Smith and Hawken — that planted the seeds for the now-burgeoning organic and sustainable business movements. In this fascinating memoir of his transformation, Smith shows how business can be a force for radical change, that business driven by simple core values — not the hijacked values of right-wing extremism but common values of compassion and decency — can truly make the world a better place. To Be of Use is both an entertaining, stirring read and a thoughtful guide to making our work lives personally meaningful again.

Soundview Executive Book Summaries

Dave Smith left his life as a Porsche-driving computer programmer to work as an executive assistant to Cesar Chavez at the United Farm Workers Union for room, board and $5 a week. This turnaround launched his career as an entrepreneur who has created several successful companies that are based on sustainability. In To Be of Use, Smith describes his own transformation while showing readers how their businesses can become forces for progressive change. Guided by core values of responsibility, compassion and service, Smith offers organizations ways they can help to make the world a better place. Copyright © 2006 Soundview Executive Book Summaries