[caption id="attachment_1269" align="aligncenter" width="325" caption="----Palm Fruit Bunch----"][/caption]

So my friend Matt Hall was out here last week for his Anesthesiology boards (yeah, he’s a doctor). Jokingly, he kept ribbing me about the company I was joining, asking if we let the kids in our sweat shops take breaks for water.

Haha, Matty.

Nonetheless, our humorous banter that day made me want to share a little more of the story. Let you know that we have no “sweat shops” and the dignity filled work we grant is helping a ton of people.

Because the company went public today, I can actually share more information.

Global Palm Resources Holdings Limited (visit our website) is now a publicly listed company on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX). We were just able to raise S$46.5 million through our initial public offering (this is about $34 million in US Dollars).

We have around 2000 employees and another 1400 families that are given land through the Plasma Program. Find out more about this program and how we care for our employees here. The company is so well respected that over 80% of our employees have been there for 7 …

Food. Clothing. Shelter.

You need to consume stuff like this to survive. It is part of life after all. But how much should you consume? As my friend Dr. Suparno likes to say, advertisers and marketers are always trying to convince you of the importance of three words:

Now
More
Better

A big part of controlling runaway consumption has to do with your management and self discipline with these three dangerous words.
Now

Later stinks, especially when you want something now. Waiting has become unthinkable for us, and we become obsessed with having the latest, the most recent, the freshly released (fill in the blank).  We love now so much that we are willing to pay a premium for it. The next time something cool comes out that you must have now, try something different.

Try waiting.

Find something you really want, and force yourself to buy it later than “everybody” else. Use the money you save by not buying it at the highest price to help someone in need or save for the future. If this is hard for you, try a healthy dose of perspective. Imagine how most of the world …

He now has 2.1 million palm trees. Wow.

Dr. Suparno Adijanto has been steadily growing his palm oil business for years. With hard work and discipline he’s made quite the contribution to society in his nation of Indonesia. Through his business hundreds upon hundreds are employed and biodiesel is produced as an environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline. Dr. Suparno long ago made the journey from consumption to contribution, but recently he’s taken it to a whole new level.

He’s found time to captain the work of Leadership Development for the continent of Asia. On this recent trip, Alex and I had the privilege of traveling and teaching with him. His wisdom and experience were greatly appreciated by the leaders we trained together.

Dr. Suparno is helping others find their path to being contributors. He recently helped start The Crown Financial Clinic in his home nation of Indonesia. People who are financially sick stop by his “hospital” for triage, diagnosis and treatment.

He has formed a whole team of Leading Stewards Course graduates. They are treating those trying to move from their unhealthy spending patterns towards a “whole-life stewardship” model.

Way to go, doc! I cheer you on as you continue to turn the tide in …