admin Posted on 2:16 am

Etopia, Second Life and Business As Unusual

For those who are not familiar with Second Life, it is a virtual environment where users interact with each other and create a world. Think of it as a social platform on steroids. It is also a platform to improve the way we work together. My goal with the virtual environment I helped create and continue to build on is to allow visitors to learn about community, mindfulness, and best practices in regenerative lifestyle and business.

I know those are all buzzwords, but it’s an approach I work with clients to adopt and apply to their organizations. There are many things that go into building a business, whether it is a brick and mortar operation or solely based on the Internet. Green infrastructure considerations apply to both. Increasing efficiency while reducing negative impact on the world around us benefits the environment and everyone in it. Etopia has been my way of showing what we can do to create community, live well and work successfully. The nonprofits and professionals who call Etopia home in Second Life not only appreciate this, they contribute to it.

How does all this translate into real-world benefits? Visitors not only learn, but also interact with the ideas I mentioned earlier. For example, when someone is interested in reducing their carbon footprint, but is not sure how to go about it, they can experience it at Etopia. They can ride a bike through the Plaza or walk between the shops. These are activities that can also be done in real life.

Visitors can learn and interact about how a cooperative works, what goes into building a tiny house, setting up a solar panel, or growing your own food in an apartment. Visitors can also see how companies are using technology, smart planning and enthusiasm for the environment to reduce their impact and save money.

A great example is how I work with teams in Second Life and through online forums to build their organizational capacity. This saves money and gives participants the opportunity to experiment with their imaginations to achieve their goals. Whether creating a vision statement for a new nonprofit or creating a project plan, using a platform like Second Life offers flexibility within a robust workspace.

Virtual environments are not for everyone. There is a learning curve. There are those who see Second Life as just another online gaming platform like World of Warcraft. However, when evaluated in the context of a changing business world and in light of the educational opportunities inherent in immersive experiences, Second Life, and by extension Etopia, offers limitless possibilities.

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