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Introduction Unit of One  Fast Co. Zines   Check out Fast Company co-founder Alan Webber's trailblazer page Read other interviews Ways to Give Back Edited by Anna Muoio Today business is about more than just making products - or money. It's about making a difference. So Fast Company invited 19 business leaders to share their insights on giving back to the community. Their stories reveal areas in which people are contributing today - education, technology, environment, health, community development - as well as shared beliefs about the new philanthropy: Giving time is more important than just giving money. Personal commitment matters more than corporate involvement. And action, as always, counts for more than mere words. Doug Austin Founder Austin Design Group San Diego, California adgsd@aol.com A while ago I spoke at a seminar on philanthropy. The speaker before me, a Philadelphia city councilman, offered this advice: "Before you can do good, you must do well." I disagree - by doing good, we can also do well. You can't separate your social goals from your business. Figure out what turns you on, and then design part of your work around it. When I started the White Dog Cafe, I was trying to make a living. But I also realized that restaurants can build communities: when people gather at our place, they can do more than just eat. Social change isn't about heroic gestures. It happens gradually and with the help of many people. Judy Wicks's White Dog Cafe is a major center of community involvement in Philadelphia. In 1995 Wicks won a Business Enterprise Trust award for creative leadership in combining business management with social vision. Next Interview Copyright © 1999 Fast Company. All Rights Reserved.     Decision Making Your Boss Your Career New Ideas Is Bigger Better?

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