Episode 1 - How it started

Welcome to The Green Ledger - Tips for a Sustainable Small Business

What if your business could do more than just survive uncertainty - what if it could thrive because of it?

In this opening episode, I share the real story behind why I started this podcast and how I came to believe that sustainability is not just a feel-good add-on; it’s a smart business strategy. You’ll hear about my personal journey (speech bumps, language barriers), why small businesses deserve the same tools as big corporations, and how frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) can be simplified and made practical - just for you.

Whether you’re juggling supplier calls or dreaming of a stress-free vacation, this show is here to help you build resilience through small, sustainable steps that create long-term impact.

🎧 Tune in and let’s get started on creating a business that’s resilient, responsible, and ready for anything.

I am the founder of 3P Impact Consulting and I help small businesses build long-term resilience through sustainable practices. I adapt tools used by big corporations to fit the reality of purpose-driven small business owners - so they can grow with confidence, even in uncertain times. 

💻 Learn more about my work at www.https://3pimpactconsulting.com/services
📬 Subscribe to my blog and newsletter at https://3pimpactconsulting.com/resources
📩 Want to get in touch? Email me at anca@3pimpactconsulting.com

Transcript

Episode 1 – How it Started

Imagine for a moment - what if your business could not only survive the ups and downs of the market but actually thrive during uncertain times?

What if, instead of constantly putting out fires, you had systems in place that let you step away - maybe even take a real vacation - knowing that everything was running smoothly in your absence?

That’s the kind of business resilience I’m here to help you build. Welcome to The Green Ledger - Tips for a Sustainable Small Business podcast! I’m Anca, founder of 3P Impact Consulting, and your host. In this podcast, we’re going to explore how sustainability can be your key to resilience and long-term success.

I want to be real with you. It took me a long time to find the bravery to start this podcast and actually put my voice out there. English isn’t my first language - or even my second - it’s my third! On top of that, I've had a speech impediment my whole life, which made me question if I could ever do something like this. Honestly, it’s been a journey. But here I am, giving it my best shot. Thanks for sticking with me - I promise to make it worth your while!

Now, before we dive into all the tools and strategies that can help your business thrive, I want to share a bit about my own journey, so you can understand not just what I do, but the passion that drives me.

It wasn’t until a few years back that I truly understood my passion for sustainability. For close to 2 decades I held various roles in nonprofit and for profit organizations, small business and corporations, roles in marketing, project management, software development, accounting, data management, and strategy. 

I was the person always volunteering for the culture committees, getting involved in community projects, and finding ways to reduce waste or improve efficiency in every department I was part of. Back then, I didn’t see the whole picture. It felt important, but I didn’t understand how important… Until I did. 

I came to realize how culture, morale, resources, purpose, ethics, safety, security… impact the well-being of a company. I went on to learn about sustainability standards and frameworks and getting my certifications in some of the most important ones (I won’t bore you now with all the acronyms, i’ll put them in the show notes, if you are interested to know more about them). 

And the more I learned about this, the more I realized that being a sustainable business is a powerful business strategy. I saw how focusing on these non-financial factors as they call them - like employee engagement, resource utilization, and community impact - could create long-term value and resilience for businesses. 

But more importantly, what stood out to me was that these strategies and tools were mostly used by large companies. And that got me thinking, “Why aren’t small companies using them? They also need to build resilience, gain a competitive edge, and understand the interconnections between their business and the external environment - how one affects the other."

And that’s when it hit me. 
Sure, these frameworks are complex, but they can be simplified and adapted. 
That’s where I come in - helping small businesses, just like yours, access the same tools and strategies that large corporations use to build resilience. Because you deserve the same chance to not just survive, but thrive.

I know that as a small business owner, you’re wearing all the hats - running day-to-day operations, managing your team, handling suppliers, trying to stay competitive. It’s easy to feel like there’s no time or room to think about being sustainable. But here’s what I want you to know: sustainability isn’t a nice-to-have, it is not a cost center. It is a must-have, a necessary investment. This is not something that only big businesses with big budgets can afford. Small businesses can afford it too. Sustainability just makes business sense.

The tools and strategies that I’ll talk about - like enterprise risk management or carbon emissions inventory - can help you streamline your operations and also stand out in the eyes of your stakeholders (customers, lenders, community…. )

I know what it’s like to juggle responsibilities, always feeling like there’s too much on your plate…. I’ll be honest, sometimes it will feel like I am adding to your plate, and  I will, but what I add is important, it’s like adding a healthy protein. You can make room by removing what’s unhealthy on your plate…

There are things that happened in my life that shaped how I think about resilience. I’m not getting into this now, but I’ll just say that I learned that resilience is about so much more than just keeping things running - it’s about creating the space for well-being, for growth, for balance, even when life throws challenges your way.

That’s what I want for you as a business owner. I want you to have the systems and tools in place that allow your business to run smoothly, so you’re not constantly in fire-fighting mode. 
So you can step away, take time for yourself, and know that your business will continue to grow and succeed.

Sustainability is the key to building that kind of business. It’s not just about reducing your environmental impact (though that’s important too). It’s about creating operational efficiencies, engaging your employees, and making your business adaptable to change. Whether you’re trying to cut costs, attract and retain employees, or even just take a break without worrying about the shop falling apart - sustainability can help.

This podcast is here to show you how. Each episode, we’ll break down those big ideas into practical, actionable steps you can take. You don’t have to do it all at once. And you don’t have to do it alone. Together, we’ll navigate how to build a business that’s resilient, impactful, and sustainable - without overwhelming you or draining your resources.

Thank you for joining me today. I can’t wait to dive deeper into these topics with you in future episodes. Until then, remember - small steps lead to big impact, and resilience isn’t just about surviving, it’s about thriving. See you next time!