Today Stonyfield Farm -- a subsidiary of Groupe Danone -- is the leading producer of organic yogurt in the world, with more than $300 million in annual sales. However, the path the company traveled to get to this place was frought with uncertainty and near-disaster. Stonyfield Farm -- which originated with an organic farming school in New Hampshire -- opened for business in 1983 with CEO Gary Hirshberg's vision for the future and a $35,000 loan from the Institute for Community Economics. The business started with seven Jersey cows and by the end of the year was steadily producing 150 cases of yogurt a week.

Much of Stonyfield's success is a direct result of its values. Says Hirshberg, "Our values and social mission are central to everything we do, and they are embedded deeply in our organizational DNA. We are in business, for sure, to make a profit, but we are in business to do far more than simply achieve a positive financial goal. We are in business to change the world."

At its heart are four company values -- the genes that make up Stonyfield Farm's DNA:

1. Using the best environmental practices we can find.
2. Supporting family farms and organic agriculture.
3. Giving profits to the earth.
4. Learning what we can do.

Stonyfield is a company that lives its values. During a 20-year period starting in 1983, the company:

• Recycled more than 10 million pounds of material.
• Donated more than $3 million to activities that protect and restore the earth.
• Used over 150 million pounds of organic ingredients in the production of its yogurt and other products.
• Donated more than 4 million servings of yogurt to community events and food banks.
• Redesigned its yogurt cups to require less plastic, preventing the production and disposal of more than 700 tons of the material.

Every company has values -- they often arise from the founder or founding team of employees. Values are what attract good, talented employees -- and ultimately customers -- to a company and its products and services. What values does your company have? Are you and your employees aligned with these values? Are your values being clearly announced to the outside world so that all can see them? Is your company "walking the talk," and following words with actions?

Your company's values can be a powerful ingredient in its ultimate success. Says Hirshberg, "What has happened in these last 25 years is that the hypotheses we worked with in building this company have been proven. We've shown this is a way to keep money in local circulation to save farmers and get healthier food to people -- creating win-win-win-win situations."