April 2025 • Revision: 23 June 2026
In the business domain, the term “bottom line” has historically referred to financial profitability without respect to the other outcomes of running an organization. When other outcomes are ignored, as is typical in businesses that operate largely unconsciously, this leads to externalities, i.e., negative impacts on people and nature for which the organization has little to no accountability.
The term “triple bottom line” adds accountability for creating positive social and environmental outcomes. “Quadruple bottom line” brings in accountability to the organization’s essential purpose in service to society. A business that is capable of consistently implementing a quadruple bottom line is at the Turquoise stage of development in the Radiant Organizations framework. Love and compassion are required to care for the world that is so much more than human beings and human activity.
An “infinite bottom line” is accountability to all people, all beings, the planet, life as a whole, and the infinite source of all that is created. Through sourcing, one can discern actions, pathways, and strategies that align with universal wellbeing and cause no harm whatsoever. Importantly, when one sources a decision that is totally aligned, there are no externalities. An organization that is capable of consistently implementing an infinite bottom line has reached the “Being Source” stage of development in the Radiant Organizations framework.
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