Why are we in business? It’s not the easy road, but hey, it’s worth it. I’ve run my own businesses for most of this century, and I’ve made most of the available mistakes. But I wouldn’t work any other way.
Again, why? We get to determine our own path, and craft something that’s truly our own: our actual livelihood! We get the power and responsibility to make our own decisions, and work with the consequences. The skills we learn are life skills: resourcefulness, confidence, negotiation and influencing, leadership, resilience. We get to work for both love and money.
We can define our own success in ways that go beyond money: providing for a family, creating a legacy, proving ourselves to ourselves, making the world a better place for at least someone, somewhere. When we see this “why”, we find the courage to go for it — and that builds our courage muscle.
And you know what? These entrepreneurial skills and attributes aren’t just good for building a business. They are good for people, communities and our society.
Businesses — ALL businesses — are potentially a source for social good. As a business owner, you can create the ripples that spread far beyond your immediate aims.
Of course, we need to make a profit, in order to keep doing this. But we don’t have to believe that’s the end goal, or that’s all there is to it. Businesses have always affected their host societies, for good or ill, and we get to choose which.
How cool is that?
Business isn’t for everyone. It takes guts, persistence, and constant learning. But maybe it’s for more people than we think. It’s a real alternative to putting your livelihood in the hands of a large employer.
So I invite you to take a few minutes out to ask yourself: why am I REALLY in business? And how can I best use this amazing personal power and freedom to make a difference?