Have you ever found yourself wondering why you have decided to be an entrepreneur and why you have chosen to offer the products and/or services you do?
I know I have!
Especially in the past when, on several occasions over the years, I've found myself struggling to gain traction in a viable market with a proposition that should have been a relatively "easy" sell but somehow just didn't quite deliver as it should have!!!
Reflecting back on various entrepreneurial attempts I've made in the past, I can see that, whilst there may have been a good product-market fit, what I had failed to obtain was a good fit with the person I was.
I'd fallen into the same trap many founders, business owners and entrepreneurs do by placing too much emphasis on the financial viability of the business. I may be forgiven for making this mistake given that I trained as a professional accountant where the emphasis at that time was on commercial viability and shareholder returns. Of course, commercial viability is still a very important success factor but it doesn’t have to be the overriding one!
Even though I’ve always been stakeholder and environmentally conscious, until recently, it generally wasn’t considered to be an essential part of the business world. It was more of a choice and, in my experience, was all too often exploited as a way of gaining a competitive advantage. Just like “greenwashing” is today where organisations claim to be more environmentally friendly than they actually are!
Having been invited onto the NatWest Climate Accelerator programme, it is even more apparent that there is a very good reason for knowing why you want to be an entrepreneur, particularly when you operate within the purpose-led economy where your purpose is what attracts people to you.
This may seem really obvious, especially if you've never worked in the corporate world as an employee. But if you've had a similar experience to me (just like many of the entrepreneurs I know and work with have) then you will know that it's not quite as straightforward as it should be!
During my professional training, I was taught all about vision and mission statements and corporate objectives, but I always felt (and ultimately discovered that) there was a disconnection between what was said and what was actually implemented.
Having been in what I consider to be a relatively fortunate position to have my own business (which I founded in 2015 when I’d had enough of exploitative practices) I now understand why I struggled before and why none of my other entrepreneurial attempts lasted anywhere near as long as this one! Of course, it’s not been without its challenges, but it has given me the arena I’ve been searching for where I get to build a business that embodies my values.
It’s why I chose to create the Humankind Entrepreneurs Club for like-minded individuals who believe business can and should be ethical, socially responsible, and sustainable, regardless of its legal status.
There is no reason why a profit-making enterprise can’t embody these values and be considerate of all its stakeholders.
It may take longer to become more ethical, socially responsible, and sustainable if you are already a well-established shareholder focused corporation, but it’s not impossible!
Like everything worth having, taking it one step at a time – be it by giant leaps or baby steps – you too can join a growing community and be an active participant leading the charge in the 6th Industrial Revolution!
Become Your Own Success Story
with
Bradley Brown Consulting
over 30 years of hands-on experience, with the know-how you need.