Most people understand that if you hope to do something well in life, you have to go about it the right way. In other words, platitudes and emotions can only get you so far, and idealism rarely bears fruit if it’s never chained to practicality. But in a market with an increasing number of conscious consumers, the platform and power that many businesses wield, and the ability for every enterprise to affect its surroundings in its way, what does that mean in the long run?
It’s an interesting topic, and one worth digging into. It may also help you consider new forms of organizational structure. For example, perhaps your goal is to run a business, but actually learning how to start a how to start a 501(c)(3) non-profit will be ideal for your particular approach.
Let’s ask that hard question then – to what extent do noble intentions matter in business? Let’s explore that, below:
Keeping Your Mission Statement Simple, But Focused
One of the first lessons any well-meaning human being learns is that they can’t fix every problem in this world. Understanding that helps alleviate you of some responsibility, which is nice. However, it’s also true that focusing on certain solutions and outcomes with a focused effort is possible, provided you dedicate your time to those that remain the most important to you. Keeping your mission statement simple, but focused, can make a world of good, be that improving sustainability in a field by 10%, or opening up inclusivity in a certain industry.
Understand What You Sacrifice
It’s important to note that businesses generally understand that it’s better to do good. We tend to think of large businesses as total profit-hungry tyrants, and sometimes that’s true, but that doesn’t mean the business isn’t stocked by people who are hateful. It just means profit overrides the need to solve an issue. In simpler terms, if what you were hoping to change were so easy and valuable, everyone would do it.
For that reason, it’s important to understand that noble intentions can mean doing things differently, and that means running against the pack. For example, a non-profit might not make you massively rich, but it can certainly have a positive impact. Understanding what you sacrifice and what it takes to achieve your goal can help you avoid falling at those first hurdles.
Internal Intentions Matter, Too
It’s not just about how you’d like to change the world, but what kind of business you’d like to run. It might be worth it to you to gain less profit and develop less growth thanks to your people being looked after, on great salaries with very generous benefits, enjoying the high levels of satisfaction and talent that are drawn to your company as a result. Remember your values aren’t solely limited to your external focus, but in every structural choice you make.
With this advice, you’re certain to curate the best noble intentions in business life, and if they don’t matter yet, make them matter through courage alone.