photo cred: Ezra Shively
With the economy the way it is (yes, I blame everything on the economy), small businesses are popping up left and right. For the most part, these businesses were long backshelved passions that, with little excuse not to anymore, are finally seeking fruition.
With the emergence of these passion based businesses, comes a new definition of a business’ role in the community and the world. Up until recently, social responsibility for a business (or corporation or organization…I’m using these terms loosely synonymously) could more or less be defined by donating to the right charity and letting your PR rep spin the tale off to the media. (Not that there is anything particularly wrong with donating - go you!) But recently, that social responsibility has started to creep into the mission statement of businesses.
These small businesses are building themselves with a vision that extends beyond just making a profit. Their business is community. Their business is social responsibility. Their business is changing the world.
I’ve been doing some work with one such business up here in Seattle, Re-Vision Labs (which is awesome, and you should definitely check them out). Tuesday night, a couple of the founders and I engaged in a lengthy (and perhaps slightly beer-inspired) discussion of how basing your business on a vision changes the fundamental structure of the way a typical for profit business is run.
No longer is each opportunity analyzed or judged based solely on its effect on the bottom line. Now, the ethics of that potential partner or client have to be called into question. Do they align with our mission and beliefs as an organization? Are we willing to support them in their place in the world outside of our direct interaction with them? Do we agree with all of their actions? Do we have to?
When these details aren’t so black and white anymore, how do you make decisions? How do you decide?
I look at my own ethics and moral beliefs and they’re almost completely different in certain regards than they were three or four years ago. How do I know I won’t change my mind about what I think tomorrow, or a week or a year from now?
If a new business operates on ethical and moral believes, or visions of creating a better world, and their ideas of what that means changes as much as mine do (and arguably, shouldn’t they as new information arises? I’m scared of people who stay so set in their ways when the circumstances around them keep changing. Shouldn’t ideas change as well?), then how do they trust any decisions they make?
I think people are more forgiving in seeing individuals change their views, but it’s still such a new way of operating a business, how do you develop and maintain that community trust, especially if your views as a business owner change and your community’s do not?
Can you ever be damn sure enough about anything that’s world changing to base a business on that idea?
At this point, I'd like to say that the fact that the founding partners of RVL are literally kept up at night (beer induced or not) asking themselves these questions, has convinced me that I can trust them to consistently make decisions that align with their beliefs, and those beliefs might change, but not without good reason and extensive and compelling information.
serial entrepreneur
explorer and adventeur
self-proclaimed ridiculous person
lifestyle design soapbox talker
Copyright 2009 by dezabulous, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Original GimpStyle theme by gran impetu. Modified Theme by dezabulous.
Sounds like a really good crowd to be working with. Can’t wait to see the work you produce with them!
As for being confident enough in your ethics and believes to base a business around it, I would posit that if you build your business the right way, you’ll be able to dodge and weave when necessary. A good business is one that’s malleable enough to change with the times – changes in technology, cultural beliefs, political situations, etc – and is in fact agile enough to stay at the forefront of the new idea frontier.
Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be too terribly many companies out there like that. Or at least, not many CEOs who are willing to risk finding out their businesses are fragile, not flexible.
Comment by Colin Wright — November 12, 2009 #
Have you read Primal Branding by Patrick Hanlon? The steps he recommends in building a business/brand are paralleled to building a religion. He calls Step 2 “The Creed”, but it sounds a lot like the vision concept.
I love the book and wrote a sort-of review on my other blog a while back… http://jetswithbombs.com/forget-building-a-brand-build-a-religion/
Sounds like Seattle is providing at least a little fun for you! That’s cool.
Comment by Andrew MacPherson — November 13, 2009 #
Visions are sexy! Thanks to the re-vision lab blog I now know about Google Earth Outreach. You and your friends. Thanks for dose of new media haps.
Comment by Antman — November 13, 2009 #
@colin – Thanks! They really are a great group and a lot of the work coming out of there is inspiring. I agree with what you bring up about a good business foundation. Here’s to more CEOs who are willing to risk that discovery, knowing that finding out your business is fragile is the first step in making it flexible.
@andrew – I haven’t read Primal Branding, but I’ll be sure to check it out today, thanks for the recommendation! Seattle is awesomer everyday. The perfect place for me to build my foundation to head off to who knows where!
@antman – You’re very welcome. From me and my friends! When are you getting your blog up and running? When are you moving back to this coast?
Comment by Kristin — November 13, 2009 #
http://www.urbancrusoe.com
is now turned ON
When am I moving back to the East coast?
Comment by Antman — November 15, 2009 #
Nice thoughtful post, Kristin.
Comment by Anne — November 15, 2009 #
Wow, great post, great blog, great picture. So much talent at RVL. I love my new family!
Comment by Sean Conner — November 16, 2009 #
@antman – Awesome! Love it!
@mom – Thanks
@sean – Hey! Great to see you checked out what I had to say. I am loving the fantastic people at RVL as well! You’re a great addition to the team! Thanks for stopping by.
Comment by Kristin — November 16, 2009 #
How funny…after our conversation that Tuesday, I wrote my next blog post (in draft) about this exact same topic. We should definitely have more late night discussions though I’ll try not to put you to sleep next time!
Comment by Torrie Sullivan — November 21, 2009 #