If the Shoe Fits: Making Your Company Socially Responsible
by Miki SaxonA Friday series exploring Startups and the people who make them go. Read all If the Shoe Fits posts here
I met an interesting guy over the holiday.
“Chris” has a small startup in the financial services sector and is starting to gain traction.
He said it’s been an uphill battle and that he wishes he had spent the same energy doing something “socially responsible,” because it would be a lot more satisfying.
I’ve heard similar comments from other entrepreneurs and small biz owners.
Happily, this is one of those times it is possible to “have it all,” because all it takes is changing the way you look at the world.
Having a socially responsible business doesn’t require a focus on solving social ills and it certainly doesn’t mean forgoing profit—without profit your business won’t be around.
It does mean running your business in a responsible manner
- pricing fairly, passing on savings whenever possible and never gouging
- fair wages and other compensation
- fair employee treatment (not playing favorites, etc.)
- reducing your carbon footprint
- community involvement and contributing whenever possible; and
- believing that it’s not all about you.
None of this is rocket science and all of it makes good, profitable, business sense.
In fact, Chris and others who feel the pull to help fix the world would do well to read Richard Branson’s Screw Business As Usual to see how others are ‘doing well by doing good’.
Note: the unseen pause is between ‘screw’ and ‘business’, not between ‘business’ and ‘as’,
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Warning.
Do not attempt to use Option Sanity™ without a strong commitment to business planning, financial controls, honesty, ethics, and “doing the right thing.” Use only as directed.
Users of Option Sanity may experience sudden increases in team cohesion and worker satisfaction. In cases where team productivity, retention and company success is greater than typical, expect media interest and invitations as keynote speaker.
Flickr image credit: HikingArtist
April 2nd, 2012 at 6:57 am
Hi Miki, thank you for mentioning Screw Business as Usual on your site.
Virgin Unite