A successful business is the dream of every entrepreneur. You wouldn’t want to be on top of a business that is losing money instead of accumulating gains. But when it comes to defining the notion of social success in the world of business, people get a vague sense that a powerful and respectable business is inspiring for the future generations. Inspiration is what transforms the everyday business life into an enthusiastic existence. And that is precisely what has pushed a lot of entrepreneurs to start a business. Boredom in your everyday job, lack of motivation and lack of something greater than self are the key denominators of all independent business aspirations. You don’t just become an entrepreneur out of monetary interest. There’s a sense of pride and the desire to achieve something beyond the day-to-day tasks that inhabit every entrepreneur. They don’t just visualize what their business could be like, they can almost taste its inspirational presence on the tip of their tongue. But how do you visualize an inspirational business and, more to the point, how do you make it happen?
A little reminder: Visualizing needs a helping hand
There’s something important that you need to remember during this exercise of visualizing. Visualizing is a helpful tool to help you understand what you want. However, the law of attraction tends to be misunderstood. Just because you’ve visualized what you wanted, it doesn’t mean that you will receive it, served on a plate. Nothing happens magically without any work. Visualizing is about adding positive energy to the situation. But you still need to put in the work to match what your imagination can visualize. You need to create your own positive opportunities to make it happen. In other words, visualizing an inspirational business is step one. Step two is defining and building that inspirational business.
What is a powerful and inspiring business?
Let me tell you a story. Ten years ago, a group of business leaders created their declaration of independence. With this declaration, they defined an essential truth about the business world: A business has to work for everyone. But what’s a business that works for everyone, you ask. The answer is simple: it’s a business that cares about the people who work, the communities around and the environment that the future generations will experience. This concept, a business for everyone, is the idea that a business can and should make a positive difference in everybody’s lives, from the apprentice who is learning his job to the bird who builds a nest outside. That’s what an inspirational business means and that’s exactly what you want your business to be like.
A business that is accessible for all
Let’s start with the obvious: A business for all needs to be accessible for all. Do you think about digital responsive design? You’re on the right path, but think bigger. Do you know that too many premises nowadays are still missing platform lifts and other wheelchair friendly access paths? In fact, if you’re at a startup level, it’s likely that you might be working in a small office where there isn’t sufficient room for a wheelchair user to circulate freely. Another handicap that is too often ignored by businesses, in terms of website or work access, is visual impairment. A website should provide a fully web reader compliant version so that blind people can still gain access to your information. Additionally, you need to consider promoting your vacancies to all qualified applicants, regardless of their handicap.
A business that supports parents
There’s nothing worse than combining parental duty and everyday work. In fact, for a lot of parents, having young children often means that one parent has to stay at home. Patagonia, a clothing and food company, has been supporting parents since 1983 when they first introduced their on-site child care. This approach makes it easier for families to stay active and united. As working parents at Patagonia say: It’s not about making a living, it’s about making a life. A business that understands that employees are people who need to manage their social lives on top of their professional day-to-day lives is a business that offers the perfect work/life balance.
A business that actively combats stress
It doesn’t matter how friendly you want your premises to be. Stress is everywhere, whether someone is having a bad day or you’re struggling with a problematic client case. Stress is manageable, but it can’t be avoided and therefore should be recognized by businesses as a high health risk. The introduction of therapy animals in the office can significantly help to reduce stress levels. From beautiful large-scale aquariums to a friendly office dog, these unorthodox methods can not only improve the overall business atmosphere but also keep people satisfied and relaxed.
A business that loves the planet
Sustainability is so important in modern businesses that it should be part of your primary mission. A business that isn’t sustainable is not a business for everyone. But how do you introduce sustainability in a business strategy? The answer is creatively! Innovation is a big part of an eco-friendly business. Hence, Unilever, for example, has created washing-up liquids that use less water. In China, a company improved its energy tracking to reduce waste and efficiency. A lot of it is in the detail, but these nitty-gritty programs are saving the planet.
A business that gives back to the community
Nobody likes a selfish business. Giving back to the community is not just a matter of a good PR story. It’s about creating a business that is fully integrated into the society and aware of its weaknesses. You can follow the examples of the many companies that choose to help others: Hand in Hand donate soap and clean water to a child in need for every purchased item; Out of Print funds literacy programs with every purchase. All it takes to make a difference is to start doing it.
In short, your inspirational business is a business that works for everyone, workers, community, environment, and families. Visualize what you can do for them and start building the business that will earn you the market’s respect.
