As entrepreneurs gear up for 2019, let us remember that there are two basic motivations of the entrepreneurial spirit. The first is the business side of the endeavor and its bottom line, otherwise known as ‘show me the money.’ The second motivation is self-fulfillment. Some refer to this element of entrepreneurship as ‘personal satisfaction.’ At the core of the vague term ‘personal satisfaction’ is what is best described as a spiritual sense of purpose. This spirituality is sometimes linked to one’s faith tradition but is not necessarily so. Rather, there is a commonality in this spiritual sense that translates across the boundaries of specific religions. Most importantly, there is tremendous power where this spirituality and business overlap.
Entrepreneurs understand and freely discuss the business elements of their work. Conversations are common around budgets, financial reports, marketing, inventories, and taxes. Conversations about spirituality are much less frequent. The absence can be ascribed to a lack of practice assessing the influence of spirituality on decision making and to a virtual vacuum of information on how spirituality impacts the bottom line. The first step toward accessing the powerful intersection of spirituality and entrepreneurship is to define the nature of spirituality in a business context. There are three major aspects of spirituality and how they shape entrepreneurial decisions: Humanity, Character, and Vision.
While entrepreneurs rank high in their use of spiritual tools, they are not alone. These three elements are applicable across the business world where the entrepreneurial spirit is increasingly central. Nowhere is that truer than with businesses making innovative efforts in a diverse and or international environment. Here is where the Vision needs to be creative, Humanity should emphasize relationships and Character goes hand-in-hand with integrity.
How do we identify these three spiritual elements in ourselves and others? Make a dictionary or each element and you’ll begin the journey of fleshing out their meaning. Start with Vision. We often think of Vision in terms of mission, planning, goals, and objectives. We are analytic and results-oriented when we think of the future. What does Vision look like when it involves the heart and soul, too. What words beyond creative come to mind? Here are some possibilities: far-seeing, hopeful, faith, inspiring, motivating, forward-looking, knowledgeable, wise and innovative. Vision becomes virtually limitless. When we think about Humanity, we often think grand thoughts about community building, world peace, and the global village. These are wonderful concepts but what is their relationship to the business world?
When we think of Humanity as relationships and cross-cultural communication, we bring these abstract ideas to the workplace. Words such as equity, cultural sensitivity, business etiquette, tolerance, and inclusion represent a different aspect of a relationship-driven, Humanity-oriented business. Businesses and entrepreneurs with diversity expertise, corporate responsibility projects, charitable activities, environmental initiatives and outreach to diverse cultures are signaling their investment in Humanity. Whether that is an investment is window dressing or an integral part of the corporate culture depends on the third element, Character.
The words that are listed under Character are almost limitless and include responsibility, dependability, accountability, reliability, trustworthiness, conviction, honesty, fairness and ethical. Many say that if a leader, a company an entrepreneur doesn’t have character, can’t be trusted, then their Vision and Humanity won’t be trusted. A lack of Character trumps all other considerations. In spiritual terms, the business and the entrepreneur are seen as having no spirituality and no soul. The resulting perception is of an empty shell that can turn on its customers, workers, and community without remorse.
Once you are seen as lacking Character, it is very difficult to retrieve it. And those who doubt that spirituality is a factor in the success of the entrepreneurial spirit only have to look at how Customer Relations becomes a battle if your marketing falls flat. Entrepreneurial businesses need to invest in their spirituality much sooner than later.
—
◊♦◊
Here are more ways to become a part of The Good Men Project community:
Request to join our private Facebook Group for Writers—it’s like our virtual newsroom where you connect with editors and other writers about issues and ideas.
Click here to become a Premium Member of The Good Men Project Community. Have access to these benefits:
- Get access to an exclusive “Members Only” Group on Facebook
- Join our Social Interest Groups—weekly calls about topics of interest in today’s world
- View the website with no ads
- Get free access to classes, workshops, and exclusive events
- Be invited to an exclusive weekly “Call with the Publisher” with other Premium Members
- Commenting badge.
Are you stuck on what to write? Sign up for our Writing Prompts emails, you’ll get ideas directly from our editors every Monday and Thursday. If you already have a final draft, then click below to send your post through our submission system.
If you are already working with an editor at GMP, please be sure to name that person. If you are not currently working with a GMP editor, one will be assigned to you.
◊♦◊
Are you a first-time contributor to The Good Men Project? Submit here:
◊♦◊
Have you contributed before and have a Submittable account? Use our Quick Submit link here:
◊♦◊
Do you have previously published work that you would like to syndicate on The Good Men Project? Click here:
Join our exclusive weekly “Call with the Publisher” — where community members are encouraged to discuss the issues of the week, get story ideas, meet other members and get known for their ideas? To get the call-in information, either join as a member or wait until you get a post published with us. Here are some examples of what we talk about on the calls.
Want to learn practical skills about how to be a better Writer, Editor or Platform Builder? Want to be a Rising Star in Media? Want to learn how to Create Social Change? We have classes in all of those areas.
While you’re at it, get connected with our social media:
- To join our Facebook Page, go here.
- To sign up for our email newsletter, go here.
- To follow The Good Men Project on Twitter, go here.
◊♦◊
However, you engage with The Good Men Project—you can help lead this conversation about the changing roles of men in the 21st century. Join us!
◊♦◊
We have pioneered the largest worldwide conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. Your support of our work is inspiring and invaluable.
—
Originally published on American Diversity Report
—
Photo credit: Shutterstock ID 1084051082