Politicians Are Not the Hope for the Future
If you're waiting for politicians to make a positive change in the world, you're in for a long, long, long wait. Stop looking at Capital Hill and start looking at the mirror. Yes, everyone is talking the mighty game—whose candidate will be best for the country, for the environment, for the economy, for small business, for this and for that—but where’s the real change? The kind of change you can see, taste, and touch?
Let’s get real and entertain the bold notion that it is you, the business owner, leader, go-getter (all the above?), who is the real driver of change and has the power to shape the world in front of you through your actions rather than empty words.
Don’t believe me? I know of successful entrepreneurs who are going into inner cities to inspire hundreds, if not thousands, of young people to break the cycle of poverty and create businesses; who help U.S. veterans and first responders and their families live better lives; who help business owners direct charity funds to other high-impact organizations as part of their operational expense budgets.
You don’t have to wait until January or four years or eight years or infinity and beyond to see the change you crave because you are the change.
So let’s do this—right here, right now. Here’s a first step:
Define your purpose as a person and owner. What has your journey made you passionate about? Dig in. Look back. Find it.
Identify your sphere of influence. Who and/or what do you want to impact? Your family and friends? Your staff of two or 200? Soil health in greater Atlanta? Water quality in Africa? Meaningful work and opportunities for promotion among your staff? Impact in your local community? Start small, grow bigger.
Set clear, actionable goals. You track your sales, revenues, expenses, and profits. So track your impact with the same care. Post the results on your website, packaging, and marketing materials.
It’s clear we can’t wait for the politicians to do much good. But if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, the world’s about to change—starting with you. Next week, we’ll talk about building your own dream team of impact leaders.