Over the last 50 years businesses around the world have played the key role in the destruction of our environment and depletion of our natural resources. The BP oil spill is only one of the many environmental catastrophes bad business is responsible for in recent history.
Looking at the destructive powers of business it is obvious business is powerful. In fact, I think business is more powerful than government in many ways. Businesses are quicker, nimbler, more effective and focused in everything they do. Businesses hold power that no other organization can.
Despite businesses overwhelming capacity for destruction, business can and should be good. The power of business is immense, and if used for good, business can solve many of our world’s problems.
I see fellow entrepreneurs in my generation and myself as a new breed of entrepreneur.
We all want to make money. We all want to live a good life. We all want security. We all want some kind of power of influence.
In this respect, we want the same things that all generations of entrepreneurs before us have wanted. But we want something that no other generation has craved to the extent that we do. We want to do good.
I believe all people are innately good, so why has it taken so long for responsible, sustainable, and good business practices to take root and flourish? Because we realize we can’t wait any longer, because the bad effects of being bad have never been so obvious, and because technology and the Internet has made us all so much damn smarter.
Businesses can and should be good. The power is there, it just needs to be used for the right thing.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post! Business can be good and do good work, especially when it comes to taking care of the oceans. There are many scientists and ocean stewards out there that would like to do good work, and are doing good work, but are under financed and under-funded. The incentive that United By Blue offers to customers is a clear way of getting people to buy your clothes and it inspires me to do the same.
Keep up the great work Brian!
Andrew
Thanks Andrew! You are right, and it is sad to see so many great people not have enough money to accomplish the good that they are capable of. Business is one thing that I think more people should be using to get that money!