Creating the Good

Many of you are aware that I mentor entrepreneurs in forming their own small businesses. That also includes small firms that have met with challenges and need help to overcome them so they can stay in business. The common denominator here is small business. One to a handful of employees defines small. The dollar flow of sales or asset accumulation are not the benchmarks we focus on. It is the mission and vision of the firm, checking the need for it to exist, will it be competitive, and what will it take to make it a reality?


These are the core questions. But there is another key question: will you be a for profit or a nonprofit?


This is not something most people think about. I do because I have spent most of my career in nonprofit organizations.  I didn’t do this on purpose. It just happened. When it did, I was embraced by a world of good things happening. I remained in this environment for a lifetime.


Mission is critical. Why does this organization exist? What will it attempt to accomplish and why?

Creating good outcomes for others is the common mission statement. There are particulars of course, like through education, or housing the homeless, or empowering the undereducated, helping women achieve their full potential, expanding awareness to the general public of……  And so on. You get it.


Once we nail down the mission, we focus on a vision statement.  What will be happening 15 years from now (or more) if our mission has been successful?  What impact will our organization have?  You see the wisdom of this, don’t you?  It is not about what we want to do, or why; it is about the impact if our work is successful.


Note, please, this has to do about the effect on others; not the self. And that’s the whole point about nonprofits.


A world of good comes from the many people who devote their lives to nonprofit organizations.  It is an amazing array of activity, accomplishment and devotion. All good things. All good outcomes.


In my work (all volunteer) I am constantly in touch with people who want to create their own nonprofit, or already have a small one that needs help to progress. Their energy and commitment to their mission is a reminder that people are good and do good things for others. They may earn a living doing this, but that is not the point of their commitment. No, their point is to solve a social problem, help someone in trouble, or help others make the most of their talents and abilities.


Thank God these people populate our communities and nation.


For those who continually think negatively about America, or their city or state, know that good people exist among us doing good work. And these are private people, doing private work for private beneficiaries in need. All without taxpayer money, or mostly without it.  Yes some programs are able to access state and federal funding for a portion of their work. But if our people didn’t have the interest to do the work, the taxpayer funding would not be used for the good. The government simply cannot do everything for everybody. It requires you and I to do this work. A little help with the costs is appreciated.


So, smile! We have much to be thankful for. Others are working hard to make this a better world. Perhaps you as well?


November 8, 2019