I was talking with one of my clients this week and looking at his ##Numbers; his projected income, expenses and profit for the next 12 months. His ##Numbers are Looking Good!! and revenue and profit increasing as the year progresses.
Then he said an interesting thing “After that amount I don’t need to make any more money. Why would I need to make more money? What would I do with it?”
For the longest time I felt the same. “What would I do with more money? I live a very comfortable life and I have enough”
Then one day I heard about a young Australian journalist and his Canadian photographer friend who were being held captive in Somalia. He was a family friend of one of my clients and their friends and family were distraught. The Australian and Canadian governments were unable to have them released and eventually his family turned to hostage negotiating experts in the UK. Money was paid. The family sold assets to hep pay the ransom. Two prominent Australians also contributed money to help pay for their release.
I’ve always been aware of the role philanthropic monies play in our society and I donate regularly to my chosen causes.
This was different. This was private money and it was able to do some thing governments could not do. This reminded me of an earlier time in my life.
The first time I visited Tasmania – in 1989 – I remember thinking “It would be great to have enough money to buy all of this land and protect it from anyone mining, clearing, logging etc”
Since then others have done just this and not only in Tasmania. People using their money to buy tracts of land in order to rehabilitate and protect it in ways that government can not.
Money allows us to Do Good. I’m really clear about “Why” I am in business and the Good that I can do with the service I provide and with the money my business generates. Seems I’m not alone …
Recently I read an update on the progress made so far by the B Team – an initiative of Virgin Unite, and Sir Richard Branson writes:
“Three years in, I am more convinced than ever that business can have a positive influence on the world. Governments and civil society cannot solve the world’s problems alone. It is going to take all of us — especially those of us with the resources to make a wide impact….Business must become a force for good.”
Why are we in business? Why are you in business? What Good can we do?
I’m Ingrid Thompson and thank you for reading this post.
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