Conscious Businesses are On the Rise
Conscious Businesses are On the RiseOver the last few years, there’s been a dramatic rise in “conscious businesses.” For someone who runs a conscious business, they know how important it is to be congruent with what they are doing and how they present themselves to the world.
For others, new to this style of running a business, it may seem like some pie-in-the-sky, airy-fairy philosophy.
Truth be told, now more than ever, those who are willing to step out of the shadows and take a stand for businesses run on principles of honesty, kindness, integrity, health and contribution, are incredibly important.
However, it’s more than simply giving lip service to running a business based on these principles.
“A conscious business is very simply one that has a clear purpose beyond simply making a profit, and keeps its values front of mind when making business decisions.” Jo-Ann A Hamilton
What We Need is Always Available
Something I enjoy doing is studying different cultures and various religions. I also enjoy listening to television evangelists. I learned many years ago that I don’t have to be of a specific religious leaning to benefit from the teachings.
One of my favorite programs is Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer. It airs at 5:30 a.m. in my area (Pleasant Hill, Oregon).
Recently, Joyce Meyer was preaching about something that has a direct correlation to running a conscious business; our physical health. Everything we do either moves us closer to living fully conscious or… moves us further way.
Although we may try to justify a separation from how we take care of our mind, body and soul and how we run a business, there actually is no separation.
Joyce talked about how often people will give up on living a consciously healthy life due to not seeing obvious results quick enough. Often, they give up on because there hasn’t been a dramatic result fast enough.
Running a Conscious Business is Like Dieting
Here’s the thing… often someone will change their eating, they begin to get results and then they hit a plateau.
The plateau is often when the scale doesn’t move. This is also the time many people give up and go back to their old habits because the evidence is not obvious. At least what they consider evidence.
Never mind that they lost 20 pounds. Never mind that their cloths are fitting better. Never mind that they feel better than they have in year. In a moment, they can judge their entire journey on one moment and one indicator – a number on a scale.
Although this was all about one’s spiritual journey, I can compare this with what I see in business with those who claim to run a conscious business, but their behaviors tell a completely different story.
Running a conscious business takes more, much more, than simply saying this is what you want to do. It’s about analysis of everything you do, think and convey.
Consciousness Is At the Core of Organizational GREATNESS
“Consciousness is the main source of organizational greatness.” explains Fred Kofman. “This means finding your passion and expressing your essential values through your work. A conscious business seeks to promote the intelligent pursuit of happiness in all its stakeholders. It produces sustainable, exceptional performance through the solidarity of its community and the dignity of each member.”
Another key aspect of running conscious business is to know not everyone will be on board with your views or way of conducting business. And that’s okay.
Just because others don’t agree with your way of viewing the world and business, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give 100% to what you’re doing.
After all, would you give up on your spiritual journey simply because others may not view spirituality the same? Or would you trust that by taking the right steps, having the correct beliefs and feeding your spirit on a daily basis you are progressing? It’s the same with running a conscious business.
Is Making Money Conscious and Spiritual?
Absolutely! The fact is, money is necessary on so many levels. It’s what you need to pay employees, vendors and contractors. It is needed to invest back into your business. It’s nice to have to be able to make financial contributions to causes you believe in.
Running a business and being profitable in that business is very spiritual. Profitability allows you the opportunity to do more of what you are meant to do that may have nothing at all to do with business, but it has to do with being useful in the world.
A huge part of being a conscious entrepreneur is to fulfill agreements. Those are often financial agreements. With money… we fulfill them. Without money… not so much.
Plan Your Conscious Business
The bottom line is this; you have to plan out what you want your conscious business to look like. It’s a heck of a lot easier to come up with a plan when you surround yourself with like minded people.
If you’re a woman of a certain age who is tired of the status quo and you’re ready to make your life one others will look to and say, “Dang, that’s one amazing woman,” join me for a one day, in-person experience on December, 15th in Beaverton, Oregon where we will shatter any beliefs you have about settling for the status quo.
You’ll have the opportunity so spend a day with other women who are letting go of the status quo. This is going to be an outstanding experience for all concerned.
I love ending the year with an outstanding experience. And that’s exactly why I decided to host Passion for Thriving. Check it out. http://www.powerupthinktank.com