New Focus and Name of this Blog - Is Business good or bad?
As you might have realized, the focus of this blog has shifted significantly in the last few weeks. This is also the reason for its new name "Business4Good". Why the change? What started as my personal blog focussed on my travels around the globe, is now about how business can do good. This shift reflects the change in my life from traveling and searching for a meaning in life towards the mission in the next phase of my life. I am now at the start of this new phase: leveraging my seven years of business experience for the social good, especially to alleviate poverty of people in developing countries.Why am I doing this? I felt that working 'only' for my money was not fulfilling me (anymore). I was looking for something to give my life a meaning, a mission. I had the dream of doing something good, of 'making a difference'. It took me over a year including volunteering in the Microfinance NGO FINCA Peru, learning in the Development Masters at UNSW working with like-minded people such as Elise, Mike and Tomas to get the confidence to really get out of the corporate rat-race and security-addicted mindset.
Is business good or bad? My opinion is that business can do good (or bad), just as humans and actually humans and businesses do both. Although I agree that exploitative behavior of corporations requires "blame & shame" responses I believe the power lies in cooperation (rather conflict), synergies and enlightenment. I feel it is important to focus on the positive potential and to nurture this because we attract what we envision.
We see already an increasing interest in concepts that try to do this: Social Entrepreneurs, Responsible Corporations and the UN Global Compact combine business approaches from the for-profit sector with social mission from the non-for profit world! This can be a force for positive change, employment and wealth creation. The mission of this blog is to foster these hybrid concepts and to inspire readers.
I hope you enjoy this new concept? I would appreciate your feedback very much, so leave a comment please!
Go for your dreams... best!
Jürgen
PS: I continue to share my personal endeavors in the form of photos here on Flickr.
posted by Jürgen Nagler at 13:44
5 Comments:
Hey J:
I really like what you have written here and the explanation for the changing nature of the blog. Quite a genuine write up and very impressive and enlightening to read your views!
I wanted to also say that I have been thinking + reflecting about the title of your blog: business4good. To me the title somewhat implies that the blog's owner did not previously believe that business was "doing good." I think that implication is implicit in the title, and given that, I disagree and so would many entrepreneurs that do view their work - be it the CEO of Palm or a microfinance orgz. in Lima - as providing a 'good' for society. Perhaps better title would be business-revisited or entrepreneurs4dev, etc.
I feel strongly about this because your blog made me think of Canada's previous Prime Minister Paul Martin (a successful businessman before entering politics) who co-authored a UN report in 2004 for Kofi Annan with the former President of Mexico, Ernest Zudillo. The title of the report was "Unleashing Entrepreneurship: Making Business Work for the Poor." Now, the title of this report seems innocuous enough, but all around the globe it was met with industry backlash...why? They were upset with the verb "making" as in making business work for the poor and the underlying rationale in the report that business ignored the poor or worse. I though their complaint was legitimate - businesses do indeed complement social objectives. Yet a corporation's or SMEs positive impact is not obvious like say, a UN agency or a FINCA Peru. Language in the report and its title such as "making business work for the poor" resulted in weak readership and poor circulation because of the assumptions that the statement incorrectly implied. My $0.02
9:52 AM
Hi Juergen, congratulation to your step to exit the corporate rat-race and give your life a meaning. I honestly think you're a good role model for others. All the best for your goals! S
6:35 AM
Hi Juergen
This is a congratulation note from your fellow classmate (Development Studies) at UNSW for making the bold move from the corporate comfort zone. I did the same and it was one of the most difficult decisions of my life. Thank you indeed for sharing your experience and academic projects.
I share your sentiment and passion for giving back and doing good for humanity and the environment...while there is still time to do so before we reduce the beauty and the hope of this world to ashes.
It takes so little to restore hope and security for another person. Sometimes it takes a little money, sometimes a little time and sacrifice, and sometimes just a little hug and a few reassuring words, but most important of all it does takes a lot of love and dedicated passion to stay committed to the tasks at hand. Its a tough job, but somebody's got to do it and do it without becoming cynical long the way. Cynicism is the biggest challenge.
The biggest realisation I have is -this mission is not something that we are doing for someone in need out there. It is really a mission for ourselves too, to heal ourselves of the money-driven addiction that cause people to trample over dead bodies to get to the loot; not to mention any other addictions which can destroy our personal health when we are stressed.
Lastly, just a suggestion, J after hearing Tomas's comments. Its my 2 yuans worth(which is even less than 2 cents!). An alternative name can be Business4SocialGood.
Do keep in touch after our course, mate!! My email is rsvp_st@yahoo.com.au
Cheers,
Sharon
11:44 AM
Sharon,
Thanks so much for your personal and insightful comment, very much appreciated.
It is good to see that we are not alone there coming from business money-making, now trying to make a difference. I do agree with you saying that it is a combination of both, helping others and helping/healing ourselves.
To me this is a healthy balance of altruism/selflessness and thinking of achieving happiness/self-fulfillment for ourselves. Compassion is part of it and I believe a more positive motivation than greed for materialistic things that many of us already have in abundance.
All the best, let's stay in touch!
Juergen
6:16 PM
Dearest Friend,
Business4Good is an excellent Title for this AWSOME blog. I have read several posts and your dedication to detail is excellent. I never progressed very far with my own blogg, but i just started working on a new one today, i hope to get some content up soon and then I'll send you the link.
I have have thought of you often this term and feel your visit gave me a glimps of what my life might look like in 10 years. But most importantly your advice has been helping me to succeed.
Much love,
Anthony
PS. I just logged into my GMAIL acct for the first time in 3 months, thanks for all your emails. I will try and stay in touch better...your a great man to know.
GOOD LUCK TODAY!
4:17 PM
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