A Valentine to Small Business
We live in a nation polluted by negativity and bad actors.
That's why we need entrepreneurs, a group with an unlimited supply of optimism
that remains community focused.
BY HOWARD
TULLMAN, GENERAL MANAGING PARTNER, G2T3V AND CHICAGO HIGH TECH
INVESTORS@TULLMAN
Illustration:
Reagan Allen; Photo: Getty Images
After suffering through four years of a nasty, petty and
foul-mouthed tyrant who sadly remains on the scene, spewing his fraudulent
venom, it's not really much of a surprise that common courtesy, civility and
what we used to call good humor (not the frozen kind) has largely disappeared
from our day-to-day lives. Today we don't try to teach our kids about duty
and decorum, we teach them about self-defense and security. What a crappy way
to live.
Aided and abetted by the consistent abuse of social media, lies
and ridiculous denials by countless Republican politicians not to mention a
venal and shameless right-wing news media that spends every single day trying
to turn us against each other, we've become a sad, angry, and short-tempered
populace. We're no longer interested in listening and learning, but only intent
on owning and lecturing the morons on the other side. Everyone is suspect, no
one's to be trusted, and everything is about the bucks and beating the next
guy.
But whenever the turkeys get you down and you start to believe
that there's no end to the ugliness, there's always an entrepreneur--or dozens
of them-- who are still starting every day with smiles on their faces and a
spring in their steps and the passion and perseverance that it takes to keep going
through the toughest of times. Because entrepreneurs never lose sight of
the fact that ultimately, they're in it to serve others. So, there's no
quitting or feeling sorry for themselves, there's only up and onward. And their
enthusiasm, their energy, and their eagerness to expand and grow is totally
contagious. As F. Scott Fitzgerald said: "It was only a sunny smile, and
little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and
made the day worth living."
If there's a single message that's at the very heart of
entrepreneurship, it's the simple belief that anyone with a good idea, a couple
of buddies, drive, desire, dedication and a few bucks can build a business that
makes a difference and impacts the lives of thousands of others. Being an
entrepreneur is never an easy journey; there will always be plenty of bumps in
the road but at the end of the day you turn around and find that you've built
something that you can be proud of and that's solid and important.
Another fundamental idea, one that the media misses far too
often in the chase for the next unicorn, is that in many cases it's not just
about the size of a business, but also about the services you provide and the
scores of people that you support that matters. You can add tremendous value
and aid and assist your community and local charities supporting bake sales and
book drives just as much as you can by building the bright shiny success story,
especially when those stories so often come with their own baggage, downsides,
and damage. We used to wonder how big our businesses could get before they got bad and it's still a
common concern.
So, for my money, guys and girls who are getting the job done,
and done well, need to be celebrated and encouraged as they progress regardless
of the scale and size of their goals. One Chicago-based company, Flowers for Dreams is approaching
its 10-year anniversary and they're within a few bucks of
reaching their goal of giving $1 million to various charities based on their
sales of floral bouquets. For every bunch of flowers they sell, they make a
donation to a charity. They started out as students selling roses at graduations and football games and
giving away backpacks for students in need. In 2012, they graduated and
started the business and it's grown and expanded from there.
Of all the innovative business models that have emerged in the
last decade or so, the ones built on giving something away with each dollar of
sales have the most soul. Tom's, Allbirds, Bombas and others have refocused our
view of what capitalism can do. And at the same time, some of these outfits
have achieved the vaunted unicorn status.
But there's plenty of room for smaller companies such as Flowers
for Dreams that have more modest goals. I can still remember when a million
dollars was a lot of money-- and for the charities these guys deal with, it
still is. With Valentine's Day coming up, it's a great and easy idea to check
out their site, send some flowers to a friend or family member, and help the
Flowers guys reach their charitable goal. Or perhaps a company with the same mission
where you live. It's also a way to remind yourself that we make a living
by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
FEB 1, 2022
The
opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of
Inc.com.