Perhaps this sounds a little off-putting, after all some of us are getting pretty tired of being politically correct. However, there is also growing interest in how to make ethics, values, and business merge more here in the West and I think that small business have more flexibility and can be more value-driven so as to make this even more of a consideration. Some of us even start our businesses BECAUSE we want to have more of an influence and be able to feel like our work is “relevant”—particularly relevancy in a social context.
So, what does it mean to be “relevant”? Well, relevance implies that the work you are doing is important and has connection and consequence to the world at large; it means that the work you are doing in your home business is somehow intended to also help make the world a better place. This can be as simple as trying to produce less waste and be greener, to a business whose sole focus is on solving a major social ill. More and more people are starting their home businesses not just to make money, but to also solve a problem, contribute to the community, address global or local issues, etc. AND, more and more individuals want to work with businesses that have a higher purpose too.
If you are interested in making your business more relevant, you need to first determine what matters to you. What is your mission? What do you believe in? The great thing about being a business owner is that you CAN let your personal beliefs influence your business on the whole in ways that you often cannot when you are working for someone else. If spirituality or religion is a major influence in your life, you can let it guide your home business as well. Other personal issues and passions can be woven into your business too once you figure out what you want to do and how you want to make a difference.
Also: Does Your Job Make You Glow?