There are a few real life mentors who are quite inspirational to me as I work to build my own home business–one is an older woman who has built two businesses and while she has yet to get rich, she is happy, still working hard, and feels very mission-driven. Not to mention she has supported her family and continues to provide employment for her grown children–as well as a handful of other loyal employees. One of the things she said to me that has stuck with me is that she always considers what is “fair” when she makes decisions in her business.
Now, it struck me as so interesting because it definitely isn’t the “business school” or the generally-accepted capitalist point of view. In fact, I’ve always been a bit wary of business BECAUSE there was such a focus on making profit, competing and sticking it to the other guy. Instead, she explained that while she keeps the best interest of her businesses in the front of her mind, she also wants to make sure that she is being fair and doing the best for everyone involved–whether it is in a negotiation or purchase, hiring an employee, or whatever–she wants to always be considerate and fair.
Perhaps this doesn’t sound very inspirational to some, but for me, it has become a cornerstone of my own work efforts. Sure, I cannot argue that I want what is best for me and my family–but I also find that by keeping fairness in mind and considering what is fair and right for everyone involved, I feel better about the work I am doing and myself, and things just tend to work out for the best as well. Plus, I feel like I am coming from a more powerful place than one of fear and worry–if we are always trying to make sure that we “get ours before someone else does”–there is a great deal of fear and worry behind our motivations.
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