It’s a good thing I love my clients, and they love me…
Last week I had a 3 day business retreat planned with my 4 top clients. I was very mum on what we would be doing. I simply told them it would be an intense experiential business training.
When they arrived I handed them this note:
Your mission, should you choose to accept it is to build an organization that will solve a global problem.
You will complete the following tasks:
Choose a global problem to solve
Name your Business/Organization
Create a Corporate Mission Statement
Establish team culture
Build and implement a simple marketing plan
Build a sales system
Bring revenue into the company
Distribute funds to solve the problem
Rules:
- Everyone on the team will be assigned a specific role. They cannot be taken out of this position.
- Amy cannot do any work on this project, but she can be utilized as an advisor.
- You cannot outsource work.
- You can enlist outside help for promotion.
- Sales cannot come from spouses, or anyone in the group.
And then I assigned them roles in the new company based on their biggest weaknesses. Again it’s a good thing we love each other, because I did get some looks.
The team selected an organization called Thirst Relief and set the goal to fund the creation of one well in India. I encouraged them to go for two.
They created a marketing plan, a sales strategy, and built the internal processes to make it work in less than 6 hours. We launched the campaign first thing in the morning of day 2, and by the end of the day, we had funded our first well.
Day 2, the team moved into full on sales mode, they reached out to clients, business associates and social media channels and the funds kept rolling in. I was so proud to see them approach a task that seemed almost impossible in the beginning, and seemed simple by the end.
It was simple because entrepreneurs are already perfectly primed for global contribution.
5 reasons entrepreneurship is the perfect platform to create global change.
- The world is full of problem finders, but we need solution creators. Through business we learn that there are no unsolvable challenges, there are simply solutions we haven’t found yet.
- The connections we build and create through business extend outside of business. We’ve helped and served other business owners, customers and members of our communities. We have the ability to bring people together. We can organize and mobilize people around causes that matter.
- Giving matters to our clients. I’m not saying that we should all use our professional platforms to promote every single fundraiser that crosses our paths. But people like to be involved with companies that give back. Particularly if your client base are millennials, they like to know that their dollars are supporting a good cause.
- We have the sales experience to influence decision makers. The ability to sell is a powerful tool. It can create change beyond our profits.
- We have the mobility that allows us to give back. I don’t sit around at home all day wondering what to do. My business and family keep me busy, as I’m sure yours do also. BUT we have more flexibility than most people. We can fit almost anything in as long as we plan for it.
There is so much good we can do as business owners. You may not have 3 days and an insane mission, but you do have the ability to give back in your local or global communities.
What is your business cause? Please share with us!