Welcome to Davos week – where business and government leaders, activists and media created celebrities spray us with guilt ridden appeals to make a positive impact in the world. Well, any reader here at Impact Capitalist already knows that capitalism has the ability to deliver. However, the system’s ability for good and evil depends on how people and businesses act within these systems. What is problematic is not capitalism, but mindsets and behaviors of human …
It’s Thanksgiving Day and I’m at an airport. I’ve been up since 2:45a local time. I am traveling for work. But I am not complaining because I love doing what I do. I love the impact that I’m making through business. And I have wanderlust, so I love any chance I have to get in a car or on a plane. For many years, my brother and sisters have compared me to Nicholas Cage’s character …
What Have I Been Doing? It’s interesting how many people are introspective at the end of each year. It’s also interesting how so many people develop corresponding “resolutions” because of that introspection. According to the Washington Post, 40% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. That, to me, is a positive. (There is ample evidence that shows that less than 3% of Americans actually write down their goals.) However, according to an old Forbes article, “Just …
“The Death of Email” is something that’s been foretold for over 10 years now. And whether you love it or hate it, email is not going anywhere. Not any time soon, however. There are other tools that have come along and tried to supplant email, but at this point, these programs are merely supplemental tools. Albeit, very good tools. We use email for external communications. For internal communications and collaboration, there are 2 main tools …
No Matter How Difficult, We Must Trust the Process Instead of trying to see the end, embrace the current struggle, create a process and follow it. Starting a new business can be very easy. Developing and growing a business is very hard. Especially if you don’t have a process to follow. “Trust the Process” is a phrase that great coaches tell their players, fans, and the media. But what does this mean? It means having …
Build the Process before you can Trust the Process Read More »
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana Welcome to 2018! I don’t know about you, but I am very excited to put 2017 in the past and move on to making an impact on 2018 and beyond. About 18 months ago, I went to a conference at the Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The keynote speaker, originally from Senegal, spoke about how she was trying to preserve …
The Give-Greed Continuum The Impact Capitalist does not try to “change the world.” There are many people trying to “change the world” and many more teachers, pastors, coaches, business leaders, and politicians, to name just a few, who are encouraging others to “change the world.” But what happens if my change is incongruent with your change? That is, what if my change comes into conflict your change? See related blog post: Why I have …
Impact Capitalists are proponents of investing in businesses or having others invest in their business(es). The benefits of having investors-owners are many. Here are a few: investors-owners can influence company policy Since investor-owners receive accounts and statements, they can put forward motions that add value oversee the practice of the business deal with unethical practices or products Provide insight and/or guidance based on experience or a different perspective Having investor-owner impact capitalists as owners of your company allows for a strong level of accountability that …
If I Bring on an Investor, am I a “Slave to a Lender?” Read More »
Capitalism has been stolen; we need to steal it back. Capitalism has been hijacked. It’s been stolen by politicians and crony capitalists. Crony capitalists use political power instead of competition to gain unfair advantages. People are either born into this “class” or they are sleazy enough to pay someone off to “join” it. Many of the largest corporations and richest families in the United States, and around the world, are Cronies. And through the …
“When a person acts in his own interest, he frequently promotes (the interest) of society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it.” – Adam Smith (A typical Haitian street market) Capital flows to where the expected return is the greatest. I knew this academically as a teacher/professor and I knew this practically as an investor and entrepreneur, as this is what causes stock and business prices to increase or decrease over time. But …