For the past year, I’ve been meeting regularly with a little group of like-minded business owners. We call ourselves The Greater Good, and our shared conviction is simple:
We believe that business can be a force for the greater good.
We started the group as a direct reaction to Trump’s reelection. Specifically, I saw business leaders stop speaking up, start falling in line with harmful policies and ideas, and hide the values they once purported. I felt whiplash (What do you mean, climate change is no big deal? What happened to ‘diversity makes us stronger’?!). I wanted to plant myself firmly in community with small business owners who are committed to standing up for the greater good.
Right now, it’s easy to feel powerless when every day is full of bad news. This group has helped me remember that I have power in the choices I make every day (and you do, too).
In a recent conversation with this group, we asked each other:
- What CAN we do when all the news feels bad?
- How CAN we keep learning and growing?
- What should we intentionally invest IN and divest FROM?
We talked about ways to take action for good and inspire others to do the same. We toyed with the idea of a Greater Good pledge — a commitment we can take and share — but that felt like it could feel hollow or performative, like the black squares everyone posted on social media in the summer of 2020.
So, for now, here’s what we’ve come up with: We’re going to share the good: How we’re creating good in our own small spheres, the resources that are helping us find the good, and the inspiration that’s keeping us going.
Here’s what’s good in my work
GOOD IDEAS: Right now, my work with clients centers on promoting good ideas: collaboration, creativity, and unity.
I’m leaning into that good and saying “no thanks” to projects whose agendas aren’t serving the greater good.
GOOD CAUSES: I’ve been inspired by the way my Greater Good friends have built giving into their business models. (BWB supports emerging entrepreneurs through their Partner Up program; Bellhop does pro-bono work for people from marginalized communities.)
In the past, I have given one-off donations through my business to food and diaper banks. I’ve also made donations to World Central Kitchen in my clients’ honor as an alternative to holiday gifts.
But I’m inspired to make giving a more integral part of my business model. Starting in October, I’ll donate books to a classroom in need every month through DonorsChoose. Yesterday, I was thrilled to supply a teacher with 26 copies of “The One and Only Bob” (a favorite in my house) for her class’s upcoming novel study.
☀️Now it’s your turn. What’s good with you? And how could you add more good to your community, right now?
