Growing up, my model of business was formed by my grandfather. His enterprises included a grocery shop, a flour mill, a transport business, as well as a pineapple and coffee farm. Because of this, he had the capacity to impact the community where he lived. He gave land to the community to build a school and church. He was a respected elder in the community often invited when key decisions needed to be made by those in leadership. He made time for his grandchildren when we visited while on holiday, wanting to know how we were doing in school, giving us chores for which he paid us, and treating us to lollipops when we visited him at the grocery shop.
Today, business transformation may look different, however the potential to generate wealth and have positive impact on family and community remains. Businesses, I believe, afford us a platform to bring transformation in our sphere of influence even as we generate wealth and have a positive impact in our corner of the world. This might look like our family, our neighbourhood, the communities we’re involved in, our town, city, nation, continent and even globally.
Years come and go; people come and go. The way things are done changes. As long as we’re still here, we all have the opportunity to leave our mark on the earth. Oftentimes, this requires that we get rid of all the noise around us, make different decisions, seek to have the clarity, confidence and courage necessary to take a path that is unfamiliar, to delve into learning and growth that enables us to step into our power and cultivate our capacity to influence those around us for good in our business transformation journey.
Now, more than ever before, we need to be willing to unlearn to learn new ways of doing business. We need to let go of ways that no longer serve us, to embrace new and more efficient models of business. This transformational journey requires humility to learn from coaches and mentors. Business transformation requires focus and intention to follow through and build new rhythms and practices the will serve us so we can transform our businesses, generate wealth and have impact for generations.
