There are specific businesses that have been an integral part of communities for over 100 years, some more some less. These institutions have grown with their communities and experienced the ups and downs of life just as the individuals that make up the community have. They birth people, graduate people, marry people and bury people.
These businesses were started and operated for the right reasons and they are alive with a personality and a purpose. Well, many still are.
The people who work at these businesses are driven to make their efforts make a difference. Doing the right things for the right reasons enriches their lives and the lives of the people they serve. When a community matter needed to be brought to light, the consequences of doing so were not going to make the determination; rather the "need to know" was always at the forefront. The trust that these businesses have with their customers was more important and vital to their success than possibly ruffling a few feathers of chickens that may have actually needed their feathers plucked. That trust, so richly deserved and coveted, apparently has a monetary value and can be bought and sold with less attachment than one would have to a cheap pair of shoes.
The people who work at these businesses are driven to make their efforts make a difference. Doing the right things for the right reasons enriches their lives and the lives of the people they serve. When a community matter needed to be brought to light, the consequences of doing so were not going to make the determination; rather the "need to know" was always at the forefront. The trust that these businesses have with their customers was more important and vital to their success than possibly ruffling a few feathers of chickens that may have actually needed their feathers plucked. That trust, so richly deserved and coveted, apparently has a monetary value and can be bought and sold with less attachment than one would have to a cheap pair of shoes.
These businesses need to spend less than they take in so they can stay in business. Nothing surprising here. Making money is the right thing to do given the right reasons. What is surprising, or really deeply disturbing, is that many of these community businesses have been taken over by organizations, that operate on the premise that the almighty dollar is their right-reason. In fact, they operate as if the dollar is their only reason.
Making money is a by-product of doing the right things for the right reasons at the right time. If you do the right things for the right reasons at the right time, the money will hunt you down. Money should not be the main reason but it must be a direct result.
These detached conglomerates have intentionally dumbed down the value, the impact and the capabilities of these storied businesses. They destroy trust by destroying the capability of the business to do what it does best. They try to run an intimately local business from a distant place. Because they are owners, they can do these locally damaging things from a faraway place, but that does not mean they should.
There are several companies that truly value the community newspaper and operate accordingly. More power to these companies that do the right things for the right reasons.
There are several companies that truly value the community newspaper and operate accordingly. More power to these companies that do the right things for the right reasons.
Apple started with a Why and the Why was never just to make money. They make a lot of money, but their Why was to "Change The Status Quo" and to "Think Differently" and so on. The results of starting and continuing with a Purposeful-Why other than a Money-Why are undeniable.
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
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