I’ve found your people! | An outsiders look at the Impact Business movement
Hands up if you know what an “Impact Business” is. Be honest. If you’d asked me a year ago, my hands would be firmly by my side.
A little backstory for you...
Like many of you, in mid-2020 I was still whirring from the sudden changes caused by a global pandemic, terrified of where international politics were heading and trying to be the responsible adult that Greta was calling on me to be - and then I lost my job. Little did I know, when I was thrust into the world of solopreneurship, that I would find a supportive, purpose-driven (and growing) community ready to greet me.
I chose self employment because I was sick (literally, my mental health was in shreds) of the corporate culture of over-working, under-paying and prioritizing the appearance of goodness over actually doing good. I had spent too long organizing company fundraisers where the generous staff emptied their pockets and the company took all the credit. Too long listening to the C-suite exec brag about going vegan to help the planet even though they’d just insisted on taking a private jet to their last meeting (that could have easily been a zoom call).
I vowed to help these folks no longer.
What is the Impact Business movement?
I knew good people were out there. People who wanted to change the world for the better - but where were they? The biggest problem with soul driven, heart centred, socially conscious, sustainably minded people - they don’t tend to brag about it!
Then one fateful day, the LinkedIn algorithm gods suggested I connect with the owner of a boutique graphic design company that focused on supporting change-makers and (you guessed it) impact businesses! A click of a button led to a meeting, then a client relationship and then the door opening to a world of other purpose-driven businesses. The deeper I found myself diving into this world, the more I kept thinking, “I know more people who should be here.”
You see, the Impact Business world is filled with people who want to change the world - and believe they can. They’re breaking down social barriers, transforming the way we think about business and profit and working hard to build a better future.
Who is the Impact Business movement for?
Do any of these sound familiar?
The fierce finance whiz who’s fearlessly calling out greenwashers and unethical investors.
The single mompreneur who’s creating a community in which, one day, her daughter can feel empowered and represented as a successful business owner regardless of her skin color.
The communications manager who’s trying to change a company culture from the inside and bring them into the present day, where a triple bottom line is more than a “nice to have.”
These are the kinds of people who are working away at changing the world and feeling like they’re doing it alone. I know these people. I’ve seen that desire for change bubbling under the surface because they’re not sure if their dreams can be realized. They wonder if they’re overly optimistic at best, delusional at worst.
You know what I tell them? “I’ve found your people!”
Your people are right here, in the Impact Business movement. Whether they’re a B Corporation, a Benefit company or doing their own thing, they have one thing in common - they believe that the needs of people, the planet and profit can be balanced!
And you would not believe how many of us there are (because we don’t bloomin’ talk about it!)
Did you enjoy this guest blog post by Hannah McCormick of HM Virtual Assistance? Are you also inspired to join the Impact Movement? Let us show you how. Book a call today.
