Every business owner wants to make a difference. To start a company from the ground up that is successful and helps its customers get what they need. But for a small business, your scope for creating change is limited. There’s only so much that a little software or manufacturing outfit can do.
But a little bit of goodwill can go a lot further than you realize. It doesn't matter whether your company is a global corporation or a little operation you run out of your garage. If you want to make a difference, you can. The world needs all the help it can get at the moment. We are in the midst of a global pandemic, and climate change is leading us towards environmental disaster. While you might not be able to end coronavirus or global warming, you can still inspire meaningful and long-lasting change.
Use your business for good in 2021. If you’re unsure where to start, here are five ways your business can make the world a better place.
Find innovative ways to help
So many businesses have stepped up impressively over the past year, to help out with the coronavirus efforts. Jaguar Landrover halted production and used their factories to produce personal protective equipment, while grocery stores are offering their premises to be used as vaccination hubs. Is there anything you could do to help out with the crisis, no matter how small? Perhaps your product or service could serve a useful need at the moment? If not, you can still make a difference by enforcing social distancing regulations to prevent the spread and ensuring the wellbeing of your employees.
Offer pro bono services
Whatever your product or service may be, is there some way you could provide it for free to a worthy cause? For example, some technology companies send computers to schools in developing countries, or you could offer marketing services to a community development organization. You will be making a big difference to the world by using your skills for good.
Donate a percentage of your profits
If your company has profits to spare, why not donate them to a cause you’re passionate about? This could be a regular payment or an occasional donation. Any amount will make a difference.
Go green
One of the most effective actions you can take is to reduce your business’s environmental impact. Companies pollute the natural world and use resources in so many ways, and there are myriad changes you can make. Start by reducing your energy usage and going paperless to reduce waste. Follow recycling rules and make an effort to work with as many sustainable companies as possible.
Use your voice
When you are using your business to make the world a better place, you can amplify this goodwill by setting an example to other companies. See this article from Jozef Opdeweegh for an example. Use social media, press releases, and blogs to share what you are doing, and there is an excellent chance that other businesses will follow suit.
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