by Erica Wiley
As a little girl ran towards the street, I caught her in my arms and held her while she cried quietly.
Out on the road past my driveway, the contents of a house lay strewn. Furniture, torn boxes, broken dishes, papers and toys spill out over the curb. My neighbor and their tenant stood in midst of the chaos fiercely arguing their cases to the sheriffs. I spoke softly as I tried to assure this innocent child that she would be safe.
Ladies, entrepreneurship is so much more than making six or seven figures. Sound odd for a self-proclaimed ProfitGeek to say?
When I started my business, probably similar to you, I wanted to improve my family’s life. There wasn’t a big global mission yet. Things like time and financial freedom were the top of mind reasons for sticking to this tough thing we call entrepreneurship. And while today my team and I have more social goals built into our company, I hadn’t realized before these past days the daily opportunities that freedom of time gave me to serve, literally right in my own backyard.
In 2012, our team had been active in looking for community-oriented service opportunities. We volunteered after Hurricane Sandy and participated in runs and other “-athons” as corporate sponsors. But these are planned dates and times which are relatively easy for just about anyone to become involved in.
Two days into hosting this family of 3 children and their mom and I’m finally struck by the idea that there’s no way I could have done this if I didn’t own my business. From being physically present to being able to adapt our schedule, Rick and I have cleared items, cooked meals, and entertained 3 more children on top of our own.
I bet you’d agree with me that owning your own business is about creating a lifestyle that supports and empowers our families, ultimately allowing us then to helps others, even beyond our work space.
It requires knowing what success looks like specifically for you and your family. Financial goals are certainly relevant, but what will you do with the added resources and time? Some of the common goals I hear from men and women entrepreneurs alike include: spending more time with my family, working less hours and being able to give back.
Today I encourage you think more deeply how you want to give back and what might be some smaller, more local opportunities for you to start now.
Have a story when entrepreneurship has enabled you to help someone? Please share–I can’t wait to hear from you!
Read more from Erica on She Owns It here.
One Reply to “Entrepreneurship: Thinking Beyond Six Figures”
Erica Wiley[ Post Author ]
It certainly is a fine line. The purpose of business is profit and when business owners overlook this and get trapped in money guilt and under-charging, it can ruin a business. On the opposite side of the spectrum, being only focused on the money and neglecting values or social benefit the company can create, equally can rot a business.
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