The second of our seven deadly sins of entrepreneurship, adapted from Gandhi’s list of seven spiritually detrimental traits, is “pleasure without conscience.”
What this “sin” speaks to is greed. Greed is also commonly listed as one of the biblically defined seven deadly sins. What we speak of is the accumulation of wealth without regard to how you procure it or for what purpose you intend to use it. The goal is simply the acquisition and nothing more. Think of the character Scrooge from Dickens, or, for those of you with a more well-rounded education, Scrooge McDuck from the comic books.
The flip side to this is trying to be too generous in your entrepreneurial pursuits. Whether it is being overly broad in defining who gets a “friends and family” discount for your services, or wanting to throw your resources into all of the world’s ills, running a business takes careful planning.
I want to tread carefully here. I’m a big believer that we all have a responsibility, as citizens of this earth, to put a little water back in the well. When first starting a new business, you’re not going to have enough jack to start throwing dollars at your favorite causes. But as you grow in your business and become more successful, giving back to your community — and however you describe that from your local neighborhood to your solar system — is not only a “should do”, but also one of the most rewarding things that you can do. I did it. And I know I am a better person for it. I hope in some small way that the world is a little better for my efforts as well.
But while you may want to, and should want to give back, you will have to select your causes. There are innumerable organizations that do unbelievable things for the world around us. You will need to balance the power that you have to effect change with the right to say “No.”
I guess one of the advantages many solo or micro entrepreneurs have is when your office is in the basement where you toil away in front of a computer in your boxer shorts, charities will take a little longer to find you. But they will find you. And they may or may not wait until after you have crossed the threshold into profitability. When you do start giving from your earnings to your favorite causes, word will spread. Nothing begets more charitable solicitations than one successful hit. You will need to manage this element of your business plan carefully to balance these interests.
And balance is the key. There is nothing wrong in wanting to start and run a wildly successful and profitable enterprise. Remember, it isn’t money that is the root of all evil. It is the love of money.