A popular question in so-called “transformational” business circles is to ask, “What would you do if you didn’t need the money?”
I understand the value of this question, and in a culture that is so single-mindedly extractive, it is really useful to break out of the “gotta earn money!” mindset. However, I don’t know how helpful it is to completely disconnect business from needs, even financial needs. Why?
The simple truth is that your business shouldn’t even attempt to fulfill all of your needs. In fact, it can be important that we have really fulfilling vocations we take on that aren’t directly involved with survival, where we can express ourselves without worrying so much how it will be received, or how it will meet other people’s needs.
(I made a video awhile back on The Artist vs. The Entrepreneur which I think makes a useful distinction in this.)
Of course, I absolutely want your business to be fulfilling for you. Interesting and meaningful. There’s far too much work in capitalism that is unnecessary, boring, and not meaningful.
But that’s a different question than, “What would you do if you didn’t need the money?”
I think a far more useful question is, “What is something you would enjoy doing, that you would find joy and creativity in, to be in service to others?”
This question opens things up. For one, it doesn’t suppose that there is only one thing that would answer this question, but there could be several, maybe even many, ideas that would support you.
Secondly, it’s not purely about self-expression, it’s about service. Occasionally I like to draw. More than occasionally, I like to make beautiful things out of wood. And, if you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I’m into growing fruit and nut trees, and food forests.
However, I don’t want to make a business out of any of that. I just enjoy it. Notice our tagline is not “Every act of love can be an act of business…” that would be gross… Instead, “Every act of business can be an act of love.” Love is the larger container, business is held within that.
Business, commerce, is a way of meeting each other’s needs, ideally through relationships of care. Direct barter is a beautiful thing, but it gets complicated in a complex society. Indirect barter can be challenging to track, and thus, various forms of what we’ve come to call “money.”
This kind of indirect barter is not strictly utilitarian. We have all kinds of needs in addition to our survival needs: need for joy, and beauty. The need for wisdom and care. The need for support and connection.
So, don’t get tangled in the question of, “What would you do if you didn’t need money?” Instead, acknowledge that we all have needs, we all will continue to need to provide for each other’s survival and thriving, and lots of other needs.
Ask yourself, “Am I having *some* of my own important needs fulfilled in my business? Am I being of service, meeting other people’s needs? And, at least a good portion of the time, is it bringing me joy?”
These questions are going to lead you to a much more enlightening inquiry. What do you get when you ask yourself these questions about your business or work?
with love,
Mark Silver, M.Div.
Heart of Business, Inc.
Every act of business can be an act of love.
p.s. I announced yesterday the 3 Blocks course.
By “blocks” I mean both “building blocks” and “obstacles.” The course covers three topics that function as early-stage obstacles to many, many people in business. But, when done with love, they really are building blocks.
Niche, Packages (as opposed to single sessions), and Problem-based marketing are all building blocks… but they are done so terribly badly in our culture that they need to be redone, reframed… they need healing.
And then they can become building blocks.
Three Tuesdays: May 26, June 2 & 9. Pay from the heart pricing. Real progress and implementation done during the course.
Take a look! Jump in or ask questions.
Here: The 3 Blocks Course.
