Symptoms of Success

Affluenza – it’s something we can catch anytime of year, and it’s easy to see someone who has the disease. Symptoms are an oversized or overpowered car, a home that could you could get lost in, a waistline that displays too many dinners out, clothes and accessories worn only to impress, a mindboggling entertainment schedule, and constant chatter about the latest travel destinations. The other main sign is stress, and a booking in the local Happiness Seminar, as if happiness were something to be added to the list of purchases.

Affluenza is a direct result of our value system, of what we as a society promote as “success” - success being one or all of the above symptoms. I am not by any way rejecting a well thought out moderately comfortable lifestyle, but we all need to think about our values, individually and as a society. How can we aspire to living well and not to excess, how can we each meet our needs and then contribute in a meaningful way?

For everyone, the mix is different, but as a society, we are beginning to hold up new values – those of community, of sharing resources, of moderate consumption, and of entertainment that is based around connection with others. And the major spin off of this mind-shift is happiness, not a few hours of temporary joy, followed by a crashing emptiness, a happiness that is an inner comfort, a feeling good with the world.

Business is about achieving through transactions to supply what others need. If you are thinking about going into business, think about the new values that are emerging in our society. Think about a business that connects people, and helps them re-connect with the world of the future. We stand at the door of a new energy era, one where affluenza will no longer be the driving force in our economy, and small business owners that understand this will position themselves for real success in the next few decade.

The Future of Business

My workshops this week  included stuff about the future and how to be "at the right place at the right time".  Looking at the self made millionaires (excluding those from the entertainment and sporting industries) , we reviewed what were the factors of success.  The list of fifteen  included entrepreneurs such as  Dick Smith, Lindsay Fox, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg and Zhengrong Shi.  We looked several aspects of success, and found only one that they all  had in common, which is - the ability to identify and meet a future need.  

So what are the future needs that stand out as business opportunities?   The trends indicate increasing global population,  increasing cost of  oil and increasing energy costs as the defining parameters of business of the next decade.  To stay ahead of your competition, or to become a leader in an emerging industry, then consider the future, identify a need, and work out how your business can meet that need.   For some, it will be to become  the most energy efficient and creative business  compared to the competition.  For others, their business will develop a  new niche opportunity that offers  businesses a way to reduce, re-use or recycle.  None of us have that magic crystal ball with all the answers, but  what I do know for sure is that the world of business will look very different in the future.  If you are in a business, my tip of the day is to consider the future.   We have two options ahead, one is the fossil fuel world of today and one is the renewable world of tomorrow. and each of us is headed in one of these directions.  So where are you and your business  headed?

Picture Future or Bust! by Vermin inc ex Flickr