At his live events my mentor engages his audience, an audience made up in large measure of service-minded, heart-centered “conscious” entrepreneurs, with a question: “Why are you in business?”
Someone will always take the bait, raise their hand and when called upon wax poetic about all the deeply meaningful work that is the “reason ” why they do what they do. My mentor listens carefully to the entire spiel, pauses briefly to take a slow breath and then responds, “No, that is not why you are in business.”
The 300 or attendees squirm a bit as a silent “thank gawd that wasn’t me” wafts through the room. Most would have, if called upon, given a similar answer. Then he asks the question again, and this time just a few brave hands rise. Almost always, the next person called upon has the correct answer: “I’m in business to make a profit.”
It’s true – the goal of a business, any and all business, is to make a profit, but increasingly there is shift that is placing the “why” and “how” of making profits at the same level of importance as the profits themselves. This is the root of today’s “conscious business” movement lead by and large by gutsy, purpose driven entrepreneurs (like you) and a handful of enlightened companies such as Newman’s Own, whose donations to charity are legendary, and Zappos for its “impossible” customer and employee care policies under the leadership of CEO Tony Hsieh.
When you bring your passion and purpose to your business while keeping your eye on the bottom line the result is typically a much higher levels of personal satisfaction and greater profits too. Conscious businesses of all persuasions are proving that you can merge meaning with money for exceptional results.
While most affiliate networks focus exclusively on how to make lots (lots and lots) of money as an affiliate, if you consider yourself a “conscious” entrepreneur or small business owner, you must consider both profit potential and the effects your chosen revenue streams have on the end user and in some cases on the world at large. A few considerations to begin your evaluation of any affiliate opportunity include:
- Alignment – is the product or service complementary and in alignment with the purpose, mission and values of your core business?
- Value – does the product or service provide a valid solution to a real problem at a price that makes sense?
- Hype – marketing language is designed to create an emotional response however be watchful for promises that are simply too good to be true, and reject any company that will not back it’s products with a full money back guarantee!
- Reputation – take a few minutes and research a company you are considering representing. Do a Google search on the company, its products and its owners before enthusiastically jumping in with both feet. Better yet, stick to opportunities recommended by Affiliate Wealth Partners who do this “vetting” for you. Remember the old saying, “If you lie down with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas!”
- No harm – does the product/service you are considering add to life or does it take away from life?
Profits and purpose. Money and meaning. It’s the why and way of business today. As a conscious entrepreneur and affiliate marketer you are a part of the “serve more to sell more” revolution. Congratulations and welcome.
Mary Kay Morgan is founder of AffiliateWealthPartners.com the only affiliate and joint venture resource exclusively serving the needs of the conscious business community. Sign up now for our FREE membership into our Affiliate Community and gain access to our library of affiliate tutorials and to our approved list of high integrity, proven affiliate opportunities.