Who Are The Good Guys?

July 15, 2016

My colleague Doug Luciani [of the Traverse City Area Chamber] pointed out to me several years ago how often businesses are made out to be the bad guys. The antagonist in a movie is often a business or evil executive, politicians often talk about how their opponent is affiliated with “big business,” and businesses are often described as “greedy” and willing to destroy the environment or a community for their personal gain.

I admit some of that reputation is earned; there have been businesses who have done bad things to their employees, to the environment, or to their customers. There are CEOs who have taken big bonus checks on the heels of massive layoffs within their companies. And when businesses do bad things, they make the headlines and face the public scrutiny they deserve.

But you know what? I personally don’t know any of these businesses who are doing bad things. As a chamber of commerce professional, I am immersed in the business community, and what I see are very good people doing very good things.

I have the deepest admiration for an entrepreneur, that person who has taken a big risk, often putting their life savings on the line, in order to provide a service or product they are convinced is of great need to society. They see their future wealth, or at least their livelihood, coming from their wonderful idea. When successful, these entrepreneurs create businesses that are significant taxpayers, job providers and contributors to their communities.

These are the people I see and know. They are folks who are trying to keep their companies profitable while doing the best they can to take care of those who support them. They truly care about the welfare and the lives of their employees. They also care about the happiness and satisfaction of their customers. They recognize that their community is a reason for their success and they try to give back to that community. And the real good ones do all that they can to care for the environment, and to even care for the suppliers and partners who help their business.

So here’s a crazy idea. What if we started to recognize businesses as the good guys they are? Here’s an even crazier idea: What if businesses become the leaders in finding ways to improve the human condition of our communities, our state, and our nation?

Why business? Because businesses are the largest convener of human effort. Businesses have the most financial resources and the strongest network of human resources and are therefore best positioned to make the most positive change in the world. The power of business to make positive change in the world is huge, and it is already happening.

Another reason businesses need to take the lead to improve the human condition of our communities is because government is not able to do it anymore. Government at every level is so strapped for financial resources that it can no longer cause profound impact. There are so many special interests seeking public funds that those funds are spread too broadly to make a difference. Just ask any agency that relies on public funding; they all say there isn’t enough to go around. At higher levels of government, the political climate is so polarized that it creates yet another barrier to government effectiveness.

Right now I see the nonprofit sector as the leader of change to improve our human condition. Nonprofit organizations are effective fundraisers, they are missionfocused, and they have passionate followers who bring positive changes to our communities. So is it wrong for a business to work alongside a nonprofit agency to wipe out hunger in a community? Or to improve the water quality in a local lake? Or to help give young people access to recreation programs? No. Not only can businesses help, they should help, and many already do.

These ideas aren’t mine. They are a culmination of the things I’ve been learning in a year-long study on the “Conscious Capitalism” movement called Thriving Michigan. The Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce is one of seven chambers in the state (including Traverse City and Alpena in northern Michigan) to see how chambers can lead businesses to lead positive change in our state. Nathan Havey of Thrive Consulting in Traverse City has been facilitating the program and teaching us how those businesses that have a higher purpose can also have higher profits. It’s been a fascinating journey and movement worth watching.

Maybe when all is said and done, a business owner will be the hero of a movie and will ride off into the sunset as one of the good guys.

Carlin Smith is the President of the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce.