I’ve been asking myself lately whether there is a common set of values that is shared by the various creative, values-driven entrepreneurs I know and admire. Sometimes it seems difficult even to agree on a definition or label under which we can unite: Some of us consider ourselves grassroots businesses; others go by “small & special“; I also identify with the term “creative entrepreneur,” while others might unite under the flags of social venture or social entrepreneurship. Each of these labels comes with a set of associations, but rather than trying to find the right name for who we are, I find myself wondering if we might be better served by focusing on the values we share.
One of the key values Emira and I share is our belief in gradual, sustainable growth — we’ve both seen great businesses implode as a result of too-rapid, compulsive growth, and feel that our culture’s addiction to faster, bigger everything is one of the major problems we need to address on both local and global levels. So I’ve termed this “The Slow Growth is Smart Growth Manifesto.”
This is my attempt at writing down some of the values I hold dear, and that we have heard from the many inspiring small business owners we have had the pleasure of meeting. I’m sure I will miss something fundamental, or gloss over an important detail, so my hope is that you will take this in the first-draft spirit in which I’ve written it, and comment, critique, and remix it as you see fit.
The Slow Growth is Smart Growth Manifesto
Bigger is not inherently better. Small can be beautiful, and growth comes in many forms. Positive growth is prompted by demand for better products & services — and doesn’t compromise our best values, our local communities or our environment.
There is a difference between ambition and greed. Ambition drives us to be extraordinary, reach higher, and do outstanding work. Greed is the byproduct of a scarcity mentality that tells us our gains must come at the expense of others.
Risk has to be affordable. We keep our debts to a minimum, and do the most we can with the resources available to us. We celebrate creative bootstrapping, and reject the widespread, glorified image of the high-stakes, winner-take-all entrepreneur.
Meaningful work makes for a more meaningful life. We love what we do, and are passionate about creating stuff that makes our customers’ lives richer, easier, and happier.
Good work deserves to be well compensated. We believe in paying ourselves and our staff enough to live well and give back to our communities — and in taking time away from work to recharge our bodies, minds and spirits.
How we spend our businesses’ money matters. As business owners we have the power to distribute the money we generate as we see fit; and we use this opportunity to nurture more smart growth through conscious spending and investing in things that align with our values.
Craftsmanship never goes out of style. Quality goods, skillful execution, and lifelong development of specialized skills are a recipe for proud and happy staff, no-bullshit marketing, and healthy pricing — all of which are beneficial to our businesses and our customers.
Quiet is just fine. Recognition is nice, but not essential. We would rather quietly turn a healthy profit doing what we love than engage in pissing contests over gross revenues, mergers & acquisitions, or becoming the next hot-shit, picture-all-over-the-business-pages CEO.
Healthy workplaces are productive workplaces. At Raised Eyebrow, we like to go home at 5 o’clock and honour our days off. We aim for warm, constructive relationships with our colleagues and customers. And we keep a generous supply tea and chocolate on hand. Everyone has their own definition of a positive work environment, but when we establish creative collaboration, honest communication, and reasonable hours of work as the norm, we promote the well-being of workers, our families, and our environment as well as our businesses.
Define success on your own terms. We create conscious, integrated models for what success looks like, rather than relying on tired, inherited stereotypes and trappings of “the good life.” We are not defined by our work alone.
Focus on what you do best. There is a lot to be said for saying no. None of us can be all things to all people.
Niches and the long tail are on our side. There is enough to go around. When we build alliances with other niche businesses we create rising tides that lift all boats.
13 responses so far ↓
1 gord // Jul 28, 2009 at 9:12 am
Well said Lauren. Lots of resonance there. It makes me wonder when i read your post how these values have come to be shared by firms like ours? What conditions were required to afford small firms that feel this way? I used to think we were unique in holding these values, but they seem increasingly more commonly held. Something in the vancouver water? The time spent at the top of the hill?
Great post.
2 Eric Karjaluoto // Jul 28, 2009 at 9:19 am
Nice post–a sentiment that I believe is shared by an increasing number of people. Thanks for writing it! :-)
3 Liz Parker // Jul 28, 2009 at 11:08 am
Lauren – lovely post. I identify very, very strongly with what you wrote. MOST things in life worth developing perhaps should do so at a slow pace. Your small business, your friendships, relationships, career, education, diet plan, spirituality, workout regime, practising your musical instrument…all of these things are serious, worthwhile things that need TIME to develop, grow, and evolve.
I define success not by the trappings (ie, material goods, although shoes is another story) but by making enough to save and being happy with my career. I continue making this my goal because ultimately, working for yourself is THE way to go. xo
4 Brenda // Jul 28, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Perfect – just what I needed to read today. My motto has been “slow and steady” since opening my business last year. Time and time again, I’ve watched the Next Hot Thing burn out and fizzle away, through lack of infrastructure to handle overnight “success.” But I do find myself falling into the trap of thinking that I must have more sales than I’m able to comfortably handle in order to be successful. So thank you. Just what I needed to hear.
5 links for 2009-07-29 | Lorissa Shepstone // Jul 29, 2009 at 8:08 am
[...] The Slow Growth is Smart Growth Manifesto YES! (tags: business) [...]
6 links for 2009-08-05 < meanderings // Aug 5, 2009 at 5:16 am
[...] » The Slow Growth is Smart Growth Manifesto — The Boss of You — For women who run businesses. "We would rather quietly turn a healthy profit doing what we love than engage in pissing contests over gross revenues, mergers & acquisitions, or becoming the next hot-shit, picture-all-over-the-business-pages CEO." [...]
7 Karen Sloan // Aug 5, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Each and every point you made is in itself excellent advice.
Wonderful blog, by the way!
8 Madeleine Shaw // Aug 6, 2009 at 10:06 pm
ITA!!! Look at plants and people – how do they (optimally, organically) grow? At their own, healthy pace. The relentless push for acceleration and hyper-maturity is counterproductive for everything it touches, business, people and plants included.
9 Things I’ve liked: August 4th < meanderings // Aug 12, 2009 at 12:19 pm
[...] » The Slow Growth is Smart Growth Manifesto — The Boss of You — For women who run … – "We would rather quietly turn a healthy profit doing what we love than engage in pissing contests over gross revenues, mergers & acquisitions, or becoming the next hot-shit, picture-all-over-the-business-pages CEO." [...]
10 Linda Smith // Aug 13, 2009 at 7:55 pm
“Slow and steady…” I love that sentiment. I’ve always felt that operating at too high a speed causes missed opportunities, overlooked customer service and even possible shoddy craftsmanship. I think that the old saying, “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well,” applies here.
11 kerin rose // Aug 28, 2009 at 4:16 pm
I have printed this out and pasted it above my workbench as a manifesto of sorts….when you have a small business, it is so very easy to get caught up in what you THINK you should be doing.
I love your abundance theory!
12 Curing The Content Blues – 15 Fabulous Niche Bloggers // Oct 9, 2009 at 8:19 am
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13 Becca // Jan 1, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Thank you! As a writer with a one-year-old business and a full-time bread baking job, I’ve had no choice but to grow my business slowly, and sometimes I fear that its mellow pace will eventually grind to a halt. This is an encouraging reminder that slow is sustainable. Yes!
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