Business Success Depends on Community Involvement

My business’s success depends on community involvement? Really? I am in business to get paid and provide for myself and my family. Where does a community play a role in any of that? If you think like this, change your mindset immediately because you are doing yourself a disservice.

Community involvement is very important because a sustainable community produces sustainable businesses. When a community is in shambles and operating within dysfunction, such poisonous elements effect everything that exist within its confines. For example, let’s take a look at two different communities within the City of Atlanta. Buckhead and Old National are two very noticeably different communities in Atlanta. This difference can be seen in economic status, the shared mindset in the community and the business investment being poured into the community. Buckhead businesses sow into their community and the community supports their local businesses. There is a central business association in place that ensures all development and new businesses are in the best interest of the community of Buckhead. When it comes to Old National, there is no such unity. Dominique Huff at The South Fulton Business Coalition is working hard to change this status but he can’t do it alone. The community of Old National has to provide him their unwavering support in order to produce a centralized system that is focused on community development and business sustainability. If not, the only businesses that will be located on Old National Highway are fast food restaurants, a few corporate chain stores and some gas stations. None of which really play a major developmental role within the community they operate in.

Now taking a look at both of these examples, which community reflects where your business is located? When your local community cannot come together collectively in order to create structure, unified power and progress; then your business will be stifled in its growth or ultimately fail. People do not invest within and do business in communities where there is no sense of order and a well-developed strategy. That is considered wasted time and wasted money, when there is opportunity elsewhere that will produce a far greater return. As a business owner you must reach out to the other business owners around you and the community leaders around you to create an association or entity of some sort that is focused on growing the community. Your community must be thriving and vibrant in order to produce and sustain a successful business climate, but the “me only” attitude will prohibit such from occurring.

If you are a business owner, get involved in the community where your business is located. Let the community know who you are, why they should believe in you and why you see great potential within the community. Instill optimistic belief within those who reside around your business and develop continual initiatives that keeps the community engaged on forward progress. A healthy community = healthy businesses, which means wealth is being produced within the community and shared within the community.

“Where there is not community, trust, respect, ethical behavior are difficult for the young to learn and for the old to maintain.” – Robert K. Greenleaf, Servant As Leader