The Real Purpose of Starting a Business: It’s Not Just About Money
When starting a business, many of us turn to YouTube, searching for advice on how to create a product or make money. You’ll find countless videos promising that you can make $10K a month in just 90 days. While money is undeniably important in our world—we all need to feed our families—starting a business solely for the purpose of making money misses the mark. Business is about something much more significant: helping people.
Why It’s Always About People
I’ve always felt more drawn to business-to-consumer (B2C) models rather than business-to-business (B2B). Initially, it seemed like B2B might be the easier path to quick profits, but I’ve come to realize that regardless of the business model you choose, it’s always about people. Whether you’re in B2C or B2B, you’re ultimately solving problems for real people.
Even in B2B, where you’re technically selling to another business, the transaction is still centered on a person within that business. That person is buying a solution that will make their life easier, help them generate more revenue, save time, or reduce costs. It’s never just about the business; it’s about the people behind it.
The Problem with Focusing on Money
One of the things that bothers me most about the current business landscape is how much we’ve come to focus on money as the primary measure of value. We often hear advice like, “Charge what you’re worth,” and this might lead us to believe that our time should be measured in dollars per hour. But what happens when you try to apply this logic to your personal life?
For example, when I spent an hour at the doctor’s office with my son, it technically “cost” me $100 in lost business revenue. But was that hour really worthless? Absolutely not. If anything, it was invaluable. We can’t always measure the true worth of our time with money.
The True Value of Business: Helping People
The reality is that business isn’t just about generating revenue; it’s about solving real problems for people. We need to stop fixating on the amount of money we can make and start focusing on the value we’re providing. This isn’t always easy to measure, but it’s far more important.
Solopreneurs like us have the unique opportunity to truly care about the people we serve. Unlike large, publicly traded companies, our success isn’t just about the bottom line. We have the freedom to make decisions that don’t always show up on a balance sheet but are incredibly valuable to the people we help.
Focus on Connection, Not Just Profit
As solopreneurs, we have the ability to connect with our customers, share stories, and build real relationships. This human connection is what sets us apart from bigger companies. Business should be more than just a transaction; it should be an exchange where both parties feel valued.
It’s important to remember that money is not a bad thing, but it shouldn’t be the sole focus of your business. If you’re only in it for the money, are you truly helping people? Or are you just helping yourself?
Conclusion
Don’t get too caught up in the race to make money. Instead, focus on being real, adding value, and building connections with the people you serve. Business is about more than just numbers; it’s about making a difference in the lives of others. I’m excited to hear your thoughts on this, so please share your story in the comments below. Let’s have a real conversation about what truly matters in business.
