While other kids aspired to be firefighters and astronauts or join the Peace Corps, I felt an undeniable call to pursue a career in business. It wasn’t just about making money or climbing a ladder. I wanted to be in business to make the world a better place.
When I was asked to speak at Nehemiah Week 2023, a conference of Christian business leaders and investors from all over the world, they said this year’s theme would be “Called for the Marketplace.” It resonated.
Business for Good
I grew up in a family with roots in small-town businesses, people who saw work as a noble pursuit. Their businesses were a way to help people. Whether they happened to own a clothing store or a restaurant or a hardware store or an accounting firm, my relatives didn’t just sell goods and services — they were helping people!
Sure, my relatives were making a living and supporting their families. But they were also waking up every day striving to help their neighbors solve a problem: selecting just the right suit for that big interview; serving great meals to college students at a reasonable price; figuring out the right part to fix a leaky pipe; translating confusing laws and numbers to file taxes on time.
My family was also creating jobs. Their employees also worked hard to not only support their own families but serve the community. As I walked down Broadway in the small town my parents grew up in, I always felt that these businesses were more than a means to an end — they were a force for good. They had purpose.
As I pursued my own career, I wanted to make a difference on a global scale. It led me to work in international tech companies with innovative solutions that connected people and communities. Little did I realize that the impact I could make wasn’t confined to the products or services I sold.
Living out Values in the Marketplace
What I didn’t anticipate was the profound implications my work could have as I lived out my values and my faith in the marketplace. It has afforded me the opportunity to serve all types of people — from new hires right out of school to working parents; from those urgent to move faster in their careers to those frustrated with burnout to others who have given up on their dreams.
In my everyday work, I’ve had the opportunity to help people see their own potential bigger than they had ever imagined, whether they were employees or partners, suppliers or customers. I work with people to solve challenging problems using their God-given talent, time, and treasure — and help them get out of that uncomfortable place of indecision to courageously move forward.
I especially enjoy helping teams who don’t know (or may not even like!) each other to get on one page and accomplish more together than they had ever thought possible. Even through dark days and layoffs, I have had the opportunity to help individuals see new chapters unfold by working with them to uncover the unique abilities they have been blessed with, and re-discover dreams they had long forgotten. In my marketplace calling I have had a front-row seat to support personal growth that goes beyond any spreadsheet or sales report.
Through the years, the call evolved into a mission to make a difference through my own business. I am now an entrepreneur, helping CEOs, boards, and leadership teams of organizations of all sizes to drive new strategies that make this world better. I serve as a force multiplier to help leaders achieve high-stakes strategies faster. It is work that is unendingly satisfying.
Following Principles versus Protocols
Throughout my marketplace journey, I definitely encounter moments that test my conviction to do what I know is right. When you view the marketplace as your calling instead of “just a job”, it can sometimes get awkward and uncomfortable. Many times it has meant challenging a decision that contradicted the direction of those in authority. Sometimes, it meant saying “no” to a client or partner, even though it could help make revenue goals.
At times, taking these risks has caused me to question myself. It has even led to panic attacks in the middle of the night as I wondered about the impact my decisions would have on my career and my family. Yet, I discovered that staying aligned with my beliefs has been more important than conforming. I could sleep at night knowing I was aligned with my values, and rest in my faith that God has a bigger purpose for my work.
A Necessary Evil? Or an Opportunity?
I know some see work as a necessary evil to fund the more important impact they want to have outside of their 9-5 job. Some see business as negative — ranging from merely mundane to inherently exploitive. Some believe meaningful change can only be accomplished through sweeping governmental initiatives or political shakeups.
But my own enthusiasm for business as a force for good has grown even stronger over time as I’ve seen people at work in the marketplace making a meaningful difference in individual lives and their communities. The impact reaches far beyond the products and services we offer; it’s about finding purpose in life through embodying our values to equip others.
I find my work energizing and I’m not alone. The US Purpose Index found that purpose-oriented workers have 64% higher levels of fulfillment at work. One study even found people who find purpose in life actually live longer!
Explore Your Own Calling
Whatever role or title or hat you might be wearing today, you have the power to make a difference in the lives of those around you. By viewing your work as a calling to serve others, you can turn an ordinary job into an extraordinary platform for change.
My hope is that you might find the marketplace a calling as well. It’s an opportunity to embrace the potential of business to create a better world: one person, one conversation, one decision at a time.
Welcome your thoughts!
— Susan Schramm
PS. To explore your own marketplace calling, I’d love you to join me next week at Nehemiah Week 2023 ! (Message me to make sure you get the “friends and family” 70% discount — only 99$ for the whole week!)
This article is part of my series “Driving a New Direction,” to equip and energize leaders with practical ways to move forward, whether you’re leading a new strategy or getting one back on track. Click +Subscribe if you’d like insights like this once or twice a month. To learn more about workshops and custom engagements and the book I’m writing, explore my website at www.gotomarketimpact.com, or send me a message!
This article originally appeared at www.gotomarketimpact.com
