People and Planet Before Profit – Not Just Numbers

Hit W goals each month, reach X number of followers, Y percentage engagement, make Z amount of money. Business, especially since bringing social media into the mix, is oh so materialistic. It’s all about the numbers. The ‘stereotypical’ approach to business which immediately springs to mind involves making money and scaling quickly. But let’s not forget that at the heart of any business, or, well, anything for that matter, are humans and the Earth.

People and planet before profit – what is it all about?

How does a people and planet before profit business model differ from traditional ways of business?

Instead of going all out trying get as many sales as possible or hit X amount of Instagram followers, putting people and planet before profit is all about using your business to create a positive impact. The purpose behind your brand is to be a force of good and you follow sustainable and ethical practices in your work.

A profit-driven approach often leads to overlooking key areas of your business such as being eco-friendly in your actions and genuinely caring for your audience. In the long run, this is what can cause your business to fall behind.

The world is continually recognising the need for more sustainable lifestyles and respect and equality for all. This is at the centre of a people and planet before profit approach, and they are values which I strife to achieve at Hearth by Megan Elizabeth.

Breaking away from the numbers

Of course, we all need to make a living and that includes earning money, don’t get me wrong. As you move into adulthood, money becomes a bigger factor in your life and there’s no ignoring that. You want to support yourself, your family, and live comfortably. I’d be surprised if there was someone who didn’t want that.

But is true happiness and success really found in this hustle approach and ‘How I Built a 7-Figure Business in 3 Months’ attitude (you know the kind of content I mean) – especially if you, others, and our Earth suffer in the process?

Social media stats and 7-figure incomes don’t mean as much as you think. After all, you could have 10,000 Instagram followers, and not a single person engage with your content, but have 100 followers and have a real community. You could have £2k – 3k months and be living your dream life.

Not just statistics

How I interpret putting people and planet before profit is that behind anything to do with business and building a brand are humans and our Earth.

Followers, engagement rates, sales. There are humans behind every single one of those metrics. Yet, we become statistics on spreadsheets and trackers.

Has the current approach to business and social media lost the fact that there are people and a planet involved? What do ya think?

That’s one of the major motivations which has led to Hearth. To bring focus away from the numbers and to the human and Earth side of creating a brand. To focus on supporting each other, having a community, aligning our actions to support both our own and others’ wellbeing and the world that we are sharing.

Numbers aren’t everything. Remember the humans and the planet at the heart of what you do.

If you want to check out some organisations focusing on transforming the approach to business, B Corporation UK and The Ethical Move provide useful information to introduce you to this fresh-thinking approach to business.