NEVER ACCEPT THE UNACCEPTABLE
Never accept the unacceptable...once we all start to look not only inward, but outward at the things that are not acceptable in the world, we will find ourselves (and much more) in the good that we do for each other.
RICHARD BRANSON
If I had to list my favourite leaders in the world, Sir Richard Branson will surely feature. Not only for his visionary thoughts, his daredevil spirit or entrepreneurial prowess but for his commitment to throwing out the rule book and running his businesses and life on his unique terms.
Branson’s book, Screw Business As Usual was gifted to me as I left corporate and ventured into the entrepreneurial world myself, and this book most certainly left an imprint in my mind as I steered myself toward living and doing business in a way that is good for more than just myself. I’m sharing a few extracts of his book in the hope that it would stimulate new questions for you and lead you toward decisions and action that positively impact more people on our planet.
>> Read more about Usha’s journey here
Branson continues, “Over the last few decades as I’ve started up one exciting business after another, I have often thought that life and work could not get any better. In writing this book, however, I’ve come to realise that we’ve really been on a dummy run, preparing ourselves for the greatest challenge and opportunity of our lifetime.”
Branson could never have imagined that, less than a decade after first publishing his book, all of the people in all of the world would be navigating the greatest global challenge of a lifetime. More recently and closer to home, we have witnessed the chaos and upheaval, fast-tracked by this great challenge. As leaders in business, without looking outside for solutions, how do we rally together to create opportunity not just for ourselves but for all of our people? Running businesses and leading people only toward selfish gains is no longer good enough.
>> Read 8 Lessons for Leaders from Social Unrest in South Africa
FREE Download | MERAKI Magazine!
- Beautiful Magazine Sent Straight to Your Inbox
- Work/Life Success and Happiness Motivation
- Personal and Leadership Development Content
“We’ve a chance to take a shot at really working together to turn upside down the way we approach the challenges we are facing in the world and to look at them in a brand new, entrepreneurial way….Never has there been a more exciting time for all of us to explore this next great frontier where the boundaries between work and higher purpose are merging into one, where doing good really is good for business…amidst all of today’s new jargon, the message is actually pretty simple: just do what’s right for people and the planet in everything you do.”
Good leadership is about increasing in impact, not because it looks good on annual reports or in marketing videos, but because it is the right thing to do. And as Branson advocates, “doing good is good for business,” profit and purpose can and should co-exist.
IN BRIEF
We have been fortunate that through some of the worst times in recent history we have had the opportunity to witness some of the best responses by people. However, doing good should not be a knee-jerk response to something bad.
Rather, in business and in leadership, we should be doing good as the norm. In Richard Branson’s words, “Never accept the unacceptable…once we all start to look not only inward, but outward at the things that are not acceptable in the world, we will find ourselves (and much more) in the good that we do for each other.”
SHARE THIS POST
PRO TIP
This article was first published in the ASA Magazine, September 2021.
WORK WITH CORPORATES TO UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF YOUR WOMEN LEADERSHIP
Find out how I can assist your business through in-house leadership and women empowerment programs, consulting services and coaching.
About the author:
Usha Maharaj CA(SA) is a Speaker, Facilitator, and Brain-based Coach who thrives on helping young professionals and women shatter glass ceilings and win in all areas of their lives through her own experience in a high-performing corporate workplace. As a past director in a Big 4 audit firm and current non-executive director and female entrepreneur, Usha is your go-to-guide when you are ready to quicken the pace of your career growth and get back into the driver’s seat of your own life. She has been there; she knows the way and she actively shows the way. Usha will help you to step up and into the most confident version of yourself and discover your own success.
Learn more at www.ushamaharaj.com