Make A Positive Impact On The World

Most of us want to make a positive impact on the world and to build a legacy where our life speaks for us. This is also true for business owners. As a business owner, you have an opportunity to leave behind something of lasting importance and value to your customers, industry, family, community, and loyal employees. You can create something of significance in your corner of the world, your legacy.

As serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk said, “Please think about your legacy, because you’re writing it every day.”

Small and Independent Craft Brewers Lead The Way

I’ve found that small and independent craft brewers tend to excel at living their legacy. Many are local, so you may think this is small business. Think again. The Brewers Association based in Boulder, Colorado reported that in 2018, small and independent brewers collectively produced 25.9 million barrels with a retail value estimated at $27.6 billion. These small and independent brewers serve as job creators, strong economic contributors, and community beacons.

Ann Kohne and Chris Flynn met when they were students at the University of Colorado. As a student, Chris had dabbled in home brewing, and he was aware of the growing microbrew scene. After graduation, Ann and Chris had little desire to jump into the corporate world, and in 1995, they joined the great beer rush and co-founded Lakeland Brewing Company.

Lakeland Brewing Company started hand-brewing fresh, distinctive ales for their local market. Chris served as Head Brewer, and Ann served as CEO responsible for sales, marketing, distribution, administration, and financial planning. They eventually scaled the brewery into one of the most successful craft breweries in the region.

Along their path to success, Chris and Ann innovated and interpreted historic styles of craft beer with unique twists and developed new styles of craft beer. In addition to making excellent craft beers, they wanted to make a positive impact. With a focus on serving the people who live, work, and play side by side with them in their community, they designed ways to support their community through philanthropy, product donations, volunteerism and event sponsorship. Lakeland Brewing also supports local vendors and producers. These groups are more than partners, they are friends, and collectively, they work together to make their community flourish.

Lakeland Brewing believes that sustainability is part of their responsibility as a successful business. Their brewery runs primarily on wind-generated energy through their local utility’s wind power program. They recycle water in the brewery, on the bottling line, and in their cleaning process. Lakeland Brewing employs a heat recovery system in their brewhouse, and they reward their customers for returning their reusable six-pack carriers. Being mindful of their impact on the environment is one of the many ways they give back.

Do one thing: think about what you can do to begin creating something of significance in your corner of the world, get started today.

Thanks for reading.

*Fictitious names and scenarios were used for this example.