Entrepreneurship and Business Relationships in 2014

Entrepreneurship in 2014 will be more relational than ever.

Relationships have always been a crucial part of business development. It’s important to have teams with which you can share and cultivate the vision and culture in your organization. When a company needs help but lacks the internal resources, they outsource. When companies are stumped, they bring in consultants. When companies look to endeavor into something new, they reach out to a legal team. When companies desire a new outlook, they meet and filter through multiple ideas to find a few that will work this quarter. In each instance, a particular classification of relationship is addressed.

2014 will be a year where more than ever, businesses will be challenged in relation to the communities they serve. I believe communities now demand a higher level of service, transparency, vulnerability, flexibility, knowledge, communication, and honesty. Trust has become valued much more now that we all have access to much more information. Transparency is valued much more; as the internet allows for the start of many scandals and investigations. When businesses and business people pass the test of valuing the consumer enough to hold a high level of integrity, they immediately stand out more.

Companies like TOMs, charity:water, Sevenly, Cultures of Love and many more community-focused businesses have demonstrated this very well. Their success and increasing popularity can be linked to their transparency with the marketplace. Consumers like to be confident that the proceeds are going where a company advertises that they will go. Consumers want quality, convenience, comprehension, and consistency.

In 2014, if we all can strive to have these qualities, do business with the perspective of how we’d feel as a consumer, maintain a clear vision, maintain cohesiveness in every aspect of our endeavors, I believe we’ll achieve great success.