Startups do not have a monopoly on Impact

I've done business-for-good within industrial companies, in historically conservative sectors, and I’ve often heard: “Impact is nice for five minutes, but Business is Business!”

At first, I took these comments as cold judgment. Honestly, it frustrated me a little. 😤

But then I realized that behind those words, there was more fear than arrogance.

The promise of positive impact, with its “star student” attitude, intimidated my interlocutors, who were often more inclined toward pragmatism than entrepreneurial buzzwords.

Because we often believe that impact is reserved for new businesses, for disruptive companies, and particularly for start-ups, I wanted to write a few lines to tell all the great pragmatists: impact is (also) for you. 🚀

#1 Start-ups focused on impact are just like everyone else

It’s true that the media love success stories about young impact-driven start-ups, whose CEOs are as much influencers as business leaders and master communication like pros. Through the screen, everything looks perfectly aligned. The value proposition is “save the world,” the supply chain is “our suppliers are our partners, our raw materials are 100% green,” and the company culture is “people first.” Intimidating, right? 😕

But behind the screen?

Behind the screen, start-ups are just like any other companies. While they may be deserving, they face the reality where delivering on the promise of 360° impact all at once is a dream!

I’ve known start-ups for good that were skyrocketing their revenue but had questionable HR practices. I’ve known start-ups making magazine headlines but deeply worried about the viability of their business models. I’ve known start-ups making supply chain choices that weren’t so green because they had no better option.

So RELAX! Start-ups focused on impact are like any other business: imperfect and not very open about their flaws. The blank check that comes with promising impact doesn’t erase the often difficult challenges of entrepreneurship, the market, or innovation—everything else is just clever marketing. 🎭

#2 But what exactly is impact?

In the end, it’s a bit like the saying, “Happiness is not the destination, but the journey.”

Impact is neither an initial declaration of good virtue nor a fixed outcome. It’s an ongoing process, a continuous commitment. 🌱

Let’s break down the semantic walls and jargon that limit impact to young businesses. Let’s choose simple words that speak more about action than marketing 🧱✌️:

Impact begins when there is a genuine will to create a positive reality. It’s defined by a humanist drive to reinvent even a small part of the world to make it better. And the possibilities are endless! 🌍

A study from the Observatory of Success published in 2023 reveals that:

• 57% of business leaders say the top indicator of success is their company’s ability to help employees grow.

• 30% of them say it’s being useful to society.

• 18% believe it’s contributing to the ecological transition.

This study tells us two things:

• Business leaders already hold impact close to their hearts.

• There are as many versions of impact as there are companies. Each organization has its own impact.

#3 Don’t hesitate: Baby steps are solid steps

Small wins pave the way for the great successes of tomorrow. These words should resonate with the pragmatic leaders I’ve met along the way. 🏆

Impact and commitment are endurance sports: Start with small actions, human-scale projects, modest victories. There’s nothing like realizing that you’re capable of making an impact, and once you start, you won’t want to stop! 💪

Impact transforms the company, strengthens teams, and brings meaning to everyday work.

A source of sustainable wealth, within your reach! 💼

Still hesitant? Don’t be. You don’t need to be 25, wear sneakers, or have 100K TikTok followers to make an impact. 😊