Learning the fundamentals of running a business some 30 years ago was interesting. What they taught us back then was quite a bit different from what entrepreneurs learn today. For example, being a conscious entrepreneur in the late ’80s and early ’90s meant running a business with integrity. The same term today means something completely different.
Practicing integrity in one’s business dealings is still a good idea. But in the 2020s, being a conscious entrepreneur means being a business leader who prioritizes personal growth and business success, with the understanding that one’s inner world is connected to the external business experience.
More Than What’s on the Surface
The conscious entrepreneur principle is rooted in the belief that business is far more than what is seen on the surface. Yoga nidra expert and mindfulness business mentor Scott Moore explains it this way on his website:
“Your business is an extension of your thoughts and beliefs. I’ll help you stay in a growth and abundant mindset with encouragement, meditations, and helpful tools.”
If I understand Moore correctly, he promotes the idea of interconnectedness between an entrepreneur’s inner self and what comes out as business practice. So to improve external business, the entrepreneur works on improving the inner self.
This is what it means to be a conscious entrepreneur. You want your business to succeed. You want to seize and expand on as many opportunities as you can. But you don’t do so based exclusively on your understanding of business. You do so with a complementary understanding of yourself.
Ancient Practices Are a Key Component
I suppose there could be any number of ways to actively engage with a conscious entrepreneur mindset. But in all my research on the topic, I find myself being redirected to ancient practices like yoga nidra. I find conscious entrepreneur experts talking about things like meditation, self-discovery, and changing belief systems.
Does that mean a business owner has to embrace yoga in order to be a conscious entrepreneur? Not necessarily. In the 2020s, there are plenty of life coaches, mentors, and business consultants helping clients become better business owners by getting to know themselves better. Yoga never enters into the equation.
On the other hand, mentors like Moore are also yoga practitioners. Yoga has been part of their lives throughout their entire business careers. It has laid the foundation of their success as business leaders. They want to share what they know about yoga to help their clients become conscious entrepreneurs.
The Net Effects of Conscious Entrepreneurship
Whether you were to go down the yoga root or not, you might be wondering what the net effects of conscious entrepreneurship are. The best way for me to explain it is to discuss the key characteristics of conscious entrepreneurs. Here they are:
- Purpose-Driven – Conscious entrepreneurs have clear purpose and value that go above and beyond profit.
- Self-Awareness – They are aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. They acknowledge their fears and limitations. They focus on personal growth.
- Values-Based – Conscious entrepreneurs do business rooted in their personal values.
- Passionate – They are passionate and enthusiastic about both personal growth and business.
- Holistically-Minded – Conscious entrepreneurs are holistically minded. This is to say they embrace the interconnectedness of themselves, their business opportunities, and the world around them.
In essence, conscious entrepreneurship combines the practical world of business with the spiritual and subconscious aspects of humanity. Because it is not focused solely on profit alone, entrepreneurs can do business in a more compassionate and people-focused way. It is certainly a refreshing change from the standard corporate business mindset.
