Leap
The problem
Entrepreneurs who want to build an organization don't have it easy, an entrepreneur with creative, social or ecological DNA even less so. The desire to work sustainably for people and planet all too often clashes with business economic laws. The result is predictable. A dream shattered, sometimes with a financial hangover on top.
"10% of entrepreneurs succeed in making their organization viable"- Forbes Magazine
The most common problems
1. Unclear about what they do
Value-driven entrepreneurs work from conviction. What they will concretely do with their organization on a daily basis, that is not always clear. The result is predictable: developing a product that nobody is waiting for, wanting to roll out new initiatives too quickly, or being busy with things that don't actually serve their mission.
2. Unclear about how they will do it
Value-driven entrepreneurs are rarely the best managers. When asked how they will concretely shape their organization and what their exact role is, they often have to remain silent.
3. Little self-awareness about their suitability as entrepreneurs
Whether they like it or not, the economic game is part of the entrepreneurial role. Just like with all other roles and 'jobs', value-driven entrepreneurs should have a number of skills in their toolkit. All too often, value-driven entrepreneurs are not sufficiently aware of this and do not sharpen their knowledge and skills accordingly.
4. Sustainability principles get compromised
It sounds contradictory, but value-driven entrepreneurs often sin against their own values. Once they get caught up in business economic reality, they often experience considerable financial stress. The result? People and planet unconsciously shift to the background.
5. Entrepreneurs burn out
It's still a taboo, but value-driven entrepreneurs, precisely because they believe so strongly in their mission, sometimes dare to go too hard and drive themselves against the proverbial wall. Their mental and physical health takes a hit, financial accidents sometimes happen, and they often have to recover for a long time before they're back on track.
Leap, a step-by-step plan for your sustainable organization
Happonomy wants to support entrepreneurs who want to build a more social, creative and ecologically sustainable world. That's why we developed Leap, a process model to help entrepreneurs and organizations make greater strides.
Leap consists of 4 phases that help you as a value-driven entrepreneur get started self-consciously and well-prepared. Step by step, you are helped to build your path with sustainability for all stakeholders in mind.
Looking at yourself in the mirror
When your desire to change a piece of the world is great, it's sometimes forgotten that sustainable entrepreneurship starts with creating a sustainable situation for yourself. Knowing what you find important outside of work, how much money you need, and what talents you have to embark on your entrepreneurial adventure gives you solid ground to get started.
Investigating desirability
Not every idea is a desirable idea. Being able to assess whether your idea is desirable for yourself, socially, ecologically and financially, offers not only peace of mind but also a solid foundation to build upon.
Mapping out your organizational journey
Once you can give your idea the green light socially, ecologically and financially, it's tempting to sprint out of the starting blocks. Before you know it, you're lost in the economic labyrinth. With a clearly mapped out plan, however, you step forward swiftly, without detours on your way to your goal.
Setting up camp from time to time
Now that you're building your path, in all your enthusiasm you might forget to pause for a moment to see where you stand. Regularly evaluating whether you're still on the right track, both for yourself, your employees and our planet, gives you peace of mind to undertake the next stage of your journey.
Download the Leap model
It won't surprise you that working out the phases requires quite a bit of thinking and doing. To help you with this, we mapped out the most important steps per phase. This way you keep track of where you are on your organizational journey and increase your chances of success. You can download the Leap Model for free.
Download
It won't surprise you that working out the phases requires quite a bit of thinking and doing. To help you with this, we mapped out the most important steps per phase. This way you keep track of where you are on your organizational journey and increase your chances of success. You can download the Leap Model for free.
Leap, together with Vlaanderen Circulair
Leap was created thanks to a collaboration with Vlaanderen Circulair.
Vlaanderen Circulair believes, just like Happonomy, in a world where organizations can function circularly. Production without waste, business models that stimulate reuse, chain thinking - these are just a small sample of the principles of the circular economy.
If you want to know more about the circular economy, be sure to take a look at their website.
Working together
Are you struggling to realize your value-driven mission? Are you looking for a sounding board or a partner who rolls up their sleeves to work with you? Happonomy offers you a modular solution to get your organization one step further.