Entrepreneurship is an essential driver of the economy and a motor for innovation. Entrepreneurs represent an asset for productive development but, why undertake? With what purpose? For money? Recognition? For ambition? These are valid reasons but, for some, empty. There are those who choose to undertake out of passion, and to generate a positive impact on society.
This has been precisely the theme that has centered the Act for Impact conference held by Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) recently in Barcelona. In them, nearly 200 entrepreneurs from 30 countries have addressed the mark they want to leave on society. Conferences, workshops, and experiences encouraged participants to generate this positive impact by transforming their businesses and the people around them, starting by transforming themselves, to end up transforming the planet.
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The conference included talks by leaders in the entrepreneurial field, such as EO founder, Verne Harnish; the Hindu priest, former monk and entrepreneur Dandapani, and the chairman of Global Entrepreneurship Network (GENs), Jeff Hoffman, whose network works with entrepreneurs from 190 countries. They shared their experiences with the attendees, who also participated in activities, such as the active meditation of the Suco sessions. In them, meditation is not practiced in stillness, but in movement. And not just any movement, but the one aroused by electronic music with African influences. The international meeting of entrepreneurs also included yoga sessions, boat trips, castellers and beach clean-up.
Despite the uniqueness of the activities and experiences, the highlight of the EO conference has been its talks, due to its speakers and the meeting of entrepreneurs they represented. The atmosphere in the conference room has been far from what is usually breathed in business symposiums. Few formalities and ties; complicity among attendees and a relaxed atmosphere. They open the session with a catchy song composed by EO of Holland using artificial intelligence, and attendees stand up to dance, before cheering on the next speaker: the founder of EO.
Harnish begins his conference by highlighting the importance of teams in companies, and the relevance of the entrepreneur having a captain who encourages the rest of the team, without having to do it himself. And what should the company leader do? Focus on strategy, and do so by setting "audacious" goals. To do this, he proposes using a tool: his One Page Personal Plan (OPPP). It consists of a table through which goals are established in the areas of relationships, wealth, achievements, and personal rituals. These objectives are set for periods of 90 days, one year, and 25 years, and the actions that must be carried out to achieve them, and those that must be avoided, are identified.
The founder of the entity invites attendees to reflect on their rituals, and then to share their considerations with the person sitting next to them. What begins as a soft and timid murmur, within a few seconds gains intensity. A cacophony floods the room, where entrepreneurs exchange their reflections and experiences. The multitude of dialogues among attendees acquires such power that Harnish does not easily regain the floor. Entrepreneurs previously unknown to each other unite as hundreds of voices sharing experiences and trajectories.
Instimacy, instant intimacy
Connecting easily and suddenly with other entrepreneurs is a common phenomenon at EO. It is instant intimacy. Instimacy, as they call it in the organization. But, what is the reason for the ease with which this instant connection is generated between practically strangers? Because the members of the organization share similar values and common interests. This instimacy is palpable at Harnish's conference, which the founder of EO closes by advocating for being regenerative, and not resilient. The reason? Resilience implies a struggle to stay alive, while regeneration leads to strengthening and growth, according to him.
An example of this growth is that of chairman of Global Entrepreneurship Network (GENs), Jeff Hoffman. He explains to attendees that as a child he set out to travel to 50 countries. Over the years, he got a good job, but it prevented him from moving beyond a cubicle. Traveling went from being a dream to a purpose when he left his position and ventured to the airport without a specific destination. He returned without having been able to buy any tickets, but with an idea that arose from the queues at the counters, which led him to create his first invention.
Hoffman then created automatic check-in machines. With them, the traveler himself can validate his check-in, and Hoffman began to travel because of this job. "Design the business that creates the life you want to live," he defends before the attendees, whom he challenges not to pursue wealth, but excellence. Throughout his career, Hoffman has been part of startups such as Priceline and Booking in the travel sector, and is now a Hollywood producer. It was while on the red carpet that he understood that he wanted something more: he wanted to help others also achieve their red carpet moment. Since then, he advocates that wealth itself contribute to improving the situation of other people: "Your success is the miracle of the other."
Simplification and detachment
Acting from a purpose was the focus of the conference given by the Hindu priest Dandapani. He postulates that it is necessary to set purposes, main and secondary, and maintain focus on these, through simplification, detachment, and sacrifice. To get closer to defining these purposes, he poses a challenge: imagine that there are three hours of life left and reflect on how they would be invested. Thus, the finitude of life represents a reminder to live focused on a purpose. In this sense, he challenged attendees to devise a 300-year plan. "A plan beyond ourselves" that includes the impact one intends to leave beyond one's own life, according to the ex-monk.
The conferences, held at the W Hotel and Esferic Barcelona, also included talks by speakers such as the senior associate of Economics of Mutuality Solutions, Pascal Riederer; the writer and mindset coach Florencia Andrés; the global director of Pedigree for the Mars group, Fabio Alings, and the entrepreneur Dillon Jearey. Also giving talks were former fighter pilot and entrepreneur Yarden Zilber, tech investor and CEO of VIE People, Wendy van Ierschot, and the founder of Learnlife, Christopher Pommerening, all three members of EO.
The entity's objective is to offer a "holistically transformative" space that takes into account focus, legacy, purpose, and health.However, the differential element of the conferences does not lie so much in their speakers or their content, but in the atmosphere and the interrelation between the attendees. EO's intention is for them to "connect with themselves, with others, and with the environment," according to the former president of the organization in Barcelona Natalya Berdikyan, who promoted the event during her presidency. She explains that the entity's objective is to offer a "holistically transformative" event, that takes into account aspects such as focus, legacy, and purpose, without forgetting elements such as health.
Berdikyan emphasizes that the conference was designed to offer an environment that provides space for inspiration and the possibility of professional and personal growth, and to exchange this growth with other entrepreneurs. "Taking care of ourselves physically and mentally together, as a supportive community, as a family," according to the also member of the EO Global Board, where she leads the Health and Wellness industry sector.
The attraction of Barcelona
The conference was exclusively reserved for EO members, but it was opened to successful Barcelona entrepreneurs with annual sales of at least one million euros. 15 attended, who "enjoyed the connection with other entrepreneurs and the atmosphere" of the event, according to Berdikyan. Both she and various members of the EO Barcelona Board are convinced that these conferences will motivate several of their attendees to consider moving to the Catalan capital, as has happened with previous EO events in the city.
The founder of EO describes Barcelona as an "epicenter of innovation" and technologyHarnish was one of those who opted years ago to temporarily settle in Barcelona, after an EO meeting in the Catalan capital. The founder of the organization praises not only Barcelona's climate and Mediterranean beauty, but also the "lack of loneliness" that he believes characterizes it. He praises the ease of getting around the city on foot, and describes it as an "epicenter of innovation" and technology. Various members of EO Barcelona have settled in the city in recent years, and several of them maintain their businesses in their hometowns. New technologies and connections with other cities allow them to do so. The place from which one undertakes, how it is done, and, above all, for what reason and with what purpose, matters. Often, establishing this purpose is the most arduous of tasks. To clarify the focus, one can ask, what would be their own red carpet moment?
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