Is "Run It Like A Business" overrated?

Recently there is a boom on social media about the Flint water crisis. The town saved over $5 million with this bid; however, the problem does not seem to be the money at all. 

(Read the wrap-up story about the Flint water crisis here)

A few blog articles I've read regarding this very matter pointed the root cause of the crisis is the government was trying to run it like a business. In nonprofits as well, I like to think that many nonprofits should adopt business models to be able to sustain in this environment. This including my nonprofit marketing agency for nonprofit organizations idea posted earlier as well. I believe, many have missed the point!

Run It Like Business?

This does not mean "become" business. It is true for us, nonprofits, our goals and objectives are often subjective, which make it hard for us to measure... really, anything. Numbers are easier in every way to determine the effectiveness of our operation.

NEVER FORGET WHERE WE CAME FROM AND WHY WE ARE HERE

In educational institutions, if you had a chance to take a business program. They teach you, the ultimate goal of all businesses is "to generate shareholders' wealth". This got in my ears for years, and I always have the question, why? Until today, I cannot really figure it out why... of course for more investors, business growth, retain earnings, etc. but why? Yes, many people think I'm naive, maybe I am, but have you ever asked yourself why you do anything you do apart from just knowing "that's how things work".

Credit: Clker

All in all, I'm trying to say that, use business tools to improve your organization but never use business mindset to run your charity. If you don't get it, see this in an extreme way, you use a hammer smashing a nail into wood boards. Great! you are using a tool to make things more efficient. But you don't think to become a hammer, a nail, or wood boards. Of course, that's stupid and it's impossible, well, look at this, I believe we are trying to say, be yourself, use business tools that's it. Don't try to be a business person to use the tools.


A little note I'd like to add. If you are running a business, try to consider your business to run like a charity as well. How? I'll come back to that later.

"Shaping the Future of Business"

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