Thursday 31 July 2014

Tips from QNET – Engaging in Philanthropy as a Business

Running a business in today’s world involves many challenges. Many started with a set of principles that gradually morphed into something else. Few companies have stuck with the motto and principles that shaped them during their nascent stage. QNET is one such company. You won’t find a lot of businesses quoting humanitarians in their core business values, think economists or other successful businessmen and women; and because of these core principles, companies like QNET are really big in philanthropy. 

Sure, many businesses donate to a charity or a cause, the bigger, more pressing question is how and why. For many people, helping less fortunate people may seem like the right thing to do morally, but from a financial or logical perspective, this may not be feasible. The truth is, however, corporate responsibility is both an ethical imperative and a business boon. QNET, for example bases a lot of its values on the teachings of Gandhi. As a result, the corporate philosophy it has developed is unique in that it combines some of Gandhi’s principles with a sense of morality that’s prevalent in us as a thinking, conscious breed. That philosophy comes with a simple acronym, RYTHM—or, Raise Yourself to Help Mankind. The idea behind this is simple: You empower yourself first, so that you are then able to go out there and help others.

The company has described this simple philosophy as both the how and the why behind its corporate philanthropy, and in many ways, the RYTHM mantra does indeed dovetail nicely with the company’s day-to-day workings. As a direct selling company, QNET is all about empowering entrepreneurs. By becoming distributors for the company, individuals essentially get to launch and run their own small businesses—thereby empowering themselves, gaining independence and cultivating the necessary skills of leadership and organization.

Individuals also learn the value of service through this empowerment. As distributors are empowered, they are not just better able to advance their own careers, but also make a difference in the lives of those around them. The alignment between entrepreneurship and the RYTHM philosophy is the cornerstone on which this enterprise is founded.

While many companies use philanthropy as a sneaky way of promoting self-interests, QNET has absolutely no interest in promoting its business through its charitable works. At QNET India as well, philanthropy is an integral part of the business’ goals: Its primary drive, day in and day out, is to create entrepreneurs, empower them, and then encourage them to help those around them. Philanthropy is not just a small component of the company, then, but rather it is the cornerstone of its company culture. Working together for a common good is doable when everyone works in harmony – something QNET places a huge emphasis on. 

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