CONNECT TO YOUR CUSTOMER WITH VALUABLE CONTENT

 

Many Impact Entrepreneurs enjoy being creative. As such, they like to put a lot of time, money and energy, into content production. Unfortunately, this content rarely delivers the hoped-for results. With the right content strategy, you can convert potential customers into loyal ambassadors.

 

Create Content for every phase of the Customer Journey

Connection is the key to building a sustainable business. You want to build relationships that last for the long term. You want to create a real network of loyal partners, teams, investors and, of course, customers. In traditional marketing, we talk about the Customer Journey. These are the steps a customer takes from the first moment they hear about you and your product until they become loyal ambassadors. There are 5 steps or phases in this process.

 

Phase 1: I notice you in the Awareness Phase

The Awareness Phase is the first stage of the marketing or sales funnel. Potential customers notice your brand or company for the first time. This is an extremely important contact moment because potential customers get a first impression of your brand’s identity, values, products and services.

If you create content for this stage, it should showcase the essence of your company and your key products. Make sure you invest time and budget to create high-quality content. This is how you will make a strong first impression. Original owned content that works very well in this phase is a book, a keynote presentation, web videos, a blog series, an app or a game. If you create time-proof content, it can be used multiple times for a longer period of time.

Test and verify which content works best for your primary audience. For this content, you can then set up a campaign and run ads. This will help you attract a lot of attention in a short period of time. Choosing the media channels that work best for you is another part that requires testing. Different audiences require different approaches and different media channels. Today, all media can be measured. Both digital and offline media have useful statistics. The most widely used social media channels for both publishing and advertising are LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. Remember to research and include traditional media as well, such as radio, TV, print and billboards.

 

Phase 2: I research you in the Consideration Phase

In the Consideration Phase potential customers actively look for information and solutions. They compare different products and prices. They look into all possible options before taking the decision to purchase. In this phase you will have to build trust and show the value you have to offer. You will have to demonstrate how your product or service can be a solution for the customer’s problem. This phase is critical in guiding potential buyers towards making a final purchase decision.

In this phase you will need to create content that is both informative and engaging. Your content will have to answer the questions and needs of the consumer in this phase. So make sure you know what these questions and needs are. Once you identified these, you can create the tailored content to adress these specific topics. Content types that work really well in this phase are case studies, testimonials, success stories… but also how-to videos, mini-trainings, whitepapers, ebooks and blogs.

As the potential customer is actively searching for information, you have to make sure that your content is shown. Google is still the main search engine so make sure take care of SEO, search Engine Optimization. Also Search Engine Advertizing can be helpful when you choose your keywords right. Youtube is also used as a search engine. Having videos with the right titles and settings, is key to have your content pop-up. Advertizing on Youtube or Social Media advertizing in general can pay off.

 

Phase 3: I choose you in the Decision Phase

In the Decision Phase, the customer makes the choice to buy. For lower-priced products, this may be an impulse purchase, a quick decision to buy on the spot in the shop. For most higher-priced products and services, the customer will first ask for a conversation or meeting with the sales team. In this conversation, it is important to unveil and understand the customer’s concerns, obstacles and reservations. Some common topics include cost, free trials, customer service, reviews, warranties, product maintenance and so on.

Content for this phase should address these specific concerns and help the customer overcome the obstacle. I like to create flipbooks for products that include the solution, key features, what is and isn’t included, the buying process, frequently asked questions and customer success stories. If you have several product variations, a product compass works really well. These are sequernces of questions with multiple choice answers that will lead the customer to the perfect product. Also live webinars or live meetings are most effective because customers can ask questions and share obstacles which you can address on the spot.

If you want to sell your products online, you need some kind of webshop. For some low-priced products, it can be advantageous to use a shared webshop that allows different suppliers to sell their products online. Some well-known examples are Amazon.com and Bol.com, also Google and social networks like Facebook offer some sales opportunities. But if your products are more exclusive, you will need your own converting website and webshop.

 

Phase 4: I am happy in the Retention Phase

In the Retention Phase, you want to keep your customer happy, satisfied and engaged. After they have made the initial purchase, you want to make sure the customer gets the maximum value and enjoyment from this purchase. You want to follow up proactively and connect with your customer on a deeper level. You want to understand the customer’s struggles and frustrations, but also the successes. As you get to know your customer better, you can continue to develop new products that offer even more solutions to your customer’s challenges. This makes your customer even happier.

Content for this phase should be inspiring and valuable, interactive and engaging. Such as exclusive content that explains how to use your products most effectively. This could be a manual with instructions, instructional videos or even augmented reality training. You could also consider publishing a periodic magazine for your customers. This could include scoops and inside news on product updates and innovations. You can organise exclusive events for your customers, and so on. Constant communication with your customers is crucial to deepen the bond.

This is the phase when you start thinking about your own online academy or social content platform. Product trainings, product releases, a knowledge base will be a big part of the platform. But just as important is the social interaction, the groups and the chat function that allows you to communicate directly with your customers.

 

Phase 5: I want to help you in the Advocay Phase

In the advocacy phase, your customers are excited about your product. They are often grateful for the solutions you have provided and the difference you have made in their lives. They want to pay you back by becoming advocates for your brand. They share positive experiences on social networks, give testimonials and refer others. They voluntarily promote your brand and encourage others to try your products and services. This is the best marketing you can get. There is no better promotion than word of mouth.

Content creation at this stage actively involves your advocates. You can do an interview with them for publication in your magazine. You can invite them to be speakers at your event. You can ask them to record a video training for your academy. You can involve them in your organisation. Invite them to be active in the groups on your social content platform. And so on.

 

How do you start with your content strategy?

Contrary to what the customer journey may suggest, it is not a good idea to start with first-phase content. Why make it hard on yourself and start with a cold audience in the awareness phase? This is a common misconception. Start with the low-hanging fruit. These are easier to reach and you can pick them faster.

When you start creating content, it is better to produce your content for the warm audience first. So start with your own website and optimise the content so that a warm audience converts. This does not have to be an immediate purchase, it can also be contacting or downloading information. Either way begin with the content that helps your customers research and decide. That is the content as described above for phases 2 and 3, the Consideration Phase and the Decision Phase.

Only when you have tested, adjusted and tweaked this content, it will make sense to start targeting cold audiences. Only then is it worth investing time, effort and budget into advertising.

In the meantime, think about your existing customers. It takes less time, money and effort to upsell to an existing happy customer than to bring in a new one. Sometimes people think that phases 4 and 5 are only for the big brands. Nothing could be further from the truth. Often, the very first customers can grow into ambassadors very quickly. Even before you start investing in phase 1 and start approaching a cold audience.

 

Take your content to the next level

Would you like to explore how we can help you connect with your customers in every phase of the Customer Journey? Meet our team leaders and discuss how we can help you with your content strategy, your content creation, your website and platform setup.

BUILD A LOYAL AND FLEXIBLE TEAM

 

If you want to grow your Impact Project, you will need to grow your team. Working with freelancers or outsourcing is a flexible way to start. But if you want people to stick around, you will need to create an inspiring work environment. People crave meaningful work where they have the space to contribute, can be creative and take pride in their work. Here are some things you can keep in mind when building a flexible and loyal team of experts that will grow with you every step of the way.

 

Align values and expectations

If you have the intention to build a sustainable working relationship, you better start by connecting. This means you are truly interested in getting to know the other person. Not only skills and talents but also mindset and attitude, drive and needs. Whether you want to work with freelancers, outsourced team or employees, you’ll always have to align values and expectations. When it comes to freelancers they might have specific needs. Maybe they value variety and enjoy supporting different projects at the same time. Maybe they enjoy working with different people because they can learn a lot that way. Maybe they find it important to manage their own agendas. Maybe they dream of spending a year living abroad with their family and working remotely. Maybe this is a way for them to earn more net. Whatever the reason, this way of working probably suits their values and lifestyle. However, I often see people on LinkedIn who announce their start as freelance consultants in high spirits, soon realize that it is not what they expected and then start looking for a job again. If you have concrete plans to hire these profiles permanently in the near future, it can be a good way to start a collaboration. If you do not have the intention to hire, you might be better of with outsourcing or freelancers who wouldn’t want it any other way. So always have an open in-depth conversation to understand their values, needs and expectations both in the short and in the long run. Make sure these expectations align with the needs of your organization as well as your vision on how you want to work together, now and in the future.

 

Have clear pricing agreements

There are several ways you can determine prices. The most common pricing arrangements are or based on hours or results or a mix of both. The nature of the work is the determining factor here. If you want somebody to be available and work for specific timeslots, you can make an agreement based on price per hour. For instance, when you are looking for a person who needs to be in your office at the reception desk, welcome visitors and answer the phone from 8 am to 12 am, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is a pretty straightforward assignment and a price per week can be negotiated. Another way of calculating fees is based on delivery of a specific well-defined outcome. This is absolutely my favorite when working with professionals. Especially when people work partly home based or remotely, it is better to link the fee to the outcome. There are a lot of services for which you can agree a fixed price such as designing your website, writing a weekly blog article, produce videos for your socials or creating a flipbook. However, I notice that many freelancers are not used to working this way and tend to underestimate the workload it might take to do the job. Also, they might give you their best price as they want to get the assignment. This can lead to two ultimate scenarios. The first scenario, respecting the price that was agreed upon but resulting in the freelancer feeling frustrated and underpaid. The second scenario, making an invoice with higher fee then was agreed upon, resulting in an unhappy client. Either way this leads to friction and frustration and has a negative impact on the working relationship. When I negotiate outcome-based pricing with freelancers, I always ask to give me the price for worst case scenario. Together we go through the process and the steps that need to be made, estimating a duration for all steps in the workflow, clarifying who is doing what exactly. So, we agree on price and process. If things go smoother then outlined, I welcome freelancers to give a discount. The more we work together the smoother it should go, and the more discount can be given. I find this a pleasant way to create a healthy basis for a long-term collaboration. Making agreements this way also allows you to set clear pricing for your services to your buyers. Many organizations like to give discounts to onboard new clients. This makes no sense to me. The first collaboration is the one that takes a lot of start-up effort. You need to get to know each other, streamline the communication, create a system, test the workload, and then optimize the workflow. Therefor I prefer to make correct prices to new clients, that is a price that allows us to overdeliver and create quality work. While at the same time making the profit we need to keep growing and keep helping more Impact Projects. Once we are working together for a longer time and workflows have been optimized, then we can give discounts to our loyal clients. Thus, we build a sustainable relationship on trust and quality both with the customer and with the team.

 

Make space for the team

As your Impact Project grows you will have to delegate more and more. That is often a learning process for the Impact Entrepreneur. You must let go, stop micro-managing, and make space for the professional to bring in his creativity. If you want to control it all, you will slow things down as you will become the bottleneck in your organization. As an illustration, this week in a mentoring session an Impact Entrepreneur realized that 6 months ago she only wanted a freelancer to execute her ideas. There was no space for the input of the freelancer. While today she can see and appreciate the creativity and the added value of working with professionals. Thus, growing her project to the next level, in a way she herself would never have thought of. So create space. You might want to start with an all-round assistant. But as you grow you will soon notice you need different specialized professionals. There is administration, bookkeeping, product development, sales, IT, press management, marketing, workflow optimization, media production, automation … Even if you think you can do it better, and for some things you will probably be right, it is still impossible to do it all yourself. At a certain moment you won’t even have the time to follow-up on every freelancer in person. You will need team managers and project managers to do that for you. Building a team is a skill. Mind you a team is not the same as a group of individual professionals. A team is in tune and connected. It is a collective of professionals who lift each other up and work together smoothly, efficiently, and pleasantly. This takes mentoring, training, and time. But once a team is ready to become self-directed, that’s the greatest thing. I feel really blessed with the teams that surround me. I can confidently leave everything to the team managers. This not only creates opportunities for the entire team to grow. This also gives me the space to start new Impact Projects and build new teams again. Thus the circle of the QP Quest is made complete again and another cycle can begin.

 

Build a loyal team with the QP Quest

The QP Quest is not only an approach that grows your Impact Project in a sustainable way. It is also an approach that supports each team member to learn and grow, both professionally and personally. Therefore, everyone we work closely with is also invited to participate in the QP Quest mentoring program. This includes all assistants, managers and professionals involved in our Impact Projects. In this way, we create a thriving work environment where people can create, connect and care. So we create a loyal and flexible team of entrepreneurs and professionals that love working with us.

Would you like to experience what it’s like to work with dedicated assistants, managers and teams? Check out the flipbook to discover flexible outsourcing solutions that can also help you professionalize and grow your Impact Project.

 

PRIVATE EQUITY, OPPORTUNITY OR CHALLENGE?

 

You are not taken seriously as an investor until you are also in Private Equity. Private Equity is nothing more or less than shares in a company that is not publicly listed. Unfortunately, Private Equity has acquired a bad connotation due to certain unethical practices. But it can be done differently, with a win-win-win intention. That way, entrepreneur and investor develop a lasting partnership that benefits all parties.

 

Bring ethics to Private Equity

As an Impact Entrepreneur, I know what it can feel like when a big player wants to buy into your business. It can sound very attractive at times, and I’ve entered the negotiation process a few times. But each time it felt to me like the soul was disappearing from the company. After weeks of exhausting negotiations, the investing partner modified the business plan to the point that there was nothing left of the original vision. Fortunately, these deals have never been signed. But I have seen it happen to other entrepreneurs. Some Private Equity fonds focus on making profits as quickly as possible. They buy up shares cheaply. Then they refinance, clean up and merge. The goal is to resell as quickly as possible for as much profit as possible. Little attention is paid to the human nor to the ethical aspect. This is unfortunate because investing in Private Equity can also be a sustainable win-win-win strategy. To achieve this, it helps to know, understand, and respect the motivations of the entrepreneur.

 

The fear of the entrepreneur

Sooner or later, a successful entrepreneur gets to that point. The point where he must make a choice. Either stay small and maintain total control, or grow and bring others into the business. For many Impact Entrepreneurs, selling shares to investors is a giant step. They feel like they are giving away their business. They fear that they themselves will have less say in the project that is often their life’s work. Therefore, the sale of shares is often delayed until there is no other way. This is the moment Private Equity funds are waiting for. The investor then becomes the savior, who at that moment can also push through his conditions and will also claim control. The entrepreneur is under time pressure and no time left to look into other funding solutions. He feels like he has no choice but to accept the offer. Thus, his worst nightmare becomes true. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 

Choose sustainable impact

Impact Investing takes a very different approach. An Impact Investor does not put pressure. He has time and prefers a long-term partnership over a quick win. Of course, the business plan will have to show that the project can generate income and returns. But the positive impact for all stakeholders is at least as important. As an Impact Investor, I will never benefit from an entrepreneur who wants to sell shares out of fear or despair. That is not sustainable. When I want to support in such situations, Impact Lending can possibly be a solution, as there is no transferring of the shares.
Either way, I like to take the time to get to know a business well before becoming a shareholder. An involvement as a mentor, for example, is a good way to get to know the business and its managers from the inside. Another way is simply starting with a small project. Together we set a concrete goal to be achieved. Then we provide the necessary support so that the entrepreneur can achieve that goal.

 

Get to know each other in a pilot project

It takes at least a few months to get to know a company well. First step is to get a good understanding of the current situation. What is going well and what can be improved? What are the challenges and what needs to be addressed first? Depending on the situation and the needs, we will determine the priorities and thus the focus for the next few weeks and months. Often there is an urgent need for income. Focus can then be on optimizing the sales strategy and financial strategy. Often, also operational support is needed and then I introduce other Impact Entrepreneurs from our network. These can provide support, for example, with experienced management assistants, project managers, sales and marketing professionals, communication professionals and so on. Either way, the entrepreneur remains ultimately responsible and it is the entrepreneur who must show that he can deliver. So it is crucial that the entrepreneur feels confident and can focus on the goal. It is counterproductive if he is distracted by financial or other concerns. Therefore, we might also integrate Impact Lending as a financial strategy in this phase. This will ensure that all operational costs can be paid for. When this financing strategy is properly applied then it is a safe way for lenders to lend money to the Impact Project. The principal can be secured and a periodic return can be guaranteed, regardless of whether or not the business objectives are met.

 

Private Equity as a win-win-win

Imagine there has been a time of cooperation. The initial goals have been achieved and the project is doing well. The entrepreneur is empowered and confident about the future, no matter what. Only then can Impact Entrepreneur and Impact Investor start talking about a Private Equity investment from a place of equality. Only then do you get a business relationship that is sustainable. It can only arise from the free will of parties to consciously make the commitment. With full intent, not from acute necessity. But from a conscious choice to strengthen and support each other in the long term. Even then, in the most optimal circumstances, it often remains a big step for the entrepreneur to transfer part of the business to another party.

 

Choose the right structure

When the entrepreneur is eager to continue working together and the Impact Investor is still interested in buying shares. Then it’s time to start discussing which legal structure is best suited to seal and sustain that partnership. Which corporate vehicle is the best choice, today and in the longer term? How will you spread risk? Which jurisdiction is most appropriate? Will you work with a holding company and with management companies? What is the impact on taxes? What exit strategies are available? What opportunities do you have for doing business internationally? Perhaps you also want to live abroad? What does that mean for social security, health care, retirement? What about your family, your partner and kids’ education? In short, how will you arrange all this properly, so that you can continue to make an impact in a sustainable way? Yes, even across multiple generations. There is an awful lot involved. It is therefore very valuable to exchange knowledge and experience with other Impact Entrepreneurs and Impact Investors. Still, every situation is specific and different. So be sure to seek advice from independent experts. A second or third opinion in this matter is certainly not an unnecessary luxury. You have always multiple solutions and multiple options, each with their pros and cons.

 

Enthusiasm as a measure

As an Impact Investor, you are eager to support entrepreneurs. From this enthusiasm, you often fail to see an underlying fear or need. Take your time to explore the motivations of the entrepreneur. This person should be at least as enthusiastic about the idea as you are. If not, it is probably not a good idea to invest in the Private Equity. In some cases you can offer Impact Lending as a solution. Private Equity can only be considered when all parties consciously and enthusiastically opt for the idea.

Let’s share experience and expertise

If you are an Impact Investor, I invite you to connect and explore how we can join forces and make a sustainable win-win-win impact.

You are most welcome to participate in our monthly open Connection Call. Check out www.QuantumPreneur.com/calendar for an overview of the planned online meetings.

If you would like to discuss actual Investment or Lending opportunities, starting from 1K, let’s schedule a private call. Pick your time and date using this link : https://quantumpreneur.com/scheduler/schedule-private-connection-call/

SALES IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK

 

When I ask Impact Entrepreneurs about their biggest challenge, the answer is often ‘sales’. They invest a lot of time in social media and the number of followers on their channels. Nice, but not very effective in the early stages. Getting followers and generating sales are two different strategies. To bring in your first customers, you don’t even need a website. All you need to do is organize sales meetings and make follow-up calls.

This week we started a new QP Quest mentoring group. All driven Impact Entrepreneurs who want to make a sustainable difference. Each and every one of them has a great project and a compelling story that they tell with great enthusiasm. Yet it proves difficult to convince investors. Yet it is difficult to get more paying customers. Why is it that sales remains such a big challenge for many Impact Entrepreneurs? Here are some explanations.

 

Believing that selling is not necessary

A whole market has emerged for entrepreneurs who don’t like selling. Providers capitalize on this, telling the story that selling is no longer necessary in this digital age. They promise that you can effortlessly market your product online and become rich while you are sleeping. You have to be on social media and gather as many followers as possible. You have to advertise on Facebook and LinkedIn. You need to invest in SEO. You need to write a book. You have to start a podcast. You have to build an online platform. And so on and so forth. Indeed, if your Impact Business is standing and profitable, then these elements can be part of your growth strategy. Actually, I highly value content creation as a lead generation strategy, but only in the scale-up and sustain-up phase of the QP Quest. It takes time, expertise and budget to set up and optimize such marketing strategies. Most start-ups do not have either the time, expertise or financial resources. In that phase, you can’t escape it. You will have to start a direct conversation with potential customers, partners, investors. You’ll simply have to sell your concept, your product or your service.

 

Being afraid of being perceived as a salesperson

It starts with the perception and definition of sales. What is the prototype of a salesperson? A salesperson who wants to force his product on everyone? A sales caller who rattles off a phone script on autopilot? A door-to-door salesman who gets aggressive if you don’t buy? Logically, no one wants to identify with that image. I’m not going to deny that these salespeople exist out there. Still, I choose to have a different image of salespeople. In my vision, a salesperson is someone who genuinely cares about the customer. Someone who wants to think along with the client to find a solution for a challenge. Someone who only sells when the product or service can help the customer move forward. Someone who refers when another provider has a better solution. Those are the salespeople I like to buy from. Those are also the salespeople I like to engage in my sales team. By selling this way, you lay the foundation for your business based on integrity and win-win-win. From this foundation, you can grow your organization sustainably.

 

Wanting to do everything themselves or delegating everything

I often see the extremes. On the one hand, the entrepreneur who wants to maintain all control and therefore does all sales himself. Of course, this is not sustainable and cannot be maintained in the long run. On the other hand, the entrepreneur who lets go of the whole commercial side and delegates it to employees or partners. This is not an ideal situation either. If the entrepreneur is not in touch with the end customer, the sales strategy cannot be tweaked. So then what is an effective approach? Here is my favorite strategy. The entrepreneur himself closes the first sales deals in his network. That way he or she gets immediate feedback. Thus, product and story can be adjusted and optimized based on the needs and requirements of end customers. Thus, an optimal sales strategy can be established with clear guidelines. Only then can a sales team be trained in this strategy. Only then can sales be effectively delegated for certain customer profiles. And even then, there will always be contacts that you, as the business owner, are better off following up on yourself. Either way, it is a must that every employee, every partner, and even certain customers know and are involved in the sales strategy.

 

Hiding that they want to close a deal

Selling is about connecting with the customer to have a sales-oriented conversation. The purpose of the conversation must be clear to everyone up front. Expectations must be aligned so that the potential customer is not surprised when you propose a solution and make an offer. A good illustration of this is the story of the entrepreneur with a Wellness Center. He was inviting Impact Investors to come and relax in his facilities. When they did he found it very difficult to start talking about business so he didn’t. Of course, that’s not how it works. He should have invited potential investors to come and talk about investment opportunities, with or without the opportunity to use his facilities afterwards. That would have been a more transparent and effective approach. It doesn’t matter if you conceal things out of shame or fear of rejection, whether you do so consciously or unconsciously. From the client’s perspective, this can feel like a hidden agenda, manipulation and even scamming. You cannot build a constructive partnership this way. Only from integrity, win-win-win thinking and transparent communication can you build lasting relationships.

 

Talking too much

As an Impact Entrepreneur, you are super enthusiastic about your project. For sure, you have a lot to tell about your passion and your projects. The key is to find a balance between talking and listening. On the one hand, you ask questions and let the customer or investor have their say. On the other hand, you can respond, tell your story, and clarify what solutions you have. What you say and how you say it determines the outcome of the conversation. Many people are not aware of what they say and what impact it has on the other person in the conversation. Choosing the right words is crucial. So is asking the right questions. There is an art to also hearing what is not being said. What keeps someone from saying yes when rationally there is such a clear win-win-win? Selling starts with listening and understanding. The best salespeople are intuitive and can put themselves in the shoes of the other person.

 

Make your sales flow

To summarize, you need 3 things to get flow in your sales: focus, mindset and skills. A sales strategy helps you focus. This can be a simple action plan, as long as sales is a priority. Transform your own beliefs and those of your team regarding sales. Redefine selling as an enjoyable interaction with the people for whom you have a solution. Develop your sales and communication skills by doing, by sharing experiences and by asking for feedback. Don’t procrastinate. Start scheduling your weekly sales calls and make sure you follow up on them.

Connect with like-minded Impact Entrepreneurs

Do you want to practice and get feedback on your sales approach? Do you want to exchange sales experiences and learn from other Impact Entrepreneurs? Would you like to explore partnership opportunities and discover how we can support each other as Impact Entrepreneurs?

If so, I like to invite you to the next open online gathering. An overview of the planned Connection Calls can be consulted on www.QuantumPreneur.com/calendar.

MAKE A PROFIT WITH IMPACT INVESTING

 

In 2012 I decided to create more freedom for myself and my family. So I handed over my business. I sold my house. I set up passive income streams. Then came the ultimate question: What is the best way to manage this money now? On the one hand, I wanted to secure my money for the future. I wanted to make a nice return so that at least purchasing power would be preserved. On the other hand, I also wanted something useful to happen with the money. Something that would lead to a sustainable change for the better. This is how I came in touch with Impact Investing.

 

SELECT PROFITABLE IMPACT PROJECTS

As a starting entrepreneur, your biggest challenge is to establish steady revenue streams. I described some strategies for this in a previous blog article. As soon as you master that one, you get a new challenge. How do you make sure that you manage that income wisely, so you make a recurring return? Yes, as an entrepreneur you can reinvest some of it back into your business. But you also want to make a sustainable difference, leave a legacy, help build a new society. Luckily, there are many impact projects to choose from.

Impact investing is relatively new. The term is often used very broadly for both funding and financing sustainable projects. I also notice that there are quite a few projects that claim to be sustainable while they are not. Greenwashing is truly a thing. When I select Impact Projects, I look at several criteria.

 

Makes lasting impact

I prefer Impact Projects that grow sustainably and intend to create lasting change over the long term. The sooner a project becomes financially independent, the better. This is why I always look at the growth and stability of its own revenue streams. It is never healthy for a project to depend on the goodwill of third parties. Be it grants, donations or investors. A project that wants to make lasting impact must ensure sufficient revenue streams of its own.

 

Helps build a new world

There are quite a few fields where innovation is welcome. More so, many domains can be completely rethought and reshaped. I am thinking of the educational system, health system, financial system, food production, media distribution, energy supply, waste management… In short, there is a wide choice of sustainable projects that offer a solution in one or more of these domains. Personally, I like to invest in sectors I have an affinity with, or in companies whose activity and products I understand. This is why, for many years, I have been supporting Impact Projects in the fields of education, media, entrepreneurship and (international) living. Recently, I’ve also been exploring recycling & upcycling, regenerative farming methods, autonomous systems of renewable energy, shoes and clothing made of vegetable leather.

 

Makes at least as much profit

In the old way of thinking, you have 2 types of organizations: profit and nonprofit. Profit companies have the ultimate goal of maximizing profits. Non-profit organizations, according to the name, are not allowed to make a profit. This, of course, is the biggest nonsense. Established nonprofit organizations are often very commercial as well. Anyway, as always, the ideal approach lies in the middle: a healthy social enterprise that makes a profit and does so in a sustainable way, with respect for people, animals and planet. Win-win-win. These are the Impact Businesses or Social Ventures I like to support.

 

Runs less risk

In times of crisis, people start saving first on expenses that are not vital. That’s why I like to invest in those sectors that do remain vital such as alternative forms of energy generation, drinking water and food production. Social housing will also be a major challenge. Immigration and natural population growth, will soon leave millions of people homeless, without any shelter. Even today, finding affordable housing is already a problem for many. Both in Europe and internationally.

 

Ensures a win-win-win

For me, this is the most important criterium. Is there a win-win-win for all stakeholders. Does it benefit all parties involved? The entrepreneur, the team, the suppliers, the customers, the environment, … Wherever the project is, in Europe, Africa or Latin America, it is a must to talk with local people and local authorities. When investing in a region, I like to depart from the question: what do the local people need first? For example, in the Netherlands we start with nature preservation. In Costa Rica we start with the school for entrepreneurs and leaders of the future. In Tanzania, it’s about creating jobs and social housing that benefits people in rural areas. And so on.

The greater the positive ripple effect, the more successful the Impact Project. That’s why I believe communication and education are indispensable. Any blog, any video, any book, any presentation, any training… can inspire and activate people to make a change. They, in turn, can inspire and empower others, consciously or unconsciously. The positive ripple effect of your actions will often go further than you realize. I remember one day after giving a keynote, I was approached, by a woman who came to thank me. She had been suffering from depression and burnout. She had started reading my books and that inspired her to get back on top and pay it forward. Now she helps other women, who used to have a burnout, to become passionate entrepreneurs. Mission accomplished.

 

CHOOSE THE IMPACT PROJECTS THAT SUIT YOU

Impact Projects come in all shapes and sizes. Start-ups or scale-ups. Small or large. Short-term or long-term. High or low risk. Here are some strategies and solutions I personally like to use.

 

Impact Lending for a specific project

Maybe you have an idea for an Impact Project. Maybe you know someone with an Impact Project that you would like to support. This Impact Lending can be done with 2 or 3 parties. The Impact Lender lends an amount of money. The Impact Project receives the financing. You can choose to work with a third party who also secures the risk. This offers more options and more flexibility. For example, an Impact Lender can lend an amount for a period of 3 years. While the project gets 10 years to repay the loan. Thus, the Impact Lender can often make a higher and faster return. Moreover, it ensures the repayment of the principal at the end of the term. I like to use this formula for Impact Projects where I am not involved as a director myself. This way, my return and principal is secured, regardless of the profitability of the Impact Project.

 

Impact Venture Capital

With Impact Venture Capital, you buy shares of an Impact Business. These are often innovative start-ups with a clear and measurable social or environmental objective. Some popular sectors include renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, recycling and upcycling, new manufacturing applications using recycled materials. No need to say this can be high risk investment. So I use this strategy only for Impact Projects where I have a say in, being a director, shareholder, or mentor. In those roles, I share responsibility for the profitability of the Impact Project.

 

Micro-Finance

I am a big fan of micro-finance. About 25 years ago, I made a video story about a micro-finance project for women in Benin, Africa. Women could borrow a small amount of money from the cooperative. The idea was that they would use this to set up their own profitable small business. With this small business, they could generate income for their families again and again. Additionally, more than 80% of the women managed to pay back their loan within the year. I think this is a great way to empower people. This is why I never donate. Donations make people dependent. Micro-finance gives people a chance to become financially free. For Impact Investors it is a very easy and accessible solution to create a win-win-win and make an impact.

 

Impact Real Estate

Impact Real Estate is an emerging strategy all over the world. It involves the acquisition and development of land or buildings for a sustainable or social purpose. Some examples include the construction of affordable housing, green buildings in natural settings or buildings for community use. For example, I am involved in the Micro-Society project, both as an investor and as an entrepreneur. The goal is to co-create a self-sufficient Micro-Society in different places around the world. Then we connect these Micro-Societies with each other so that they can work together and exchange information and experiences. The ultimate goal is to co-create an ecosystem where conscious entrepreneurs and their families can live a meaningful and creative life. I invest in this project because I want to live permanently in a Micro-Society myself. But even for Impact Investors who are not planning to do so, it can be an interesting way to acquire real estate in different jurisdictions.

 

Impact Lending Basket

Instead of lending to a specific Impact Project, you can choose to lend to a basket of Impact Projects. When it comes to smaller amounts, you can easily make your own mix through various Crowdlending platforms. If you want to lend larger amounts, it may be more effective to work with a third party that secures and takes over the project risk. QuantumPreneur has already selected a nice basket of Impact Projects that meet all requirements for third party Impact Lending. Guaranteed minimum returns often start from 10% annually. The bigger your deposit, the bigger the guaranteed return. This is my favorite way to easily support different Impact Projects. At the same time, it can be a great way for the Impact Lender to create a monthly passive income.

 

CONCLUSION

The myth that as an investor you must choose between making a profit on the one hand or supporting a good cause on the other is long outdated. Sustainable Impact Projects do have profitable business models. We also know from Quantum Thinking that there is no need to choose. All you want can be there at the same time. You can make both profit AND make impact. You can invest safely AND receive a high return. You can be in an economic crisis AND generate a high recurring (passive) income.
Fortunately, there are more and more Impact Businesses that understand and apply these principles. This creates unique opportunities for Impact Investors, now and in the future.

LET’S CONNECT

Would you like to connect and explore more Impact Investing solutions? You are most welcome to contact us by mail or join us in the free Connection Call.

GET FUNDING FOR YOUR SOCIAL PROJECT

 

We often receive requests from social projects asking for our help with funding. When I inquire about the figures, I receive an extensive excel sheet with all expected expenses and costs. But I rarely find anything about the expected income. Yet it’s simple, you don’t have a sustainable project if there is no money coming in. You need to create a social business. Here are some income and funding strategies that can provide a solution.

 

YOU NEED AN INCOME STRATEGY

Just this week I talked to someone who wants to start a new regional school. The vision, mission and values had been worked out in great detail. So were the didactic approach, the team and the materials needed. What was missing was the income strategy. When I asked about that, I got the resentful reply, ‘But, we are non-profit’. As if a nonprofit should not plan actions to bring in revenue. No project can exist sustainably on occasional donations. Not even an internationally rooted humanitarian venture like the Red Cross. Every year they plan an annual sticker campaign, now it’s band-aids, to generate extra income for the regional chapters.

If you want your social project to succeed, you too have to take actions to generate income. You need a strategy that ensures you have the funding for major purchases and investments on the one hand. You need a strategy for recurring income so you can pay for your operational costs, on the other. Here are some possible income and funding strategies that you too can implement for your social project, aka social business.

 

Connect with Impact Investors

Impact investors like to support social and humanitarian projects but also like to see profits. By no means does this have to be contradictory, quite the contrary. This way Impact Investors support those projects that are more viable in the longer term. So, if you want to convince Impact Investors, you will have to demonstrate the potential of your project for both social impact and financial return. In fact, the QP Canvas was developed for this purpose. Impact Investing is fairly new and trendy. Apparently, it looks good to position yourself as an Impact Investor on certain social platforms. Be sure you do your research and connect with serious impact investors that align with your project’s goals and values.

 

Pre-sell your service

Turn your social project into a social business. Develop a product or service that delivers value. Offer this to a large party in pre-sales. Ideally, you offer your product to the end customer because this is ultimately the one who will benefit. If you have a social project in line with the (local) government, you can possibly offer this service to the government as well. To win government contracts, you need a clear vision, mission, and plan. The reputation and credibility of partners will also be decisive in this process.

 

Run a crowdfunding campaign

Crowdfunding is a way to raise money from a wide audience through an online platform. It often involves smaller amounts of money borrowed for several years. This is a very low-threshold way to start but therefore not always successful. You need a large network of followers and fans who know you and want to support you. This requires a serious effort in marketing and communication. Therefore, I prefer to use Crowdfunding as a marketing and branding tool in the scale-up phase of the QP Quest. It is less effective and less suitable as a funding tool in the start-up phase.

 

Offer Impact Lending

Often family and friends are first approached to lend money or even put money into a new project. This is a delicate matter. If things go wrong and you can’t repay then it affects your private relationships. Especially if larger amounts are involved. Also, when borrowing money from third parties, it is always safer to work with an intermediary that supports Impact Projects. With Impact Lending, your social project gets the funding you need. At the same time, lenders are assured that they will be paid their returns and principal as agreed, even when your social business is not yet generating the revenue to do so itself.

 

Sell shares

Investors pay a sum of money and in return they become co-owners of your social venture. This can be very interesting for you. Sometimes it is better to own a small part of a large social business, than a large part of a smaller social business. Ownership of shares does not automatically mean control in the company. You can sell shares without control. Often, however, a large shareholder will make it a condition to also have a say. When this is an experienced party, this can even be an advantage. The investor can then also be a mentor and tap into his network and resources. Of course, this only works when you are aligned and share the same vision, mission, strategy, and values.

 

Get grant or non-recurring loan

There are opportunities to apply for grants or non-recurring loans, through various governments and foundations. If you apply, tailor your proposal to the specific interests and requirements. Make sure you demonstrate the potential impact of your social, humanitarian or environmental project. When it comes to relatively small amounts, the procedures and administrative workload are often manageable. But when it comes to larger amounts, my experience is that it takes a lot of work to set up all kinds of documents while the chance of success is rather low. Grants often cover only a small part of the total cost. Therefore, I see this as an extra, but certainly not as the most important stream of income for social projects.

 

Negotiate supplier credit

If you are temporarily unable to pay for certain services, you can also partner with the providers of those services. If you serve the same target market, I’m sure there are ways to create a win-win-win where each party receives what they need. I am not in favor of pure barter deals. These are often not sustainable in the long run. Moreover, those negotiations are often time intensive and you don’t always reach an agreement. It is more sustainable, and often faster, to negotiate payment terms and a partner price. That way, you may pay later, or less, but you pay correctly for the services and products you need.

 

Issue Social Impact Bonds (SIBs)

Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) are a type of public-private partnership to finance social projects. A private investor provides working capital for a social project. The social business in charge provides a service to the public sector. In return, the public sector pays for the service provided. If the social business is not successful, the investor receives no return and no refund of the principal. SIBs are designed to transfer risk from government and service providers to investors. These are complex financial instruments and this is certainly not appropriate for every project.

 

Get sponsors

This is for you when you have built a powerful brand that stands for a clear message. In that case, it may be of interest to certain high-capital parties to be associated with your brand. Note. This works in 2 directions. If your sponsors also have a strong brand, then your brand will be associated with this brand too. So it is important to be selective and choose your sponsors wisely. It is not enough that they have the same goal, they must also subscribe to the same values. More so the perception of the outside world must be that your sponsors endorse the same values. A market survey on this is always recommended before committing to a potential sponsor.

 

 

YOU NEED AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY

The above strategies can help you generate independant income streams. But this is only part of the story. Next question is how will you manage this income in the best possible way. The Red Cross, for example, has 3 major income streams: sales of goods and services, donations and return on investment! Yes, a healthy humanitarian organization not only makes profits but also manages those profits smartly so that income is generated from those investments. Therefor, an investment strategy is an indispensable part of any sustainable income and funding strategy.

LET’S CONNECT

Are you looking for new opportunities to optimize your income, funding or investment strategy? You are most welcome to contact us by mail or join us in the free Connection Call.

COMMUNICATE YOUR STORY

 

I get goosebumps when I hear your story. This is so inspiring. Wonder how you are not on every stage? You have a story. You look good. You know how to present it. How come I don’t know you? I was asked this question recently during an online Connection Call. Yes, why? Certainly, there are plenty of reasons why I should share my story.

 

7 REASONS TO TELL YOUR STORY

I’ve been there a few times before. A new brand, a new story, a new campaign. Live studio webinars, presenting on stage, writing blogs, book releases, podcast interviews and magazines, … I know how to make sure that a brand gets exposure in the right niche. When this is done in a thoughtful way, there are many benefits for the business.

 

1. Your story is differentiating

Your story is unique. Your product or service may be similar to what other providers offer. But your story is always different from the story of others. When you make it personal, share your values and your why, others can really get to know you and connect with you. It certainly doesn’t always have to be mass communication. A personal video message is also very effective in unlocking new opportunities.

 

2. You want to inspire others

As a former executive editor, I found it very frustrating that positive stories got so little coverage in traditional media. As soon as it was technically possible, I started using social media to spread more inspiring stories. It became my mission to also support driven Impact Entrepreneurs to tell and spread their stories. I wanted to inspire, not only with my own story but also by producing the inspiring stories of others.

 

3. You and your brand gain authority and credibility

In my first book, I wrote about my experience with self-leadership. This made it into the press. The article caught the attention of a professor at the Vlerick International Business School. Before I knew it, I was a guest lecturer at several business schools. Years later, I wrote a book on how to use online media effectively in learning programs. This launched my former business as the ultimate online learning expert, in Learning & Development circles.

 

4. You reach more people

The more visible you are, the more people can get to know you. Being present on the right media, in the right way, at the right time, is very powerful and can help you reach the right people. Podcasts and video programs, for example, are always looking for interesting speakers. This is an easy way to quickly expand your network.

 

5. People will come to you

With the right story, the right audience will be drawn to contact you. Both online and offline. When I used to go to L&D networking events, people recognized me from afar. They approached me, introduced themselves, came to talk to me or ask for advice. I must say, that made networking events much more enjoyable for me.

 

6. It can be an additional source of income

You can choose to create a scalable product and go international. Often it starts with a book, self-written or written by a ghost writer. This can be the outline for an interactive media book, live events, an online membership program, an interactive video training program, an audiobook, a mixed reality app, keynote presentations … even live hologram presentations on stage. There are endless possibilities with today’s technology.

 

7. You want to pass on knowledge and experience

It’s such a shame when life lessons are lost. More and more I hear of people in retirement homes being interviewed to preserve their stories for the next generation. It is deeply human to want to share your story, to want to pass on experience and expertise. In the QP Quest, you also see this reflected in the sustain-up phase. When successful Impact Entrepreneurs and Impact Investors inspire and support young Impact Projects with valuable knowledge and experience.

 

7 REASONS NOT TO TELL YOUR STORY

Everyone has several good stories and is capable of telling them. Anyone can look good on video. Professional filming involves styling and make-up. This works wonders ;-). So, you too have a good story. You look good. You can explain it well. So why don’t I know you (yet)? Here are some possible reasons.

 

1. Unawareness

You are not aware of your story. You are not aware of the value of your experience and expertise. You don’t realize that with that, you can impact and help others in a positive way.

 

2. Different target audience

Maybe your story is very inspiring and useful for a certain audience. But maybe I don’t belong to that target group, so I missed your story.

 

3. Missing information

Maybe the story you want to communicate is not yet complete. Maybe negotiations with partners are still ongoing. Maybe there are still things that can change or are unclear.

 

4. Learning the new skill

To be visible and to tell your story in an inspiring way, is a skill that everybody can learn. With some hands-on guidelines and some practice, you can make a world of difference. Believe me, I have helped thousands of people to do so.

 

5. Protecting yourself and others

You don’t want to embarrass yourself or others involved. You also don’t want to get anyone in trouble. Unfortunately, censorship is on the rise. In this context, expressing yourself freely becomes increasingly challenging.

 

6. Need for organization

When you begin to share your story, you can expect reactions and questions. How will you make sure these are addressed and answered? Perhaps the foundation of your organization is not yet in place to handle this smoothly.

 

7. Lack of resources

Maybe you think that you don’t have the time, the budget, the crew or any other resource you think you might need. It’s just an excuse. Remember the blog about Quantum Thinking.  If you want it to happen, there is always a solution.

 

Let’s go back to the Connection Call this week and my conversation partner’s question, ‘How come I don’t know you?’ In this case, the main reasons are undoubtedly points 2 and 3. It was about a project that is not yet complete. Even though I am very excited about it, it looks very promising and I would like to tell everyone who wants to hear about it. I realize it is better to wait a little longer before I start communicating. In a few weeks I’m sure I’ll be able to tell you more.

SHARE YOUR STORY IN THE NEXT CONNECTION CALL

Whether you are communicating live on a stage, doing a presentation on camera, writing a book or communicating one-on-one. Clear and authentic communication is fundamental to connecting and building healthy lasting relationships.

Practice makes perfect. So I’d love to invite you to tell your story during an upcoming live Connection Call. An overview with all the dates of our online meetings can be found on the website, www.QuantumPreneur.com/calendar

FROM QUANTUM THINKING TO QUANTUM BEING

 

Time has shown that classical science cannot explain everything. Studies contradict each other or hit a wall. Still, the principles of classical science are deeply embedded in our daily thinking and doing. When I began to delve into quantum physics, I quickly realized that I had to forget everything I had ever been taught. For me, this was the beginning of a new way of thinking and being, and thus a new way of doing business and making investments. Yes, this was even the start of a new lifestyle.

 

7 QUANTUM PRINCIPLES

Quantum physicists have made several disruptive discoveries. Over the past few years, I explored how to apply these in my daily life. I am happy to share with you how these quantum principles help me thrive, both as an Impact Entrepreneur and as an Impact Investor.

 

1. You are a creator

Whatever it is that you want to establish, whatever goal you want to achieve, it already exists in the Quantum field. It is the presence of the observer that determines the single outcome. As humans we have an amazing creative power. Be conscious of what you wish for. When you take the right action at the right time, it can become reality. Even when things are going other directions and are taking longer than you had expected. You still are and always will be a creator.

 

2. Everything is possible

In the Quantum field there is no duality. You do not have to choose. There are no dilemmas. Shift your thinking from ‘or-or’ to ‘and-and’. You do not have to choose between being a successful entrepreneur OR being a good parent. You can be both a successful entrepreneur AND have time to spend with your family. Visualizing your ideal ‘and-and’ life, is the first step to creating it.

 

3. There is always a solution

Even if you do not know yet, how you will do it, or with whom you will do it. There is always a way. Just start and go for it. Yes, there will be challenges on the way. You will overcome fears and step out of your comfort zone. You might have to become visible and share your story with the world. In the end, when the right people connect at the right time, you will see that the impossible can happen.

 

4. Everybody is interconnected

We are all connected to one another. With everything you think and do, you create a ripple effect. You can make the conscious choice to create a sustainable ripple impact for the benefit of all. You can choose to be an Impact Entrepreneur and an Impact Investor. Whichever way you go, always think win-win-win and grant others their successes. When a person, a project or a business thrives, all stakeholders, as well as society, will benefit.

 

5. It’s a self-regulating field

As humans, we are part of a self-regulating field. This quantum field will always seek balance. Sometimes it is necessary for you to take action. Sometimes it is better to sit back and do nothing for a while. Then all you must do is relax. Trust that the quantum field will do what it is supposed to do. Meanwhile, do stay attentive and be ready to move when it is your time to play.

 

6. Use the knowledge of the quantum field

Making decisions is part of life. When it comes to making the right decision, ratio alone is often a poor counsellor. Also intuition, gut feeling, dreams, hunches … are valuable sources of inspiration and knowing. You can train yourself to tap into this knowing using meditation, fieldsurfing and channeling. Regular practice can help you to make the best business and investment decisions.

 

7. Expect the unexpected

We live in a complex and uncertain world. You can’t understand everything, and you don’t have to pursue that. What you can do, however, is embrace uncertainty. Get out of your comfort zone and accept the challenge. It will unlock new levels of growth and innovation within you. At the same time, be prepared for different scenarios. Spread your risk and take advantage of opportunities that may be outside your comfort zone.

 

QUANTUM IS A LIFESTYLE

When you start applying quantum thinking and doing, it has a gigantic impact on your life. You go from quantum thinking to quantum doing to quantum being. Your values and priorities change. You look at the world in a completely different way. You connect with people on a deeper level. You make choices you never would have dared to make before. Not only does this impact your professional life as an entrepreneur and as an investor. It also impacts your private life, as well as the lives of your family and friends. It’s inevitable, quantum thinking leads to a new lifestyle.

An example of this is the story of QuantumPreneur. It has been 5 years now that we started QuantumPreneur. Since then, the team has grown. Similarly, an increasing number of Impact Entrepreneurs and Impact Investors have connected with us. Sure, we support each other professionally and in growing our businesses. But more importantly, we help each other grow as humans. The QP Quest leads us to a fulfilling lifestyle that also inspires the people around us. Together with our partners, we are co-creating a new way of living with more connection, more freedom, more fulfillment, more authenticity, and more impact.

LET’S CONNECT AND MAKE IMPACT

Would you like to learn more about our Impact Projects, business and lending opportunities? If so, I am looking forward to seeing you on the next Connection Call.

QUANTUM THINKING AND AUSTRIAN ECONOMICS

 

Last weekend I was at the book presentation of ‘The Austrian School’ by Jesús Huerta De Soto. I was triggered by the phrase ‘Why entrepreneurial activities automatically make a more just society’.

 

I absolutely believe that entrepreneurs can co-create a just and prosperous society if they connect and put the greater good first. In fact, that is exactly what QuantumPreneur is all about, connecting Impact Entrepreneurs with each other and with Impact Investors to create projects that have a lasting positive impact.

But do entrepreneurial activities automatically make a more just society? Being an economist myself, I must confess I have some reservations about this. Does this apply to every entrepreneurial activity? Does this really happen automatically? In a world of conscious entrepreneurs or Impact Entrepreneurs as I like to call them, I believe it can indeed be so. Impact Entrepreneurs per definition create a win-win-win and bring value to the market. Today, unfortunately, not every entrepreneur creates a sustainable positive value. Many still think win-lose instead of win-win and do not have the common good in mind. Even for Impact entrepreneurs, it requires an ongoing state of being aware, staying aware and choosing with awareness. In my opinion, what is consciously decided is consciously created and therefore does not happen automatically.

Moreover, I wonder what comes first. Are there conscious entrepreneurs first who then build that just and prosperous society? Or is there a just society first so that entrepreneurs have the opportunities and freedom to create. As a Quantum Thinker, I would say both are there and both are needed. The growth of the conscious entrepreneur will enhance the growth of the just society. Conversely, the growth of a just society will also have a positive impact on the growth of conscious Impact Entrepreneurs. Education is an important driver in this. This is why I think it is so important that we start our private high school next September. Educating and empowering young people helps them become the entrepreneurs and leaders that the new society needs today.

 

Entrepreneurs in Austrian Economics

Economics is a complex and holistic science. Human action and the creativity of the entrepreneur are key. Knowledge and information are subjective and constantly changing. In all of this, I absolutely agree with the Austrian school.
As Ferre Clabau nicely summarized it:
People have desires and needs.
From there, people connect with each other and start acting.
People learn from each other, develop, and create new knowledge.
This influences desires and drives.
People reconnect and so on.
This is a complex system of entrepreneurs interacting and growing on an ongoing basis. This cannot be captured in a statistic.
Values and beliefs play a major role in this process.

 

Quantum thinking for entrepreneurs

Indeed. Your thinking, your values and how they develop over time determine how you act as an entrepreneur. However, how people think is influenced in part by the spirit of the times. For decades, Newtonian thinking was mainstream. Today, change, technology and globalization require a new way of thinking. This is a paradigm shift in which I also recognize certain elements of the Austrian school.

Newtonian thinking says that the universe is one big machine. Everything can be calculated and predicted. Everything is matter and you need force to get an object moving. This is the law of cause and effect. Quantum thinking however says the universe is one big mind. Everything is energy, mind influences matter and our thinking has direct impact on what will happen. So the entrepreneur is the creator. This idea is key in Austrian economics.

Looking at business, the Newtonian way of thinking fits the period of industrialization with machines, force and hard labor. People are just a small part in a mechanical system. People only do what they have to do and they have no insight at all in the big picture. People are isolated in teams and departments and feel no connection with other parts of the organization. This is what we still see in big hierarchical organizations today. As a result people feel disconnected, unfulfilled and not satisfied with what they are doing day in day out. Burn-out, depression, chronic diseases but also bullying at work are obvious signs of this way of thinking.

New generations want their work to be meaningful. They want to be involved. They demand a flat organizational structure and a flexible work-life balance. For example, I always work with small self-steering teams. Per project, a project group is set up with clear objectives and timelines. Work should be organized in a flexible way so it can fit people’s lifestyles. If you want to travel the world and work remotely, that must be possible. If you want to take a break and spend more time with friends or family, you should be able to do so. Yet it takes a certain maturity and mindset, as well as shared purposes and values, to manage your work when you are given so much freedom. For instance, I expect each partner and employee to be intrinsically motivated, show initiative and take ownership. Authenticity, respect, teamwork, and honest communication is a must. For many people, it requires a change in mindset and attitude, to function in this kind of new organizational structure.

Quantum Thinking, as well as Austrian Economics, can be an approachable first step to a new way of thinking for many people. For the creative and conscious entrepreneurs among us, we are living in unique and special times with lots of possibilities and opportunities.

Let’s explore and implement Quantum Thinking

If you want to apply Quantum thinking in a tangible way in your work and life, you are most welcome to join us on the QP Quest.
Check out the free training videos to get started.

CHOOSE TO GROW
FROM IMPACT ENTREPRENEUR TO IMPACT INVESTOR

 

At the age of 26, I started working at the Belgian television news. It was my dream to become an investigative journalist and travel the world. Reality at the news desk turned out to be quite different. I soon realized there were 2 options. I could stay and hope that one day management would grant me the opportunity to do what I was passionate about. Or I could quit and start doing it right now. Looking into the newsroom, I saw many people who were disappointed and disillusioned in their careers. Like me, they had a passion. They wanted to make a difference by becoming a great journalist or an anchor. Unfortunately, they hadn’t succeeded, and they lost the passion. Yet they continued to do the work because it provided financial security. The thought that there was even the slightest chance that this could happen to me, that was my worst nightmare. So the decision was quickly made. I left and started as a freelancer. A month later I was traveling the world, reporting humanitarian projects from Africa. A year later I had set up my first business: a media house producing empowering stories for broadcasting.

Since then, I have made many more life-changing choices. I chose to embrace the challenges, to continuously learn and grow. This has brought me to where I am today. This has made me who I am today. An Impact Entrepreneur and Impact Investor with a clear purpose: inspire and support other Impact Makers and co-create a new society together. I sincerely wish for everyone to experience the fulfillment of this entrepreneurial journey. But I learned one thing. I can wish it to someone but I can not make it happen for someone. Everyone has to make their own choices and make their own commitments to make it happen. That is the only sustainable way.

 

Grow beyond your comfort zone

It all starts with you and the choices you make. Once you start making conscious choices, you understand that not choosing is also a choice. You choose to do nothing and for a while things may stay the same. But if you want to make a sustainable impact, there is no other way. You will have to grow as a person in order to grow your project. The same applies the other way around. As you grow a project, you yourself will also be growing as a person. So do you consciously choose to make that impact. Do you believe in it? Do you have trust? Do you want to go all the way?

Whatever your Impact Project might be, you will need a strong motivation. The bigger the project, the stronger your drive and your belief must be. Without it you might want to give up at the slightest setback. Of course you will experience a lot of joy and satisfaction. But there are also going to be moments of frustration and disappointment. You will have to deal with your fears and insecurities. You will have to get out of your comfort zone, speak up and show what you stand for. All of this requires an inner drive, a passion, and a rock-solid confidence that you can do it.

In my latest Impact Projects, my drive is my children. I wish for them to grow up in an environment where they can thrive, now and in the future. That is my personal why. That is why in September we start QP College, a high school for the conscious entrepreneurs and leaders of tomorrow. My children will be amongst the first students to start.
Next step is to grow an international network of Micro-Societies. These are self-sufficient ecovillages where conscious Impact Makers can live, learn and work together. The school is of course, an important part in this. Furthermore, we also include biophilic housing, co-working space with media house, vitality facilities, and of course our own healthy food production and energy solutions. This is a huge undertaking that was started in 2019 by 3 people. I must say it was quite a ride and sometimes it was a challenge to keep believing. Today, all three of us have grown and reached the next level. As a result we have taken major steps forward and now all doubt is gone. The Micro-Society Network is coming. In one of my next blogs, I will talk in detail about the Micro-Society in the Netherlands.

 

Grow your project sustainably

To grow your Impact Project, you need different passions. Passion for your project, passion for your product, passion for the people involved, when relevant a passion for the place, but always a passion for profit.

It’s obvious that you need passion for your project. Then you need passion for your service and product that will generate income for your project. You need passion for all the people involved: your team, your clients, your partners and suppliers, your Impact Investors and Impact Lenders. For some projects such as a Micro-Society a passion for the place is helpful. And yes, you always need passion for profit. Even if your primary goal is to make impact and bring social and environmental change. You need to be profitable. You have to be able to pay your expenses, so you can grow sustainably. The more your project grows, the more impact you can make. I already described this path from start-up to scale-up to sustain-up in another blog article about the QP-Quest.

Too often I get questions from people with a great idea, who have passion for the idea but not for the work. They are not interested in setting up the business structure that is necessary for the manifestation. They don’t want to make a product that they can offer and sell. They don’t even want to make profit. This kind of undertaking has a name. It is called a hobby. By definition a hobby is not sustainable and will not continue to make impact long after you’re gone. Serious Impact Investors will not be interested in funding this kind of project. They want their money to make a sustainable and lasting impact.

That brings us to funds and funding. Many startup entrepreneurs think money is the problem. If only they had enough money they could start this or that Impact Project. I have to disappoint you. Money, or the lack of money, is rarely the problem. Usually the problem is a lack of creativity to come up with solutions, or a lack of courage to take action out of the comfort zone. Of course funds can help. But it is still the initiating entrepreneur who will have to commit and make it happen.

 

Grow your ripple impact

When you notice the positive impact you start making with your project, it almost becomes a moral obligation to increase your impact. There are different ways and strategies. You can set up spin-offs or new Impact Projects. You can expand or copy a project to other places. For example, we developed the concept for a Micro-Society in the Netherlands. Following the same principles, Micro-Societies can also be developed in other regions and countries. You can choose to help and support other Impact Entrepreneurs. For example, QuantumPreneur supports Impact Projects with mentoring as well as business services such as virtual assistance, sales funnels, digital products and so on. As an Impact Investor, you can of course help through investments or Win-Win-Win Impact Lending.

My business partner Christiaan Baan is a great example of the driven Impact Entrepreneur who quickly became to be an Impact Investor. When I first told him about QuantumPreneur, its underlying values and goals, he immediately felt that this resonated with him. He jumped and committed himself to make it happen. Today he is an Impact Investor and Impact Lender. He is generating a good return while supporting Impact Projects in a sustainable way: win-win-win. Win for the Impact Project, Win for the Impact Investor and Win for society and planet.

In the end our aim is to help conscious Impact Makers grow as we did, from Impact Entrepreneurs to Impact Investors. Thus creating a sustainable network of people helping each other out both with experience, expertise and funding.

Let’s join forces

Does this purpose resonate with you? If so, I invite you to connect in a live connection call. I’m looking forward to hearing your story.

For Impact Entrepreneurs who choose to grow their Impact Project.
For Impact Investors who choose to explore Impact Lending opportunities.
For Impact Communicators who choose to share experience and expertise.