We Need to Resist Toxic Entrepreneurship
It’s hurting everyone, and helping nobody.
Years ago, one of my students tried to recruit me for his startup — after telling me my class was pointless.
“My mentor said he has no idea what ethos even is.” My student laughed. “He just knows it doesn’t pay the bills.”
My student didn’t remember what ethos meant, even though we’d been talking about it all week. So I walked him back through the lesson, explaining how ethos was about reputation and character. It was about aligning your actions with your values.
“Wouldn’t that be important for someone looking to start a business? Isn’t that kind of like… your brand?”
“Oh. Yeah. I guess so.”
That’s when he said he was impressed. He wanted me to join his startup, which only existed on paper at that point.
I politely declined.
Toxic Entrepreneurs Pervert a Noble Enterprise.
Starting companies is great.
You design something. You invent something. You innovate. You create jobs. Everyone wins. Maybe you get lucky and sell your company for millions or even billions of dollars. Or you just grow your little business into an empire, something you might…