CWIB Book Review: “The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship”
“It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be ground down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal” (St. John Paul II).
The Art of Wine
An industry pioneer, entrepreneur, and chief executive officer of the largest wine brand in the world, Art Ciocca is the Catholic CEO you may not have heard of but should get to know. His philosophy that business is meant to enable individuals to flourish and unleash human excellence as a force for good can motivate us as Catholic women in business.
Inspired by Ciocca’s story, Andrea Widmer shares a thought-provoking guide for entrepreneurs, managers, employees, and students who dream of running a business that does good and earns a profit in his new book, “The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship: Creating Enduring Value.”
Widmer masterfully builds the invisible bridge between business and living out the mission God has called us to undertake—to love, know, and serve him (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1-3). In the book's opening, Widmer shares that when he first met Ciocca, they bonded over a mutual frustration that business is often cast in a negative light. As entrepreneurs, they’ve found themselves defending the free market economy as a force for good to their friends in the liberal arts fields.
As a social worker and business owner, I couldn’t help but laugh, because I often find myself in similar situations, defending the free market economy to my social work colleagues and vice versa. For Catholics living out mission through business, the ethos of principled entrepreneurship might be the winning argument.
Through the examples of successful business leaders, Widmer proves that you don't need to choose between earning a profit and doing good for others. Instead, building and growing a profitable human-centered business to move society forward is an act of service to everyone involved.
The Five Pillars of Principled Entrepreneurship
Grounded in the conviction that business is meant to be a force for good and not a selfish endeavor, Widmer outlines five pillars to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset that drives success through virtue, excellence, and service:
The economy exists for people, not people for the economy.
To work is to create; to create is to be human.
Culture eats strategy for breakfast.
Principled entrepreneurs always seek to create win-win solutions.
Always think like an entrepreneur.
Widmer ends each chapter with a series of reflection questions that catalyze the reader to live “the art of principle entrepreneurship.” The questions and lessons provided were the business course I wish I had taken in graduate school.
The Virtue of Business
The conversational style of Widmer’s writing makes reading his book feel as though a well-respected friend is mentoring you. I felt equipped and energized to live each principle after finishing its respective chapter.
As a Catholic young professional navigating business in a secular environment, it’s refreshing and inspiring to learn from business leaders who have achieved success through the integration of talent, virtue, and creativity while placing the good and dignity of the human person at the center of their work.
After closing the book a final time, I couldn’t help but feel excited about the opportunity we have at this moment in history. In a rapidly changing landscape and with all the advanced resources at our disposal, we are responsible for pursuing excellence through our personal potential and finding unique ways to add value to society. Through our pursuit of excellence in our vocations, we will flourish and become the person God created us to be.
Natasha Lovely is the CEO and Founder of Aspen & Oliva, a premier personal branding agency. Driven by an entrepreneurial and creative spirit, she purposefully integrates her expertise as a clinical therapist and storytelling marketer to guide women to architect, refine, and master an iconic personal brand that effortlessly transcends into all areas of their lives - professional and personal. Her work with individuals and Fortune 50 companies to develop talent has led to her positioning as an authority on personal branding, an expert in leadership development, and a champion of the multi-hyphenate woman. Through her passion for business, Natasha has propelled her mission to inspire women to design a life of beauty, champion all things good and true, and guide them to become thought-leaders in their fields. You can connect with Natasha through Instagram, LinkedIn, or natashalucia.com.