I recognize that a global pandemic and the threat of a world war is seen as a golden opportunity for many businesses to take advantage and make a profit. In the early days of Covid-19, we saw everyone making and selling masks. Heck, I have a friend in Florida who changed up her entire business to make custom embroidered masks. The catch was, we all needed masks so was it really taking advantage or is it as simple as supply and demand? Perhaps the custom embroidery was a bit over the top but, for some people, that may have lowered the personal barriers to mask wearing at all.

I read an article about AirBnB this week and the surge of bookings for locations in Ukraine. People from all over the world purchasing stays in locations in Ukraine that they never intend to visit. . .just to financially support those living in Ukraine that have AirBnB’s. . .like a humanitarian aid channel that I’m confident AirBnB never anticipated would become a part of their platform but it certainly won’t hurt their bottom line.

But is this type of leveraging a crisis ok? Is it justifiable to help and at the same time improve your own stature? Or does that act negate the good?

I’ve had a few conversations recently with younger people than I who take issue with this type of profiteering. I’ve listened, leaned in and sought to understand their concerns. However, I have not been able to fully agree with their stand as the same profiteering they detest is often at the core of the life they live and the privileges they hold.

It’s a tough argument; the chicken or the egg dilemma, if you will. But, using your expertise to help during a crisis doesn’t have to be about commercial advantage or profit. It can be about service, the right thing for society and showing your true values. I think it is also at the core of what it means to be human. Intelligent, industrious, entrepreneurial. We have sustained our species with these traits at our core and that must count for something. 

We all must do better to show our values in times of crisis AND hold others accountable for showing theirs but we ALSO need to safeguard the entrepreneurs that see a need and seek to fill it. 

Society needs both, in harmony and in community,