{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Social Enterprise for Literacy with Brian Floriani","description":"Brian chats with Brian Floriani, a golf professional turned literacy advocate and entrepreneur who has founded two companies dedicated to improving literacy in the U.S. Brian\u2019s latest enterprise, Freadom, was founded in late 2020 as a purpose-driven lifestyle brand that uses 100% of its proceeds for literacy initiatives. On the episode, Brian Floriani talks about how he is using a social enterprise model to turn the traditional approach to social giving on its head. He also discusses how values can help Freadom\u2019s direction and shares numerous adages to aid aspiring social entrepreneurs. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses strive for more than success. Brian Floriani differentiates between success and significance, noting success is about personal accomplishments and significance is about the accomplishments of other people. He sees a similar distinction when defining a mission-driven business versus an ordinary one. \u201cA mission-driven business is driven mostly by purpose, and the purpose of something that\u2019s greater than being successful in a business that\u2019s usually driven by and measured by money,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a business that is focused on significance, not success.\u201d No margin. No mission. For Freadom, being a mission-driven business means scaling a business that will give 100% of its net profits to literacy programs. But to get there, Brian Floriani had to think outside of the box of what a charitable company can be. It\u2019s something he learned while running his first business, a successful literary nonprofit called Bernie\u2019s Book Bank. \u201cWhen you\u2019re running a nonprofit, you\u2019re running a business where your productivity is directly related to revenue,\u201d Brian Floriani said. \u201cThat\u2019s a tough way to run a business.\u201d Brian Floriani felt strongly that he needed a business where revenue can be scaled. He saw a social enterprise model, like one employed by Newman\u2019s Own, as a viable solution. As he once heard a mentor say: \u2018No margin. No mission.\u2019 \u201cMoney is a reality,\u201d Brian Floriani said. \u201cAnd if you\u2019re not profitable, especially for us, you\u2019re not properly going to get it right.\u201d Know and espouse your values. Freadom lists its values on a \u201cWe believe\u201d page on its website. This declaration helps visitors get a clear understanding of what Freadom is and what motivates the team, but it also serves as guideposts for the company. \u201cThat\u2019s important because you need guideposts to fall back on when you need to make important decisions,\u201d Brian Floriani said. \u201cDoes it reflect what we believe?\u201d Brian Floriani developed those values first as a stream of consciousness exercise that turned into a full brand narrative. He performed a similar routine two years into running Bernie\u2019s Book Bank. \u201cWe operate like a business, and we think like a brand,\u201d he said. Resources + Links Brian Floriani\u2019s Social Media: Twitter Freadom website and declaration page Bernie\u2019s Book Bank website Brian Thompson\u2019s Social Media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook  About Brian and the Mission Driven Business Podcast  Brian Thompson, JD\/CFP, is a tax attorney and certified financial planner who specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who run mission-driven businesses. The Mission Driven Business podcast was born out of his passion for helping social entrepreneurs create businesses with purpose and profit. On the podcast, Brian talks with diverse entrepreneurs and the people who support them. Listeners hear stories of experiences, strength, and hope and get practical advice to help them build businesses that might just change the world, too. ","author_name":"Mission Driven Business","author_url":"https:\/\/btfinancial.com\/podcast","html":"