The Power Of Usefulness In Entrepreneurship

 

As entrepreneurs, we often feel pressured to “Change The World,” striving for breakthroughs that will leave an indelible mark on history. But not every venture needs to revolutionize society to be worthwhile.

At the BT Alumni Fellows Association, we believe in the concept of *usefulness optimization*—the idea that making people's lives even slightly better can have a profound impact if scaled effectively.

Many of us were drawn into entrepreneurship with grand ideas, eager to disrupt industries or solve global problems. However, there's value in taking a step back and asking: “Is what I’m doing as useful as it could be?”

This question can help ground your entrepreneurial journey in practicality, keeping you focused on creating tangible, meaningful benefits.

Finding Value in "Small Wins"

Consider the apps or services we use daily, like a calendar tool or a food delivery service. Individually, they may not seem like world-changers, but they improve efficiency, save time, and offer convenience to millions.

This incremental improvement in people’s lives may not appear earth-shattering, but it significantly enhances their day-to-day existence. Over time, the cumulative effect of these small gains is enormous.

This principle applies to our alumni entrepreneurs too. Whether you're developing educational resources for rural communities, running a social enterprise, or helping farmers connect with markets, ask yourself if your work is making life easier, more enjoyable, or more productive for others.

Often, usefulness lies in the everyday solutions we provide rather than in grand, headline-making innovations.

Measuring Usefulness

If you're wondering how to assess the usefulness of your project, try to visualize it as an "area under the curve." Even if your product or service only slightly improves life for your users, its overall usefulness can be significant if it impacts a large number of people.

Let’s take a hypothetical example: You run a business that offers financial literacy classes to rural youth. Each student might only gain a modest improvement in understanding how to manage money, but across hundreds or even thousands of students, the cumulative positive effect is substantial. These small steps toward better financial management can ripple out into long-term changes in their lives and communities.

Optimizing for Real-World Impact

We understand that many alumni fellows want to change the world in big ways. And while it's inspiring to have lofty goals, it’s equally important to recognize that real-world problems are often solved through incremental progress.

Think of how agricultural technologies, sanitation systems, or educational tools have developed over time—not in one giant leap, but through steady improvement and careful refinement.

To all BT Alumni Fellows: aim to optimize usefulness. Ask yourself regularly, "Is my project as helpful as it could be?" If it’s making people’s lives better, even in small ways, you’re already on the right path.

Sometimes, the most impactful work isn’t about the size of the innovation but about making life just a little better for as many people as possible. And that, in itself, is a meaningful contribution.

Call to Action for Our Alumni Entrepreneurs

At the BT Alumni Fellows Association, we encourage you to share your experiences and challenges in optimizing usefulness in your ventures. Let’s discuss how even small improvements in the services we offer can make big differences. We can help each other recognize the value in every step, big or small, as we work toward building sustainable, impactful businesses.

Let’s continue to embrace our entrepreneurial journeys, understanding that true success isn’t always about world-shaking innovations—it’s about the cumulative impact of making life just a little better for those around us.