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Would Karl Marx open a business? We’ll never know, but one of his modern disciples did just that. Gabriel Sims-Fewer from Toronto is both staunchly anti-capitalist and entrepreneurial. His experience raises some interesting questions about living out your values in your business. And speaking of values driven businesses, I’ve got a profile of a mission driven business you should check-out. Journey On, Mark@BruisedCamels.com | LinkedIn Business | Christian ValuesAnti-Capitalist Business SucceedsThe Anarchist Cafe in Toronto was set to close at the end of May after less than a year in business. Are you sitting down for this? It ran out of cash. Shocker…I know. When Gabriel Sims-Fewer opened The Anarchist in 2022 he said: “I hope by openly declaring the business as anti-capitalist I can motivate people to think and ask about what that means…”
The concept, the failure, and (spoiler alert) the resurrection of The Anarchist Cafe has indeed made me think. So, in that sense, Sims-Fewer has been a huge success. He’s provoked me to ask myself some hard questions. Would I be willing to fail for my values? Even if you disagree with Sims-Fewer, you have to admire people who won’t compromise their values. Even if it means letting a dream die and going out of business. I suspect my survival instinct and pride would win the day. Am I willing to sound silly by publicly announcing my values? Sims-Fewer’s ideas sound ridiculous to me. I laughed when I read about The Anarchist. Conservatives joyously ridiculed him, his beliefs, and his failure. I can’t imagine myself starting a business that was a social media meme before it even opened. Are Christian values less radical? Sims-Fewer believes some pretty “out there” stuff from my perspective. He supports “the abolition of the Canadian state and society, and justice for all those submitted to genocide by the plague of so-called, “Western Civilization.” And he believes “There is, of course, no ethical consumption under Capitalism.” But I wonder. If Jesus delivered the Beatitudes via Twitter to us today, would he have sounded any less “out there?” If you posted, “We love our enemies” on LinkedIn as a corporate value, I suspect a few people would think you were out there too. Are Christian values inherently good for business? Sims-Fewer got in my head with this one. It seems obvious that anti-capitalist values are not inherently good for business. But, if you operate your business based on Christian values, do you automatically obtain better business results? Of course, that depends on multiple things:
The Plot Twist – The Anarchist has survived! Sims-Fewer launched a GoFundMe campaign and raised several thousand dollars in donations. As of today, The Anarchist is still operating. The need for donations to supplement revenue puts The Anarchist in an interesting place. Is it a business that needs philanthropy or a non-profit that has revenue sources? If donated funds came from capitalist activities, does that make The Anarchist less anti-capitalist? Does philanthropic support make a business more or less Christian? Lots to unpack in future editions. Sims-Fewer’s attempt to operate an anti-capitalist business may seem like a Saturday Night Live parody. But remember that good comedy can teach important lessons. Here are some links to stories about Sims-Fewer and The Anarchist Cafe. News story about the opening News story about the closing The Anarchist Cafe on Instagram The Anarchist Website (The must read is the FAQ “Why are your prices so high?) Kitchen Drawer | High Impact BusinessBread that Provides BreadMost of you remember Jesus talking about, “separating the sheep from the goats.” We often associate the sheep with those who visit widows and orphans and help those in poverty. But Jesus also called out visiting prisoners and caring for them. In today’s world, prisoners certainly need visitors. But as businesspeople, perhaps the most helpful and loving thing we can do is provide job opportunities for people with criminal records. Dave’s Killer Bread does exactly that. A family bakery was turned into an amazing engine of redemption. Their mission statement says: At Dave’s Killer Bread, we believe in Second Chance Employment: hiring the best person for the job, regardless of criminal history. We have witnessed its transformative power, and that giving someone who is ready to change their lives a chance – a Second Chance – gives people an opportunity not only to make a living, but to make a life.
Located in Milwaukie, Oregon, Dave’s provides jobs and a future for individuals coming out of prison. The bread is AWESOME and so is the mission. Dave’s is available nationwide or online. Check out their website for their story. And here’s a link to their store locator and online shopping. Kitchen Drawer | Welcome!New Here?Did a friend forward this to you? Get your own subscription with one click.
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