Seeking meaningful and lasting personal fulfillment has become one of the most significantly influential problems of today. How does one achieve fulfillment? What does it even mean? These are questions that are being/have been asked and reflected upon for centuries. Some will say that there is joy to be found in worldly pursuits like having a good job, a good group of friends, a good spouse, the list goes on and on. These pursuits are by no means inherently wrong, but they’re all missing something, fulfillment. True and lasting joy and fulfillment comes from pursuing God, and God alone.
Many refuse to accept this truth, especially with the weight of responsibility toward duties like a mortgage, rent, and other debts on their shoulders. Rather than pursue God and furthering the kingdom of God, they chase after worldly achievements.
However, a small group of incredibly motivated and determined entrepreneurs are changing the world through their endeavors. Creating a value proposition that targets redemptive causes.
An epitome example of redemptive entrepreneurship is seen in the practices of the rapidly growing toy company, Tegu. Visionaries, Chris and Will Haughey, set out to help one of the most rudimentary and unstable economies in the world. They had their eyes set on Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Tegucigalpa has been stricken with poverty and illiteracy for generations. Chris and Will recognized this problem and set out to make real, lasting change. Tegu began deep involvement and long-term investments into the Tegucigalpa people by using the hardwood rich environment for the manufacturing magnetic wooden block toys. In order to ensure sustainability and real redemptive effectiveness, Tegu vows to either plant 12 trees for every block purchases, or pay for a child to be removed from their job sifting through the extensive trash heaps and placed into a reputable school in the area. This option is given to customers as they check out. I believe they choose this method to give the customer a greater sense of involvement in their redemptive cause.
Tegu was founded in 2006 and continues to bring a breath of fresh air to the modern toy industry by disrupting the injurious industry leaders like the iPad and Xbox console.
More information can be found on their company website
Or on a short, yet comprehensive video on the company’s mission
I had never heard of Tegu until now, they seem like an incredible start up that puts people before anything else and that is something I think all companies should take a lesson from.