Intentional Growth - Crafting an Anti-Capitalist Business for the Year Ahead

As we step into a new year, many business owners are feeling the pull to reflect, refocus, and set new intentions. But in a world dominated by hustle culture and the constant pressure to scale, how do we redefine growth on our own terms—growth that aligns with our values and genuinely sustains both us and our communities?

I’m Emily Eley, an anti-capitalist business coach, and I want to invite you to step off the treadmill of endless growth and into a more intentional approach to running your business. This isn’t about rejecting growth entirely—it’s about growing ethically, sustainably, and in alignment with what matters most to you.

Here’s an overview of the workshop I recently led, "Intentional Growth: Crafting a Values-Based Business for the Year Ahead," and how you can take these ideas into your own practice. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, these exercises and reflections can help you reimagine success.

Reclaiming Your Vision

Too often, we’re told that business success is about profit, growth, and market domination. But what if we centered purpose instead? Start by asking yourself these key questions:

• What do I truly want from my business in 2025, beyond profit?

• What excites me most about my work?

• What impact do I want to have on my community and the world?

• How do I want my work to feel, day to day?

Take a moment to reflect on these. Write them down. These answers form the foundation of your vision—one that’s driven by what matters most to you, not by what capitalism demands of you.

Ethical Growth Strategies

Growth doesn’t have to mean scaling endlessly or chasing higher revenue every single year. Ethical growth is about expanding in ways that honor your values, your well-being, and the communities you serve. Here are a few ideas to guide your thinking:

• Grow at a sustainable pace: Focus on deepening your relationships with existing clients rather than constantly seeking new ones.

• Scale mindfully: Consider whether adding new offerings or expanding your reach aligns with your values and resources.

• Avoid exploitation: Ensure that your growth doesn’t come at the cost of others—whether that’s your employees, your community, or the environment.

Take a moment to ask yourself:

• What does growth mean to me this year? (e.g., revenue, team size, impact)

• How can I grow while staying aligned with my values?

• What resources or tools do I need to grow sustainably?

By reframing growth as intentional and values-driven, you free yourself from the relentless push for more and open the door to sustainable, meaningful expansion.

Building a Community-Centered Business

Business isn’t just about transactions; it’s about relationships. Centering your community can be a powerful way to create impact and strengthen your business. Here’s how to get started:

1. Map Your Community: Who are the key people and groups in your business ecosystem? These might include:

   • Clients or customers

   • Collaborators and partners

   • Local organizations or causes

2. Identify Gaps: Where are there opportunities to deepen relationships or create new ones? Are there groups you’ve unintentionally overlooked?

3. Strengthen Connections: What’s one relationship you can nurture this year? This could mean supporting a local mutual aid effort, starting a feedback loop with your clients, or collaborating with a values-aligned business.

By centering community, you’re not only creating more meaningful relationships but also challenging the isolation and competition that capitalism often fosters.

Aligning Finances with Your Values

One of the biggest challenges in creating a values-driven business is aligning your financial practices with your ethics. It can feel overwhelming, but here are a few prompts to guide you:

• Does my pricing honor the value I bring and the labor involved?

• Are there options for making my services more accessible, such as sliding scales or pay-it-forward programs?

• Am I reinvesting in ways that align with my values, such as supporting community initiatives or sustainable practices?

It’s okay to revisit and refine your financial strategies as your business evolves. The goal is to strike a balance between sustainability, accessibility, and fairness.

Breaking Free from Capitalist Norms

Capitalist culture often sneaks harmful practices into our businesses, even when we’re trying to operate differently. Take a moment to reflect:

• What capitalist norms have I unintentionally adopted (e.g., hustle culture, scarcity mindset, toxic productivity)?

• What mindset or practice will I consciously let go of this year?

• What will I adopt to support equity, justice, or sustainability?

Unlearning these norms is an ongoing process, but every small shift matters. By rejecting hustle culture and centering justice, you’re creating a business that’s part of a larger movement for collective liberation.

Closing Intentions

To wrap up, set one intention and one action step for the year ahead:

• Intention: What do you want to prioritize in your business this year?

• Action Step: What’s one thing you’ll do this week to move toward that intention?

By grounding yourself in your vision and values, you’re creating a roadmap for a business that supports not only your goals but also the well-being of your community and the world around you.

If these reflections resonated with you, I’d love to hear about your journey. I offer one-on-one coaching for those who want deeper support in building values-based, anti-capitalist businesses. No hard pitches here—just an open invitation if it feels right for you.

Here’s to a year of intentional, values-driven growth!