The more I study entrepreneurship, the more I am convinced that generosity is a core characteristic of the best entrepreneurs. That is if you define generosity, as I do, as the giving from oneself something of value for the benefit of others. In my last post, I elaborated on why I believe this definition applies to entrepreneurs. Today I’d like to continue by telling you about Jesse Walters, his wife Megan Walters, and their brand Camacho Coffee.
Jesse and Megan started Camacho Coffee in 2017. Like many entrepreneurial stories, Camacho Coffee did not come out of a need to start a business venture. No, it was born from something I’ve written about extensively on this blog- love.
You see, before there was a business, before Jesse and Megan became entrepreneurs, they both shared a love for coffee. Unfortunately, Megan started to have an allergic reaction to the inflammatory properties of the coffee she was drinking. Cutting coffee out of her diet was an option, but not a good one. You don’t simply cut something you love out of your life, at least not before attempting to find a way to salvage that relationship. And that’s exactly what Jesse and Megan did.
Through extensive research, they quickly discovered that certain cold brew coffees did not possess the inflammatory properties that triggered Megan’s allergic reaction. This led them down the path of learning more about the world of coffee beans and brewing. Armed with this new knowledge, the two decided to experiment with making their own coffee. After some trial and error, they figured it out and produced a high-quality coffee they enjoyed.
But the Walters did not keep what they created to themselves. They shared it with family and friends and were soon convinced by people who enjoyed their coffee as much as they did, that they should make it available to everyone. This is what prompted the launch of Camacho Coffee.
So as you can see, this is not a story of two people creating a product simply to make money and capture market share. It’s a story of love and generosity. Their love for coffee moved them to create their own, and their generosity moved them to make it available to everyone.
And I have to mention, Camacho Coffee is not a non-profit organization, but one of its taglines is coffee for a cause. Why? Because the brand has partnerships with several community-based organizations, and a percentage of the company’s profits help to fund their programs. This is not part of a goodwill marketing strategy. This is a brand that is functioning as an extension of its founders, Jesse and Meagan, who believe in using their resources to benefit their community.
What I’ve learned from this story and countless others, is that to only see entrepreneurship through the prism of business is a mistake. Yes, Camacho Coffee is a business, but its beginnings and tagline seem to suggest that there is more to its purpose than making money. The Walters created something of value, something that people enjoy and are willing to pay for. But what I see is more than a business transaction or money in exchange for goods. I see people that are engaged in a value relationship with a brand, and a brand fully engaged in a value relationship with its community. Everyone benefits. Everyone gains. And none of it started with a profit motive, it started with love.
