The Lorax, Dr. Seuss, and the Importance of Emotional Awareness in Entrepreneurship

Growing up, many of us were introduced to Dr. Seuss' books. We marveled at the vivid illustrations and silly stories, never realizing that we were also learning lessons on life and society. One of his most famous works, The Lorax, tells the story of a greedy entrepreneur who destroys the environment for the sake of profits. Recently, I discovered that Theodor Geisel, the author behind Dr. Seuss, was actually from San Diego, California - the same city where I reside in the summers. As I delved deeper into his work and art, I found similarities between the character of the Onceler and modern-day entrepreneurs. In this post, I want to explore the importance of emotional awareness in entrepreneurship, using The Lorax as a springboard for discussion.

In The Lorax, the Onceler is a driven entrepreneur who manages to find success with his product - the Thneed. However, his ambition blinds him from the consequences of his actions. As he cuts down more Trufalla trees, he destroys the ecosystem and provokes the wrath of the Lorax. The subtext of the story is clear - the chase for profits often leads to neglecting the environment and society as a whole.

What's interesting is how the recent adaptation of the movie added more backstory to the Onceler's motivations. We see that his parents had belittled his entrepreneurial spirit, leading him to leave his home in search of success. This emotional imprinting becomes a driving force in his actions. When his family joins him to help with his business, they push him to destroy the forest for the sake of profits, again, based on emotional imprints instead of sound reasoning.

As entrepreneurs, we need to be aware of the impact of our actions beyond the pursuit of profits. Emotional imprinting and peer pressure can skew our judgement, leading us down the path of destruction. It's important to regularly self-reflect and ask ourselves if we are making decisions out of ego and approval-seeking, or based on a genuine desire to make a positive impact.

Entrepreneurship is not just about creating a successful business. It's about improving the world in a positive way. The lessons of The Lorax can serve as a reminder that our actions are not always driven by value creation and profit but instead to try to make ourselves feel better. Emotional awareness plays a significant role in ensuring that we make informed, ethical decisions that benefit everyone.

Dr. Seuss may be known for his silly rhymes and colorful illustrations, but his stories provide important lessons that resonate to this day. The story of The Lorax highlights the importance of emotional awareness in entrepreneurship - recognizing the impact of our actions beyond profits and being aware of emotional imprints that may cloud our judgement. By understanding why we do things as a construct on how we have been imprinted can be a recipe for better decision making.