Sometimes, dreams offer more than just abstract ideas—they offer insights, reflections, and, occasionally, a call to action. Recently, while in Cappadocia, I had a dream that left me thinking deeply about business, opportunity, and how we face challenges. In this dream, an older Turkish man, a supermarket owner, approached me with a plea for help. His business was failing, and he was on the verge of losing everything. The weight of supporting his family and the struggles of keeping his store afloat had become too much.
He asked me, "What can I do? My business is in trouble, and I don't know how to turn things around."
In the dream, I responded in a way that aligns with one of my core beliefs: when we face challenges, it's essential to zoom out and see the bigger picture. I shared with him that I, too, have experienced tough times in business, but one thing has always helped me move forward—shifting my mindset. When we focus solely on the problems, we become trapped in that limited perspective. But if we step back and view things from a new angle, we begin to see opportunities hidden within the challenges.
The struggles the man faced in my dream are reflective of what many entrepreneurs are experiencing today. Inflation, economic uncertainty, and changing consumer behaviors are pressuring businesses globally. What once worked is no longer effective. The traditional methods many entrepreneurs rely on have become obsolete in this new climate. The old ways of doing business just don’t cut it anymore.
But instead of getting stuck in the mindset of “this isn’t working,” we have an opportunity to reinvent ourselves and our businesses. The man’s supermarket, like many I’ve encountered in Cappadocia, was filled with plastic products and unhealthy, packaged foods—nothing fresh, nothing nourishing. It made me think: What if this man could reimagine his store, not as just another supermarket but as a place that offers something better?
In the dream, I started offering suggestions to the man. What if he revolutionized the supermarket experience in his region? What if, instead of focusing on the failing parts of his business, he explored how he could serve his community in a better way?
With Cappadocia being such a tourist-heavy area, there’s a clear opportunity to cater to both locals and tourists. Tourists, like myself, often walk into supermarkets and leave with a bottle of water and a pack of chips because there’s nothing else to buy. But what if the store offered fresh, healthy options? What if it stocked local produce, meals, and snacks that were wholesome and appealing to a broader customer base?
It’s about more than just tweaking what’s on the shelves. It’s about thinking outside the box and seeing what the ecosystem is asking for. The man could even go as far as starting a regional revolution in supermarkets, leading other store owners toward healthier, more sustainable offerings. This shift could help his business thrive while serving his local community better.
This is where the entrepreneurial mindset comes in. When we face challenges—whether it’s declining sales, economic pressure, or shifting market trends—our first reaction might be to focus on the struggle. But the truth is, problems are opportunities in disguise. Entrepreneurs see problems not as roadblocks but as chances to innovate, to rethink, and to grow.
The key is to recognize that the old solutions won’t work anymore. As Einstein famously said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.” We have to elevate our perspective and adopt new ways of thinking to solve the issues we face today.
In my dream, the man began to realize that, yes, there is hope. There’s a way forward, but it requires a shift in perspective. He needs to stop focusing on what’s wrong and instead think about how he can transform his supermarket into something that better serves his customers, his family, and his future.
This dream made me reflect on why it’s so important to help businesses navigate through tough times. As the global economy shifts, many businesses find themselves at a crossroads. The old ways of doing things - where profit is king and innovation takes a back seat - are no longer sustainable. What we need now are new paradigm businesses - that thrive by serving a higher purpose, focusing on sustainability, and solving real problems in new ways.
This is the heart of the new paradigm of business that I am passionate about sharing with the world. It’s about helping entrepreneurs think differently, empowering them to redefine their WHY, and supporting them with simple tools of HOW to transform their business or even their industry. By doing so, we can not only help individuals succeed but also support the wider ecosystem and ripples of impact going far beyond.
Building a Platform for New Paradigm Business
When I woke up from that dream, I felt a strong urge to create something that could support entrepreneurs like the man in my dream. Many business owners feel lost, unsure of how to adapt, and need a space where they can access practical tools, insights, and inspiration to transform their businesses. That’s why I’m working to build a platform that does just that—a space where entrepreneurs can find the support they need to think bigger, innovate, and create businesses that serve society and the planet.
This platform will offer tools, training, and resources to help businesses not only survive in challenging times but also thrive by adopting new mindsets and strategies. We’ll be sharing tools, workshops, and events to help entrepreneurs unlock new possibilities, all while encouraging them to think outside the box and become the change they want to see for themselves, their communities and the wider world.
At the core of this vision is the belief that entrepreneurship is a powerful force for good. When businesses are driven by purpose and guided by innovation, they can create real, lasting change. It’s not just about solving immediate problems—it’s about building a future where businesses actively contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities.
As we navigate through uncertain times, now is the moment for entrepreneurs to step up, rethink their approach, embrace the new paradigm and get excited about innovating new solutions for real life problems we are collectively facing. When we shift our mindset from scarcity to possibility, from fear to opportunity, we unlock the potential to transform not only our businesses but also the world around us.