Since moving to Copenhagen in 2023, I’ve had to get used to things being done differently, including Gay Pride taking place in August. In the US and other places around the world, it happens in June to commemorate The Stonewall Riots, which took place on June 28, 1969.
I recently took part in Nørrebro Pride, which Queer and Trans Black Indigenous People of Color (QTBIPOC) organized because they felt they weren’t represented in Copenhagen’s mainstream pride. This is one way I’ve seen our community dream beyond the status quo. Others that I’ve witnessed or participated in include building a library and community garden, assembling housing collectives and cultivating mutual aid for vulnerable community members.
QTBIPOC dreamed of an alternative world, and they’re working to build it for themselves.
Likewise, the nature of entrepreneurship allows one to envision possibilities that go beyond the conventional limits, not settling for what is, but daring to imagine what could be, even when it seems unrealistic by current standards.
POLL
In what ways are you dreaming beyond the status quo?
How are you going beyond the norm in life and business? What do you envision or see in your business or industry that other people don't see?
For this issue, I had the privilege of interviewing Ebengo Honore, a refugee with an inspiring story of resilience and resourcefulness. Meanwhile, Jasper Smith reflects on taking the risk to start a business at age 22, rather than following conventional wisdom or pragmatic advice to get another job.
When I think of the impact of dreaming big and using imagination in business, I see it as not only a tool to create something new and different, but a way to use that difference to shape the entrepreneurial landscape.Barrak Alzaid
Our feature piece, Turning your creative passion into a profitable business, spotlights several examples of how creativity and tech can be combined to create joyful ventures for crafters. Written by Rebekah Bastian, SVP of product and marketing at Glowforge, the article takes you through planning, product development/distribution and marketing, to transform a creative passion into a successful side hustle or primary income source. We also have a new Creative Routes interview with Aya Behr and Justine A. Chambers. Together, they explore the power of imagination and the choreography of everyday movements, challenging us to reimagine the boundaries of art and entrepreneurship.
Last, but not least, it wouldn’t be an issue about dreaming beyond the status quo without exploring the possibilities of social impact in business. Erin Skillen, and our Editor in Chief, Sharon Milone introduce world-changing views from two entry points–prioritizing impact from the start and championing impact as you grow.
These written and video pieces combine to show how entrepreneurs have gone beyond the norm in their business or industry, envisioning and pursuing the seemingly impossible, in both life and business.