Entrepreneurship, Happiness and Lifting Communities with Michael Glauser

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How can entrepreneurship be used not only to build livelihoods, but also to lift communities and create a happier, more connected world?

In this inspiring episode, host Chris Cooper spoke with Michael Glauser—entrepreneur, author, and Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Utah State University.

Michael has built and sold successful companies, cycled 4,000 miles across America to meet extraordinary small-town entrepreneurs, and now leads the SEED poverty alleviation program, which helps thousands of people across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean start small enterprises and double their household income.

Together, Chris and Michael explored the powerful intersection of entrepreneurship, purpose, and human happiness. They discussed how creating meaningful work can combat despair and anxiety, why social entrepreneurship may hold the key to sustainable development, and what six universal principles—drawn from science and timeless wisdom—can help individuals and organizations thrive together.

Michael also shared insights from his latest book, One People, One Planet: Six Universal Truths for Being Happy Together, and from his award-winning SEED initiative, which trains university students to teach entrepreneurship in communities worldwide.

This conversation revealed how entrepreneurship can be a catalyst for happiness, dignity, and community upliftment, the keys to building organisations with heart and purpose, and what ancient wisdom and modern science agree on about living and working happily together.

It also included real stories of transformation from around the world through the SEED program.

Here are some insights from the interview you won’t want to miss:

1. Entrepreneurship as Community Uplift: Michael Glauser emphasised that true entrepreneurship is about more than just profits. His work, especially through the SEED Poverty Alleviation Program, focuses on leveraging business skills to lift communities out of poverty and empower individuals globally.
2. Purpose Drives Success: Both Michael and Chris highlighted the power of having a clear purpose. For Michael, building businesses centred on health and community impact led to deeper engagement and perseverance through challenges.
3. Mentorship & Partnerships Matter: One major factor in Michael Glauser’s entrepreneurial success was creating win-win relationships, especially with investors and experts outside his initial knowledge. He stressed that good partnerships are essential for sustainable growth.
4. Social Entrepreneurship in Action: The SEED program and other initiatives led by Michael train students to help families in poverty start small businesses, aiming to double their income and shift families into more stable economic positions. Real-life examples from Peru and Ghana show the tangible impact of these efforts.
5. Six Universal Truths for Happiness: Drawing from his book “One People, One Planet,” Michael distilled six practices for lasting happiness:
   • Eliminating limiting self-perceptions
   • Challenging biases of others
   • Performing daily random acts of kindness
   • Practicing forgiveness
   • Generosity and sharing resources
   • Finding people in need and supporting them through tough times
6. Narrative Therapy and Storytelling: Michael discussed the importance of “narrative therapy”—rewriting personal stories to emphasise growth and resilience, and actively creating new life adventures that fuel happiness.
7. Culture and Emotional Well-being in Business: The interview stressed that organisational culture and emotional health are as vital as strategy. Teams and businesses that foster happiness, kindness, and meaningful relationships see better recruitment, retention, satisfaction, and performance.
8. Civic Dialogue Over Opinion Battles: Michael Glauser urged us to replace loud opinions and social media-driven polarisation with civil, fact-based conversations, encouraging empathy and broader perspectives.
9. Legacy and Lifelong Learning: Michael Glauser expressed a commitment to continuous contribution and personal growth, seeing his ongoing work as a way to leave a meaningful legacy rather than simply aiming for retirement.

You can’t improve if you’re really scattered. We have to be actors, not reactors, which means we have to have some specific goals and some focus and get out there and just make things happen – Michael Glauser

If you believe that business can be both profitable and profoundly good, this conversation will inspire you to think bigger about how your work can make a lasting difference.

You can listen to this Business Elevation Show interview with Michael Glauser & Chris Cooper here. Alternatively on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Tunein, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio (latter US only).

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More about Michael Glauser:

Michael Glauser is an entrepreneur, author, business consultant, and university professor. He has built successful companies in the retail, wholesale, and educational industries and has worked with hundreds of businesses—from startups to multinational enterprises—in leadership development, communication, team building, and organizational strategy.

Today, Mike serves as Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. He’s also the Director of the SEED poverty alleviation program, helping thousands of people around the world to improve their standard of living and benefit their communities through entrepreneurship.

Mike has published three books on entrepreneurship: Glorious Accidents, The Business of Heart and Main Street Entrepreneur, which chronicles his 4,000 mile bicycle ride across America to interview 100 remarkable entrepreneurs who have successfully merged livelihood and lifestyle in places they want to live. His latest book, One People One Planet: Six Universal Truths for Being Happy Together, presents six proven principles to help us increase our happiness, improve our relationships, and create greater civility in organisations and communities. You can learn more at: One People One Planet and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelglauser/