What's the Purpose of Business if It Isn't Money?

Purpose, vision, and mission often get bantered about in board rooms as if the words held magical powers.  They don't. It's the passion and action behind those words that matter.

During this podcast, my friend and colleague John Dame didn’t waste any time tackling one of the biggest concerns we hear from executives and small business owners when we ask “what is the purpose of your business.”  The reaction we get suggests we are asking some sort of trick question like who's buried in Grant's tomb? Of course the purpose of business is to make money. Isn’t it?

Unfortunately for companies today that philosophy doesn’t help attract enthusiastic customers or acquire and retain talent. “Few if any employees,” John explained, “want to come to work for you to help you make money.”

When studying many of the most successful and sustainable companies, the one thing they have in common is that making a lot of money is the outcome of a great vision, purpose, focus, and clarity for what the future looks like. “If you just want people to come to work to make money,” it will be more difficult to grow your business and attract and retain talent going forward.

Has it always been this way? Does purpose seem to be more important today than it was just a few years ago? Are the Millennials responsible for this greater emphasis on purpose?

For those answers you’ll just have to listen!

And to learn more about why finding and living your purpose will be more important than ever in an Age of Acceleration, download my free book preview and white paper When the Shift Hits Your Plan: What Happens When the Wired, Tired, and Technology Converge.