The purpose of business is NOT to make money. Yet, ask the average adult about the purpose of business, and experience tells me over half of them will incorrectly answer, “To make money.” Within the sciences of economics and accounting, financial profit remains a measure of performance, but not the purpose of business. Purpose precedes profit; otherwise, corruption of souls will soon follow.
Business first exists as a societal construct to serve the common good, not the greater good. Think of the common good as enlarging a pie so more get to eat versus taking more of a set sized pie. Those invoking the “greater good” are invariably tyrants advancing their agenda at the expense of others.
Business exists in the private sector. Therefore, by definition, business has no standing in socialism or communism whereby a central agency controls the production and distribution of goods, aka the greater good approach.
Capitalism remains the only system of economics repeatedly shown to benefit the common good. Thanks to the competitive nature of capitalism, quality improves, speed of delivery increases, prices are lowered, and options increase. These value-adding benefits raise the societal standard of living. The promise of prosperity by capitalism, however, relies on a moral and just people — the flaw in the system.
Unfortunately, the CEO-system of management that served the world so well for most of the 20th century is increasingly corrupted because of the decay in our judicial, political, social, and spiritual mores. The ugliness of greed, lust, and ego are increasingly unchecked and even celebrated with pagan ritual. Making money is the golden calf of our day. “Human Resources” are too readily sacrificed on the altar of “it’s just business” as “I get what’s mine.”
Chief Leadership Officer, my iconoclastic manifesto written as an easy-reading narrative, invites a much needed business reformation where people are no longer treated as assets and human capital. Instead, readers and leaders of businesses are invited to embrace their charge to be creators and increasers of wealth.
Wealth is the state of weal — a largely forgotten word that translates best to our modern ears as wellbeing. So wealth is a concept grounded in the whole person and the whole society. Business is therefore a group of people inspired by a common purpose to serve the common good in such a way that everyone profits. This is an economic understanding of, “All ships rise with an incoming tide” versus a zero-sum game.
Are you a business owner who is unsure what the purpose is for your team? Borrow “Increasing Wealth.” This generalized 2-word purpose sets a proper tone and direction until a company-specific purpose is determined.
There’s no need to reject the CEO methods. Rather, the CLO-system of leadership elevates and rehabilitates it so you’re no longer doing business incompletely right. Do you dare reconsider what is the purpose of business and make the change? I pray you do.
Let the Business Reformation Begin!
Kevin