m-cause

I am currently reading a philosophical business book called:  Purpose, The Starting Point of Great Companies by Nikos Mourkogiannis…the book is a bit different from your standard “10 points to success” blueprint.  Nikos builds his arguments on the classic philosophical ideas of Aristotle, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche and Hume.  So if you are looking to grab a business book that does some dabbling in philosophy, then go pick this one up.  Below are a few points from the book that caught my attention:

1.  Purpose is a paradox:  Purpose builds and boots profits, but it will only do so if it is pursued for its own sake.  It will boost morale, build brands, help quickly assess the strategy–but it can never be just a tool.  It is this duality that makes it difficult to harness–and hence so valuable.

I love this point because it is counter-intuitive.  Nikos makes purpose sound almost “other-worldly”…like an invisible cloud of Purpose scans the intentions of a company, looking for necessary levels of “purpose purity”.  If it finds this purity then it sticks, if not, then it moves on.

2.  Four Moral Purposes:

1) Discovery - The existentialist ethic of choice that is rooted in intuition that life is a kind of adventure. Example: Apple
2) Excellence - The Aristotelian ethic of virtue Implies standards and purports the belief that excellent performance in our role in life represents the supreme good. Example: Warren Buffett
3) Altruism - The ethic of compassion (Hume).  A purpose built on serving customers in a way that goes beyond standard obligation. Example: The Body Shop
4) Heroism - The Nietzschean ethic of power.  Demonstrates achievement.  Example: Ford

3.  Purpose is your moral DNA. Purpose is what you believe without having to think.  It’s the answer you give when you’re asked for the right–as opposed to the factually correct–answer.

4.  Purpose provides Energy:  Indeed, when people really subscribe to the purpose of an organization, it provides them with energy and makes them feel as if their work really matters.

Building purpose into companies is so critical for success in this uncertain 21st century world where job loyalty no longer seems to exist.  It gives people something to hold on to…something to strive for every morning.