The Business Brickyard

My wife is an exceptional school teacher. A few years ago, her 5th grade class wanted to do more than just a bake sale to help the children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Inspired by her reading to them from Kevin Carroll's "Rules of The Red Rubber Ball" they set out to write a book of poems and short stories all about "Hope," its importance and the need to never lose it. Sales of the book were used to raise money for a charity that was helping to rebuild the Gulf Coast.

What impacts me most about the project (Beyond the "inspiring story" part) is the purity of the motive behind it. The students worked for months on their stories, their poems, their drawings and simply the meaning of hope. Nothing to gain. No fame. No glory. Just the pure and sustained inspiration to do something more for those that were in need created their real power of purpose.

I spend a lot of time talking to my clients about the real purpose of their business. Just as I did (and do), each and every one finds it a challenging exercise.

I am talking about a true purpose, one buried below the taglines, marketing fluff and the obvious desire to make money (Although if making lots of money is your true purpose than that is what it is). What I am really looking for is a motive that is, for lack of a better word, pure. What makes you get out of bed each day? Why do you do what you do?

While very few businesses can really claim a truly pure motive, I propose that the closer they can move towards that goal the greater power their purpose, and business, will have.

When you think about the "Why" of what you do, work hard to uncover the motives and purpose behind them. I think you will find that from that truth will come the power to drive your business better than any marketing or advertising campaign you could buy. The specific steps you must take to deliver on that purpose will come into clear view. Real innovation will be sparked there.

If you need inspiration, you may want to begin with Kevin Carroll's book.