The companies that survive longest are the one's that work out what they uniquely can give to the world-not just growth or money but their excellence, their respect for others, or their ability to make people happy. Some call those things a soul.
Interpretation
Successful companies focus on their unique contributions to society rather than solely on profit.
In this quote, Charles Handy emphasizes that the longevity of companies is determined not just by their financial success, but by their unique contributions to society. He argues that companies that prioritize their core values, respect for individuals, and the happiness they can bring to others are the ones that truly thrive, implying that these qualities provide a deeper sense of purpose or 'soul' to an organization.
In practice
This quote can be used in a keynote speech at a business conference to inspire leaders to focus on values.
The companies that survive longest are the one's that work out what they uniquely can give to the world not just growth or money but their excellence, their respect for others, or their ability to make people happy. Some call those things a soul.
The first step is to measure whatever can easily be measured. This is OK as far as it goes. The second step is to disregard that which can't be easily measured or to give it an arbitrary quantitative value. This is artificial and misleading. The third step is to presume that what can't be measured easily really isn't important. This is blindness. The fourth step is to say that what can't be easily measured really doesn't exist. This is suicide.
Why don't we teach our children in school what they are? We should say to them, 'You are unique... you have the capacity for anything. You are a marvel'.
To learn anything other than the stuff you find in books, you need to be able to experiment, to make mistakes, to accept feedback, and to try again. It doesn't matter whether you are learning to ride a bike or starting a new career, the cycle of experiment, feedback, and new experiment is always there.
We cannot wait for great visions from great people, for they are in short supply. It is up to us to light our own small fires in the darkness.
I believe that a lot of our striving after the symbols and levers of success is due to a basic insecurity, a need to prove ourselves. That done, grown up at last, we are free to stop pretending.
If I only had two dollars left I would spend one dollar on PR.
An important priority for me is a business must get their own house in order. Be or become an agent of positive change in your own enterprise and adopt responsible practices to eliminate the risks that often lie at the root of inequality and poverty.
Access to talented and creative people is to modern business what access to coal and iron ore was to steel-making.
The antidote to inequality is equality. The question is how do you achieve equality? I believe that, for business, which is where I can speak, we have to shift from shareholder maximization to stakeholder maximization.
I strongly believe the business of a business is to improve the world.
You should learn from your competitor, but never copy. Copy and you die.
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