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I really hate this sentiment. I think Ray Anderson, founder of Interface has it right: "For those who think business exists to make a profit, I suggest they thi

by chrisro 14y ago

I really hate this sentiment. I think Ray Anderson, founder of Interface has it right: "For those who think business exists to make a profit, I suggest they think again. Business makes a profit to exist. Surely it must exist for some higher, nobler purpose than that."

MatthewPhillips 14y ago
That's a cute sentiment and there are many small businesses that adhere to it.
- chrisro 14y ago
  Google seems to adhere to it as well. Google's founders (reluctantly) embraced text ads as a way to make the company they wanted to lead profitable so that it could continue to exist. I think modern business loses sight of this idea.
- llamanaut 14y ago
  I have trouble thinking of a market-leading business that doesn't adhere to it. Wal-Mart, Exxon, Apple, Google, Toyota... Companies that concentrate on creating real value naturally reap economic rewards. Companies that prioritize captured economic value over the creation of customer value have a nasty habit of failing. I strongly suggest that you stop writing shallow, snarky one-liners. They detract from HN, they reflect poorly upon you, and they're against the guidelines. If you want to post like that, please go back to Reddit.
- wpietri 14y ago
  And many large ones. I once worked for somebody who previously had built a $400m company. His notion was that companies should have a purpose, be up to something interesting. "Profit is just permission to continue," was something he said more than once. The mere pursuit of profit is always fatal in the long term because it's essentially a short-term outlook that leaves you rudderless. Look at the car industry as an example. Toyota has been consistent in its pursuit of customer value, respect for staff, and waste reduction, with profit coming way down the list of priorities. GM, on the other hand, is where the modern increase-shareholder-value school of management originated. Toyota is now the world's largest car company, and GM would have died without a government bailout.

by chrisro 14y ago

MatthewPhillips 14y ago

That's a cute sentiment and there are many small businesses that adhere to it.

chrisro 14y ago
Google seems to adhere to it as well. Google's founders (reluctantly) embraced text ads as a way to make the company they wanted to lead profitable so that it could continue to exist. I think modern business loses sight of this idea.
llamanaut 14y ago
I have trouble thinking of a market-leading business that doesn't adhere to it. Wal-Mart, Exxon, Apple, Google, Toyota... Companies that concentrate on creating real value naturally reap economic rewards. Companies that prioritize captured economic value over the creation of customer value have a nasty habit of failing. I strongly suggest that you stop writing shallow, snarky one-liners. They detract from HN, they reflect poorly upon you, and they're against the guidelines. If you want to post like that, please go back to Reddit.
wpietri 14y ago
And many large ones. I once worked for somebody who previously had built a $400m company. His notion was that companies should have a purpose, be up to something interesting. "Profit is just permission to continue," was something he said more than once. The mere pursuit of profit is always fatal in the long term because it's essentially a short-term outlook that leaves you rudderless. Look at the car industry as an example. Toyota has been consistent in its pursuit of customer value, respect for staff, and waste reduction, with profit coming way down the list of priorities. GM, on the other hand, is where the modern increase-shareholder-value school of management originated. Toyota is now the world's largest car company, and GM would have died without a government bailout.