1
+44
775
428
0526
colleen@whatspossible.co.uk
www.whatspossible.co.uk
Doing
Business
on
Purpose
pur·∙pose/ˈpərpəs/
The
reason
for
which
something
is
done
or
created
or
for
which
something
exists.
What
does
it
mean
to
do
something
on
purpose?
The
Google
definition
above
defines
purpose
perfectly;
‘The
reason
for
which
something
is
done
or
created’.
Consider
for
a
moment
what
is
meant
by
‘the
reason’.
It’s
the
core,
the
centre
point,
the
force,
the
foundation.
Purpose
is
the
reason
why
we
do
things
and
if
our
reason
or
why
is
strong
enough
we
become
stronger.
We
can
handle
the
challenges,
the
ups
and
downs,
the
curved
balls.
We
can
stand
strong
when
challenged
because
we
know
why
we’re
doing
what
we’re
doing.
On
the
flip
side,
if
we
have
no
purpose,
no
strong
sense
of
why;
we
drift.
We
let
life
happen
to
us.
We
can
fall
and
land
hard
when
challenged.
What
does
this
mean
to
your
business?
A
business
that
has
no
strong
sense
of
purpose
will
also
drift.
It
will
let
business
happen
to
it
rather
than
operating
on
purpose.
It
will
suffer
culturally
as
a
result
of
its
workforce
being
unable
to
identify
themselves
with
what
the
business
is
all
about.
It
will
suffer
in
terms
of
results.
A
lack
of
purpose
will
lead
to
a
lack
of
strength
and
let’s
face
it,
bucket
loads
of
business
strength
is
what
is
needed
throughout
2012.
How
is
a
sense
of
purpose
generated
in
business?
The
good
news
is
that
there
are
some
incredibly
powerful
ways
of
creating
purpose
in
your
business
and
it
begins
with
your
mission
statement
and
values.
Mission
Statement
A
mission
statement
is
so
much
more
than
a
bunch
of
words
put
together.
A
mission
statement
is
the
statement
of
what
an
organisation
stands
for.
What
it
will
and
won’t
accept.
What
it
promises
to
its
workforce.
The
story
it
wants
to
tell
the
world.
• Starbucks
mission:
to
inspire
and
nurture
the
human
spirit
–
one
person,
one
cup
and
one
neighbourhood
at
a
time.
• Microsoft’s
mission:
At
Microsoft,
we
work
to
help
people
and
businesses
throughout
the
world
realise
their
full
potential.
The
success
of
the
above
companies
cannot
really
be
disputed.
There
are
many
elements
over
and
above
their
mission
statement
that
have
enabled
these
global
organisations
to
be
where
they
are
today,
but
it
all
started
with
their
mission
and
the
statement
they
made
around
bringing
it
to
life.
Can
a
mission
statement
stand
alone?
No.
Mission
statements
need
to
be
underpinned.
Many
organisations
make
grand
statements
around
what
they
are
here
to
do
but
then
do
nothing
or
little
to
support
their
people
in
understanding
how
to
bring
it
to
life.
This
is
where
your
values
come
into
play.

2
+44
775
428
0526
colleen@whatspossible.co.uk
www.whatspossible.co.uk
Values
val·∙ue/ˈvalyo ͞o/
The
regard
that
something
is
held
to
deserve;
the
importance
or
preciousness
of
something
The
importance
or
preciousness
of
something;
your
corporate
values
are
those
things
that
you
cannot
do
without.
Those
things
that
you
will
hold
in
the
highest
regard
in
order
to
deliver
your
company
mission.
In
business,
the
values
represent
how
we
carry
out
the
mission.
Think
of
it
this
way:
if
your
mission
is
your
map,
then
your
values
are
your
compass.
They
are
the
things
that
you
will
honour
and
use
to
hold
yourself
and
others
to
account,
and
they
form
the
very
culture
of
the
workplace.
Values
help
your
organisation
to
stay
on
track
and
give
guidance
and
certainty
throughout
what
may
come.
Here’s
an
example
from
one
of
the
above
companies;
Microsoft.
‘Our
values
guide
our
behaviors
and
must
shine
through
in
all
our
interactions
with
each
other
and
our
stakeholders.
Microsoft
employees
are
great
people
who
share
the
following
values:
• Integrity
and
honesty
• Passion
for
customers,
partners,
and
technology
• Open
and
respectful
with
others
and
dedicated
to
making
them
better
• Willingness
to
take
on
big
challenges
and
see
them
through
• Self-­‐critical,
questioning,
and
committed
to
personal
excellence
and
self-­‐improvement
• Accountable
for
commitments,
results,
and
quality
to
customers,
shareholders,
partners,
and
employees’
Their
opening
statement
says
it
all.
Your
business
values
need
to
come
alive
in
all
your
interactions.
In
times
when
you
are
faced
with
tough
decisions
your
values
guide
you.
In
any
given
situation
they
give
you
the
opportunity
to
ask
yourself
the
question
‘are
my
decisions
and
behaviours
aligned.
Am
I
aligned
with
the
business
values?’
What
next?
The
final
piece
of
the
‘doing
business
on
purpose’
jigsaw
is
bringing
it
all
to
life.
You
must
bring
your
mission
and
values
to
life
in
everything
you
do.
They
need
to
be
role-­‐modelled,
quoted
and
referenced.
Learning
and
development
agendas
should
be
built
around
them.
Recruitment
policy
should
be
based
on
them.
Performance
management
should
be
guided
by
them
and
all
internal
and
external
communications
should
be
shaped
around
them.
In
other
words,
they
should
become
your
language.
I
suppose
this
article
should
actually
be
called
‘doing
business
with
purpose’.
Here
it
is
then;
this
is
how
you
can
create
purpose
in
your
business.
Start
with
a
compelling
and
aligned
mission,
bring
it
to
life
with
your
people
through
your
values
and
make
this
your
language.