Day 6 of PURPOSE – Altruism

Aristotle taught us that Excellence is a habit; a way of life. Tom Watson of IBM, challenged us to THINK afresh. Today, Nikos examines a benevolent ethic that lies behind a good proportion of small businesses - Altruism.

Altruism is a major focus behind major political movements, charities and a whole range of businesses that exist primarily to serve their customers. Altruism may take the form of personal service beyond formal obligation - as Nordstrom does. Delivering products at affordable prices - as Sam Walton's Wal-Mart; or using technology and ideas to improve the lives of people - as Hewlett-Packard does. In these examples, altruism is directed at the customer, but it does not have to be. For Anita Roddick of the Body Shop, and other leaders of so called new age businesses, altruism and customer benefit are distinct. In her case, the altruism is directed at animals, and to some extent her staff. Service businesses often "care" about their staffs, which in turn care for customers-an approach summed up by Federal Express as "People-Service-Profit."

Service is about Emotion; you can't fake it. The desire to care for other's well-being as well as our own-indeed we maximize our own happiness only by taking into account the happiness of others. Would you trade your selfish pleasures for the moral instinct to care for others?

Day 5 of PURPOSE – Excellence!

So are you inspired by drive to Discover! Yesterday, we discussed that a purpose rooted in Discovery involves a love for the new. Tom Watson of IBM was a perfect exponent of this idea. "THINK" was the slogan that he plastered around the company urging his salesmen to think of each situation afresh. He rejected convention, and always preferred the new. Today we discuss Nikos' second of his four moral ideas - Excellence.

Excellence at its essence implies high standards, like those of an artist, defined by the craft itself rather than by the customers; it involves a never-ending struggle to achieve ever higher standards, such as those at Toyota or Apple. Excellent businesses prefer to turn away customers rather than compromise their quality standards. This type of purpose is rooted in the belief that excellent performance is our role in life represents the supreme good. Not that the pursuit of excellence and profit maximization need conflict: Warren Buffet is one of the best examples in modern business of having achieved both.

This is a tricky one! We’re obsessed with excellence and at the same time, we're driven by innovation. As we invent we almost have to reinvent to get something right. Does that mean we settle for less than the standard of excellence? Tough one.

Day 4 of PURPOSE – What most of us want from our work?

Purpose-not money, not status-is what most of us want from our work. As I think about my reason for being, I am often led to Jim Collins' powerful questions - What is a meaningful life without meaningful work? Don't be fooled, most of us want recognition, big titles and compensation. Still, we struggle to answer the question "why do I do what I do?"

Make no mistake about it, this is perhaps the most challenging question that each of us will ever face. One of the most helpful tools that I've found to get me closer to that elusive 'Why' is Nikos Mourkogiannis' book-Purpose: The starting point for great companies- In it, Nikos presents four moral ideas that appeal to our deepest instincts and that can also inspire a business for long-term success in today's world. These have been articulated by philosophers working in different traditions over centuries: They have stood the test of time. They are Discovery, Excellence, Altruism and Heroism. We'll explore one each day for the next four days.

"Discovery put men on the moon, America on the map and the dot coms in business." It involves innovation, creativity and a love of the new. Entrepreneurs are inspired by intellectual curiosity; they believe they are reinventing their industries, economics and indeed themselves. They see no constraints. They create themselves in every choice they make. This type of purpose and morality is rooted in the intuition that life is a kind of adventure. When we live authentically, we are constantly seeking out and creating the new. As I think about the Purpose behind iEvolution, It's clear that innovation, curiosity, and a love for the new define our calling each day. We approach each situation with the mindset of thinking and acting afresh. Does that make Discover our 'Why?' - OR Yours? Stay tuned…

Day 3 of PURPOSE – What drives your life?

Everyone's life is driven by something. For some of us, it's money? others, it's fame? still others, perhaps it's fear that gets us up each morning. When I reflect on this question, I can't help but think of the great leaders whose examples have paved the way for all of us.

In an article published in Fortune in July, 2003, Jim Collins recognized the 10 greatest CEO's. Leading the way was David Packard. In 1949, 37-year-old Packard attended a meeting of business leaders. Fidgeting while they discussed how to squeeze more profit from their companies, he was finally unable to contain himself. "A company has a greater responsibility than making money for its stockholders," he asserted. "We have a responsibility to our employees to recognize their dignity as human beings," Packard said, extolling his belief that those who help create wealth have a moral right to share in that wealth. He was the first to share equity and profits with his employees and despite donating to Stanford University an amount comparable to the value of Jane and Leland Stanford's original endowment; he never allowed his name to appear on any of its buildings while he was alive.

The spirit of David Packard lives on, far beyond the walls of the company he build. Empowering others to surpass his accomplishments was his driving ambition each and every day. How about you?

Day 2 of PURPOSE – Be Someone!

Best selling author, and leadership consultant, Nikos Mourkogiannis believes that tragedy is the best way to learn the importance of purpose. In his book-Purpose: the starting point for great companies-he introduces purpose with a story: "Other children had fairy tales at bedtime. I had the nightmare story of my family. The story of the day the Communist came to our farm in Greece. They wanted my father, but my father was long gone; he'd left to fight the Communists. So the Communists made do with the women. There were 54 women in our village that day. The Communists demanded that they denounce my father. They refused-all of them. So the Communists shot them all. Two women survived, only because there were so many bodies that the wounded could hide under the pile."

Adversity is certainly the greatest teacher, and I've often wondered why bad things have to happen in order for us to understand what truly matters. Why can't we learn from the experiences of others? I am inspired by the courage and vision of people like Nikos, "I wanted to be somebody who changed the world for the better. To do that, I have to stand for something worth living for, and, if necessary, dying for." I, too, wake up each morning hoping that I can contribute something positive to help someone get ahead. Do you stand for something worth dying for?

Day 1 of PURPOSE - It's not about You!

"The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God." Rick Warren, America's most influential spiritual leader, empowers us to look outside ourselves to discover our reason for being.

Why do we exist? As I ponder this question, I am often puzzled at its difficulty. As a child, I had visions of a world where everything was possible. Where everyone got along and helped one another. And, perhaps, most important of all, where we all celebrated the gift of life, together. I learned early on, that life wasn't quite that simple, and business was an even bigger challenge. As I entered the business world, I was told that the business was difficult and at times, even ruthless. I had to learn 'To Swim with the Sharks', if I was going to survive. Does it have to be that way? what happened to my perfect world?

Welcome to iEvolution's 40 Days of Purpose conversation

Welcome to iEvolution's 40 Days of Purpose conversation. We're a global community of aspiring entrepreneurs in the financial services and mortgage industries who come together to learn, grow and leverage the power of ideas to create a better future for us all.

In the book- "Repacking Your Bags"- Richard Leider reported that research shows that people's number one deadly fear is the fear of "having lived a meaningless life." Knowing your purpose can help you overcome this fear and live an inspired life; as such, this is perhaps the most critical activity in which each of us should engage. Drawing on the works of great philosophers, influential thought leaders and the entire iEvolution community, we're excited to announce iE's 40 Days of Purpose conversation. This ongoing community conversation will gather online to collaborate, share stories and ask the tough questions that will challenge all us to discover who we are and perhaps get us closer to learning what we're living for. Join us as we share wisdom from the world's most admired people including Henry Ford, Thomas Watson Sr., Sam Walton, Jack Welch, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Nikos Mourkogiannis, Richard Leider, and perhaps most important, Rick Warren.