I found your site through the comment you posted on Mark Silver's Copyblogger article.

What resonated with me the most in your comment is our need to consider “deeper” issues that we seem to be overlooking.

We don't explicitly state what our understanding of human nature is, yet that is what shapes our beliefs about a wide range of topics, such as business, personal growth, psychology, etc.

We don't explicitly state what our understanding of reality is (and its nature), but that sets the framework for all our thinking.

It's essential that we explore the “deeper” topics so that we can revise our own assumptions and reasoning process. Just because we believe something to be true doesn't mean that it is, and we have to know how we arrived at our conclusions.

Having said all that, with regards to this post, I believe it's important to focus on money in our professional pursuits. Not because it matters more than satisfying customers, but because there are so many ways to satisfy customers, and to have a successful business, it's essential that we focus on what people are willing to pay for.

But business exists in context, and if we don't establish trust, credibility, listen to customers, and truly serve their needs, then the business won't be successful.

Focusing solely on money is dangerous, but ignoring it is an equal danger, especially for those who don't have a great deal of background in business, and who might feel uncomfortable thinking about money.

“frou-frou” works. Tim Sanders would applaud you. He goes so far as to encourage business people to become “love cats.” Since Love is the Killer App was a runaway best-seller, others must find merit in that worldview as well.

“World-view” is probably key. World-view is a holistic outlook. It’s not a strategy, not a tactic, not a program or even an objective, though it informs all of those things. I think you’re right to put passion at the beginning of the sequence.

Looking forward to seeing you “rock the world” in the way only you can. 

Thank you for commenting. Seems comments are often more meaningful than blog posts, so, thank you especially for adding meaning here.

I am encouraged that people are becoming more open to the concept of building a business based on an authentic purpose vs a desire to make money. Although I agree with Mark that there has to be profit at the end of the Yellow Brick Road, I think that you create that profit not by focusing on the dollars and cents, but by focusing on your vision and purpose.Everything you do must be measured against that vision, that mission. You need to stay on course and in alignment with these guiding principles or risk diluting the power of your message.

Although it sounds a bit cliche and more than a little “frou-frou” (especially in the land of B2B), driving a business from your heart will always have a profound impact on your success with that business. I don’t care if you’re a starving artist of the CEO of a paper clip company, there’s no marketing expertise in the world that will take you as far as your own passion.

Start with passion, follow-up with on-vision strategy, and execute with expertise and enthusiasm. That’s the way to rock the world – no matter what business you’re in.

  WOW! There are many times I feel and sense this very thing, but I do a very bad job of articulating what I’m thinking, Tom appears to be a very observant individual. And you for reading & writing about this topic, it once again confirms how much more I have to learn.

  We tend to focus on our own situation(s) rather than our client’s / customers. We then get stuck and stagnate in my humble opinion.

  Good work here Trey, keep on it!

In economics, we had a term “utils.” I think some of my econ profs may have suggested that the goal of business was to increase them. I’ll have to check my notes.

Yep, we must have money. No doubt about it. He who focuses on having money, though, will find himself poor. Notice I did not say we could make it without money. The very important point to glean here is where the focus is, or what the goal is. 

Those who see their business goal as creating something their marketplace values will have money. Those who focus on creating money probably won’t. 

When it comes to money, I’m with Zig Ziglar: “Money isn’t everything…there are stocks, and bonds, and real estate…I’ve had money and I haven’t had money. It’s far better to have it.”

No delusion here. Incredibly clear vision. Create value for customers; money will follow.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

No company can sustain itself providing a “happy now and enhanced sense of well-being” unless doing so increases shareholder value. This sounds a lot like building a business plan on page views, Trey. I see the point about the importance of creating a customer experience, but please do not be deluded. There must be $$$ at the end of that Yellow Brick Road.  : )