David Grau Sr.

So what I counseled a business owner like you to do, you know, in the first chapter of the book, before you do anything else, let's figure out why you're doing this.

Sit down and write out your mission, vision, purpose statement.

It doesn't have to be very long.

I mean, mine is like a total of 60 words, all of that.

Let's figure out what you're about besides making money.

And let's use your goals.

Maybe it's to, you know, Patagonia, their goal was to help make the world a better place by protecting the environment.

Maybe your job is, or your preference at your work is to take care of the local community.

I came from outside Portland, Oregon.

They wanted to help the homeless, but whatever it is,

Write it down and operationalize it.

In other words, create a stewardship plan and then share that with every person you interview.

Everybody that walks in the door that buys something from you, tell them who you are.

Show them what you stand for.

And what we found is that over time, as word spreads,

in the community will run into someone who says hey i know a business that believes in exactly the same thing you do you should go over there and talk to them about working there and now you give them one more reason to to come and find you one more reason to get excited about coming to work in the morning it's not just to make a good living now they go to work for you because you help them live a great life and you know if it's not ownership

Maybe it's purpose.

Maybe it's both.

Yeah, I mean, ultimately, you know, that's the joy I have in my consulting work is I help people find and start that real business because most of the time when they walk in into my office, they own the job and they love it.

They don't think they have anything that needs fixing.