What’s It All About Alfie? is a Burt Bacharach song from the 1966 British comedy-drama film Alfie, often associated with the singer Dionne Warwick. So what?
That song can pop into my head when I’m wondering, What’s it all about Marty? Maybe you’ve asked yourself that same question – perhaps in the middle of the night.
Purpose-Driven
Companies exist to make money. Beyond that, what is their greater purpose? When an organization is purpose-driven, its leaders and teams find deeper satisfaction in their work. As highlighted in the Google study on effective collaboration:
Meaning – The work has personal significance for each member.
Impact – The group believes their work is purposeful and positively affects the greater good.
Do we find meaning in our work? Do we believe what we do contributes something valuable—at least to some part of the world?
Why?
Simon Sinek popularized the “Why?” concept in his TED Talk, How Great Leaders Inspire Action:
Becoming your better self is part of the spiritual quest. It’s about elevation—where you think: ‘I’m more compassionate,’ or, ‘I’m wiser,’ or, ‘I have a better understanding of myself, other people, and the world,’ or, ‘why our being here matters.’
Starts at the Top
Having clarity of purpose is powerful. It starts at the top. We expect leaders to establish direction, standards of behavior, and expectations—the intangibles that define a company’s élan vital, its lifeblood. In The Pinball Theory Of Business & Life, I recount that I wasn’t thinking about leadership philosophies when a random Costco experience got me wondering about its culture.
From everything I can discern, Costco’s leaders have built and maintained a purpose-driven business, not just for their customers but for their vast team. What’s striking is that the Mission and Ethics Costco established in 1983 have remained unchanged. Costco pays well and offers excellent benefits—big factors in employee retention. Beyond that, great leadership is the foundation. Costco’s executives have retained a sense of humility and respect—for their employees, customers, and suppliers. They’ve created a culture where employees find meaning in their work—whatever their role.
Satisfaction
Just as organizations benefit from understanding their Why?, leaders also need to find fulfillment in their work. Do I find satisfaction in what I do? Or do I feel a sense of emptiness? These questions challenge us first as individuals, then as leaders. Financial security is essential, but how far do money and material success go in providing true satisfaction and happiness? When a company is purpose-driven, its people—from the CEO to the interns—are far more likely to find meaning in their work.
Reid Hoffman is the co-founder and former executive chairman of LinkedIn, Greylock Partners venture capitalist, Microsoft board member, and early investor in OpenAI (which brought ChatGPT to the world). In an interview by Krista Tippett, Hoffman discussed Artificial Intelligence and what it means to be human:
Becoming your better self is part of the spiritual quest. It’s about elevation—where you think: ‘I’m more compassionate,’ or, ‘I’m wiser,’ or, ‘I have a better understanding of myself, other people, and the world,’ or, ‘why our being here matters.’
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Like Reid, Alfie, and me, perhaps you ask yourself, “What’s it all about?” When we strive to answer that question, we’ll become more purpose-directed, satisfied, and better leaders.
