WHAT HOLDS WHEN YOU STEP OUT

Over the past eight weeks, we’ve explored purpose from every angle — what it is, why it matters, and what happens when it’s ignored. This week, we close the Why Series with the most important step: how to anchor your company in purpose.

It’s easy to treat purpose like a slogan. It shows up on a landing page or in a slide deck but never makes it into the daily work. Anchoring your purpose means embedding it into how you lead, how your people align, and how the company grows even when you’re not in the room.

So how do you make it real?  

You discover your Why. You reinforce it daily. You revisit it as you grow. And you create the kind of culture where people are encouraged to keep asking Why.

Read more in How to Build a Company Anchored in Purpose.

Now’s the time to take the next step. Choose one system, one meeting, or one decision this week where you can make purpose lived, seen, and felt. That’s how it starts.

PERSPECTIVES

“When you’re surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible."

— Howard Schultz, Former CEO of Starbucks

MARK MY WORDS

A Why isn’t frozen in time. The strongest Whys endure, but they need to be renewed as the company grows. As the context shifts and new people join, the way you carry purpose has to evolve.

Renewing your Why isn’t about rewriting it. It’s about returning to the center and making sure it shows up in your systems, your decisions, and your culture. The Why that inspired your first 10 people should still feel true to your 500th. If it doesn’t, something’s been lost.

Anchoring your company in purpose means recommitting again and again. Every season of growth tests what you believe. And every time you return to it, you make it stronger. That’s how purpose moves from something you say to a foundation your team can rally around.

TUNE IN

Culture, core values, and the truth about work
In this conversation with Bob Glazer, we get real about how core values shape your experience at work, why culture has to be lived not listed, and what fulfillment actually looks like when you do Work that matters.

You’ll learn:

• How to define values that guide real decisions
• Why culture fails when it’s curated for appearances
• What it takes to lead with clarity and trust

[Watch Now]

ON THE CALENDAR

Webinar: Identifying Core Values and Aligning Them in Life, Work, and Leadership
If you enjoyed the podcast episode with Bob Glazer, you’ll really appreciate this opportunity to continue the conversation live. On October 17 at 2:30pm EST, Bob and I are jumping on a live webinar to identify your personal core values, align them with your leadership, and build systems that make them real at work. 

[Register Now]

ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD

In case you missed it, here’s more from Founder’s Framework:

The Real Threat of Elitism for Founders

When elites chase status, founders deal with the consequences. This blog breaks down how image-driven leadership erodes culture and what it really takes to build something that works.

[Read Now]

This song is a raw reminder to keep moving forward, even when progress feels slow. It captures the tension of waiting for change while choosing to stay steady through the pressure. Just like anchoring purpose in a company, the payoff isn’t immediate. It comes from holding on long enough to see the strength that follows.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

I want Founder’s Framework to be as useful as possible for you and other founders. A quick review helps me know what is hitting and what to sharpen.

[Tell me what you think]