Rick K. Jones: Why Most Businesses Get Profit and Purpose Wrong

What is business actually for?In this episode of The Authority Company Podcast, Joe Pardavila sits down with entrepreneur and author Rick K. Jones to challenge the way most leaders think about profit, growth, and responsibility. After decades building successful companies, Rick now focuses on a bigger question: what does success mean if it doesn’t lead to something greater?Rick introduces his concept of “The Business Tithe,” a simple but powerful idea that businesses should give back a portion of their profits to create lasting impact. The conversation explores the tension between capitalism and conscience, why many leaders optimize for profit at the expense of people, and how a shift in mindset can change everything.You’ll hear why Rick believes businesses exist to “feed sheep,” how small companies can start giving back immediately, and why the future of leadership depends on moving from success to significance.This is not a theoretical conversation. It is a practical framework for building a business that supports your life, your team, and your community.If you are building a company, leading a team, or thinking about your long-term impact, this episode will challenge how you define winning.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro: Profit vs purpose00:45 – Why business exists beyond money01:50 – The problem with modern CEOs and profit-first thinking03:20 – Capitalism, fairness, and where it breaks06:20 – Why leadership is a moral decision08:00 – “Feed your sheep” philosophy explained10:00 – Success vs significance12:00 – How much money is enough?13:20 – The Business Tithe explained (10% giving model)15:50 – Why entrepreneurs struggle to value their work17:10 – Privilege, profit, and responsibility19:00 – Real-world example: Jersey Mike’s giving model21:00 – How to start giving (even at $1M revenue)22:00 – Givers vs takers mindset24:20 – What “tithe” actually means27:00 – Does faith matter in business?30:00 – Final thoughts: building a legacy