Purpose and Profit Are Not Opposites | Katie Burkhart

Send us Fan MailCan a business pursue a meaningful purpose and still make a healthy profit?It must.Without profit, the business cannot continue delivering value, investing in its people or expanding its impact. The problem arises when making money becomes the entire reason the organisation exists.In this episode, Peter Boolkah speaks with business strategist Katie Burkhart about building a purpose-driven business that creates genuine customer value while remaining commercially sustainable.Katie explains why money should be treated as a resource rather than the organisation’s ultimate purpose. Profit allows the business to continue, but purpose gives customers, employees and leaders a reason to contribute.The conversation also explores how expectations around leadership, flexibility and meaningful work have changed—and why attempting to force people back into outdated working practices can damage engagement and performance.You’ll discover:Why purpose and profitability are not competing objectivesHow to define purpose through the value your business deliversWhy purpose is more than supporting a charitable causeHow customer value should influence strategy and innovationWhy employees increasingly view their time as an investmentHow autonomy and clear expectations can improve flexible workingWhy a team needs to understand the reason behind its workHow listening to customers and employees exposes the difference between intended and experienced valueWhy the founder must recognise that the business is not ultimately about themHow to prevent purpose, mission and values from becoming words on a posterA purpose-driven business is not one that ignores money.It is one that understands what the money enables—and what valuable reason the organisation has for existing in the first place.This conversation was recorded in early 2022. References to lockdown restrictions, the Great Resignation and the immediate shift towards remote working reflect that period.CONNECT WITH KATIE BURKHARTWebsite: https://askwtp.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharineburkhartEntrepreneur: https://www.entrepreneur.com/author/katie-burkhartCONNECT WITH PETER BOOLKAHWebsite: https://www.boolkah.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boolkahInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pboolkah/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoolkahX: https://twitter.com/boolkahABOUT PETER BOOLKAHPeter Boolkah is a business coach, author and speaker who has spent more than 20 years helping business owners build stronger, more valuable businesses that do not depend on them for everything.He is the creator of The Hamster Wheel Trap® and author of Your Business Sucks: Build a Business That Works Without Destroying Your Life.Peter works with founders and leadership teams on the issues that ultimately determine whether a business creates freedom or becomes another job: leadership, founder dependency, people, profit, execution, scaling, exit readiness and enterprise value.His approach is direct, practical and built around one simple question:Do you own the business, or does the business own you?Learn more at https://www.boolkah.com