The Purpose Upgrade: Change Your Business to Save the World. Change the World to Save Your Business

by Paul Skinner

Overview

Unlock greater profits. Empower happier and more engaged staff. Foster loyalty and connection with customers. Save your business... and the world. How? It all starts with a Purpose Upgrade.

History shows that hard times can lead to the greatest opportunities for renewal. The Purpose Upgrade will support readers in leading enterprises that thrive by solving our most important problems.

It shows how businesses can create more compelling benefits for customers, build meaningful livelihoods for colleagues, and unlock superior returns for investors by 'repurposing' and revitalising the activities they engage in.

Meet the social entrepreneur who repurposed the previously 'boring' trade in office supplies to fund micro-finance initiatives that reach millions of the people most exposed to poverty, so that 'even a bad day at the office saves lives'.

Learn how the leaders of a coal-mining business repurposed their enterprise first as an industrial chemicals company and then more spectacularly as a sustainable living business, generating unprecedented shareholder returns by aligning their objectives with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They are now changing the lives of smallholder farmers, re-directing the food system to a more sustainable model, and harnessing the power of the world's biggest brands to provide more nutritious food on a healthier planet.

And, most importantly, discover a unique methodology that you can use to make a Purpose Upgrade an always-available event at any level of your own enterprise.

There has never been a more urgent need to change our businesses to save the world or a more opportune time to change the world to save our businesses.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472145178
Publisher:	Little, Brown Book Group
Publication date:	09/22/2022
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	620 KB

About the Author

Paul Skinner is the founder of the Agency of the Future, which helps clients drive purpose-led change and better mobilise stakeholders for lasting success. He advises global businesses and pioneering social change organisations as well as institutions of international and global governance.


He is also the founder of MarketingKind, a membership community which brings together business leaders, marketers and change-makers to tackle social and environmental problems through their businesses, volunteering and advocacy.

Table of Contents

Preface: Greater Expectations 1

Introduction: The Enterprise of Hope 7

Part 1 The Need

Chapter 1 The Origin of Purpose 27

Chapter 2 In Search of Lost Purpose 51

Part 2 The Model

Chapter 3 A State of Emergence 85

Cnapter 4 The Garden of Forking Paths 115

Chapter 5 The Wealth of Change 145

Part 3 The Practice

Chapter 6 Purpose Rediscovered 173

Chapter 7 Your Purpose Upgrade 205

Epilogue: The Art of For 231

Notes 239

Acknowledgements 253

Index 255

Editorial Reviews

The Purpose Upgrade is thoughtful, practical and inspiring. The private sector can and must play a key role in overcoming the significant challenges the world is facing. After all, as a business you cannot be successful - nor call yourself successful - in a society that fails. Impact and leadership come with responsibility, and this book offers must-have insights for leaders from across all industries.

The Purpose Upgrade is thoughtful, practical and inspiring. The private sector can and must play a key role in overcoming the significant challenges the world is facing. After all, as a business you cannot be successful - nor call yourself successful - in a society that fails. Impact and leadership come with responsibility, and this book offers must-have insights for leaders from across all industries.

In today's world every business needs to put purpose above profit. Paul's book is a necessary and enlightening call to action for businesses to re-think why they exist and the implications for everything they say, think and do.

In today's world every business needs to put purpose above profit. Paul's book is a necessary and enlightening call to action for businesses to re-think why they exist and the implications for everything they say, think and do.

The Purpose Upgrade is an important book that feeds the imagination. Most importantly it is a book about emotional intelligence and the energy unlocked by doing the right thing. Never underestimate the power of feeling good about yourself and the people around you. Read this book and become something greater than you previously thought possible.

The Purpose Upgrade is an important book that feeds the imagination. Most importantly it is a book about emotional intelligence and the energy unlocked by doing the right thing. Never underestimate the power of feeling good about yourself and the people around you. Read this book and become something greater than you previously thought possible.

This brilliantly original work weaves a fascinating range of cutting-edge ideas into a cogent argument for fundamentally rethinking how organisations understand and pursue their core purpose. As the world faces up to its radically uncertain future, Paul Skinner's highly engaging text challenges us all to create a "Wealth of Change". It is a book full of humanity and hope.

This brilliantly original work weaves a fascinating range of cutting-edge ideas into a cogent argument for fundamentally rethinking how organisations understand and pursue their core purpose. As the world faces up to its radically uncertain future, Paul Skinner's highly engaging text challenges us all to create a "Wealth of Change". It is a book full of humanity and hope.

Paul Skinner is one of the best and here he tackles the purpose agenda with erudition and originality. His book will be standard reading for everyone who seeks a Purpose Upgrade personally or professionally.

Paul Skinner is one of the best and here he tackles the purpose agenda with erudition and originality. His book will be standard reading for everyone who seeks a Purpose Upgrade personally or professionally.

Paul Skinner has written a most engaging and readable book, both visionary and practical. It builds on his earlier thesis of Collaborative Advantage by challenging organisational leaders to coalesce stakeholders' energies towards higher societal or even global goals. I have personally seen how his ideas have been remarkably effective in the efforts of International Civil Society organisations. The scale of our crises now means we need businesses capable of addressing our greatest challenges and I urge leaders everywhere to answer this timely call to action and follow this greater path to success.

Paul Skinner has written a most engaging and readable book, both visionary and practical. It builds on his earlier thesis of Collaborative Advantage by challenging organisational leaders to coalesce stakeholders' energies towards higher societal or even global goals. I have personally seen how his ideas have been remarkably effective in the efforts of International Civil Society organisations. The scale of our crises now means we need businesses capable of addressing our greatest challenges and I urge leaders everywhere to answer this timely call to action and follow this greater path to success.

In some ways the tragedy of recent capitalism is that, while it has ostensibly created a breadth of wealth and opportunity, it has narrowed the minds of everyone who participates in it. The shareholder value movement was a great example of this. This book is a necessary and timely contribution to a more organic, more nuanced and more complete appreciation of what a business can achieve.

In some ways the tragedy of recent capitalism is that, while it has ostensibly created a breadth of wealth and opportunity, it has narrowed the minds of everyone who participates in it. The shareholder value movement was a great example of this. This book is a necessary and timely contribution to a more organic, more nuanced and more complete appreciation of what a business can achieve.

Paul Skinner's latest book, The Purpose Upgrade, has to be an essential read for everyone in business, whether an entrepreneur, CEO or marketing chief - or in fact anyone who cares about the future of humankind. Paul has not only led the way in conscious marketing in the UK as well as globally, but is one of the most intelligent people I know and his perspective on how to combine purpose, business, the future of society and indeed the world is absolutely crucial understanding for us all.

Paul Skinner's latest book, The Purpose Upgrade, has to be an essential read for everyone in business, whether an entrepreneur, CEO or marketing chief - or in fact anyone who cares about the future of humankind. Paul has not only led the way in conscious marketing in the UK as well as globally, but is one of the most intelligent people I know and his perspective on how to combine purpose, business, the future of society and indeed the world is absolutely crucial understanding for us all.

As we face into what some might argue is the greatest reset of the modern era, The Purpose Upgrade challenges us to think deeply about what purpose really means, while providing us with a framework for bringing true meaning and purpose to organisational culture, aligning corporate aspiration with stakeholder ambition. A must-read for anyone who cares about the role they, and their organisation, play in creating a whole that is much more meaningful than its constituent parts.

As we face into what some might argue is the greatest reset of the modern era, The Purpose Upgrade challenges us to think deeply about what purpose really means, while providing us with a framework for bringing true meaning and purpose to organisational culture, aligning corporate aspiration with stakeholder ambition. A must-read for anyone who cares about the role they, and their organisation, play in creating a whole that is much more meaningful than its constituent parts.

From the Publisher