ABSTRACT
An organization’s purpose can change everything and employee buy-in is vital to purpose- driven success. Ari Weinzweig, co-founder of Zingerman’s, is also happy and smiling. His 1982 hole-in-the-wall deli is a $50 million enterprise. In 2005, Steve Jobs stated in his commencement address to Stanford University graduates: “Death is very likely the single best invention of life. It is life’s change agent.” Having a strong purpose and direction is associated with greater resilience to the aftermath of earthquakes and tsunamis, return from war, cancer, and loss of a loved one. People with a strong purpose are more likely to live longer, are less likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack or develop Alzheimer’s disease, have higher pain thresholds, and have fewer pro-inflammatory cells and more antibodies expressed by their genes. A company culture that fosters purposeful living will experience benefits in other unexpected areas, including diversity and inclusion.
