In Search of Meaning - An Unusual Business Announcement...

Wayfare Impact

“A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.”  - Henry Ford -

I realize this is perhaps an unusual way to introduce what I am about to share, however the origin of this announcement is deeply personal. My hope and intention is that this announcement touches hearts as much as minds.

Business, and more so owning my own business, has always been an expression of self for me. Whereas a painter has his/her canvas to express their art, an entrepreneur has his business. In that sense, we’re all creators in our own unique way.

Some time ago, I lost sight of why I created art in the first place. For a while I could get by on technical skills, but art without soul is nothing special, it’s just output for the sake of production. As I lost my interest to create art, my identity and idea of self slowly but surely came undone. Although this might not have been apparent from outer appearances, I was shaken to my core.

Last year, in my neighborhood, a young successful businessman, husband, and father of three took his own life. Nobody could understand how someone who seemingly had everything could come to the decision to end his life. Despite only knowing him by name, this tragic circumstance of someone who mirrored my personal life in so many ways had a profound impact on me. Moreover, I could relate why he took that decision and how he had come to the point where his cross became unbearable. In that moment a shift occurred in me which in some way I hope to one day convey personally to his wife and daughters to perhaps give some purpose, some meaning to his early passing.        

You see, without meaning and purpose, life can become a dark place regardless of your outer trappings or circumstances. I believe inside everyone has a deep rooted desire to contribute, to serve, to matter in some way larger than the size of their estate. Sure, we can get by staying busy in pursuit of more and more things and experiencing fleeting moments of joy and happiness, but I no longer believe true fulfillment can reside when our quest is not anchored by serving our unique higher purpose. Don’t worry, I have not gone totally granola, it’s just that my end goals have shifted.    

Personal transformation is typically an uncomfortable and painful evolutionary process. In addition, introspection is a lonely process, transformative personal growth has its price and I am not speaking here about changing up your diet or exercise routine. It’s often confusing, scary, and gut-wrenching to recognize and shed outdated beliefs, viewpoints and paradigms that have so long served as your foundation. I commend all of you who are or already have been bold and brave enough to pause for a minute and reconsider your bedrock.

The world today has many problems, issues that might seem so large and unsolvable that trying seems futile. I choose to be an optimist, I see vast opportunities for positive change and incremental improvements that cumulatively have the potential to make this planet a better and safer place. I also believe we can all make an impact as we all have the power to choose how and where we unleash our talents and what art we make.

My art going forward will be through Wayfare Impact, a continuation of my firm and activities as before but now based on the premise of impact investment or the triple bottom line. I invite you to visit our new website – www.triplebottomline.com – and I will be releasing various other updates, announcements, and white papers in the weeks and months ahead as we charge ahead under our mission to be a force of good for people, planet, and profits – i.e. “the triple bottom line.”

I am hopeful that this “unusual” business announcement and exposing my soul will benefit and perhaps even inspire you to break open your internal dialogue to explore what and how you’re creating your art.

Impact Investing

Investments made into companies, organizations, or funds with the intention to generate measurable, beneficial social and environmental impact alongside financial returns.

Triple Bottom Line

The triple bottom line refers to a company’s commitment to measure its success in terms of social responsibility (“people”), environmental stewardship (“planet”), and financial returns (“profits”).