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It's Not What You Sell, It's What You Stand For: Why Every Extraordinary Business Is Driven by Purpose [Hardcover]

Roy M. Spence Jr. , Haley Rushing
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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Book Description

February 5, 2009
Who is Roy Spence and what makes him the ?Pied Piper of Purpose??

Over the last thirty-five years, Roy Spence has helped organizations such as Southwest Airlines, BMW, the University of Texas, Walmart, the Clinton Global Initiative, and many others achieve greatness by getting them to obsess about one big idea: purpose. With purpose as the North Star, employee engagement is higher, competition is less threatening, customers are more loyal, and innovation flows. It?s the secret to developing a more fulfilling work life as well as a healthier bottom line.

Simply put, purpose is a definitive statement about the difference you are trying to make in the world. As Spence writes, ?It?s your reason for being that goes beyond making money?and it almost always results in making more money than you ever thought possible.? It?s not ?soft stuff,? as some might scoff. Especially during times of great economic uncertainty, purpose is the key to creating and maintaining a high-performing organization. It deserves just as much attention as strategy, execution, and innovation.

A real purpose can?t just be words on a piece of paper. It has to get under the skin of every member of your organization?like Southwest?s purpose of ?democratizing the skies? or Walmart?s of ?saving people money so they can live better.? If you get it right, your people will feel great about what they?re doing, clear about their goals, and excited to get to work every morning. No organization is too big or too small, too niche or too mundane, to benefit from a clearly defined purpose.

Spence and coauthor Haley Rushing share their insider insights and case studies to help you discover your organization?s purpose, proclaim it to the world, and apply it to everything you do. This book will force you to address some tough and profound questions:

* What difference do we want to make in the world?
* What do we really stand for?
* Do we have purpose-based leaders in key roles?
* Do our employees feel like what they do matters?
* Would our customers miss us if we ceased to exist?
* Do we bring our purpose to life everywhere we can?both internally and externally?

Spence?s hard-won lessons will change the way you view your job, your business model, your leadership style, and your marketing. They will help you make money, make a difference, and?with a little luck?make history.


Frequently Bought Together

It's Not What You Sell, It's What You Stand For: Why Every Extraordinary Business Is Driven by Purpose + Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business + Firms of Endearment: How World-Class Companies Profit from Passion and Purpose
Price for all three: $63.94

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Every business should strive for more than just profit; it should aim to become an organization of great purpose—pledged to make money, make a difference and make history, cheerleads Spence, chairman and CEO of ad agency GSD&M. The author supplements uplifting homilies with case studies (starring his clients) to argue that a high-concept purpose can bring vitality to any company. Southwest Airlines, for example, worked hard not just to lure customers away from older airlines but to offer affordable air travel, democratizing the skies. Likewise, Wal-Mart brings goods that were once distant luxuries to rural families. Highway littering was rising by 17% per year in Texas until an enterprising politician appealed to state pride with the Dont Mess with Texas campaign. Spence argues that people work harder and more joyfully when they believe they are part of something larger than themselves; he speaks enthusiastically about employees turned into company evangelists and the power of purpose-based leadership. This is a positive reminder of the private sectors potential in making a difference in the world. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Roy Spence is a brilliant, sparkling gem. Dedicated to the idea that true greatness comes in direct proportion to passionate pursuit of a purpose beyond money, he has inspired and changed leaders in every sector.”
— Jim Collins, author of Good to Great; coauthor of Built to Last

“If you’re looking for a way to inspire people, mobilize the talent and energy of your organization, and make a real difference, the road map and case studies in this book will help you do it.”
Bill Clinton

“Roy Spence’s instructive book reflects his charismatic genius, his evangelical zeal, and his synergistic understanding of what makes businesses lodge in the hearts, not just the minds, of employees and customers.”
— Herb Kelleher, founder, Southwest Airlines

“Roy Spence’s creative brilliance has been an enormous influence on helping people better understand what the PGA TO UR stands for. The wisdom contained in this book is a great resource for those who want to lead their business with a purpose.”
—Tim Finchem, commissioner, PGA Tour

“Roy Spence has nailed the power of purpose in this visionary book and it will motivate and inspire you to find and fulfill a purpose at the heart of your organization.”
— Jim Stengel, former P&G global marketing officer and President/CEO, The Jim Stengel Company

“At BMW, we live and breathe purpose. Roy’s book and the powerful way he outlines how to bring purpose to life within your entire organization is the clearest game plan ever written on how to win on purpose.”
— Jack Pitney, vice president marketing, BMW of North America

“Roy Spence has a great gift for getting to the heart of the matter. Fearless in questioning the status quo and relentless in rejecting cynical shortcuts, he has his finger on the pulse of America like no one else.”
— Margaret Heffernan, Author of How She Does It

“Roy Spence’s book demonstrates the power of purpose in building successful organizations. He shows how to discover your purpose, cultivate it, and use it to make a difference as well as to make profits.”
— Bill Novelli, CEO, AARP --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover (February 5, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1591842417
  • ISBN-13: 978-1591842415
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
(17)
4.8 out of 5 stars
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An entertaining read and one I would strongly recommend. Manoj Sharma  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement
Very inspirational and well written. Jenny  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is clearly a critical addition to the bookshelf of anyone who wants to start their own business and also feel they are doing something worthwhile with their lives, in addition to earning a living. The entire concept of knowing your purpose can make the difference between success and failure and is the core element of all 318 pages. In addition to knowing your purpose (which, in essence, is your position in the marketplace), a critical question asked by the authors is would your customers miss you if your company (or your product) ceased to exist? For all the good intentions you may have, someone out there has to be interested in what you are selling - whether it's a product, a service or even a political concept.

PR professionals, especially, should read this book. If the idea behind the product you are selling - or the ideals, beliefs or positions of the person you represent - is not in tune with your own purpose (even your soul), think hard about finding a different client. Being true to yourself, "what you stand for," is step one in truly making a difference in our very complex society. (Reviewed by the author of: Personal Publicity Planner: A Guide to Marketing YOU and Top Cops: Profiles of Women in Command)
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars MBA Students Need To Read June 16, 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is way better than I expected. I didn't even know you could write a 300 page book about purpose. I really bought it because Amazon had it at Bargain Price. Mr. Spence spends the book highlighting a few companies: Wal-Mart, Southwest Airlines, Red Cross, AARP, Charles Schwab, John Deere, Whole Foods and others. Yet he clearly shows the correlation between their success and their ultimate purpose. There are many companies that don't have purpose yet they make money and are extremely successful. However, those companies aren't the ones we root for. Those companies are successful at the expense of its stakeholders. The top three things I've learned are:

- Employees need purpose. Many people wake up not knowing why they get up to go to work every morning. If you share your purpose with employees you will become more than just a paycheck to them.

- Defend employees over your customers when necessary. A customer can be replaced but a chastized employee can be a cancer to your organization and make even more customers upset.

- Stick to your purpose and strategy even if competitors are doing something that seems more successful. This is not stubborness, but awareness of the fact that you can't be all things to everyone.

We look at many companies, but I don't think we recognize a purpose in each. He could have added Apple, whose main purpose in recent years has been a kind of anti-Microsoft movement. This purpose moves both employees and customers.

Great Read!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A manifesto for the next era of business April 2, 2009
Format:Hardcover
If you're a shareholder value evangelist who wants public companies to maximize their financial strength, read this book. If you believe that great companies exist to make a difference for their employees, customers, shareholders and communities, read this book. If you love brands that matter and leaders who inspire; if you believe that businesses can change the world; and if you know in your heart that the future can be better than we can even imagine right now, read this book. Read this book.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Power of Purpose December 3, 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an inspiring book! Even though it is written from a business perspective (as in the fact that businesses that operate with purpose are more successful than the average--and I loved reading the true stories!), it is easily adapted to personal purpose. All businesses have people! If the individual members have purpose and their purpose supports the business purpose, you have a WIN/WIN situation! I enjoyed the book!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Really Liked This June 2, 2011
By Matthew
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Really liked the fact that this book was written by someone who clearly had intimate knowledge of how these organizations work. The examples were really on point and I feel like I got a lot of excellent ideas. Overall, I felt the book was a really good read.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you've been feeling like your work life might be lacking a higher calling or purpose - something beyond simply making money, then reading this book will help you begin to articulate a process for determining and defining that "purpose". Overall the book is excellent, although some of the case study type examples might be hard to relate to, most probably will resonate. We've made this a must read for all the staff at our company and have been using it as the reference material for engaging the staff within the company to seek out and articulate our company's purpose. We now feel like articulating a simple, elegant and inspiring "purpose" is essential to give our staff cohesion, direction and inspiration and prevent us from devolving into a band of individuals - "just doing their job" each day. (We're not done yet - this is a really, really hard process.....but it is inspiring to have Roy Spence's decades of experience as a guiding light!) Plus - this is simply one book among a whole collection of books that are must reads at our company - that have been helping provide us all with a common language and inspiration for continuing to grow the business and keeping it fun.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Very true in todays world, where we are pulled in many directions. It helps younger people understand more about what to do to get ahead and stay true to what they set out to... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mitch in Queensland
5.0 out of 5 stars Roy Spence-marketing & advertising expert
I am only half way through the book, but am getting very inspired by reading what I have, so far :)!!!
Published 1 month ago by CZ
5.0 out of 5 stars The difference that Purpose makes
Purpose, according to the author, is a definitive statement about the difference that you are trying to make in the world and everything that you do in your life should be driven... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Manoj Sharma
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Very inspirational and well written. I have really enjoyed reading it and would recommend it for anyone interested in starting a business.
Published 4 months ago by Jenny
4.0 out of 5 stars If you don't have a Purpose, Why do anything?
Roy Spence is an engaging writer that in some ways, states the obvious. Purpose has the ability to inspire others (just look back through history at great leaders) and business is... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Cameron Clode
5.0 out of 5 stars Great insight Good Book
Every company should have Roy's principles as a part of their reason for existence. It is refreshing to hear from an advertising guy who has dedicated his efforts and encouraging... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Robert Gilmore
5.0 out of 5 stars Best business book in years
This is one of the best marketing/business books I have read in years. Roy Spence really makes the point that all businesses should articulate their purpose on such higher ground... Read more
Published on January 21, 2010 by Bradford P. Majors
4.0 out of 5 stars What you stand for - critical today
In today's world of multiple choices, clutter and people who are just too busy to notice or even care, standing for something is the only way forward. Read more
Published on December 3, 2009 by Jocelyne Daw
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book for any entrepreneur
The goal of It's Not What You Sell, It's What You Stand For is to show that every business should strive for more than just profit. Read more
Published on August 6, 2009 by Patrick
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