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Conscious Capitalism | Adam Goodman | TEDxGrandCanyonUniversity


I’m gonna start my talk with a dirty

I’m gonna start my talk with a dirty word if that’s okay it’s a pretty foul

word if that’s okay it’s a pretty foul

word if that’s okay it’s a pretty foul mouthed word so I understand some of you

mouthed word so I understand some of you

mouthed word so I understand some of you might be might be offended is that all

might be might be offended is that all

might be might be offended is that all right the word might be so repulsive

right the word might be so repulsive

right the word might be so repulsive actually that some of you could get up

actually that some of you could get up

actually that some of you could get up and walk out the door so I just want to

and walk out the door so I just want to

and walk out the door so I just want to give you that heads up well the word is

give you that heads up well the word is

give you that heads up well the word is so vile but even the amazing David

so vile but even the amazing David

so vile but even the amazing David Schneider our last speaker even he can’t

Schneider our last speaker even he can’t

Schneider our last speaker even he can’t change his perspective enough to find

change his perspective enough to find

change his perspective enough to find something good in this word all right

something good in this word all right

something good in this word all right you’re ready for it now just lean in for

you’re ready for it now just lean in for

you’re ready for it now just lean in for a little bit for me the word is

a little bit for me the word is

a little bit for me the word is capitalism yeah I know right

capitalism yeah I know right

capitalism yeah I know right capitalism disgusting almost half of all

capitalism disgusting almost half of all

capitalism disgusting almost half of all Americans have a negative view of

Americans have a negative view of

Americans have a negative view of capitalism I say the word you are

capitalism I say the word you are

capitalism I say the word you are probably picturing in your head that fat

probably picturing in your head that fat

probably picturing in your head that fat cat guy from Monopoly with the

cat guy from Monopoly with the

cat guy from Monopoly with the three-piece suit and the hat and the

three-piece suit and the hat and the

three-piece suit and the hat and the little mustache and the this thing this

little mustache and the this thing this

little mustache and the this thing this thing that goes in the monocle there’s a

thing that goes in the monocle there’s a

thing that goes in the monocle there’s a sense that capitalism is all about greed

sense that capitalism is all about greed

sense that capitalism is all about greed and corruption and cheating consumers

and corruption and cheating consumers

and corruption and cheating consumers and destroying the environment and

and destroying the environment and

and destroying the environment and exploiting workers yet I stand before

exploiting workers yet I stand before

exploiting workers yet I stand before you today as a fervent believer in the

you today as a fervent believer in the

you today as a fervent believer in the power of capitalism as a force for good

power of capitalism as a force for good

power of capitalism as a force for good now I’m not an unabashed believer in

now I’m not an unabashed believer in

now I’m not an unabashed believer in capitalism

capitalism

capitalism I’m an abashed believer in capitalism no

I’m an abashed believer in capitalism no

I’m an abashed believer in capitalism no one ever talks about being a bastard

one ever talks about being a bastard

one ever talks about being a bastard anything I’m a bash that’s the opposite

anything I’m a bash that’s the opposite

anything I’m a bash that’s the opposite of the word I don’t you just take the

of the word I don’t you just take the

of the word I don’t you just take the prefix off it’s the opposite of the word

prefix off it’s the opposite of the word

prefix off it’s the opposite of the word I’m unabashed I am in a batch believing

I’m unabashed I am in a batch believing

I’m unabashed I am in a batch believing cab I have some shame it’s because I

cab I have some shame it’s because I

cab I have some shame it’s because I recognize there are bad actors out there

recognize there are bad actors out there

recognize there are bad actors out there who are extracting more value out of

who are extracting more value out of

who are extracting more value out of society than they are creating I think I

society than they are creating I think I

society than they are creating I think I understand why they do that

understand why they do that

understand why they do that I understand how capitalism is evolving

I understand how capitalism is evolving

I understand how capitalism is evolving to take care of that and I understand

to take care of that and I understand

to take care of that and I understand what your role can be in this new

what your role can be in this new

what your role can be in this new exciting future of capitalism

exciting future of capitalism

exciting future of capitalism fundamentally you got to understand

fundamentally you got to understand

fundamentally you got to understand fundamentally capitalism is good

fundamentally capitalism is good

fundamentally capitalism is good capitalism is good because it creates

capitalism is good because it creates

capitalism is good because it creates value and capitalism is ethical because

value and capitalism is ethical because

value and capitalism is ethical because it’s based on a voluntary exchange

it’s based on a voluntary exchange

it’s based on a voluntary exchange capitalism is noble because it gives

capitalism is noble because it gives

capitalism is noble because it gives people purpose and meaning and

people purpose and meaning and

people purpose and meaning and capitalism is heroic because it lifts

capitalism is heroic because it lifts

capitalism is heroic because it lifts people out of poverty 200 years ago

people out of poverty 200 years ago

people out of poverty 200 years ago 80 percent of the world’s population

80 percent of the world’s population

80 percent of the world’s population lived on less than one dollar a day

lived on less than one dollar a day

lived on less than one dollar a day today at 16% that’s the power of

today at 16% that’s the power of

today at 16% that’s the power of capitalism lifting 2 billion people out

capitalism lifting 2 billion people out

capitalism lifting 2 billion people out of poverty to take a more recent example

of poverty to take a more recent example

of poverty to take a more recent example since 1999 China’s open trade policies

since 1999 China’s open trade policies

since 1999 China’s open trade policies policies have lifted 350 million people

policies have lifted 350 million people

policies have lifted 350 million people out of poverty I’d say that capitalism

out of poverty I’d say that capitalism

out of poverty I’d say that capitalism is the greatest anti-poverty achievement

is the greatest anti-poverty achievement

is the greatest anti-poverty achievement in the history of mankind so how do you

in the history of mankind so how do you

in the history of mankind so how do you reconcile these two competing narratives

reconcile these two competing narratives

reconcile these two competing narratives of capitals there’s the corrupt and

of capitals there’s the corrupt and

of capitals there’s the corrupt and there’s the heroic when I’d say it

there’s the heroic when I’d say it

there’s the heroic when I’d say it depends on what your perspective on the

depends on what your perspective on the

depends on what your perspective on the purpose of business is most people when

purpose of business is most people when

purpose of business is most people when I asked what’s the purpose of business

I asked what’s the purpose of business

I asked what’s the purpose of business they say it’s that make a lot of money

they say it’s that make a lot of money

they say it’s that make a lot of money right that’s the point to maximize

right that’s the point to maximize

right that’s the point to maximize shareholder value we’ve heard that

shareholder value we’ve heard that

shareholder value we’ve heard that phrase so many times you think it’s just

phrase so many times you think it’s just

phrase so many times you think it’s just natural you think it’s a lot some

natural you think it’s a lot some

natural you think it’s a lot some universal law of capitalism you gotta

universal law of capitalism you gotta

universal law of capitalism you gotta maximize shareholder value but the truth

maximize shareholder value but the truth

maximize shareholder value but the truth is that’s just a trend that’s a fad it’s

is that’s just a trend that’s a fad it’s

is that’s just a trend that’s a fad it’s a passing fancy

a passing fancy

a passing fancy in the long history of capitalism look

in the long history of capitalism look

in the long history of capitalism look if capitalism started here this is gonna

if capitalism started here this is gonna

if capitalism started here this is gonna be a timeline I’m gonna do for you if

be a timeline I’m gonna do for you if

be a timeline I’m gonna do for you if capitalism started here one day and

capitalism started here one day and

capitalism started here one day and here’s today March 2nd 2017 this is to

here’s today March 2nd 2017 this is to

here’s today March 2nd 2017 this is to scale by the way the idea of the idea

scale by the way the idea of the idea

scale by the way the idea of the idea that the purpose of business is to

that the purpose of business is to

that the purpose of business is to maximize shareholder value it started

maximize shareholder value it started

maximize shareholder value it started about it started about heat here right

about it started about heat here right

about it started about heat here right there less than 50 years ago it was just

there less than 50 years ago it was just

there less than 50 years ago it was just an idea that a guy said and he wrote it

an idea that a guy said and he wrote it

an idea that a guy said and he wrote it down in a magazine that’s it and we’ve

down in a magazine that’s it and we’ve

down in a magazine that’s it and we’ve been living with it ever since then the

been living with it ever since then the

been living with it ever since then the date was September 13 1970 the magazine

date was September 13 1970 the magazine

date was September 13 1970 the magazine was in New York Times Magazine and the

was in New York Times Magazine and the

was in New York Times Magazine and the guy was Milton Friedman and he said that

guy was Milton Friedman and he said that

guy was Milton Friedman and he said that to take capital or resources from a

to take capital or resources from a

to take capital or resources from a company and donate it to a charity

company and donate it to a charity

company and donate it to a charity that’s feeling from the investors it’s a

that’s feeling from the investors it’s a

that’s feeling from the investors it’s a pretty harsh word that’s stealing from

pretty harsh word that’s stealing from

pretty harsh word that’s stealing from the investors his thinking went like

the investors his thinking went like

the investors his thinking went like this

this

this the shareholders the investors they own

the shareholders the investors they own

the shareholders the investors they own the company right the company employees

the company right the company employees

the company right the company employees the managers therefore the managers

the managers therefore the managers

the managers therefore the managers responsibility is to create maximum

responsibility is to create maximum

responsibility is to create maximum value for the investors that’s where it

value for the investors that’s where it

value for the investors that’s where it comes from it’s not that he what didn’t

comes from it’s not that he what didn’t

comes from it’s not that he what didn’t believe in altruism he did believe in

believe in altruism he did believe in

believe in altruism he did believe in altruism but what he said was if you

altruism but what he said was if you

altruism but what he said was if you feel altruistic then do it with your own

feel altruistic then do it with your own

feel altruistic then do it with your own money don’t steal from the corporation

money don’t steal from the corporation

money don’t steal from the corporation and it’s that thinking that short-term

and it’s that thinking that short-term

and it’s that thinking that short-term thinking has gotten to where we are

thinking has gotten to where we are

thinking has gotten to where we are today it’s gotten where investors and

today it’s gotten where investors and

today it’s gotten where investors and managers think success comes from laying

managers think success comes from laying

managers think success comes from laying off workers and shutting factories and

off workers and shutting factories and

off workers and shutting factories and and disregarding the human consequence

and disregarding the human consequence

and disregarding the human consequence it’s there’s this hideous phrase that

it’s there’s this hideous phrase that

it’s there’s this hideous phrase that comes right out of this that phrase it’s

comes right out of this that phrase it’s

comes right out of this that phrase it’s not personal it’s just business that’s

not personal it’s just business that’s

not personal it’s just business that’s where this comes from

where this comes from

where this comes from and so what do we do about this idea

and so what do we do about this idea

and so what do we do about this idea these two competing visions of

these two competing visions of

these two competing visions of capitalism well there’s a challenge

capitalism well there’s a challenge

capitalism well there’s a challenge that’s rising up to Friedman this idea

that’s rising up to Friedman this idea

that’s rising up to Friedman this idea that the shareholder owns the company I

that the shareholder owns the company I

that the shareholder owns the company I said it earlier and not one of you

said it earlier and not one of you

said it earlier and not one of you batted an eye no one raises an objection

batted an eye no one raises an objection

batted an eye no one raises an objection at all the shareholder we think it’s

at all the shareholder we think it’s

at all the shareholder we think it’s true the shareholder owns the company

true the shareholder owns the company

true the shareholder owns the company that’s not an incontrovertible fact

that’s not an incontrovertible fact

that’s not an incontrovertible fact that’s a controvert Obul fact again I’m

that’s a controvert Obul fact again I’m

that’s a controvert Obul fact again I’m using a word no one ever uses by taking

using a word no one ever uses by taking

using a word no one ever uses by taking the prefix off that’s a controversial

the prefix off that’s a controversial

the prefix off that’s a controversial fact it can be debated if you own

fact it can be debated if you own

fact it can be debated if you own something you have certain rights

something you have certain rights

something you have certain rights responsibilities and privileges and if

responsibilities and privileges and if

responsibilities and privileges and if you take that test and ply it to

you take that test and ply it to

you take that test and ply it to shareholder you’ll see that perhaps they

shareholder you’ll see that perhaps they

shareholder you’ll see that perhaps they don’t own the corporation and watch this

don’t own the corporation and watch this

don’t own the corporation and watch this well let’s assume for an example that I

well let’s assume for an example that I

well let’s assume for an example that I am a shareholder in Apple Computer as a

am a shareholder in Apple Computer as a

am a shareholder in Apple Computer as a shareholder I have rights

shareholder I have rights

shareholder I have rights responsibilities and privileges so

responsibilities and privileges so

responsibilities and privileges so number one I should be able to walk into

number one I should be able to walk into

number one I should be able to walk into the headquarters building in Cupertino

the headquarters building in Cupertino

the headquarters building in Cupertino anytime I want walk through the front

anytime I want walk through the front

anytime I want walk through the front door the headquarters walk into the

door the headquarters walk into the

door the headquarters walk into the building and strut around like I own the

building and strut around like I own the

building and strut around like I own the place because well I own the place

place because well I own the place

place because well I own the place I haven’t tried it but I’m pretty sure

I haven’t tried it but I’m pretty sure

I haven’t tried it but I’m pretty sure that I would be denied entrance to the

that I would be denied entrance to the

that I would be denied entrance to the building so that doesn’t feel like an

building so that doesn’t feel like an

building so that doesn’t feel like an owner as an owner I should be able to

owner as an owner I should be able to

owner as an owner I should be able to have access to products and services in

have access to products and services in

have access to products and services in advance of everybody else but I promise

advance of everybody else but I promise

advance of everybody else but I promise you the next time Apple

you the next time Apple

you the next time Apple comes out with a cool new product I will

comes out with a cool new product I will

comes out with a cool new product I will be sleeping out in front of the Apple

be sleeping out in front of the Apple

be sleeping out in front of the Apple store just like you that doesn’t feel

store just like you that doesn’t feel

store just like you that doesn’t feel like an owner as an owner I should have

like an owner as an owner I should have

like an owner as an owner I should have some say in the management how the

some say in the management how the

some say in the management how the practices of the company go but the

practices of the company go but the

practices of the company go but the truth is there’s this convoluted

truth is there’s this convoluted

truth is there’s this convoluted structure where I elect a director and

structure where I elect a director and

structure where I elect a director and the director who hires a CEO and I don’t

the director who hires a CEO and I don’t

the director who hires a CEO and I don’t really have any control over the

really have any control over the

really have any control over the management the company and finally as it

management the company and finally as it

management the company and finally as it as an owner I should be able to withdraw

as an owner I should be able to withdraw

as an owner I should be able to withdraw my share of the profits anytime I want I

my share of the profits anytime I want I

my share of the profits anytime I want I don’t think that’s gonna go very well so

don’t think that’s gonna go very well so

don’t think that’s gonna go very well so we’ve broken this idea that the

we’ve broken this idea that the

we’ve broken this idea that the shareholder owns the corporation which

shareholder owns the corporation which

shareholder owns the corporation which means the purpose of a business is not

means the purpose of a business is not

means the purpose of a business is not necessarily to maximize shareholder

necessarily to maximize shareholder

necessarily to maximize shareholder value so what is the purpose of a

value so what is the purpose of a

value so what is the purpose of a business well I assert the purpose of a

business well I assert the purpose of a

business well I assert the purpose of a business is declared by the CEO and the

business is declared by the CEO and the

business is declared by the CEO and the leadership team they get to decide what

leadership team they get to decide what

leadership team they get to decide what the purpose of the businesses and an

the purpose of the businesses and an

the purpose of the businesses and an investor gets to participate or not

investor gets to participate or not

investor gets to participate or not depending on who they believe what’s

depending on who they believe what’s

depending on who they believe what’s going on and here’s the exciting thing

going on and here’s the exciting thing

going on and here’s the exciting thing the incoming generation of business

the incoming generation of business

the incoming generation of business leaders and I’m talking to you students

leaders and I’m talking to you students

leaders and I’m talking to you students of Grand Canyon University the incoming

of Grand Canyon University the incoming

of Grand Canyon University the incoming generation of business leaders has been

generation of business leaders has been

generation of business leaders has been shaped by the failures and breakdowns of

shaped by the failures and breakdowns of

shaped by the failures and breakdowns of capitalism and they’re deciding there’s

capitalism and they’re deciding there’s

capitalism and they’re deciding there’s a new definition of wealth we all

a new definition of wealth we all

a new definition of wealth we all understand well as financial wealth

understand well as financial wealth

understand well as financial wealth absolutely

absolutely

absolutely but there’s other kinds of wealth –

but there’s other kinds of wealth –

but there’s other kinds of wealth – there’s ecological wealth there’s

there’s ecological wealth there’s

there’s ecological wealth there’s emotional wealth there’s spiritual

emotional wealth there’s spiritual

emotional wealth there’s spiritual wealth is physical wealth there’s social

wealth is physical wealth there’s social

wealth is physical wealth there’s social wealth is intellectual wealth and so now

wealth is intellectual wealth and so now

wealth is intellectual wealth and so now this new generation of leaders gets to

this new generation of leaders gets to

this new generation of leaders gets to decide what kind of wealth they want to

decide what kind of wealth they want to

decide what kind of wealth they want to create in their company against what

create in their company against what

create in their company against what stakeholder now we’ve already talked

stakeholder now we’ve already talked

stakeholder now we’ve already talked about once take hold of a shareholder

about once take hold of a shareholder

about once take hold of a shareholder we’re pretty clear about them they’re

we’re pretty clear about them they’re

we’re pretty clear about them they’re very important but there’s other

very important but there’s other

very important but there’s other stakeholders to the customers that’s a

stakeholders to the customers that’s a

stakeholders to the customers that’s a stakeholder the employees they’re a

stakeholder the employees they’re a

stakeholder the employees they’re a stakeholder the larger communities very

stakeholder the larger communities very

stakeholder the larger communities very stakeholder how about the planet Earth

stakeholder how about the planet Earth

stakeholder how about the planet Earth the environment they’re a stakeholder

the environment they’re a stakeholder

the environment they’re a stakeholder how about the supply chain their stake

how about the supply chain their stake

how about the supply chain their stake holder so now the leaders of these

holder so now the leaders of these

holder so now the leaders of these companies get to say here’s a whole

companies get to say here’s a whole

companies get to say here’s a whole collage of wealth that we can create and

collage of wealth that we can create and

collage of wealth that we can create and here’s a menu of stakeholders we can

here’s a menu of stakeholders we can

here’s a menu of stakeholders we can create it for and that becomes the

create it for and that becomes the

create it for and that becomes the purpose of our business it’s pretty

purpose of our business it’s pretty

purpose of our business it’s pretty exciting this idea I want to say one

exciting this idea I want to say one

exciting this idea I want to say one thing

thing

thing I want to talk about profit for a second

I want to talk about profit for a second

I want to talk about profit for a second this doesn’t mean you disregard profit

this doesn’t mean you disregard profit

this doesn’t mean you disregard profit profits critical it’s essential it’s

profits critical it’s essential it’s

profits critical it’s essential it’s non-negotiable not a negotiable you’ve

non-negotiable not a negotiable you’ve

non-negotiable not a negotiable you’ve got to have it but I want to tell you

got to have it but I want to tell you

got to have it but I want to tell you something John Mackey that co-ceo whole

something John Mackey that co-ceo whole

something John Mackey that co-ceo whole food said he said look my body needs to

food said he said look my body needs to

food said he said look my body needs to breathe oxygen to survive but that

breathe oxygen to survive but that

breathe oxygen to survive but that doesn’t mean the purpose of what my life

doesn’t mean the purpose of what my life

doesn’t mean the purpose of what my life is to breathe oxygen similarly my

is to breathe oxygen similarly my

is to breathe oxygen similarly my company needs profits to survive but

company needs profits to survive but

company needs profits to survive but that doesn’t mean the purpose of my

that doesn’t mean the purpose of my

that doesn’t mean the purpose of my company is to create profits so this

company is to create profits so this

company is to create profits so this idea that we’re talking about this is

idea that we’re talking about this is

idea that we’re talking about this is called conscious capitalism it was put

called conscious capitalism it was put

called conscious capitalism it was put forth in a book by Raj Sisodia an author

forth in a book by Raj Sisodia an author

forth in a book by Raj Sisodia an author and professor and John Mackey from Whole

and professor and John Mackey from Whole

and professor and John Mackey from Whole Foods and they say a conscious

Foods and they say a conscious

Foods and they say a conscious capitalism company that’s tough to say

capitalism company that’s tough to say

capitalism company that’s tough to say has four principles one a conscious

has four principles one a conscious

has four principles one a conscious culture two conscious leadership three

culture two conscious leadership three

culture two conscious leadership three stakeholder interdependence and for a

stakeholder interdependence and for a

stakeholder interdependence and for a higher purpose so I want to talk to

higher purpose so I want to talk to

higher purpose so I want to talk to about my company’s higher purpose

about my company’s higher purpose

about my company’s higher purpose my company we have declared the in the

my company we have declared the in the

my company we have declared the in the community is a stakeholder that’s our

community is a stakeholder that’s our

community is a stakeholder that’s our primary stakeholder is the community and

primary stakeholder is the community and

primary stakeholder is the community and what we say is we are changing the

what we say is we are changing the

what we say is we are changing the community we are changing the community

community we are changing the community

community we are changing the community by we’re teaching executives how to

by we’re teaching executives how to

by we’re teaching executives how to harness the power design to engage their

harness the power design to engage their

harness the power design to engage their workers to be more competitive we are

workers to be more competitive we are

workers to be more competitive we are changing the community by building

changing the community by building

changing the community by building healthcare environments that promote

healthcare environments that promote

healthcare environments that promote healing for the sick and safety for

healing for the sick and safety for

healing for the sick and safety for caregivers that’s changing the community

caregivers that’s changing the community

caregivers that’s changing the community we’re changing the community by

we’re changing the community by

we’re changing the community by designing schools that inspire students

designing schools that inspire students

designing schools that inspire students to achieve better learning outcomes

to achieve better learning outcomes

to achieve better learning outcomes we’re creating value for shareholders

we’re creating value for shareholders

we’re creating value for shareholders and taxpayers and students and patients

and taxpayers and students and patients

and taxpayers and students and patients by decreasing the expenses and

by decreasing the expenses and

by decreasing the expenses and increasing productivity of corporations

increasing productivity of corporations

increasing productivity of corporations governments schools and hospitals and

governments schools and hospitals and

governments schools and hospitals and we’re changing the community by

we’re changing the community by

we’re changing the community by establishing ourselves as an example for

establishing ourselves as an example for

establishing ourselves as an example for other companies and we’re doing it with

other companies and we’re doing it with

other companies and we’re doing it with style and humor and compassion and

style and humor and compassion and

style and humor and compassion and integrity and respect that’s the purpose

integrity and respect that’s the purpose

integrity and respect that’s the purpose of our company and everyone who comes to

of our company and everyone who comes to

of our company and everyone who comes to work every day 155 people they

work every day 155 people they

work every day 155 people they understand their role what they’re doing

understand their role what they’re doing

understand their role what they’re doing and how they are supporting our vision

and how they are supporting our vision

and how they are supporting our vision our purpose to change the community

our purpose to change the community

our purpose to change the community whether you’re working in the warehouse

whether you’re working in the warehouse

whether you’re working in the warehouse answering the phones an accounting clerk

answering the phones an accounting clerk

answering the phones an accounting clerk sales project management it doesn’t

sales project management it doesn’t

sales project management it doesn’t matter you understand your role to play

matter you understand your role to play

matter you understand your role to play and how you change the community what

and how you change the community what

and how you change the community what happens when you have a noble higher

happens when you have a noble higher

happens when you have a noble higher purpose like this people it unleashes

purpose like this people it unleashes

purpose like this people it unleashes this creative spirit in people and they

this creative spirit in people and they

this creative spirit in people and they get excited and there’s energy in it’s

get excited and there’s energy in it’s

get excited and there’s energy in it’s electric and the company becomes a

electric and the company becomes a

electric and the company becomes a vehicle for people to pursue their own

vehicle for people to pursue their own

vehicle for people to pursue their own aspirations I’ve got two short examples

aspirations I’ve got two short examples

aspirations I’ve got two short examples I got a lot I’ll give you two one of our

I got a lot I’ll give you two one of our

I got a lot I’ll give you two one of our employees in Tucson notice that there

employees in Tucson notice that there

employees in Tucson notice that there are no foster clothing banks in southern

are no foster clothing banks in southern

are no foster clothing banks in southern Arizona Phoenix has four Tucson has none

Arizona Phoenix has four Tucson has none

Arizona Phoenix has four Tucson has none and she said why don’t we become the

and she said why don’t we become the

and she said why don’t we become the foster clothing bank now look we’re in

foster clothing bank now look we’re in

foster clothing bank now look we’re in the office furniture business but those

the office furniture business but those

the office furniture business but those are just the widgets to us just the

are just the widgets to us just the

are just the widgets to us just the office furniture is just the wig

office furniture is just the wig

office furniture is just the wig cubicles and desks and chairs and files

cubicles and desks and chairs and files

cubicles and desks and chairs and files that’s the widgets our purpose is to

that’s the widgets our purpose is to

that’s the widgets our purpose is to change the community and so when she

change the community and so when she

change the community and so when she came and said as it made perfect sense

came and said as it made perfect sense

came and said as it made perfect sense and I’m happy to say since 2008 we have

and I’m happy to say since 2008 we have

and I’m happy to say since 2008 we have clothed over 7,000 foster children in

clothed over 7,000 foster children in

clothed over 7,000 foster children in southern Arizona that’s changed oh

southern Arizona that’s changed oh

southern Arizona that’s changed oh thanks that’s changing the community

thanks that’s changing the community

thanks that’s changing the community another employee came to me and said you

another employee came to me and said you

another employee came to me and said you know every time we go out and we deliver

know every time we go out and we deliver

know every time we go out and we deliver furniture the customer says to us we’ll

furniture the customer says to us we’ll

furniture the customer says to us we’ll take this old furniture and take and

take this old furniture and take and

take this old furniture and take and just get it out of here and the industry

just get it out of here and the industry

just get it out of here and the industry practice in our business is that you

practice in our business is that you

practice in our business is that you take that you just sell it to somebody

take that you just sell it to somebody

take that you just sell it to somebody else

else

else right you know we haven’t spent any

right you know we haven’t spent any

right you know we haven’t spent any money on it you just saw profit if the

money on it you just saw profit if the

money on it you just saw profit if the purpose for our company were to maximize

purpose for our company were to maximize

purpose for our company were to maximize shareholder wealth that’s a hundred

shareholder wealth that’s a hundred

shareholder wealth that’s a hundred percent profit there this is exactly

percent profit there this is exactly

percent profit there this is exactly what you do but that’s not the purpose

what you do but that’s not the purpose

what you do but that’s not the purpose is it purpose is to change the community

is it purpose is to change the community

is it purpose is to change the community so one employee said let’s take that

so one employee said let’s take that

so one employee said let’s take that furniture and let’s redeploy it to

furniture and let’s redeploy it to

furniture and let’s redeploy it to nonprofits that need it so they don’t

nonprofits that need it so they don’t

nonprofits that need it so they don’t have to spend money on furniture they

have to spend money on furniture they

have to spend money on furniture they can spend money on their own purpose and

can spend money on their own purpose and

can spend money on their own purpose and in the last eight years we have

in the last eight years we have

in the last eight years we have repurposed millions of dollars of

repurposed millions of dollars of

repurposed millions of dollars of furniture to over a hundred nonprofits

furniture to over a hundred nonprofits

furniture to over a hundred nonprofits in the valley that’s changing the

in the valley that’s changing the

in the valley that’s changing the community so thank you so I’m urging you

community so thank you so I’m urging you

community so thank you so I’m urging you to understand your place in history

to understand your place in history

to understand your place in history capitalism is changing right in front of

capitalism is changing right in front of

capitalism is changing right in front of your eyes think of it this way it’s

your eyes think of it this way it’s

your eyes think of it this way it’s being emancipated

being emancipated

being emancipated emancipated from this singular purpose

emancipated from this singular purpose

emancipated from this singular purpose of maximizing shareholder value and it’s

of maximizing shareholder value and it’s

of maximizing shareholder value and it’s free now to to conquer whatever societal

free now to to conquer whatever societal

free now to to conquer whatever societal problem the nastiest gnarliest hairiest

problem the nastiest gnarliest hairiest

problem the nastiest gnarliest hairiest thorniest problems that we’ve got just

thorniest problems that we’ve got just

thorniest problems that we’ve got just like poverty capitalism is liberated to

like poverty capitalism is liberated to

like poverty capitalism is liberated to go after so what is it you’re interested

go after so what is it you’re interested

go after so what is it you’re interested in is it climate change is it income

in is it climate change is it income

in is it climate change is it income inequality is it the refugee crisis what

inequality is it the refugee crisis what

inequality is it the refugee crisis what I’m telling you is get past the widgets

I’m telling you is get past the widgets

I’m telling you is get past the widgets declare your purpose declare your

declare your purpose declare your

declare your purpose declare your stakeholders and you can use the power

stakeholders and you can use the power

stakeholders and you can use the power of capitalism to change the world thank

of capitalism to change the world thank

of capitalism to change the world thank you very much

you very much

you very much [Applause]

”

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