What is the purpose of a business ?

[OldJeff]

Tired of the back and forth that is not going to change anyone's mind about anything, so I thought I would try and suck something useful out of my pea brain.

Many years before the internet existed I was given a book by the VP in charge of our office titled "The Goal" and although the premise of the book was centered around a manufacturing plant, the basic business idea was the same.

"The Goal" of any business is profit.

Pretty much comes down to, if what you are doing is not making money, YOU are doing something wrong.

The problems are not (insert the current death of the porn industry theory here) the problem is what YOU are doing.

This is the only business I can think of that spends so much time and effort blaming outside factors for failure, rather than looking at itself.

Personally, I much prefer to look at everything and say - "How can I make money off this" - If the answer is I do not know, I either move on to something different, or I figure out how to.

The ONLY thing any of us have any control over is what WE do.

Be profitable, or be poor.

[u-Bob]

Good post.

btw: I was reading some Walter Block yesterday on the ethics of making a profit:

The possibility of profits is a sign that something is amiss in the economy, indicating that people are not taking advantage of mutually beneficial trades. The actualization of profits indicates that something is being done about these missed opportunities.

The possibility of profiteering signifies even greater gaps in the economic fabric. And if mere profits indicate an economic cure in progress, then profiteering is a sign that something of a substantial magnitude is operating to rectify the situation. Instead of moderate profits being acceptable, and profiteering being "exploitative," we can see that the greater the profits, and the greater the profiteering, the better off the economy is.

[madko]

i agree - the purpose of a business is PROFIT .. anything else is bullshit.

[Freaky_Akula]

[Barefootsies]

You're correct.

However, you have to keep in mind you are talking to a board full of part timers, hobbyists, and fry cooks. I doubt that most of them make enough money to worry about being a "business" much less all of the other added hassles that come with running a successful one.

[OldJeff]

Love the Tag Line BF

[KingNigel]

I approve.