Why Social Values Is Gold

“The greatest tragedy isn’t failing to make a profit – it’s succeeding in a way that leaves you with nothing but profit.”
- Jim Collins, Author, Good to Great

Imagine climbing the ladder of success, with each rung representing another step toward incredible profitability. After decades of relentless effort, you reach your goal at the top of the ladder. From that new vantage point, you look around at the world, and all that you have achieved, but instead of triumph, you’re devastated to realise that your ladder was leaning against the wrong wall.

The wrong wall represents the absence of purpose. Profit, efficiency, and productivity are all powerful drivers in today’s business world. But they only tell us what we are doing, they never tell us 𝘄𝗵𝘆 we are doing it or 𝘄𝗵𝗼 we are becoming in the process. Without purpose, profit comes at the sacrifice of our values, our relationships, and we lose sight of what is truly important.

There’s a quiet revolution led by social entrepreneurs and impact investors – one where they are climbing the ladder not for personal gain but building something for all stakeholders. This revolution is not one of violence, but of values. Social values are gold, but they are invisible if we only look at P/L statements and balance sheets. The invisible gold of society are the values and purpose that guide our work. When this happens, the profit that we earn becomes a powerful tool for positive change and brings us closer as a society. Great achievement isn’t reaching the top of the ladder, it’s knowing that every step you took helped lift others up and made the world a better place.

Without shared social values, economies are like skyscrapers built on sand –
impressive at first glance but destined to crumble without a solid foundation. Social values are not an add-on – they’re the foundation that underpins a sustainable economy and society. This revolution calls us to act on a powerful truth: real wealth is not measured in titles or bank accounts – it’s in the trust we build, the dignity we uphold, and the opportunities that we create for others.
Modern capitalism is evolving – moving from profit for shareholders only (ROI) to creating value for all stakeholders (employees, customers, communities, planet) through Social Return On Investment (SROI). This shift drives sustainability and ethical practices – it ensures fair wages, responsible supply chains and honest customer relationships.

This is the revolution of our time. Social values define not only what kind of
businesses we build, but what kind of society we become. So, if you haven’t joined the revolution yet, let’s do it. Let’s build a world where our businesses and communities can flourish together. Let’s look for the invisible gold.