Tuesday Tuneup- #78
Mission over Money
Happy Tuesday everyone!
For most of us (Myself definitly included) the work we do starts to get SOOOOOO defined by dollar and cents…….. that we lose sight of the acctual mission we started the company with.
“I want to help Families”
“I want to be a great contractor”
“I want to build incredible projects in my community”
“I want to help build exceptional contracting businesses”
Soon get’s replaced with:
“Are we going to hit the number?”
“Whats the cashflow look like?”
“How do we double?”
“I need to hit $10 Million in revenue”
And look, I get it. Those things are all important to running a business. The problem is….
They are also incredibly uninteresting, unmotivating and uninspiring for 99% of people.
And… here’s a reminder for all of you leaders out there as much as a reminder to myself….companies and individuals perform far better when their mission is centered around helping others, not just stacking dollars.
Think about the difference between these two goals:
“We need to make $100,000 this quarter.”
“We’re going to help 50 families this quarter.”
The second one feels different, doesn’t it? It’s human. It’s specific. It’s about impact. And ironically, when you focus on helping those 50 families, the revenue usually follows faster than if you obsessed over the money alone.
Why This Works
People are motivated by meaning. When your team rallies behind a mission that directly helps others, they find energy and creativity they didn’t know they had. Long days feel purposeful. Problems feel worth solving. Success stops being about abstract numbers and starts being about lives changed.
On the flip side, when the mission is purely financial, it eventually rings hollow. A team will burn out faster. Owners get stuck in the cycle of “never enough.” And customers can sense when they’re being treated as transactions rather than people.
Practical Shifts You Can Make
If you’ve struggled with this mindset, here are some simple shifts you can try:
Translate numbers into people. Instead of saying, “We need to close $200,000 this month,” say, “We get to help 10 families protect their homes this month.” The work is the same, but the framing makes it about service.
Connect your team to outcomes. Don’t just celebrate revenue milestones. Share the stories of the families you helped, the projects that changed someone’s life, the times your company showed up when it mattered most. Humans thrive on stories, not spreadsheets.
Ask better questions. When you set goals, ask: “Who are we helping?” and “What problem are we solving?” before you ask, “How much are we making?”
Anchor your mission in your culture. Write it down. Repeat it often. Make it part of the language you and your team use daily. When someone closes a deal, don’t just say, “Nice sale.” Say, “That’s another family we get to serve.”
A Simple Test
Here’s a quick test you can use. When you wake up tomorrow and think about your business goals, do you feel pulled forward with excitement… or weighed down by pressure? If it feels heavy, you’re probably too focused on money.
If it feels energizing, you’re likely focused on impact.
Closing Thought
Money will always matter. But money is the result, not the reason. The reason is people. The reason is service.
When you make that shift—when you commit to being in business for others, not just for profit…you’ll not only build a stronger company… you’ll build one you’re proud of.