Name: Conscious Capitalism
Rating: 3.3 (154 reviews)
Author: John Mackey & Raj Sisodia

What’s in it for me? Explore a new vision of capitalism.

Today’s business leaders face a crisis of confidence. Polls show public trust in corporations near historic lows. Many feel companies prioritize profits over people and the planet. Executives struggle to motivate disengaged workers. How can business recapture respect and inspire excellence?

John Mackey, cofounder of Whole Foods Market, provides answers in Conscious Capitalism. He outlines an enlightened path forward – one where business uplifts humanity. Companies can rediscover what he calls their heroic purpose. The key idea here is that passionate work cultures blossom when focused on meaning, not just money.

Now, in this very short Blink, we’ll focus on one aspect of Mackey’s approach: the idea of conscious leadership, which unlocks creativity and care.

There’s a better way

Over the last 200 years, free-enterprise capitalism has created extraordinary prosperity and innovation that has transformed life for billions of people. In just two centuries, businesses and entrepreneurs have helped increase global per capita income by 1,000 percent and the average life expectancy has risen from 30 to 68 years. Capitalism has enabled billions to earn a living and find meaning by creating value for others.

Despite these achievements, capitalism has earned little affection. It’s often vilified as exploitative and blamed for problems like inequality, community fragmentation, and environmental degradation. The reputation of business has suffered as a result. For example, Americans’ confidence in big business had declined from 34 percent in 1975 to just 19 percent by 2011.

Why this disconnect? A root issue is that too many businesses operate with low consciousness about their true purpose and impacts. In a narrow pursuit of profits, some companies have caused unintended negative consequences for people, communities, and the planet. Many businesses fail to recognize their significant environmental and social impacts, treating these as externalities.

Within companies, symptoms of dysfunction abound, like low employee engagement, stagnant wages contrasted with exorbitant executive pay, and lack of workplace solidarity. It’s understandable that the reputation of business has suffered.

That’s why we need better business practices: the path forward is to operate with greater consciousness of purpose and impact. Conscious leaders deliver value to all stakeholders – treating employees, partners, customers, and communities not as merely means to an end, but as ends in themselves. They build trusting relationships and understand the human elements of business, like creativity, collaboration, and a sense of higher purpose. Conscious businesses seek to create financial, intellectual, social, cultural, emotional, spiritual, physical, and ecological wealth. They have a deeper purpose that goes beyond short-term profits.

Conscious businesses realize capitalism’s heroic potential

Conscious businesses start with dreams of creating positive impacts – not just making money. The founders aspire to build organizations that enrich lives, resonate with purpose, and deliver value for generations. They aim to bring joy, meaning, and pride to all who interact with the company.

At conscious companies, work culture is grounded in love, care, and camaraderie – not fear and stress. Employees derive a sense of fulfillment from dedicating their talents to a shared mission. They feel energized by collaborating with passionate colleagues who become like family. Customer relationships feel more like trusted friendships than impersonal transactions.

About the Author

John Mackey, cofounder and former CEO of Whole Foods Market, grew the natural grocer into a Fortune 500 company with over 460 stores and 87,000 employees while earning many leadership accolades.

Raj Sisodia is a business professor and cofounder of Conscious Capitalism Inc. He has coauthored two best-selling books on purpose-driven business and has been recognized as a top thought leader in trustworthy business practices.