Purpose: The Starting Point of Great Companies [Paperback]

'At a time when the public holds business in such low esteem, Purpose shows leaders how to restore confidence and make money at the same time. Nikos Mourkogiannis' message is informed, interesting, inspiring, and much-needed worldwide.' - Rosabeth Moss Kanter of Harvard Business School, USA, and author of Confidence

'Nikos Mourkogiannis has provided incumbent and aspiring leaders with the needed counterbalance to Bossidy's Execution. Execution, absent Purpose, can drive once great enterprises off the cliff and once great armies into chaos and destruction. This book reminds leaders of the importance of taking stock of the legacy which has made great businesses great, while renewing the values and character required to flourish for a new era.' - Dr Jeffrey A Sonnenfeld, Lester Crown Professor in the Practice of Management and Senior Associate Dean for Executive Programs, Yale School of Management, USA.

'Nikos is a world-class thinker. In this book he reinvents strategy and shows what great companies have in common.' - Lord Jacob Rothschild

'Across a broad array of industries and businesses, Nikos Mourkogiannis had made a substantial impact; he has an inquisitive mind with exceptional mental agility. He has turned many companies, in loss-making circumstances, into winners in this field. In Purpose he reveals many of the processes that have brought his clients success.' - Sir Jackie Stewart

'Mourkogiannis reinvents strategy by anchoring it to purpose. Strategy that has no purpose is merely tactics; true transformation of an organization depends on the principles described in Mourkogiannis's book.' - Reto Francioni, CEO, Deutsche Borse

'Nikos is the genuine Philosopher Consultant - with him you gain completely new insights.' - Sir John Parker, Chairman, P&O and National Grid

'Inspiring a large global organization with a common purpose whilst respecting its diversity is high on the agenda of top management. Nikos Mourkogiannis's Purpose sheds light on the importance and practice of defining and embedding a sense of purpose in an organization and, thereby, of aligning the interests of its strategic stakeholders. I recommend the reading of this outstanding book.' - Dr. Josef Ackermann, CEO, Deutsche Bank

'Mourkogiannis has written an outstanding and very readable book describing the qualities of leadership that are essential to create great companies and keep them great. It is important reading for all entrepreneurs and business executives and those who would like to be.' - Martin Lipton, Partner of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen& Katz

'Mourkogiannis has artfully uncovered the essence of greatness in all great companies with the concept of purpose. Most importantly, he has brought this critical concept to life in a most powerful and approachable fashion.' - Douglas R. Conant, President and CEO, Campbell Soup Company

'At this time, when the credibility of American CEOs has been drowned by greed, here is a roadmap for future leaders in whose wisdom the fate of the world rests. The notes and bibliography alone are worth a read - buy this book!' - Robert A.G. Monks, co-author of Corporate Governance

'Mourkogiannis has it right: the organizations with a moral purpose are the long-term winners because they are motivated by something more powerful than money.' - Chris Hohn, Chairman of The Children's Investment Fund

'Mourkogiannis can make things happen, because he really knows how business works.' - Professor Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle, CEO, Linde AG

'Mourkogiannis glides beautifully on the razor's edge of where we are in the current reality of the business world today. Purpose is the future practice that is here now. You will find insight that will help you become more aware and centered on the realities of practicing in today's global business environment.' - Louis Carter, President and CEO, Best Practice Instit
'... a serious analysis of business success, particularly relevant to the work of business leader coaches. Anyone seeking insight into effective leadership will find this work stimulating...' - Professional Manager

'There is much that is attractive and challenging in what Mourkogiannis has to say. The book is thoughtful and well-written. He writes convincingly of reward and morale, and of the link between purpose, social capital and innovation. He has a particularly good chapter on leadership that scores a number of important points. He refuses to join the chorus of despair over today's supposed dearth of leadership, arguing that the 'crisis' exists only because the job has been mis-specified. He explains the difference between purpose and corporate social responsibility, and persuasively underlines the perils of the entirely artificial separation of economics from ethics.' - World Business

'...the book is rarely dull and makes some refreshing points about the value of integrity and having a genuine vision of one's business. And it offers practical guidelines on how senior executives can identify and promote a sense of purpose.' - Richard Evans, Financial Times

In Purpose, world-renowned thought leader Nikos Mourkogiannis turns the entire idea of leadership on its head and shows that the choice between values and success is no choice at all. Mourkogiannis argues that companies must satisfy the need for purpose - a set of values that defines an organization and inspires and motivates its employees. Rather than organization and structure, ideas are what cause companies to go from good to great. Drawing on examples from across multiple industries, Mourkogiannis demonstrates how a strong purpose is the essential first step toward lasting success.