Chasing Purpose

There’s a phrase that’s been sitting with me lately: chasing purpose.

I think many entrepreneurs know exactly what that feels like — the drive, the fire, the ache to build something meaningful. Yes, some people start businesses for money. But for most of us, there’s a deeper motivation. There’s a “why” at the heart of it — even if it takes us a while to find it.

We’re often taught to build with the end in mind. That “end” is usually the founder’s exit: selling, retiring, moving on. But I’ve come to believe that this mindset can sometimes lead us astray. If all we’re doing is building for an exit, what happens when we get there? What fills the space that purpose used to occupy?

Years ago, I heard something that stuck with me. I don’t remember who said it, but they pointed out that in some cultures, the word retire literally means “no longer of use.” That hit me hard. I struck the word from my vocabulary that day. The truth is, most people grind through life trying to save and plan so they can get to retirement — only to find themselves lost once they get there. They’re no longer working, but they’re also no longer needed and no longer connected to something that gives them purpose. That’s not freedom. That’s a quiet kind of despair.

I think every founder has to ask themselves two questions—not just once, but over and over again. They’re more important than any business plan, sales strategy, or product roadmap.

Why am I doing this?

Not the surface-level why, not “to make money” or “to be my own boss.” I mean the real why. The kind that sits five layers deeper. For me, starting a technology company had plenty of surface reasons. I understood tech and was good at it. I wanted to solve problems. I wanted to build something great. But none of those were the true answer.

Over time, I realized the company wasn’t the purpose—it was the vehicle for it. My real purpose is to close the income inequality gap. I couldn’t do that by selling to private equity and walking away. However, by becoming employee-owned, I could ensure that more people share in the success we create together. And if we can inspire enough others to follow that model, maybe we can make a meaningful dent in one of the biggest challenges of our time.

And then what?

Let’s say you do build it. You scale. You exit. You make your money. Then what? I think this is where the soul-searching begins. Because if you didn’t build your business around a purpose, you’d find yourself chasing one after the fact. And purpose is not something you can buy. It’s not something a payout fills.

That’s why you see so many serial entrepreneurs. Not because they can’t sit still but because they’re still chasing purpose. They sold one thing, but they’re still searching for that feeling — the fulfillment that only comes from working on something bigger than yourself.

That’s why we’ve designed our company to be evergreen — employee-owned, built to last, and guided by purpose. Sure, we’re a technology company. But more importantly, we’re a beacon. We exist to prove that doing good and doing well aren’t mutually exclusive. That purpose-driven, people-first companies can thrive — and help close the wealth gap along the way.

I don’t know what our business will look like 100 years from now. But I do know this: if we embed purpose into our DNA, we won’t lose our way. We’ll keep chasing it — not because we’re lost, but because we’re committed to the journey.