The companies that survive longest are the one's that work out

Hearken to the words of Charles Handy, whose insight illuminates the enduring essence of enterprise and human endeavor. He declares, “The companies that survive longest are the ones that work out what they uniquely can give to the world—not just growth or money but their excellence, their respect for others, or their ability to make people happy. Some call those things a soul.” In this reflection lies a timeless truth: the measure of lasting success is not found solely in wealth or expansion, but in the capacity to offer something transcendent, meaningful, and beneficial to the wider world.

Since the earliest ages, sages and thinkers recognized that enduring legacy rests upon virtue rather than mere accumulation. In ancient Athens, craftsmen and merchants whose work was guided by skill, honesty, and service to the community became respected pillars of society. Handy’s words echo this ancient wisdom: it is the cultivation of excellence, moral integrity, and care for others that allows an institution—or a life—to endure beyond the fleeting tides of fortune.

Consider the story of Benjamin Franklin, whose enterprises, from printing to civic initiatives, endured because they contributed not only economic value but intellectual and social enrichment. Franklin’s companies and institutions thrived, not merely because of profit, but because they embodied excellence, respect, and the capacity to elevate others. In this, Franklin exemplifies the principle Handy espouses: lasting success is inseparable from the cultivation of a “soul.”

Handy’s reflection also reminds us that organizations, like individuals, must discover their unique contribution to the world. Mere pursuit of growth or wealth, untethered from purpose and ethical practice, often leads to fragility and eventual decline. Those who endure, whether merchants, artists, or leaders, identify what they uniquely can give—a gift that transcends material value and touches the hearts, minds, and spirits of others.

The metaphor of a “soul” speaks to the moral and emotional dimension of enterprise. Just as a human soul embodies character, compassion, and the capacity to inspire, so too does a company’s soul express itself through respect, integrity, and the joy it brings to others. Handy’s insight underscores that enterprises, like individuals, are sustained by virtue as much as by strategy, and that recognition of this principle differentiates the transient from the enduring.

This reflection offers a practical lesson: seek to cultivate excellence and ethical purpose in all endeavors. Measure success not only in metrics, profit, or expansion, but in the quality of service, the respect extended to others, and the happiness or enrichment produced. Organizations and individuals alike endure when they align ambition with values that honor the community and foster mutual well-being.

Practical guidance flows naturally: identify your unique gifts, prioritize integrity and excellence, and pursue growth that enhances the lives of others rather than diminishes them. Whether in commerce, art, or personal conduct, the cultivation of a “soul”—the capacity to uplift, respect, and inspire—ensures durability and legacy far beyond temporal gain.

Thus, heed the wisdom of Charles Handy: the truest measure of lasting success is the quality of contribution, the respect cultivated, and the joy generated. Let every enterprise, action, and ambition be guided not merely by profit, but by excellence, care, and the ability to enrich the world. In doing so, one ensures that legacy endures, transcending time, and that the soul—whether of a company or a life—remains vibrant, luminous, and revered across generations.