Business and political leaders who want a more purposeful approach to guiding the United States' renewal will find Purpose Work Nation just the ticket.
Brandon Peele outlines past perceptions of business as the leader and driver of the nation's successes and failures, opening with the chapter "Business as Religion, Villain, and Savior," contrasting its image and role in U.S. history.
He considers how traditional images of success often didn't (and don't) consider other ethnicities and their experiences or culture, discussing how, too often, "...our legacy has been one of dominance, dehumanization and dispossession for profit."
After laying the groundwork with a review of the history and socioeconomic development of this nation, Peele explores the myths that shaped an economy built on genocide and slavery and its dissonance with the nation's purpose: "Knowing the truth about our history would not bother us if we took pride in being a bunch of shifty eagles. These truths only bother us because deep down we know we are better than the murdering, thieving, raping, and enslaving of our ancestors. If we didn’t hold ourselves to a higher standard, if we didn’t have a noble national purpose, reading this would produce no resistance, no knot in the pit of our stomachs."
Peele's concept of "bison ethics" suggests a different approach to not just business, but the people who drive its culture. This opens in the second chapter and receives further development as the book moves through systems failures, issues of racial and social justice, the unspoken assumptions in hiring and training, and how relationships may be guided by the ethics of the nation's National Mammal, the bison, as a source of strength.
His focus on best practices and real-world applications creates a new culture and paradigm for success that moves from business to social and political circles: "To do this, we must think holistically and get at the source of what people need to flourish: a balanced work-load, living wages, flexibility, meaning, connection, care, and believing they matter and are a part of something that matters. The bison way is one of relationships versus the eagle's outputs, of covenants versus the eagle's contracts. It is about establishing our personal covenant with our unique purpose, and with each other around a shared mission. It is the way of nurturing a healthy culture where each of us can activate and fulfill our purpose on the job, and enjoy rich connections with each other."
The result is a powerful survey of business and human affairs that links diversity to strength and eschews the predatory, inhumane approaches of the "eagle" in favor of the "bison way" which confronts white supremacy and positions the workplace as the starting place to effect real social and political change: "The workplace is where we congregate to serve and empower others, to activate our unique purpose, fulfill our potential, nurture community, and achieve our mission. We bring the spirit of the bison home with us and let it guide our family and civic life. In so doing, we activate the purpose of this nation, repair the damage from our nation's misspent youth, and achieve redemption."
Readers may initially be drawn by the book's promise of keys to better leadership, but they'll find its wider-ranging approach to building a better culture ripples into society with lasting and positive impacts on human rights that lead to a better quality of life for all.
Idealistic? Yes. Achievable? Absolutely.
No business collection should be without Purpose Work Nation, but it's just as highly recommended for libraries strong in social and political issues, civil rights, and American civics.
- Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
Brandon Peele outlines past perceptions of business as the leader and driver of the nation's successes and failures, opening with the chapter "Business as Religion, Villain, and Savior," contrasting its image and role in U.S. history.
He considers how traditional images of success often didn't (and don't) consider other ethnicities and their experiences or culture, discussing how, too often, "...our legacy has been one of dominance, dehumanization and dispossession for profit."
After laying the groundwork with a review of the history and socioeconomic development of this nation, Peele explores the myths that shaped an economy built on genocide and slavery and its dissonance with the nation's purpose: "Knowing the truth about our history would not bother us if we took pride in being a bunch of shifty eagles. These truths only bother us because deep down we know we are better than the murdering, thieving, raping, and enslaving of our ancestors. If we didn’t hold ourselves to a higher standard, if we didn’t have a noble national purpose, reading this would produce no resistance, no knot in the pit of our stomachs."
Peele's concept of "bison ethics" suggests a different approach to not just business, but the people who drive its culture. This opens in the second chapter and receives further development as the book moves through systems failures, issues of racial and social justice, the unspoken assumptions in hiring and training, and how relationships may be guided by the ethics of the nation's National Mammal, the bison, as a source of strength.
His focus on best practices and real-world applications creates a new culture and paradigm for success that moves from business to social and political circles: "To do this, we must think holistically and get at the source of what people need to flourish: a balanced work-load, living wages, flexibility, meaning, connection, care, and believing they matter and are a part of something that matters. The bison way is one of relationships versus the eagle's outputs, of covenants versus the eagle's contracts. It is about establishing our personal covenant with our unique purpose, and with each other around a shared mission. It is the way of nurturing a healthy culture where each of us can activate and fulfill our purpose on the job, and enjoy rich connections with each other."
The result is a powerful survey of business and human affairs that links diversity to strength and eschews the predatory, inhumane approaches of the "eagle" in favor of the "bison way" which confronts white supremacy and positions the workplace as the starting place to effect real social and political change: "The workplace is where we congregate to serve and empower others, to activate our unique purpose, fulfill our potential, nurture community, and achieve our mission. We bring the spirit of the bison home with us and let it guide our family and civic life. In so doing, we activate the purpose of this nation, repair the damage from our nation's misspent youth, and achieve redemption."
Readers may initially be drawn by the book's promise of keys to better leadership, but they'll find its wider-ranging approach to building a better culture ripples into society with lasting and positive impacts on human rights that lead to a better quality of life for all.
Idealistic? Yes. Achievable? Absolutely.
No business collection should be without Purpose Work Nation, but it's just as highly recommended for libraries strong in social and political issues, civil rights, and American civics.
- Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review