Businesses Need Profit and Purpose

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If your plumbing company disappeared tomorrow, would your community even notice? Most owners can't answer that question, and it points to a gap that profit alone can't close.

This breaks down why paycheck and purpose have to work together, what happened when one company sponsored a local cycling team instead of running more ads, and why something as small as apprentices picking up litter between calls can build more trust than any marketing campaign. You'll hear why the businesses that actually last aren't just the ones making money, and why every customer who picks you is casting a vote for the kind of company they want in their neighborhood.

Topics discussed:

(00:00) - The question every owner should ask about their business
(00:41) - Why paycheck alone stops being enough
(01:12) - Purpose as the best marketing you'll ever have
(01:31) - Sponsoring a local cycling team to build trust
(02:16) - A simple community habit any plumbing company can start
(03:12) - Joining an existing movement instead of building your own
(04:02) - Why customers are investing in your company, not just buying plumbing
(04:47) - The one lesson behind building a lasting business

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique

The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit. 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

If your plumbing company disappeared tomorrow, who would miss it? Your customers? They'd eventually find another plumber. Your suppliers? They'd sell to someone else. But what about your community? Would anyone else outside your payroll even notice you were gone? If the answer is no, you're missing one of the greatest business opportunities there is. Because I believe something that's completely changed the way I look at business. A business must be profitable and have a purpose that would actually be missed. Profit keeps your business alive, but purpose gives it a heart. And when your company has heart, employees stay longer, customers become fans, marketing gets easier, and your community starts rooting for you. Welcome back to Trade Traction. Let's talk about it. People want a paycheck and a purpose. Sure, everyone needs a paycheck, but after a while, money alone isn't quite enough. People want to tell their friends where they work with pride. They want to feel like what they do actually matters. When your company stands for something bigger than plumbing, your employees become part of a mission. It's not just another job anymore. Purpose is the best marketing. Anyone can say, we have great service. We're the best. Nobody remembers that. But they'll remember a company that changes its community. People don't just buy plumbing, they buy stories. So give them a story worth telling. For us, that story became cycling. We sponsored a local racing team. There are over 160,000 cyclists in the Seattle area. More than 150 racers were on our team and they proudly wore our racing kits. They took selfies. They posted pictures. They tagged our company week after week after week. Our customers saw real people proudly wearing our brand. We weren't interrupting people with advertising. We became part of a community. People called us because they already knew who we were and wanted to support us and what we stood for. That's the power of purpose. You can start small. Now maybe cycling isn't your thing. That's okay. Here's something almost every plumbing company can do. Have your apprentices pick up litter between calls or during a slow time. They're already wearing your company shirt. Your logo is on the truck. Every person who drives by sees your team making the neighborhood a little bit better. That's not just community service, that's trust. And trust is the best marketing you'll ever have. Now tell that story. Here's where it gets real fun. Don't just pick up the letter. Track it. How many bags? How many pounds? How many neighborhoods? Watch those numbers grow month after month. Now you've got something your employers are proud of. Your customers love talking about it. And your social media practically creates itself. Heck, don't be surprised if your local TV station calls. Good stories have a way of finding an audience, especially when they're real. And you don't have to do this alone. Another thing, you don't have to build the movement yourself. Join one. Almost every city has organizations dedicated to cleaning parks, trails, schools, and neighborhoods. Volunteer. Join them. Sponsor cleanup. Donate. Partner with people who are already making a difference. Instead of telling everyone your company cares, prove it. Here's the truth. After enough years, plumbing becomes plumbing. Another faucet, another water heater, another drain. The work is important, but purpose is what gives the work meaning. I've always believed something that's become one of my core beliefs. Profit gives your business a future, but purpose gives it a heart. And here's something else I've come to believe. Our customers aren't just buying plumbing, they're investing in our company. Every time they choose us over someone else, they're casting a vote for the kind of company they want in their community. So give them something worth investing in. Build a profitable business. But build the business with heart. Build a company your employees are proud to wear on their shirt. Build a company your customers are proud to recommend. Build a company your community would actually miss if it disappeared. That's bigger than plumbing. That's a legacy. Look, I spent more than 25 years building a plumbing company that eventually became an eight-figure business. I made plenty of mistakes, but one big lesson I learned was this. The companies that last don't just make money, they make a difference. If you'd like to know where your business stands and what you should focus on next, head over to traderaction.com and take my free business assessment. It'll show you exactly where you are today, what you should work on next. And if you'd like some help, you can even book a call with me. I built the company I once dreamed of. Now it's your turn. If you're determined to make this year the year you stop working for free, build a company people are proud to work for, and create a business your community truly misses, subscribe. Every week I share the lessons I learned building, growing, and eventually selling in an eight-figure plumbing company. So maybe you don't have to learn them the hard way. I'm Dennis the Apprentice, and remember, profit gives your business a future, but purpose gives it a heart. I'll see you in the next one.