Every brand's purpose should be community relevance, community building and community support by delivering goods and services that help the community flourish.

But the myth making machinery and it's "opinion (mis)leaders" have recently anointed the word Purpose with a fresh new coating of importance to encourage brands to get all purposeful - even if their purpose remains boning the world for profit and prominence.

Still, "purpose" can be positive if a brand really is focused on the health and wellness of every member of its brand community. Sadly, too many firms use lofty words like "purpose" to make themselves feel (and to trick their community into believing) their doing something worthwhile. Meanwhile, their real purpose is increasing shareholder value, manipulating the stock market and hollowing out going concerns to reap billions (Check out this recent example: https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b1c33fqdnhf21s/Eddie-Lampert-Shattered-Sears-Sullied-His-Reputation-and-Lost-Billions-of-Dollars-Or-Did-He

Wayne S. Roberts feels time is running out on the planet's tolerance for that shortsighted narrative. In Wayne's view, it's high time we demanded better promises from better brands. And invest our efforts in those enterprises as stakeholders. That's a purpose you can get behind, no? Have a listen to Purpose is for Posers and get Wayne's take this recycled narrative that needs a reality check.