Holistic Value: Rooted in Humanity, Built to Last

For decades, businesses have chased one thing: output. Whether it’s revenue, deliverables, or customer satisfaction—value has been defined in terms of what gets delivered, not how it gets created. But we've been measuring value, and subsequently success, wrong this whole time.

And I don't know about you guys, but I DO NOT want to play "Boar on the Floor" to be considered valuable...

Value doesn’t start at the end of the pipeline when something is finally delivered (a product, a service, etc.). It starts with the people—the humans—doing the work.

The concept of Holistic Value is simple—but powerful. It’s about expanding our definition of value to include human well-being, sustainability, creativity, trust, and longevity. It’s about building systems that don’t just extract output—but actually nurture the people and conditions that generate it.

Folks that know me know I'm not an idealist, so this is not a "pie in the sky" pipe dream. It's not impossible. It's not hard. It's not even expensive! And it gives a real return on investment! It's straight up just a smarter way to do business.

 When employees aren't treated well, don't feel valued, are overworked, don't understand how their work aligns with an overall strategic mission, are burned out, etc.—turnover skyrockets.

When trust erodes, when people aren't in an environment where they can provide honest feedback or are psychologically safe, innovation stalls.

When short-term wins trump long-term health, organizations collapse under their own weight.

Holistic Value is rooted in the belief that people aren’t just a means to an end—they are the foundation, the purpose, and the most sustainable path to progress. What we prioritize—health, trust, safety, and meaning—ripples outward. When we invest in people, we cultivate workplaces where potential is nurtured, not extracted. And when people thrive, organizations follow.

TL;DR: This will make organizations MORE MONEY!!!

(I'm pretty sure that's what companies want in the long run, but what do I know...)

Holistic Value asks:

• What if people weren’t just part of the process—but the purpose?

• What if thriving humans were the most important metric of success?

• What if workplace culture wasn’t just a business strategy—but a basic human need?

• What if we stopped extracting output and started cultivating potential?

• What if organizations were designed to protect, support, and empower the people who sustain them?

In this series, we’ll break down what holistic value means in practice—how to implement it, how to measure it beyond the bottom line, and why this shift matters now more than ever. 

It’s time to rethink what we mean by “value.” Not just for your business—but for the people who make it possible.

Let’s build something better. Something that serves ALL of us.