When I understood that business can be so much more
- Rousse Lavalle
- Jul 10, 2025
- 2 min read
The other day, having coffee with an old friend, a conversation arose about the purpose of our work.
"Does what we do really matter beyond the numbers?" he asked me. I thought about it for days.
I've spent years chasing goals, achieving milestones, and celebrating results. But something changed in me when I started to look beyond the numerical indicators.
What really matters
I realized that every decision we make impacts real lives. It's not abstract: it's the families of our employees, the communities where we operate, the people who use our products.
The common good isn't just another strategy or a buzzword. For me, it's become a way to ask myself: Does this decision honor the dignity of the people involved?
Small decisions, big differences
I remember when we decided to keep our entire team during a difficult period, even though the numbers suggested cutbacks. Years later, that loyalty has been returned to us in the form of commitment and trust.
Or that time we opted for a local, up-and-coming supplier instead of a cheaper option. Today, we grow together, creating value that stays in our community.
It's these small, everyday decisions, not the grand speeches, that truly define whether we seek the common good or just our own benefit.
What I'm learning
This path isn't easy. Sometimes the pressures of short-termism make it tempting to take ethical shortcuts. I've made mistakes and I continue to learn. But I'm increasingly convinced that we can create businesses where everyone—employees, customers, suppliers, and the community—can fully develop. Where success isn't measured solely in profits, but in improved lives.
And the most surprising thing: when we approach our work this way, financial results usually follow, but as a consequence, not as an end.
Have you also felt this anxiety? Have you experienced the tension between immediate results and long-term value?
I'd love to hear your thoughts. Because I believe we're all redefining what it means to be successful in business.
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This blog is complemented by the microlearning program "The Common Good in Business Practice," which I developed as part of my commitment to promoting ethical principles in business.
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