I decided to go back to the basics for the first Evergreen Journal® of 2022 and examine what sustains our vital community of over 220 members. Our membership represents companies from 32 industries operating under the leadership of CEOs and Founders determined to make the world a better place. What I found is that the common denominator of these leaders is their unwavering dedication to the Evergreen 7Ps® principles of Purpose, Perseverance, People First, Private, Profit, Paced Growth and Pragmatic Innovation. Therefore, I think it is fitting for this first missive of the year to start at the beginning, with the principle of Purpose.

Purpose. It is what inspired me to embark on a learning journey nine years ago. It is what guided me to assemble a group of like-minded CEOs and Founders for the first Tugboat Institute® Summit in 2013. It is the cornerstone of the Evergreen 7Ps principles. And, I believe, it is the North Star to which we need to look as we review the past year and embrace the new one.