Evergreen businesses are led by Purpose-driven leaders with the grit and resourcefulness to build and scale private, profitable, enduring, and market-leading businesses that make a dent in the universe.

Evergreen businesses are led by Purpose-driven leaders with the grit and resourcefulness to build and scale private, profitable, enduring, and market-leading businesses that make a dent in the universe.


Evergreen companies are the most important companies in our society today and redefine success.

The intention of Evergreen businesses is to adapt and grow profitably for 100 years, and more.


Evergreen forest from above
Close up evergreen branch

The Purpose of an Evergreen business is to make a long-term difference in the world.

Success is not based upon financings, or high-valued exits, but on how well they achieve their Purpose.



Purpose, Perseverance, People First, Private, Profit, Paced Growth, and Pragmatic Innovation – these Evergreen 7Ps® principles are our core values.


Vivid evergreen forest
Evergreen forest looking up through trees

These values ensure Evergreen companies will positively impact their employees, customers, suppliers, communities, and, most important, families.



What is Evergreen?

In Our Own Words

Dave Whorton speaking about Evergreen

Evergreen Description

Bo Burlingham, Inc. 500 Panel
October 23, 2015

Dave Whorton speaking at a panel about Second Acts

Second Acts – Doing Companies Differently

George Gendron, The Solo Project
October 4, 2021

Audience enjoying the What does Evergreen mean to me talk

What does Evergreen Mean to me

Tugboat Institute Members
June 2016


Evergreen 7Ps Principles

The Evergreen 7Ps® principles are the defining characteristics of Evergreen. The first three Ps—Purpose, Perseverance, and People First—define the character of the leaders and team. The last four Ps—Private, Profit, Paced Growth, and Pragmatic Innovation—reflect the long-term strategy tenets of an Evergreen business.

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Purpose

Having a compelling reason for existing--a North Star above all else.

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Private

Taking advantage of the ability of closely-held private companies to have a longer-term view, greater confidentiality around strategies, and more operating flexibility than public or exit-oriented businesses.

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Perseverance

Having the ambition and the resilience to overcome obstacles and keep pursuing the purpose indefinitely into the future.

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Profit

Not mistaking profit as the purpose of the business; but recognizing it is essential to survival and independence, and the most accurate measure of customer value delivered.

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People First

Engaging a workforce of talented associates who excel as a team and are motivated by the purpose and the culture, as well as by total compensation, in the belief that, by taking care of them, they will take care of the customers, suppliers, partners, communities, and their families.

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Paced Growth

Having the discipline to focus on long-term strategy, balance short-term and long-term performance, and grow steadily and consistently from year to year.

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Pragmatic Innovation

Embracing a continuous-improvement process built around taking capital-efficient, calculated risks to innovate creatively within constraints.